Riko waited in the study for a long time, but the clan head never returned.
Uneasy, she went to the Yamanaka clan's assembly hall—still no sign of him.
From others, she learned that after Counselor Danzo left, the clan head had rushed off to the neighboring Nara compound.
Ruri searched all over the clan grounds for her sister and finally found Riko in the hall.
"Big sis, you left halfway through dinner. I brought you some rice balls."
Riko took one and smiled faintly. "At least all my years of spoiling you weren't for nothing—you even remembered your sister was hungry."
A few hours later, the head clan, Yamanaka Ino'en, returned from the Nara compound.
He immediately summoned Riko.
The moment she entered the study and saw the pain on his face, Riko knew—something terrible had happened.
Ino'en spoke slowly. "Riko… I just spent a long time speaking with the Nara head and the Akimichi head.
Counselor Danzo is demanding that every clan supply talent to Root. Shikakaku said there is no solution to this.
The Third Hokage relies heavily on Danzo. Many major missions the Hokage cannot personally handle—or that require long absences from the village—are all entrusted to him.
Root has been devastated by an unknown party and urgently needs reinforcement.
Shikakaku believes this is not only Danzo's demand, but also the Hokage's will.
Danzo is bearing much of the village's karma and the hatred of unknown enemies on Konoha's behalf.
If not for Danzo, others would become the targets of Konoha's enemies.
Konoha cannot be without Root.
As loyal supporters of the Hokage, the Ino–Shika–Chō clans must step forward and set the example.
Danzo requires one elite chūnin or tokubetsu jōnin—and one child who has not yet reached academy age but possesses outstanding talent. We have no choice but to agree."
Riko stared in disbelief. "How can they send children into Root? That's brainwashing them from childhood—training them into mission machines!"
"Counselor Danzo despises betrayal," Ino'en said, his eyes filled with guilt as he looked at her. "He demands absolute loyalty.
Riko… putting the child aside for a moment. Counselor Danzo has named a specific person—Yamanaka Ruri. He wants her to enter Root for training."
"What?!"
Riko took an involuntary step forward, panic flooding her eyes.
"Clan Head, last year when they came to the clan to take people, I volunteered to go to ANBU for the family.
I was willing to solve one problem for the clan—and protect my sister at the same time.
I've already been serving in ANBU for the family. How can you still send my sister to Root?"
Ino'en looked just as tormented. "Riko… this hurts me even more than it hurts you. But I have no good solution. Danzo is relentless.
At a time like this, Danzo cannot be resisted.
Root bears the justification of carrying out the village's darkest missions—and it has the Hokage's backing. I wanted to refuse. I did refuse.
But circumstances forced my hand. I truly had no choice.
After Root was heavily damaged, Danzo will not make concessions. He cannot find the one who has been assassinating Root operatives—but he can find us. We are here.
I'm sorry, Riko.
The same thing is happening in every clan.
You don't need to worry too much. After Root training, not everyone will remain in Root—some will be transferred to ANBU.
All I can do is try to ensure Ruri ends up in ANBU.
K is already in Root. Several generations ago, another clansman was also in Root—he died in the Land of Rain.
This is what it means to be a ninja. Cruelty always walks with us."
Ino'en felt nothing but sympathy for Riko—but he was truly powerless.
Being counted among the Hokage's closest supporters had brought many benefits, such as rapid growth in the number of jōnin and tokubetsu jōnin.
But when the Third Hokage made a demand, they were also the ones least able to refuse.
Riko left in pain, not knowing how she could face her sister.
==
Yakushi Nonō's Orphanage
Danzo appeared suddenly in the corridor, flanked by C and K.
Jenri was the first to notice movement in the hallway. She jumped out of bed at once and went to wake the vice-director.
K said coldly, "Root is conscripting orphans. Open the dormitory. I will inspect their ninja potential."
The vice-director protested, "Sir, this is an orphanage founded by Miss Yakushi Nonō. They haven't even entered the academy yet—how can children this young be conscripted?"
K formed a seal. In an instant, he took control of the vice-director. With no way to resist a Yamanaka clan technique, she collapsed against the wall.
Jenri stepped forward, but C moved faster, extending a finger and pressing it against the metal plate of her forehead protector.
"Chūnin Jenri—are you going to disobey the village's orders?"
Jenri glanced past him at Counselor Danzo. She knew there was no way out tonight.
Danzo said calmly, "Konoha cannot provide a safe environment for orphans for nothing. From now on, orphans must fulfill their duty of service to the village.
Only when the village is safe can this orphanage remain safe."
K entered the dormitory.
Calling it a dormitory was generous—it was one large room.
A curtain hung down the middle. On the large bed to the south, more than twenty girls slept packed together; on the bed to the north, more than twenty boys were crammed in.
K went down the line, tapping each child's forehead. Before long, he had selected six.
Some of the children woke in a daze, unaware that their fates had just been irrevocably altered.
After Danzo and his men left, Jenri first carried the unconscious vice-director back to her bed. Then she hurried to contact the head of the orphanage—Yakushi Nonō.
===
Tsurugetsu Tavern
Yako was in the back courtyard, refilling the water jars, when he suddenly set the bucket down and leapt onto the roof, staring into the distance.
Kyoi called up from the yard, "What is it?"
"The village feels… strange tonight. But it's not our concern."
'I'll deal with it when I go to ANBU tomorrow,' Yako thought.
He jumped down from the roof and scooped Kyoi up in his arms.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. "You scared me. I thought you were planning to get intimate on the roof tonight."
"Oh? You just gave me an idea. How about we do it at the front gate instead?"
"No! What if a ninja jumps across the rooftops and sees us?!"
"Have a little faith in my ability. I'll sense them in advance."
The "investigation" started at the gate, sometimes even spilling into the courtyard. When it was finally concluded, both of them felt refreshed.
The next morning, Yako arrived at ANBU early.
To his surprise, Purple Cat was already there.
He glanced at her stomach. 'Last night was… enthusiastic. This early in the morning, though? Might be a bit much.'
With so few people around this early, was she waiting here just for him?
Purple Cat spoke urgently. "Captain—as you've seen in my file, I have a younger sister. Yesterday, Counselor Danzo personally named her for Root training.
When Danzo gives an order, the Yamanaka can't refuse. The clan head said he'd try to have her transferred into ANBU instead of Root.
ANBU is dangerous, but it's still better than Root.
Captain… is there anything you can do to help my sister?"
Yako froze.
'They took Purple Cat's sister?'
He still remembered—back on the Land of Rivers battlefield, her sister had just been assigned to a new Ino–Shika–Chō squad.
Purple Cat had even assassinated a Nara clan shinobi in that unit—because that man had turned his teammates into shadow puppets.
Her sister had only just graduated not long ago…