"Well then. It seems I made a fool of myself in front of the Sharingan," Shimizu said. The vigilance from earlier had completely vanished, replaced by the ease of someone who had laid down all burdens. He continued, "We encountered the Rinnegan."
"The Rinnegan?" Zero asked, puzzled. The three tomoe in his eyes continued to rotate slowly.
"Yes. The Rinnegan." As for what the Rinnegan was truly capable of, Shimizu himself didn't fully understand. In his previous life, he had never completely followed all of the Naruto storyline… But those eyes undoubtedly carried profound meaning. Otherwise, Jiraiya would never have identified Nagato as the "Child of Prophecy."
Moreover, the fact that the Six Paths of Pain possessed the strength to bring about Jiraiya's death was further proof of the Rinnegan's overwhelming power. Something that powerful had to have deep origins.
"Could it really be that Rinnegan?!" A trace of shock finally appeared on Zero's face.
"Silver-gray sclera, with ominous black ripple patterns. The enemy was far too powerful. Sawei and the other two retreated first. I barely escaped with my life…" Shimizu recalled his battle with Nagato. Arrogant and overconfident, he had once thought of killing him. With a self-mocking tone, he added, "Heh… the eye that exists only in legend."
"Unbelievable…" Zero clearly knew something about the Rinnegan.
Under the Sharingan's scrutiny, the young man before him was not lying.
"Can you tell me why that person called it 'the legendary eye'?" Shimizu pressed further, hoping to extract some information.
Zero merely shook his head and sighed. "Captain Kuryu, to think you could retreat unharmed from the Rinnegan. It seems I underestimated your strength."
He offered no explanation about the Rinnegan.
From that point on, their exchange became unexpectedly smooth. In one breath, Shimizu recounted how he had been driven into a corner by the Rinnegan, how he had narrowly escaped death using his teacher Kosei's Lightning Release chakra-infused kunai, and how on his way back he had discovered Root ninja collecting Sharingan—prompting him to follow them to the Amekage's office. The entire story was flawless.
"So you returned here to retrieve that Lightning Release chakra kunai?" Zero speculated, testing the logic behind Shimizu's actions.
"Exactly. This place used to be covered in water… Now it's much easier to search." With that, Shimizu began looking for the kunai that should have been scattered nearby.
At this moment, Shimizu had only two choices:
-Kill the man before him.
-Agree to join Root.
Could he kill him?
His gaze inadvertently met those three-tomoe Sharingan again—
A wave of dizziness struck him.
This was ocular power even stronger than Sawei's.
He might not even get the chance to form hand seals.
Under the Sharingan's perception, his Water Release techniques would have no opportunity to activate. His Lightning Blade Slash required close range. Even if Zero didn't know it could be used at a distance, how could someone with the Sharingan fail to be wary of a kunai infused with Lightning Release chakra?
A deep sense of frustration welled up from within.
Twenty years of effort—
And still inferior to a pair of eyes.
Anyone would lose their composure in such a situation. Just think—one of the Three Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, after decades of cultivation, had still fallen to Itachi shortly after the latter awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan…
Heh... bloodline limits (kekkei genkai)... the Sharingan... truly enviable things.
A moment later, fortune smiled upon him again. With his sharp eyes, he finally spotted the missing kunai.
"Found it at last!" Shimizu let out a long breath of relief. "Otherwise, I'd have no way to explain this to Kosuke-sensei."
Holding the recovered kunai, he wondered whether he should first gain Zero's trust—pretend to comply—and then look for a way to break the deadlock later. With the Sharingan staring at him like this, it was truly troublesome…
Shimizu channeled Lightning Release chakra into the kunai and casually hurled it into the distance—
Boom!
The explosion was no weaker than a detonating tag.
"That's how I escaped—using the blast as cover. Otherwise…" Shimizu demonstrated his technique for Zero, indirectly proving that everything he had said earlier was true.
"This technique is extraordinary!" Zero's Sharingan spun slightly faster. He clearly saw the potential in it, but he offered no further comment. By this point, he had essentially accepted everything Shimizu said as fact.
This meant his earlier assumption—that Shimizu knew Windviel's location—was completely wrong. The truth was nothing like what he had imagined.
Then where had Windviel gone?
But more importantly—
How could he persuade this ANBU ninja in front of him to willingly join Root… and remain loyal to it?
Fortunately, the other man already harbored resentment toward the Third Hokage. And Zero held a minor but useful piece of leverage over him. This was the best opportunity.
Nearly thirty years old, Zero felt a rare appreciation for talent stir within him. He had seen many exceptionally gifted juniors—but most had perished in this battle.
If he simply eliminated this one, it would indeed be a great loss to Root.
At least jōnin-level strength. The ability to develop such a high-potential new technique.
Calling him a genius would not be an exaggeration.
Root desperately needed fresh blood.
Lord Danzo would certainly favor this young man.
"Captain Kuryu, I acknowledge your explanation. As for my second task—it is to persuade you to join Root." Zero's blood-red eyes fixed on Shimizu, as though trying to see through to his true thoughts. "Please don't refuse so quickly."
"I come with sufficient sincerity. If you agree to join Root, then your act of following Root ninja will be treated as though it never happened. The ANBU Interrogation Division will not investigate you." Zero's tone conveyed considerable goodwill.
"I saw Danzo collecting Sharingan. Aren't you afraid I'll expose him?" Shimizu asked.
"Once you join Root, you'll learn these things sooner or later. What difference does it make if you know a little earlier?" Zero replied calmly. "As for exposure—Root has never had a traitor."
Indeed, Danzo's control over Root was astonishing—likely maintained through some drug or forbidden technique.
"Isn't Danzo eager to eliminate me?" Shimizu pressed further.
"Lord Danzo has always held you in high regard. Why would he harm you?" Zero replied as if it were obvious.
"But that night…" Shimizu clearly remembered that after he refused to join Root, a Root ninja had issued a veiled threat. How had their attitude changed so suddenly?
"Captain Kuryu should not belittle himself. Your reputation today is renowned even within Root—'Shunshin Shimizu,' who hasn't heard the name? Many wish to seek your guidance on the Body Flicker Technique." Zero's praise sounded sincere.
Shimizu did not let empty fame cloud his judgment.
He hadn't forgotten what Windveil had once said to him:
Lord Danzo wouldn't care about a ninja without a bloodline limit (kekkei genkai)!
Danzo's true objective in coming to the Hidden Rain was likely to collect Sharingan—including Sawei's.
As for Shimizu, his greatest use had probably been to conveniently bring Sawei into his squad.
Whether Shimizu joined Root or not—
If persuasion succeeded, all the better.
If not, then let him conveniently die during this mission.
Such was the reality of how great figures treated small ones.
That was likely Danzo's true attitude toward him.
Shimizu clenched his fists.
Not because he was being underestimated—
But because they had laid hands on his companion.
And now, he might have no choice but to seek protection from the very organization responsible.
How utterly ironic.