Root Headquarters.
In the huge underground palace, Danzo sat on the central stone seat, listening with closed eyes to the reports of several people.
"That's how it is, Lord Danzo. This subordinate was ineffective in their duty. Please punish this subordinate, Lord Danzo."
The three kneeling below them were covered in sweat. The punishment for failing a Root mission was comparable to, if not worse than, that of the Konoha Interrogation Department.
"Get up. This mission's failure is not your fault. The punishment is waived."
To the surprise of the three, Danzo did not punish them. While feeling as if they had escaped death, the three were also somewhat puzzled. Had the ruthless Lord Danzo changed his ways today?
"Alright, you may withdraw."
"Yes."
The three stood up and walked out. In the empty underground palace, only Danzo remained on the stone seat. Not long after, Danzo opened his eyes, a hint of gloom flashing within them.
"You were lucky this time, I didn't expect you to run into that guy Kosuke. But next time, you won't be so lucky, Hoshimi Ren."
"Wind."
"Here, Lord Danzo."
A Ninja emerged from the darkness behind him, standing before Danzo, awaiting orders.
"Oh, and also the Uchiha side. Draw a group of personnel from other places to strengthen surveillance over the Uchiha. This evil Clan should not exist!"
"Yes."
The Root Ninja, code-named "Wind," retreated into the darkness to carry out Danzo's orders. In the eyes of a Root Ninja, Lord Danzo's command was absolute, even if the Hokage were to intervene.
Judging solely by their names, both "Anbu" and "Root" are organisations that operate in the shadows. Root implies being deeply hidden underground. Anbu means an organisation that carries out assassinations. Root helps train and supply talent to Anbu. In terms of organisational relationships, Root is also part of Anbu, a subordinate department of Anbu, and many Anbu Ninja are also Root moles. Anbu reports directly to the Hokage, while Root reports directly to Danzo. The two operate one in the light, one in the dark.
...
"I will report this matter to Hokage-sama. You don't need to worry too much."
The two walked on the main street of Konoha. Kosuke looked at Ren, who seemed somewhat lost in thought, assuming he was worried about the Root issue, and thus spoke.
"No, Senior Kosuke, I'm not worried about that. I'm just impatient to become stronger."
Ren shook his head, looking at the distant Hokage Rock with a bitter smile.
If Kosuke hadn't been there today, he would most likely have been in trouble. He could have handled the two Chunin with some effort, but a Jonin was completely different.
Jonin are the backbone of a Ninja Village. No matter which Ninja Village, they stand on the second level of the Ninja pyramid, with only Kage-level powerhouses above them.
They can unleash fierce taijutsu, genjutsu, and various powerful high-level Ninjutsu in combat. Not only leadership skills, but also outstanding performance in analytical skills, Ninjutsu, etc., are required. Those who can become Jonin are basically all-around Ninjas. Except for specialists like Might Guy, Jonin also need to train students who can inherit their legacy and will, because they need to handle A-rank and even higher-level missions, often in dangerous situations, so the requirements are also higher than Chunin.
Ren was certain that if those three had rushed him, he would have been taken down in less than ten minutes.
"Don't think so much. You're still young. The future belongs to you young people."
Kosuke patted Ren's shoulder.
"Let's go. I'll treat you to some really delicious ramen."
"Huh? Really delicious ramen?"
Ren followed behind Kosuke with a strange expression. It couldn't be...
...
Looking at the steaming bowl of chashu ramen in front of him, Ren's mouth twitched slightly. As expected, when it came to ramen, everyone thought of Ichiraku.
"What's wrong? Don't you like it?"
Kosuke, who was wolfing down his own ramen, looked at Ren beside him and asked with some confusion.
"No, I love it. I just didn't expect the senior to be talking about Ichiraku Ramen. I'm a regular here too."
Ren picked up his chopsticks, taking a bite of ramen and a sip of soup. It was indeed as delicious as ever.
"Is that so, hahaha."
Kosuke stopped talking after hearing that, and only the slurping sounds of the two remained in the shop.
"Boss, one large bowl of chashu ramen, with all the toppings."
"I want a large bowl of miso ramen. After eating dry rations for so many days, I've been craving Ichiraku's ramen."
The two who were eating ramen paused their movements, turned their heads, and their gazes met with the man who had entered first.
"You are... Minato?"
"Ah, long time no see, Senior Kosuke."
The newcomer was Minato Namikaze. After bowing to Kosuke, his gaze turned to Ren beside him.
"You are, Ren, right? We met at the ramen shop last time."
Minato Namikaze's face wore its usual sunny smile as he nodded to Ren.
"Hello, Jonin Minato. I didn't expect us to meet again so soon."
"Minato, who are you talking to?"
A voice came from outside the curtain, and then someone lifted the curtain and walked in. The newcomer had long red hair, wore a Konoha Jonin vest, and looked at the group with curiosity.
"You are... Senior Kosuke, long time no see."
"Ah, it has indeed been a long time, Kushina."
The red-haired beauty also bowed to Kosuke after seeing him, then her gaze turned to Ren.
"This child is?"
"He's Ren, the young man who won the bet against Jiraiya-sensei and the toad contract."
Minato Namikaze promptly provided the hint from beside her.
"Oh? So you're the one who beat Kakashi? Are kids these days all that amazing?"
"...Cough cough, Kushina is just like that, please don't mind her."
Minato Namikaze pulled Kushina to a seat and pressed her down, apologising to Ren at the same time.
"It's fine, I don't mind."
Uzumaki Kushina, huh...
Uzumaki Kushina was not only one of the few survivors of the Whirlpool Clan and the second Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but also the wife of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and the mother of the Seventh Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto. Because she experienced the destruction of her country and Clan from a young age, her personality inevitably became a bit fiery and unyielding. When she was at the Ninja School, Kushina once beat up the boys who had pranked her one by one, earning her the nickname "Red Hot-Blooded Habanero." When Kushina grew up, every time she got angry, she would unleash powerful Chakra, even her hair would fly and split into several strands, and even Minato Namikaze couldn't stop her.
"Minato, did you just return from a mission?"
Kosuke looked at the dusty duo, who clearly had just returned from outside the Village.
"Yes, Senior Kosuke."
Minato Namikaze nodded, but didn't say much. Kosuke also didn't ask further. A Ninja's missions are generally not easily revealed, even to comrades from the same Village.
That last remark was just a casual comment during their leisure time.