Yamanaka Ruri waited in the study for a long time, but the Clan Head did not return.
Worried, she went to the Yamanaka clan's main assembly hall but didn't find the Clan Head there either.
She heard from others that after Advisor Danzo left, the Clan Head had hurriedly gone to the neighboring Nara clan compound.
Yamanaka Ryuu searched the clan compound for her sister and finally found Yamanaka Ruri in the main hall.
"Sister, you left halfway through dinner. I brought you some rice balls."
Yamanaka Ruri ate the rice balls and said: "Haven't spoiled you for nothing. You know your sister is hungry."
A few hours later, Yamanaka Inson returned from the Nara clan compound.
He immediately summoned Yamanaka Ruri to see him.
Entering the Clan Head's study and seeing the pained look on his face, Yamanaka Ruri immediately understood that something bad must have happened.
Yamanaka Inson spoke slowly: "Ruri, I just spoke with the Nara Clan Head and the Akimichi Clan Head for a long time."
"Advisor Danzo is demanding that every clan provide talent for Root. Rokaku said there is no way around this matter."
"The Third Hokage relies heavily on Advisor Danzo. Many major tasks that are inconvenient for the Hokage to handle personally, or that require long periods outside the village, are managed by Advisor Danzo."
"Advisor Danzo's Root has been severely crippled by unknown individuals and urgently needs replenishment and strengthening."
"Rokaku said this matter is not only Advisor Danzo's demand but also the Hokage's intention."
"Lord Danzo bears many consequences and the wrath of unknown individuals on behalf of Konoha."
"If it weren't for Lord Danzo, others would be hated by Konoha's enemies."
"Konoha cannot be without Root."
"The Ino–Shika–Chō trio, as supporters of the Hokage, must step up and set an example."
"Advisor Danzo wants one elite Chūnin or Special Jōnin, and one child who has not yet reached Ninja Academy age but has outstanding talent. We can only agree."
Yamanaka Ruri was stunned: "How can we let a child enter Root? Is this to train them as task machines through brainwashing from a young age?"
"Advisor Danzo detests betrayal and emphasizes absolute loyalty." Yamanaka Inson looked at Yamanaka Ruri, his eyes full of guilt:
"Ruri, let's set aside the matter of the child entering Root for now. Advisor Danzo specifically named Yamanaka Ryuu to enter Root and receive Root training."
"What!"
Yamanaka Ruri couldn't help but step forward, her eyes filled with anxiety:
"Clan Head, last year when Root came to the clan to select people, I volunteered to go to the Anbu for the clan's sake!"
"I was willing to solve one problem for the clan and protect my sister at the same time."
"Clan Head, I am already serving the clan in the Anbu. How can you let my sister go to Root as well?"
Yamanaka Inson was equally distressed: "Ruri, I feel worse about this than you do, but I can't find a good solution. Advisor Danzo is being very aggressive."
"At this moment, Danzo cannot be openly resisted."
"His Root has the justification of performing dark tasks for the village, plus the Hokage's support. I very much wanted to refuse, and I did refuse initially."
"But, pressured by the circumstances, I truly have no other way."
"After Root suffered heavy losses, Advisor Danzo will absolutely not make concessions to us. He can't find the murderer of the Root ninja, but he can find us; we are always here."
"I'm sorry, Ruri."
"The same scene is playing out in every clan."
"You also don't need to be overly worried. After Root training, not everyone will necessarily enter Root; some will enter the Anbu."
"What I can do is try to facilitate Ryuu entering the Anbu."
"Hei has already entered Root. Tei from a few generations back was also a Yamanaka clansman who died in the Land of Rain."
"This is the life of a ninja. Cruelty always accompanies us."
Yamanaka Inson deeply sympathized with Yamanaka Ruri, but he was truly powerless.
Being supporters of the Hokage certainly brought many benefits, such as the rapid increase in the number of Jōnin and Special Jōnin.
However, when the Third Hokage made demands, they were also the ones least able to refuse.
Yamanaka Ruri left in pain, not knowing how to face her sister.
At Yakushi Nonō's orphanage.
Danzo, accompanied by Hei and Ki, suddenly appeared in the corridor.
Kurumi was the first to discover people in the hallway. She quickly got up and woke the Vice-Principal.
Hei said: "Root is conscripting orphans. Open the dormitory; I need to inspect the children's ninja aptitude."
The Vice-Principal said: "Ninja-sama, this is an orphanage established by Miss Yakushi Nonō. They haven't even gone to the Ninja Academy yet; they are so young. How can they be conscripted?"
Hei formed a hand seal and instantly controlled the Vice-Principal. The Vice-Principal's skills were average and couldn't resist the Yamanaka clan's secret technique; she slumped against the wall.
Kurumi stepped forward, but Ki quickly extended a hand, his fingertip touching Kurumi's forehead protector.
"Chūnin Kurumi, are you going to defy the village's orders?"
Kurumi looked at Advisor Danzo behind Ki and knew there was no way out today.
Danzo said: "Konoha cannot provide a safe environment for orphans without compensation. From now on, all orphans have an obligation to serve Konoha."
"Only if the village is safe can this orphanage enjoy safety."
Hei entered the dormitory.
It was called a dormitory, but it was just one large room.
A curtain hung in the middle. On the large bed south of the curtain, over twenty girls slept crowded together. On the large bed to the north, over twenty boys were squeezed in.
Hei placed his finger on each child's head in turn, quickly selecting six children.
Some children woke up confused, unaware that their destinies were about to change drastically.
After Danzo and the others left, Kurumi first moved the unconscious Vice-Principal onto a bed, then immediately went to contact the Principal, Yakushi Nonō.
At the Tsurugetsu Izakaya, Yōkō was filling the water vat in the backyard when he suddenly put down the bucket, jumped onto the roof, and looked into the distance.
Kyōi asked in the yard: "What's wrong?"
"The village feels a bit strange tonight, but it's none of our business."
Yōkō thought to himself, he'd find out more when he went to the Anbu tomorrow.
Jumping off the roof, Yōkō picked up Kyōi.
Kyōi wrapped her arms around Yōkō's neck: "You startled me. I thought you wanted to get intimate on the roof tonight."
"Oh? You remind me. Why don't we try at the entrance tonight?"
"No! What if a ninja jumps over the roof? Wouldn't we be seen?"
"Trust in my abilities. I'll detect them in advance."
Investigating at the entrance, sometimes even pushing into the yard. After the investigation was complete, he felt refreshed and clear-headed.
The next morning, Yōkō entered the Anbu early.
Unexpectedly, Purple Cat had arrived before him.
Yōkō touched his lower abdomen. He had been too excited in the new environment last night. Doing it again so early in the morning was a bit difficult.
It was so early, and the Anbu was sparsely populated. Did Purple Cat come specifically to wait for him?
Purple Cat said urgently: "Captain, you've seen my file. I have a younger sister. Yesterday, Advisor Danzo specifically named her to enter Root for training."
"The Yamanaka clan cannot refuse Advisor Danzo's direct order. The Clan Head said he would try to get my sister into the Anbu instead of Root."
"Although the Anbu is dangerous, it's better than Root."
"Captain, do you have any way to help my sister?"
Yōkō was stunned. Purple Cat's sister was taken?
Yōkō remembered that back during the Land of Rivers campaign, Purple Cat's sister had just been assigned to a new Ino–Shika–Chō team.
Purple Cat had even assassinated the Nara clansman in that team because he had previously turned his teammate into a shadow puppet.
How long had it been since Purple Cat's sister graduated?
***
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(End of Chapter)