Chapter 55: The Root of the Matter
After Yuhi Makoto returned to the village, Haku's Ice Release Kekkei Genkai was already known to Konoha's upper echelon. Along with Liumu's "Light Release," a detailed report lay on the Third Hokage's desk.
However, before Sarutobi could summon him, a different figure intercepted Liumu.
Standing on the path home from the market, Liumu took in the old man before him—half his body swathed in bandages. He recognized him instantly.
"Liumu, I presume? Jiraiya's student?"
Liumu and Haku had just finished their shopping. He gave a curt nod, his senses sharpening. Danzo. He hasn't transplanted the Uchiha's Sharingan yet. The bandages… probably to hide the Hashirama cells on his arm. Has he already connected with Orochimaru? Orochimaru's intense interest in cultivating bloodlines in Kiri came to mind…
"What do you want?" Liumu asked, his voice flat.
Liumu was Jiraiya's disciple, and Jiraiya was the Third's student. Why was the old rival of that lineage seeking him out now? Liumu was momentarily puzzled.
"Join Root," Danzō stated, his single visible eye fixed on the boy.
"Join Root?" Liumu let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Is that a request? Or an order?"
His blunt rudeness caused the two Root operatives flanking Danzō to tense, their posture shifting threateningly.
Danzō raised his cane slightly, halting them. "Consider it… an invitation."
He turned, gazing at the water flowing in the canal beside the path. "You are Jiraiya's disciple. You must understand much about the village's workings. You are… capable. Graduated from the Academy at five, a Chunin at six, possessor of a unique Light Release Kekkei Genkai. Even I must admit you are the most outstanding talent I have seen."
"Root is a covert unit, tasked with guarding Konoha from the shadows. It is the perfect place for you to display your strength."
Danzo did his best to sound like a benevolent elder, but the sharp, calculating glint in his eye was unmistakable. Haku, sensing the danger, subtly tightened her grip on the hem of Liumu's shirt.
Liumu glanced back, giving her a reassuring look before addressing Danzo again.
"Is Root for guarding Konoha… or for acting as your convenient, deniable blade?"
Liumu knew that in some respects, Root under Danzō was indeed a gathering of elites, its combat strength arguably surpassing the Hokage's own ANBU at times. But…
Watching Danzo's expression grow still, Liumu sneered. He didn't wait for an answer. "I don't like Root. And I don't like you. I have no desire to serve Konoha in your way, let alone serve you. I am who I am. If you're unhappy with that… feel free to act. It just so happens I've been holding in a lot of anger lately. I could use an outlet."
"Anger?" Haku whispered, confused. "What anger? I haven't seen you angry."
"You're young," Liumu said, his tone softening for a moment as he patted her hand. "You'll… ah, never mind. You'll understand when you're older."
Seeing the two Root operatives practically trembling with suppressed fury, Liumu handed the grocery bag to Haku. "I know what you're afraid of. This is Konoha. You wouldn't dare touch Jiraiya's student here. It would be a direct slap to his face, an open challenge to the Third."
"But I'll give you a chance," Liumu continued, his voice turning cold again. "Let's go. Outside the village. Find a nice, quiet spot. We can… communicate."
Danzo's bodyguards during the later 'Foundation' era were Torune Aburame and Fu Yamanaka. But these two were not them.
Not that Liumu cared.
Dealing with mind-control techniques like the Yamanaka's wasn't impossible, but they required setup time. The time it would take for a Yamanaka to lock onto his consciousness was time enough for Liumu to kick their heads clean off their shoulders. As for Torune's poison and insect techniques… to Liumu, they were as threatening as a mild nuisance.
Danzo didn't know what gave this six-year-old such brazen confidence, but Liumu's relentless mockery was wearing thin. It wasn't Danzo who finally snapped, but the two bodyguards, who could no longer endure the disrespect to their leader and insisted on teaching the insolent brat a lesson.
Forest of Bewilderment, outside Konoha.
The small group arrived at a clearing. Liumu looked at the two Root agents. "Make your move. I'm short on time."
One of them, a black-haired man, held out a hand to stop his comrade. "I'll handle this alone."
"No," Liumu shook his head lazily. "Both of you. Together. It'll save time."
"Just me is enough!" the black-haired man snarled. His hands flew into a complex series of seals. Instantly, the surrounding space warped. The dense forest vanished, replaced by the grim, echoing interior of a steel prison. Screams filled the air, and Liumu's vision blurred and swam.
"What is this?" Liumu muttered, seemingly unimpressed as he glanced around.
Suddenly, a gleaming longsword materialized in front of him, thrusting directly for his heart. Liumu willed himself to sidestep, but found his body strangely, heavily rooted to the spot.
As the sword tip pierced his chest, Liumu understood. This wasn't a physical attack. It was a high-level Genjutsu—an illusion so potent it blurred the lines between falsehood and reality, making both the environment and the attacks within it feel utterly tangible.
But Liumu was currently using the Kizaru template. Ordinary physical attacks, even illusory ones that felt real, couldn't harm his light-based intangible form.
And…
A cold smirk touched his lips. A peculiar, dual-pupiled gleam flashed deep within his own eyes for an instant.
Outside the illusion, the black-haired Root agent stiffened. His sword had passed through the boy's chest as if through air, causing no injury. Worse, the world around him suddenly transformed. He was now in a dank, cluttered stone room. A single wooden chair stood in the center.
Tap… tap… tap…
The wooden chair seemed to exert a magnetic pull. He was forced to sit. His shoes vanished. Then, two phantom feathers appeared, relentlessly tickling the soles of his bare feet.
"Wha—ahahahaha! Stop! AHAHAHA! What is—HAHAHA—this?!"
The black-haired man collapsed to the ground, rolling in helpless, tear-streaming hysterics.
"What's wrong with him?" Haku asked, bewildered, watching the man laugh maniacally.
"Who knows," Liumu said with an innocent shrug. "Maybe he ate some bad honey before coming here."
"Illusion?!" The other Root agent, a thin-faced man, gasped, immediately recognizing his partner's plight. He placed a hand on the laughing man's forehead. "Kai! (Release!)"
(End of Chapter)
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