Chapter 53 - Chapter 54: Skilled in Wood Release

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Footsteps echoed, soft and hollow, in the dark underground passage.

Two figures moved under the swaying light of candles, their shadows stretching along the rough-hewn walls.

"I never imagined Konoha had a place like this."

Juri walked beside Heshu, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

"The Root… truly lives up to its name."

Heshu let out a low remark.

The long passage finally gave way. The narrow path ahead suddenly opened up.

A circular area, like an underground plaza, came into view.

Heshu and Juri stopped at its center. A familiar figure stepped out from the shadows.

"Lord Orochimaru?"

Heshu feigned surprise.

Juri merely frowned. He said nothing.

Instinct. He'd always felt… off about Orochimaru's gaze.

The Sannin's eyes were cold, reptilian. His lips curved. "Follow me."

They passed through another dark corridor, emerging into a vast, open space.

Even wider than the plaza before.

The ceiling was high enough for two stories. On the second level, dense rows of ninja wearing various animal masks looked down upon Heshu and Juri.

Their gazes held no contempt, no particular emotion. Only blankness. A chilling numbness.

It sent a shiver straight to the bone.

"You've arrived."

A cane tapped against stone.

Danzō Shimura appeared on the second floor before them. He looked down, his voice flat. "Now that you've joined Root, you follow Root's rules. First, let me see your strength."

Heshu looked at the sea of Root shinobi above. So that's his game.

The next second.

Dozens of Root ninja leaped from the second floor. Attacks of every kind rained down on Heshu and Juri.

Orochimaru stood beside Danzō, watching the plaza with keen interest.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball!"

A searing sphere of flame shot toward Heshu's face.

Heshu vanished. He reappeared instantly in front of the caster.

The Root ninja's legs were sheathed in thin ice. Heshu delivered a casual kick. The man flew backward, smashing into a corner, out of the fight.

"Konoha-Style Sword Arts!"

Cold steel wove a tight, inescapable net in the air, cutting off Heshu's retreat. The ninja with the dog mask swung his longsword with furious power.

Heshu's thumb flicked Shinsō from its sheath. A silver-white beam of light shot out. It pierced the limbs of the dog-masked ninja in four precise strikes.

Several ninja already lay fallen around Heshu.

"Mind Body Switch Technique!"

A low cry cut through the chaos of the assault.

Yamanaka Fū's eyes were locked on Heshu. His hands were already in the seal. He focused, locking onto his target. The technique activated—

Suddenly, the Heshu he was targeting turned his head. Looked back.

For the first time, Yamanaka Fū felt an immense, crushing pressure.

Those eyes…

Beautiful. Dazzling. Like the boundless universe, like the vast starry sky.

But!

Their beauty came with an overwhelming sense of oppression. To be stared at by those eyes with such focus… it made you feel infinitesimal. A speck of dust in the cosmos.

Drip.

Drip.

He didn't know when it started.

Cold sweat beaded on Yamanaka Fū's temple. He stared, trembling, at the drop of sweat that fell onto his own arm. His pupils constricted violently.

"Koff!"

Before he could react, a sharp, brutal pain exploded in his throat.

His throat had been crushed.

Blood sprayed from his mouth.

In the split second before Heshu closed in, Yamanaka Fū clearly saw it—the blood droplets he'd coughed up… they froze in midair before the other's face.

Everything in Yamanaka Fū's vision began to recede. His body flew backward.

A massive wave of vertigo hit him. His form slammed into the stone floor with a sickening crunch.

Agony washed over him, slow and consuming.

In that moment, only one thing burned in Yamanaka Fū's mind. Those blue eyes.

Right before he lost consciousness, only one thought remained.

Why… do eyes like that exist in this world?

Cries of pain rose and fell. An hour later.

Heshu and Juri stood back-to-back.

Around them, fallen Root ninja littered the ground.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

A crisp applause broke the silence. Danzō's eyes held a gleam of satisfaction.

"Good. Very good."

Danzō took two steps forward. Orochimaru stood to his left, Aburame Ryoma to his right. He glanced at Ryoma, who gave a slight nod.

Several Root ninja emerged from a passage. Calm, mechanical, they began carrying their injured comrades away, disappearing once more into the shadows.

"Your strength is recognized. But in Root, beyond strength… what matters more is resolve."

Danzō's voice echoed in the plaza.

Heshu re-sheathed Shinsō at his waist, waiting for Danzō's next move. He was curious. Just how would Danzō—whose brainwashing skills arguably matched the Sandaime's—try to reel them in?

Let's call this… an exchange between masters of bullshit.

"Root is an organization buried deep, one that can never be exposed to the light of day."

"We fight for this village from the shadows."

"Lives vanish silently, for the sake of missions."

"No one will remember. No one will know."

"Because this is Root. The burial ground of nameless heroes."

Danzō's voice was calm, firm. As if repeating a mantra, laying out his true understanding of Root.

"To join Root is to possess the resolve to give everything for the village. The courage to willingly sink into the darkness."

His gaze settled on Heshu and Juri. "Do you possess such resolve?"

Heshu's lip twitched. He says this without a shred of guilt! Doesn't he see the snake standing right behind him? Nothing about him matches this speech!

Juri frowned. What resolve? What courage? It's just joining an organization. Why all the fuss? I'm only here because Heshu is.

Who wants this rat's nest underground anyway? I have a mansion. Fine food. Working here is already a favor.

And he gives me this whole spiel?

I don't have Heshu's patience.

As if anyone actually wants this dump.

Calling people here first thing, giving speeches… it pisses me off!

Perhaps Juri's resentment was too potent. Heshu cleared his throat softly, drawing Danzō's attention.

"If one wishes to lead the village toward lasting peace and prosperity… then one must constantly expand and increase the number of people striving in that direction."

"If I can help illuminate the leaves basking in the village's sunlight… then I am willing to become the nutrients for the roots in the dark."

Heshu's voice was just as calm. But beneath that calm surged an emotion that was startling in its intensity.

"The glory of the dead was never in the praise of later generations."

"I have never cared whether my name is carved upon a monument."

Heshu spoke each word deliberately.

Each one seemed to come from the heart. Profoundly moving.

Even Orochimaru was momentarily stunned.

[Ding! Target Orochimaru Affection +10!]

Orochimaru fell silent. He had never believed in his teacher's talk of a will that never faded. Dead was dead. When you died, you had nothing.

Only eternal life mattered.

But when a will was expressed with such peak conviction… even if you didn't agree, you couldn't help but feel a sliver of respect.

At least, that was how Orochimaru felt in this moment.

Danzō stared deeply at Heshu.

As the leader of Root, this was the first time he had met someone so young, yet whose understanding of such matters… reached a level akin to his own.

This… was exactly what Root needed.

Root didn't need those forced to obey orders. It needed true zealots!

"Root welcomes you."

[Ding! Target Danzō Shimura Affection +40!]

Juri looked at Heshu, slightly dazed. Only one thought filled his mind.

Heshu truly is a gentle, yet resolute shinobi!

He might not have fully understood what Heshu said, but that didn't stop him from being impressed.

…

Heshu and Juri went to collect their uniforms.

The Root uniform felt light in his hands. Heshu felt a sudden, inexplicable wave of emotion.

How long has it been since I wore pants?

He couldn't really remember.

T_T

Heshu chose a tiger mask. Juri picked a fox.

"Heshu, let's go get Ichiraku Ramen today!"

Walking the streets, Juri stopped in front of the familiar stall.

"Alright."

Heshu nodded, lifting the curtain to enter.

The ramen shop was as busy as ever. While looking for a seat, Heshu spotted a familiar head of blond hair.

"Senior Minato?"

His gaze shifted to the girl beside Minato.

Long, vibrant red hair. A bright smile.

The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Kushina Uzumaki.

"Heshu! We have space here! Sit with us!"

Minato waved them over.

After ordering, they settled in across from Minato and Kushina.

"Let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend, Kushina Uzumaki."

Minato scratched his head, slightly sheepish.

"And these are my outstanding juniors! Heshu Tsukimi, Juri Uchiha!"

Kushina looked at the two with curious eyes.

"Wow! You two make a very cute couple!"

Seeing a boy and a girl together, Kushina naturally assumed they were like her and Minato.

"Koff koff… koff…"

Juri, who was drinking water, choked violently.

A red flush spread across his entire face. He couldn't bring himself to look at Heshu.

Heshu forced a smile, explaining quickly. "Senior Kushina, you've misunderstood. Juri and I are close teammates."

Both Minato and Kushina froze in awkward silence.

Kushina laughed it off. "Ah… well… sorry about that!"

"I-It's… fine."

Juri's eyes darted away.

Thankfully, the ramen arrived just then, dissolving the awkwardness.

After the meal, they went their separate ways.

On the way home, moonlight bathed Minato and Kushina. The young couple seemed especially sweet.

"Minato."

Kushina spoke up.

"Hmm?"

Minato looked at her.

"That child, Heshu… she's really beautiful, isn't she?"

Kushina couldn't help but remark, thinking of Heshu's face in the ramen shop.

"Haha, she sure is!"

Minato agreed wholeheartedly. In terms of looks, aside from Kushina, he'd never seen a girl prettier than Heshu.

"And I think that Uchiha boy definitely has a crush on her!"

Kushina declared with certainty. She had experience in these matters, after all. That Uchiha boy couldn't hide it at all. She'd seen it in one glance.

"Really?"

Minato suddenly felt a sense of crisis. He looked troubled. "What should we do then?"

"About what?"

Kushina didn't understand his sudden worry.

"Well… Kakashi seems to like Heshu a lot too!"

Minato said with utmost seriousness.

"What?!"

Kushina exclaimed, her eyes wide. "Kakashi? Likes Heshu?"

Minato recalled Kakashi's tsundere personality and nodded firmly.

"Then we have our work cut out for us!"

Excitement glittered in Kushina's eyes. She stroked her chin thoughtfully.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Now it was Minato's turn to be confused.

"You know Kakashi's personality! How could he ever chase a girl? As his teacher and his teacher's wife, of course we have to help him win Heshu over!"

Kushina was determined. First, a small goal: create more chances for the two to interact!

They weren't that young anymore!

Kakashi was already fourteen, nearly fifteen!

And that Heshu girl must be around twelve… right?

She and Minato had already been a couple by that age!

Seems Kakashi still had a long way to go…

Kushina's eyes brimmed with an elder's concern.

Let this teacher's wife give Kakashi a helping hand!

[Ding! Target Kushina Uzumaki Affection +60!]

There was no couple Kushina Uzumaki couldn't set up!

From today, Heshu was Kakashi's future bride!

Another day spent worrying about Kakashi's love life!

…

Moonlight like water. Heshu lay in bed, tossing and turning.

"System?"

"Are you asleep?"

Heshu called out.

"…"

The system wondered if it should inform its host that it didn't require sleep. "…No."

"You tell me. I just had one meal with Kushina today. How did her affection shoot up so high?"

Heshu was utterly perplexed.

"…"

The next day, reporting to Root, Heshu and Juri were assigned to different teams.

"Heshu Tsukimi. You are appointed captain of Team Night Wind. Code name: Zero."

Aburame Ryoma, wearing his mask, scanned Heshu, then turned to Juri. "Juri Uchiha. You are appointed member of Team Tiger Valley. Code name: One."

"…"

Juri spoke up. "Heshu and I have always been partners. Our combat synergy is high. Why separate us?"

His tone held clear dissatisfaction.

Ryoma's mask turned toward Juri. He stared silently for a long moment before speaking. "Are you a child? Still so clingy at your age?"

"Pfft!"

A Root ninja behind them couldn't hold back a snort of laughter, quickly stifling it under Ryoma's death glare.

"…"

Black lines covered Juri's forehead. Can this Root ninja even speak properly?

After delivering the orders, Ryoma left.

Juri looked back three times with every step, eventually being dragged away by his new team captain.

He resembled a salted fish that had lost all hope.

Heshu looked at the masked, cloaked Root ninja before him. "Introduce yourselves. Code name, age, gender, and specialty."

"Code name: Cloud. Female. Nineteen. Skilled in Konoha-Style Sword Arts."

"Code name: Kinoe. Male. Eleven. Skilled in…"

He paused, the word carrying weight.

"Wood Release."

Heshu: (⊙x⊙;)

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