111-115

*Chapter 111: The Mysterious Scroll and the Hidden Mist’s Shock!*

On the battlefield, everyone stared in astonishment at the young man who had just uttered such audacious words.

But the most shaken among them was none other than Aburame Ryoma, the deputy commander of the Root.

To overthrow the Five Great Nations and unify the entire shinobi world?

Such an ambition instinctively reminded the older Aburame Ryoma of a terrifying figure from the past.

Though time had passed and history had turned its pages, causing many to forget the terror of that Shura, Ryoma, who had long dwelled in the shadows of the shinobi world, understood the true nature of darkness.

The same ambition. The similar hairstyle. The unmistakable obsession glinting in those Sharingan eyes.

And...

That utterly irrational power.

Just from this glimpse, it was as though he were staring at the next—

The Shura of the Shinobi World!

Uchiha Madara!

Yet, Ryoma didn’t sense from this young man the same blood-curdling terror that came from merely reading the blood-soaked records of that Shura.

On the contrary, standing behind this boy gave him an indescribable sense of security.

They were Root ninja—beings who had discarded everything for the sake of their missions, steeped in shadow and devoid of light.

And yet, even in such suffocating darkness, this boy unexpectedly stood before him, saying:

"I’ll give you a chance to escape!"  

He had even gifted him the priceless artifact, the Kusanagi Blade.

At that moment, Aburame Ryoma swallowed hard. For some reason, his gaze faltered.

Clutching the Kusanagi Blade tightly, he gritted his teeth, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.

The Root ninjas standing behind him shared the same expression, the same emotions.

They had come to save this boy.

But why?

Why had the situation reversed?

Why was this disciple of the Sannin, a young man with limitless potential,

Now standing resolutely before them—

Before beings like them, whose hands were stained with blood, filth, and decay?

Why did this back—

Feel so warm, like the radiant sun rising on a spring morning?

Just standing behind him felt as though their heavily burdened souls were being cleansed.

Meanwhile, unlike the Root ninjas, Mei Terumi stood to the side, her worried gaze fixed on Shinji.

Deep down, she felt an ominous premonition.

It was as if... she was about to lose this boy today.

At this moment, Shinji focused his sharp gaze on Yagura Karatachi, his peripheral vision keeping track of Hozuki Mangetsu's movements.

He understood that this disaster—

Though triggered by Yagura—was not the true culprit behind everything.

Yagura bore some responsibility for hiding in City, which attracted the pursuit ninjas.

But the real perpetrators of this catastrophe were the pursuit ninjas and the Third Mizukage behind them.

Those who treated human lives like weeds—these were the ones who angered him!

And these people were his true targets!

Shinji was waiting, suppressing his rage, controlling his emotions.

He was on the verge of losing control!

Every battle he had fought and every disturbance he had caused today was to buy time, draw attention, and wait for these people to appear!

He still had one last trump card!

The city submerged beneath the floodwaters!

The collective darkness of all its inhabitants!

Their injustices, their fury, their sorrow, their cries, their despair—

Their sense of justice!

All of it would be carried out by Shinji!

The cries of this city's people would transform into a terrifying chakra that even the tiny Zero-Tails could not bear!

The cost of this, however, would be the destruction of Zero-Tails and the explosion of his own body.

But in that single dazzling moment,

He would inflict eternal, unforgettable pain upon these perpetrators!

On the battlefield,

After a brief moment of astonishment, Yagura Karatachi shook his head, his gaze tinged with apprehension.

This talk of overthrowing the Five Great Nations sounded childish—like the boastful words of a child.

And yet, it inexplicably filled him with unease, like an insect crawling on his back.

Yagura took a deep breath.

He decided to act and annihilate the boy before him completely.

But just then—

A Mist ninja with a forehead protector bearing the four-water-wave insignia and tied-back blue hair glanced at Shinji in shock.

Snapping out of his daze, he rushed forward, shouting loudly:

"Lord Yagura!"  

“Hm?” Yagura turned, startled. Recognizing the young man,

He realized it was Ao, one of his subordinates from the Jonin corps.

He excelled in sensory ninjutsu, had a somewhat nostalgic personality, and adhered to asceticism. Yet, as a companion, he was utterly reliable.

"Please look at this!" Ao exclaimed urgently as he rushed over, pulling out a scroll and handing it to Yagura.

Yagura frowned slightly. Couldn’t it wait until he dealt with this kid in front of him?

But his good temperament held him back from saying anything. Rising on his toes, he took the scroll from Ao's hands and unrolled it.

With just one glance, Yagura’s eyes widened in shock.

"This… how is this possible?!"

He abruptly raised his head to look at Ao, asking in disbelief,

"Ao, are you certain this is real?"

Ao nodded vigorously, looking as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, and immediately asked,

"Lord Yagura, what should we do?!"

"We must act immediately!"

"War waits for no one."

Yagura took a deep breath, his gaze briefly sweeping over Shinji in front of him, his eyes showing a flicker of struggle.

If he let this brat live now, once he matured, dealing with him might come at an unimaginable cost.

But over at the Green Reef...

Yagura pondered briefly and made his decision. Raising his head, he looked at Mei Terumi and Mangetsu Hozuki.

This time, he disregarded their respective powers and factions.

In a stern voice, he declared:

"You two, enough of this recklessness!"

"This is the last time I’ll say it!"

"Right now, come with me to the main island of Kirigakure!"

Mangetsu and Mei were stunned. Before they could process his words, Yagura tossed the scroll to Mangetsu.

Then, he walked up to Mei, his small frame of barely 4’11’’ standing firm. Like a little adult, he stared at her with a stern, expressionless gaze.

Mei: (☉_☉)

Mei blinked, cold sweat breaking out down her back.

Her impulsive decision to help Shinji, upon closer scrutiny, could even be considered treason against the village. However, Yagura himself was currently in a state of both rebellion and non-rebellion—an odd sort of superposition.

So perhaps… maybe… it wasn’t such a big deal?

Yagura stared at Mei for a long moment before finally shaking his head. With a sigh, he said,

"Little princess, the romance game is over."

"I need you to contact Elder Genji for me."

"Now, go say your goodbyes to your little boyfriend."

"The next time you meet, you’ll truly be enemies."

Meanwhile, Shinji was starting to sense that something was off.

Why had the expressions of the two people across from him suddenly shifted?

It seemed they had been distracted by something even more pressing.

Wait, what exactly was on that scroll?

Did they no longer want to kill him?

And what about the tracking squad he’d been waiting on for so long?

Where were they?

With all this commotion, even if they were running a marathon, they should’ve arrived by now!

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Shinji’s eyebrow twitched, realizing this wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

His gaze immediately locked onto the scroll in Mangetsu’s hands.

Something must have happened—something he hadn’t anticipated—that interrupted his reckless plan!

Behind him, Aburame Ryoma, upon seeing Ao’s arrival, finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Then, with a knowing, slightly mysterious smile, he watched Shinji’s face contort into utter confusion, his playful side awakening after a long time.

Silently, Ryoma crept up behind Shinji, leaning close to his ear, and asked in a ghostly voice:

"Hey, kid, want to know what’s written on that scroll?"

Startled, Shinji jumped and spun around.

How does this guy walk without making a sound? he thought, glaring at Ryoma.

With a roll of his eyes, Shinji retorted,

"Of course I want to know! Who wouldn’t? That’s definitely important classified information."

"Don’t tell me you actually know what’s on it?"

Ryoma chuckled darkly, his expression as ominous as a bug crawling out of hell.

Then, to Shinji’s astonishment, Ryoma pulled out an identical scroll and slapped it into his hands. Adjusting his sunglasses with a smug gesture, he said,

"Of course I know."

"And if you’re wondering why..."

"It’s because I’m the one who gave it to them."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 112: Curtains Lift, Plot Spirals Out of Control!

Shinji stared at the scroll in his hands, identical to the one Hozuki Mangetsu had.

His face twisted slightly before he quickly unraveled the scroll to examine its contents.

The scroll opened to reveal a rough map of the ninja world.

A path was prominently marked, stretching from the Land of Earth, through the Land of Hot Water, to the Land of Water.

Along the route, passing through small nations like Iron, Fields, and Grass, several points were marked with estimated troop numbers and detailed information on high-ranking ninjas.

Finally, at the last line of defense between the coast of the Land of Hot Water and the main island of Kirigakure:

*Green Reef*,

circled heavily in red.

The scroll also contained detailed profiles of several ninjas:

Mujina, Kagero, Daishi, and Kurotsuchi.

Each of them was a Jonin-level elite from Iwagakure. The first three were vaguely familiar to Shinji—participants in the Battle of Kannabi Bridge.

As for the last one:

Kurotsuchi, the son of the Third Tsuchikage Onoki, the future father of the Tsuchikage. His terrifying Mountain Earth Jutsu had left a deep impression on Shinji in the original story.

Taking a deep breath, Shinji tightened his grip on the scroll.

It all made sense now!

No wonder the pursuing ninja had abandoned their hunt after unleashing the Exploding Water Shock Wave and hadn’t reappeared.

No wonder both Yagura Karatachi and Hozuki Mangetsu were so tense when they saw this intelligence.

No wonder, no wonder!

What truly sent chills down Shinji’s spine, though, was this:

The one who set all of this in motion…

*was himself!*

He, Shinji, was the one who rewrote the trajectory of this war.

His butterfly wings had already stirred up a disastrous tornado!

That night three days ago—

From the formation of Team Shinji ,

no, from the moment he stepped out of Konohagakure—

the course of this world had veered into chaos!

The death of Uchiha Setsuna, once inevitable, had been averted, halting the revolt of the Chi no Ike clan.

Shinno, who should have been ambushed in a cave by Orochimaru, escaped successfully.

And Orochimaru, who was meant to gain the forbidden jutsu Body Regeneration, did not obtain it.

This forced Orochimaru to confront reality instead of becoming obsessed with immortality.

As a result—

Orochimaru, now less consumed by his immortality experiments, temporarily resumed his role as one of the Three Legendary Ninjas.

Without Body Regeneration, Orochimaru didn’t lock himself away in his lab, frantically experimenting on subjects provided by Danzo.

Instead,

he became involved in the Third Great Ninja War!

Considering the events in The Tale of Minato, where Jiraiya and Minato’s team infiltrated Iwagakure,

it was likely that Orochimaru, a front-line strategist and Jiraiya’s close ally, had collaborated with Danzo to drop a strategic bombshell.

And that bombshell was this scroll detailing Iwagakure’s movements.

This intelligence was possibly the result of Jiraiya’s early investigations.

Handing such vital information to a faction embroiled in Kirigakure’s internal strife would make both the conservative and reformist factions of Kirigakure unable to ignore Iwagakure’s threat at Green Reef.

This conflict, originally meant to be a swift, vengeful assault organized by Iwagakure’s elite troops,

this lightning-fast strike,

was now transformed by Orochimaru and Danzo into a protracted battle.

But this move undoubtedly concealed a larger, more critical operation!

An operation capable of altering the entire course of the Third Great Ninja War!

Shinji’s body trembled slightly, his Sharingan activating unconsciously, as a wave of dread surged in his heart.

What kind of operation could justify sharing such pivotal intelligence with Kirigakure?

What had happened in the Land of Rain?!

Beside him,

Aburame Ryoma froze as he watched Shinji’s expression.

With news like this,

shouldn’t the kid be relieved to have survived?

Then why did he look so terrifying?

“Hey, hey, Shinji, Shinji, are you okay?”

“What’s wrong with you?”

Aburame Ryoma waved his hand in front of Shinji’s face, his expression puzzled and concerned.

“I… I’m fine. Let me think. Let me think. Don’t disturb me!”

Yet, it was as if Shinji didn’t even see the hand waving in front of him.

His tone shifted from calm to hurried, and then to the brink of breaking down!

He almost couldn’t stop himself from shouting in frustration!

With trembling lips, he stared intently at the scroll in his hands.

His mind raced, attempting to predict the future based on this intelligence.

What would Konoha do?

What would Orochimaru do?

What would Danzo do?

And what about Hiruzen Sarutobi?

At this critical juncture,

what were they planning?

But—he couldn’t figure it out!

It was completely beyond him!

His actions had influenced the choices of the original characters,

and their responses, in turn, disrupted his reckless plans!

It was fair, after all.

So—

*The Future Is Out of Control!*

The future was now beyond comprehension.

With the intelligence at hand, Shinji could no longer predict what lay ahead.

The mere thought of this made him gasp uncontrollably. His eyes widened, and the two tomoe in his scarlet Sharingan spun wildly. His breathing grew rapid and shallow, as if a ticking time bomb had lodged itself in his throat, ready to explode at any moment—an unbearable choking sensation.

It felt like a giant, unseen hand, one that controlled fate itself, had suddenly reached out to grab his immortal heart—

and squeezed it mercilessly!

The soul-shaking pain and a profound sense of helplessness surged through him.

“This… this can’t be happening!”

Stumbling backward, Shinji’s trembling hands clutched the scroll tightly. His pupils brimmed with terror, and sweat instantly drenched his forehead. The tomoe in his Sharingan spun frantically, struggling to evolve from two tomoe to three or perhaps into a more intricate pattern.

But—

Despite the intensity of his emotions, his ocular power wasn’t strong enough. His physical aptitude was too poor, and he lacked sufficient accumulation.

These eyes had advanced from nothing to two tomoe in just five days, but they were now incapable of bearing a higher-level evolution.

Under the turmoil of his chaotic thoughts, Shinji staggered several more steps backward.

Even his chakra control faltered.

Splash!  

One foot slipped into the water below, throwing him off balance. His body tilted, and he teetered on the edge of falling into the water.

However—

Just as he was about to plunge, consumed by fear and overwhelmed by despair at the unpredictable, a clear, bell-like voice rang in his ears.

“Hey, are you okay?”

A pair of fair, delicate hands slid beneath his knees and back, lifting him effortlessly into a flawless princess-carry.

For a moment, Shinji felt as though his mind—on the brink of explosion from overthinking—had suddenly landed on a soft, warm cloud.

The chaotic mess in his head was swept away as if by an incomparably powerful force, neatly packed and discarded.

His thoughts became startlingly clear.

Then—

He looked up.

And saw a pair of emerald-green eyes gazing at him, blinking with an innocent, curious expression.

Those eyes were like the finest gemstones in the world—

clear, radiant, and with a touch of stubbornness.

Their beauty was so breathtaking that for a moment, Shinji forgot all his troubles. He subconsciously widened his eyes and adjusted his position slightly to get a better view.

The next second, the emerald-green eyes flashed with a hint of frustration.

“You pervert! Where do you think you’re rubbing?!”

Splash!  

A burst of water erupted into the air!

In an instant, the scene was filled with youthful exuberance and lively chaos.

—End of Chapter—

*Chapter 113: Farewell and Departure, Code Name: ‘Shura’*

“Glug, glug.”

“Cough, cough! Pah!”

Shinji choked on several gulps of water before finally surfacing.

Unknowingly, the water level created by the Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave had started to recede. The surface of this small "ocean" had dropped to the height of the second floor.

In the distance, civilians of the Land of Hot Water, struck by disaster, had begun rescue efforts.

Young men carried ladders and rowed small boats to rescue women and children stranded on rooftops.

Elsewhere, people shouted orders as they pried open drainage channels, veins bulging on their foreheads from exertion.

Ninja of the Hidden Hot Springs leapt across the water’s surface, acting as "couriers," reporting damage assessments to higher-ups.

Meanwhile, pompous, obese nobles intercepted the reports, arrogantly demanding that their own estates be rescued first.

Such scenes played out: destruction intertwined with rebirth, hope juxtaposed with despair.

Watching this unfold, Shinji fell silent.

For the first time, he truly calmed down.

The reckless idea of using the Zero-Tails’ power to exact justice for the civilians of Hot Smoke City was suppressed.

The Zero-Tails wasn’t a righteous companion to fight evil;

on the contrary, it was a symbol of evil and darkness.

Not to mention, extracting dark chakra could cause harm to these people.

To collect the intense emotions of an entire city, Shinji would have to move constantly to gather them, inadvertently spreading the battle's aftermath even further.

At that point, he would truly become a butcher in every sense of the word.

There would be no difference between him and those pursuing ninja, or even the Third Mizukage who treated lives with contempt.

At that moment—

“Are you okay?”

Mei Terumi squatted by the water, picking up a stick and poking Shinji’s face.

“Phew…” Shinji exhaled, offering a wry smile as he looked up at her.

“This time, it’s really goodbye.”

Behind Mei Terumi stood the esteemed elder of the Hidden Mist and the influential clans of the bloodline families.

Behind Mangetsu Hozuki were his fellow pursuing ninja and the secret arts clans of the Hidden Mist.

A battle was imminent.

Yagura would undoubtedly take them both, and Mei Terumi had always acted for the future of the Hidden Mist.

Shinji paused briefly, reaching into his pouch and pulling out a parcel wrapped in oiled paper.

It was the sakura mochi Mei Terumi had bought for him.

After such an intense battle, even with the oiled paper, the mochi was soaked.

And only one piece remained.

“Hey, it’s a little cold now, but… do you still want it?” Shinji held up the unfolded parcel, scratching his head awkwardly.

Mei Terumi’s gaze landed on the deformed, blood-stained sakura mochi, and a complex emotion flickered in her emerald eyes.

After this—

Shinji would return to Konoha, and she to the Hidden Mist.

Both would tread their respective ninja paths.

Perhaps this sakura mochi was the last intersection of their paths.

“Phew…”

Looking at the awkward boy standing in the water, Mei Terumi suddenly smiled—a radiant smile, like a hibiscus blooming in spring, swaying in the breeze.

“I’ll eat it!”

She picked up the blood-soaked mochi with great care, as if receiving a wedding ring, her face solemn.

Then she stood up, casting one last glance at Shinji.

She wanted to say more, to promise something, to make an agreement—

But she couldn’t.

For this girl, who would one day miss her chance at marriage for the sake of reviving the Hidden Mist—

Being a ninja meant enduring such emotions, enduring such bittersweet sorrow.

Treading the ninja path,

Moving unwaveringly toward one’s goals.

She sighed, her expression complicated as she looked at Shinji one last time.

“Next time, I won’t hold back.”

“See you on the battlefield.”

Shinji was silent for a moment, unable to find the words. Finally, he nodded quietly.

“Alright.”

There was no further conversation.

Only Mangetsu Hozuki shot him a resentful glare. When Shinji glanced back, Mangetsu turned his head with a humph, leaving him puzzled.

Soon, the Hidden Mist group, led by Yagura, quickly departed the devastated battlefield.

At this point—

Ryoma Aburame, who had been standing silently beside Shinji as if invisible, gave him a sidelong glance and said coolly:

“You still have something to do.”

“I’ll give you thirty minutes. I’ll be waiting outside the city.”

“This concerns your transfer order, your new mission, and—”

“Your new identity within the Foundation.”

Shinji furrowed his brow slightly before nodding.

Aburame Ryoma saw the situation and didn’t say much more. He quickly left with the Root ninja using the Body Flicker Technique.

The drastic events that had taken place in Yumegakure and everything he had witnessed needed time to be sorted out. He had to organize the intel and immediately report back to Danzo.

Especially regarding that kid, Shinji.

The boy’s actual combat abilities and the peculiarities exposed during the fight were completely inconsistent with the information recorded in the Root archives.

Damn it, what’s wrong with the Root intelligence team?

Before coming here, the report he received stated that Shinji was just a weak genin who had lost all ambition, only daring to take on D-rank missions.

He was described as a lucky brat who had managed to catch Orochimaru’s attention and become his disciple purely by chance.

Yet, as Aburame Ryoma leaped through the air, he couldn’t help but glance down.

The ravaged land below, the collapsed pavilions, and the battlefield in ruins looked as though they had been swept by a Category 8 typhoon.

He fell silent for a moment.

Upon his return to the village, he decided he would ensure that the Root operatives responsible for gathering intel on the Uchiha clan understood the pain of being put through the wringer.

You call this weak? You call this luck? You call this lacking ambition?

Aburame Ryoma felt a headache coming on.

He didn’t even want to imagine how enraged Lord Danzo would be when he learned of this.

Danzo would surely shout, "This must be an Uchiha conspiracy!"

And then target this Uchiha brat.

---

Meanwhile, Shinji had to stay behind to manage affairs in Yumegakure, rebuild the underground black market, and tally the damages to send Fugaku the bill.

These tasks were already giving him a headache, so he ignored Qingichiro, who had said only one thing to him before leaving:

“Get lost. Just seeing you annoys me. Don’t die out there.”

“Oh, and if you’re going to see Orochimaru, say hi to Shisui for me.”

Shinji’s face twitched slightly. He wanted to ask how Qingichiro knew he was heading to the Land of Rain, but then he remembered Qingichiro’s job managing the underground black market and let it go.

Qingichiro had truly become a major player.

Shaking his head, Shinji eventually managed to persuade Qingichiro to help rescue his little brother, Hidan, who was still buried beneath Kabukicho.

He also begged him not to settle for giving Hidan two measly buns and to assign someone to escort him safely back to Yugakure.

After receiving a grudging promise from Qingichiro, who looked thoroughly annoyed,

Shinji breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew Hidan probably had many things he wanted to say to him, many questions to ask.

About immortality, the future, or how his "great big brother" planned to save the Land of Hot Water.

But Shinji’s mind was a tangled mess right now. He had no energy to fake the image of a caring older brother.

He didn’t even know how to explain to Hidan, “I was lying to you back then; don’t take it seriously.”

He needed to head to the Land of Rain as soon as possible to confirm something.

How much had his presence altered the course of the Third Shinobi War?

Who might die because of it?

Could it lead to an irreversible future?

With these thoughts in mind, he packed his belongings and set out.

As the sun set, bathing the horizon in golden hues,

Shinji stepped onto the road out of the city.

Not far from the city gates, outside a hot spring inn,

He spotted a lone figure—a middle-aged man gazing at the distant horizon, his back turned. It was Aburame Ryoma.

The fading sunlight shone through the rising steam from the hot springs, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

Aburame Ryoma turned his head slightly, revealing part of his tinted glasses, and asked coolly:

“You’ve arrived?”

Shinji nodded.

“Yes, I’m here.”

Without turning back, Aburame Ryoma tossed a token to Shinji and said coldly:

“Good. From today, you are a ninja of the Root.”

“No name, no emotions. No past, no future.”

“You will become the Root that supports the great tree of Konohagakure, deep within the earth.”

“Remember your code name—”

“Shura!”

Shinji blinked, thinking, Is this guy preparing for a poetry contest with all these rhymes?  

His face twitched as Aburame Ryoma climbed the steps to the hot spring inn. Turning slightly, he adjusted his flashy sunglasses and said coldly:

“Shura, what are you standing there for? Follow me!”

“Your first mission—”

“Give your superior a back scrub!”

End of Chapter  

*Chapter 114: Decapitation Mission in the Land of Rain*

The setting sun painted the sky in hues of amber, starkly dividing heaven and earth.

A gentle breeze from the horizon carried the chill of an early spring evening, ruffling Shinji’s hair, leaving him momentarily stunned.

What? His first mission as a Root ninja was… to scrub his superior's back?

On his very first day, he was relegated to a mule? What kind of workplace bullying was this?

Raising his hand in protest, Shinji tried to salvage the situation.

“Wait, hold on. Shouldn’t the Root division have more urgent tasks to handle—”

But Aburame Ryoma shook his head, interrupting him with a calm yet penetrating gaze behind his signature sunglasses.

“Enough, kid,” he said slowly.

“At least here, no one’s trying to harm you.”

“You’re wound up way too tight. You haven’t truly rested in a long time. Your body is perpetually on edge, ready for battle, even now.”

Ryoma’s gaze fell on Shinji’s tense legs and the hand that instinctively reached toward his lower back, as though ready to draw a weapon.

With a sigh, he added, “In this state, you won’t be able to perform well on the upcoming mission.”

Ryoma turned and ascended the wooden steps toward the misty entrance of a hot spring inn.

“Since coming to this country, you haven’t experienced the Land of Hot Water’s famous baths, have you?”

“Come. Try it out.”

Shinji frowned slightly, unsure of Ryoma’s intentions, but he followed reluctantly. Passing the front desk, they entered the changing room to don yukata. At Ryoma’s guidance, Shinji rinsed off in a shower before finally stepping into the steaming hot spring pool.

“Hah…”

The moment he immersed himself in the 43°C water, Shinji immediately noticed a stark difference compared to the boiling pools he’d encountered at the Cloud Village.

The soothing warmth unraveled the knots in his mind, calming the high-pressure whirlwind in his head. His face flushed slightly as the heat opened every pore, relaxing him to the point where he slumped against the edge of the pool, unwilling to move.

Glancing at Ryoma, still somewhat perplexed, he asked,

“This doesn’t match what I imagined a Root ninja’s life to be like.”

“And wasn’t it said that Root ninjas ‘have no names and no emotions’?”

Ryoma leaned against the edge, lifting a bottle of sake to take a leisurely sip. After a moment of silence, he shook his head.

“A ninja losing all emotion? That’s impossible.”

“Most Root ninjas are second or third sons of their clans, forced to join Root for the sake of their families. They undergo training so brutal it strips away their humanity, turning them into emotionless machines of death and duty.”

“Take the Aburame clan, for example. In the future, either Shikuro’s or Shibi’s child will undoubtedly join Root. It’s inevitable.”

“But I’m an exception. And so are you.”

Shinji raised an eyebrow, pondering this revelation. Judging by Ryoma’s age, he quickly connected the dots.

Root was established after Sarutobi Hiruzen became Hokage, and by then, Ryoma had already proven himself as a capable ninja.

This man, the deputy commander of Root, maintained a façade of reticence and solitude, but it was all a cover for the side of him he didn’t wish others to see.

After a moment of silence, Shinji finally asked,

“You should know I’m an Uchiha. Root and the Uchiha clan don’t exactly have the best relationship.”

“So why are you telling me all this?”

Ryoma sighed, rubbing his temples in exasperation.

“Orochimaru might’ve taken you on as his disciple, but it seems he struck some deal with that person. He has other matters to attend to on the Rain Country battlefield.”

“So, during our operation here, you’ve been assigned to my team.”

“And frankly, I’m used to working alone. I’m not great at catering to my subordinates’ feelings.”

“As for the village, the clan, Root, and the Uchiha… honestly, I haven’t thought much about it.”

“But as your superior, I hope you can be at least a bit honest with yourself.”

“That’s the first reason.”

Hearing this, Shinji’s eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed Orochimaru had gone to great lengths to keep him close and acquire the forbidden Corporeal Regeneration Technique.

Continuing on, Ryoma elaborated:

Aburame Ryoma paused for a moment, remaining silent for quite a long time before speaking slowly:

"Additionally, if you really insist on asking why..."

"It's because—"

"I see a different future in you."

"We, the so-called Root shinobi, are nameless individuals who uphold peace from the shadows."

Aburame Ryoma tilted his head upward, gazing at the crescent moon rising in the distant sky, and said with a trace of sentiment:

"For people like us, abandoning our names, emotions, pasts, and futures is not something worth mentioning."

"But even while carrying the burden of darkness, I hope this power can be used for the right purposes. As for Root shinobi, even if we are nameless, we still should—"

At this point, Aburame Ryoma abruptly cut himself off, shook his head, and said:

"Never mind, why am I even telling you this?"

He reached out, retrieved a scroll from the poolside, and tossed it toward Shinji. Closing his eyes, he spoke in a deep tone:

"This is your next mission."

"At first, I didn’t understand why Orochimaru specifically chose you to carry out such a dangerous task."

"Now, I think I understand a bit, but for you, the risks of this mission still far exceed those of a typical S-rank mission."

Shinji’s expression grew serious as he swiftly caught the scroll.

The green scroll bore an elegant cloud motif and was secured with a lacquer seal displaying the official symbol of Konohagakure.

At that moment,

Aburame Ryoma opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as he hiccupped from the sake:

"The time you have to rest is limited. Now, memorize the route on the scroll and then destroy it. Keep its contents sealed in your mind."

"On the journey, I will provide further mission details!"

"Get a good night’s rest tonight. Tomorrow at 8 a.m. sharp, we depart."

With that, Aburame Ryoma stood up, climbed out of the pool, wiped himself down with a towel, and headed toward the sauna.

Soon,

The pool, bathed in moonlight, was left with only Shinji.

He glanced at the scroll in his hand, his expression growing even graver.

Without delay, he tore open the lacquer seal and unfurled the scroll with a swift motion.

And then,

He saw a disturbingly detailed map.

Starting from the Konohagakure outpost in the Land of Rain,

The map spiraled inward, marking four Sand Village front-line positions. It plotted a route that danced precariously on the knife’s edge, avoiding these encampments to penetrate deeper into the Land of Rain, reaching the border of the Land of Earth.

The route then crossed the iconic rocky statues marking the Land of Earth’s boundary, traversed through a hidden natural fortress of barren cliffs and towering stone peaks,

And finally led to a circular canyon near Iwagakure,

An area perfectly suited for an ambush.

At the bottom of the scroll, the mission name and objective were written:

*"Operation Decapitation in the Land of Rain!"*

*Target for Elimination:*

The newly-appointed Fourth Kazekage—

*Rasa!*

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 115: Surrounded on Three Sides, A Strategy to Break the Deadlock!*

Meanwhile...

At the Fire Nation border, the Rain Nation defense line, in the main camp of the Konoha garrison forces.

Raindrops pattered down rhythmically, hitting the leather covering of a tent and producing muffled thuds.

The sky was overcast, clouds gathered thickly, blue lightning streaked across the heavens, and thunder roared continuously.

Inside the military tent, a group of individuals sat in silence, their hands propped against their foreheads as they stared grimly at the intelligence reports spread out on the tables before them.

This group included Jiraiya’s team, Minato Namikaze, Shikaku Nara, and Mikumura Youma—some of Konoha's finest jonin and sharpest minds.

Yet at this moment, their expressions were extremely grim.

“Lord Jiraiya, are you certain of the authenticity of this intelligence?” Shikaku Nara, clad in a deerskin coat and sporting his signature pineapple-like hairstyle, frowned deeply. Raising his head, he looked toward the man seated at the head of the table in the tent.

There sat a tall man, easily over six feet two inches tall, wearing a red coat and a headband bearing the kanji for “oil.” His long white hair flowed down to his waist, and two red streaks stretched from his eyes down to his cheeks.

This man was none other than Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin.

Scratching his head in frustration, Jiraiya sighed and replied,

“It’s been confirmed beyond doubt. Sunagakure is planning to join forces with Iwagakure to declare war on Konoha.”

“Once the envoy sent to the Land of Earth successfully negotiates with the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, it’ll be a done deal.”

Hearing this confirmation, Shikaku Nara took a deep breath, his face darkening further as he analyzed,

“In that case, the Rain Nation battlefield will face simultaneous attacks from both the Sand and Stone villages. Meanwhile, intelligence from the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning regarding the Land of Fields is also troubling. And to make matters worse, Kirigakure has ended their war with Sunagakure.”

“If this continues, we’ll conservatively face attacks from three sides—Sand, Stone, and Cloud.”

“In the worst-case scenario, we could be surrounded on all four sides!”

“You all know what this means. Everyone here has witnessed the horrors of the Second Great Ninja War.”

“The Rain Nation, surrounded on three sides back then, ended up utterly devastated. We all know how that turned out.”

At these words, the room fell silent. The intelligence reports on the tables before them seemed even more ominous.

During the Second Great Ninja War, the Rain Nation, overly ambitious and trying to establish itself as the sixth great ninja village, was battered on three fronts. They were crushed to the brink of ruin and have barely managed to survive since.

Konoha was undoubtedly stronger than the Rain Nation.

But if they were attacked on all four sides and wars broke out simultaneously...

To be honest, they couldn’t withstand such an intense onslaught.

Only three days into the full-scale eruption of the Third Great Ninja War, bad news had arrived one after another.

And now, the ultimate spark had been ignited, delivering a bombshell that left everyone in the room in stunned silence.

For Konoha, this Third Great Ninja War would undoubtedly be the most brutal one yet.

So brutal that even their children might be pushed onto the battlefield.

Thinking of this possibility, Mikumura Youma couldn’t hold back any longer. He stood abruptly and asked urgently,

“Lord Jiraiya, is there no way to prevent this from happening?”

This question was on everyone’s minds. After the words were spoken, all heads turned toward Jiraiya, seated at the head of the table.

Even Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya’s personal disciple standing beside him, shifted his gaze toward his master.

Under the heavy stares of everyone present, Jiraiya remained silent for a moment. Then, lifting his gaze to the tent’s entrance, he took a deep breath and declared firmly:

“Of course there is!”

“To address this situation—”

“The village has sent a reliable team!”

“They’ve also drafted a plan known as the ‘Rain Nation Decapitation Operation.’”

“Calling everyone here today is to refine this plan and contribute to its execution.”

Then Jiraiya’s eyes sharpened as he looked outside the tent.

“The Sannin and their disciples will serve as the core executors of this mission—”

“To assassinate the envoy from Sunagakure who seeks to ally with Iwagakure: the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa!”

As these words fell, the entire room was filled with shock!

It wasn’t just the revelation that Sunagakure had sent the Fourth Kazekage to ensure the alliance's success that stunned them.

It was also Jiraiya’s earlier statement!

The Sannin and their disciples were to assassinate the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa?!

Hearing this, everyone’s gaze instinctively shifted to the solemn-faced Jiraiya and the bewildered Minato Namikaze standing beside him.

With a blank, confused expression, Minato seemed just as puzzled as the others.

---

---

He had just retreated from Iwagakure with his mentor, Jiraiya, and hadn't received any notice from the village.

So why was he suddenly being sent to take out Rasa?

Seeing his expression, everyone present exchanged knowing smiles.

They thought to themselves, The answer is written all over your face, Minato. Stop pretending you don’t know what’s going on. Hmph, you’re quite the actor!  

The Three Legendary Sannin and their apprentices?  

Among those present, only this master-student pair met the conditions. And perhaps, they really could succeed!

Thus, the answer could only be—

Jiraiya let out a hearty laugh under the collective gaze of the others, his fiery eyes fixed firmly on the tent’s entrance.

At that moment, lightning flashed and thunder roared outside the tent. A pale hand lifted the flap of the entrance.

A figure dressed in a pitch-black cloak appeared inside. Orochimaru removed his hood, his voice hoarse yet amused as he said,

“What’s the matter, Jiraiya? Aren’t you the least bit surprised by my arrival?”

---

Meanwhile, in the Land of Hot Water:

Shinji had just finished reading the scroll in his hand. His pupils instantly narrowed, his mind flooded with question marks.

What the hell, Aburame Ryoma? How can you be so annoyingly cryptic?  

You drop such bombshell intelligence on me and then tell me to get a good night’s rest?

What kind of joke is this?!

After hearing this, how the hell am I supposed to sleep?!

Shinji jumped to his feet, threw on a bathrobe, grabbed the scroll, and stormed toward the sauna.

He had too many unresolved questions about this mission.

Why was he the one assigned to carry it out?

Why was Rasa, of all people, the envoy sent by Sunagakure?

When did Rasa even become the Fourth Kazekage?

And how would this mission affect the war’s future trajectory?

One question after another gnawed at Shinji, driving him to find answers immediately.

He kicked open the sauna door in his impatience, shouting at his cryptic superior, shrouded in steam:

“Aburame Ryoma, tell me the answers right now!”

Aburame Ryoma, however, seemed to have anticipated this exact reaction from Shinji.

At that moment, he sat calmly on the sauna bench, a few neatly folded towels resting in the storage basin by his feet.

Though his sunglasses were fogged up, it didn’t stop him from lifting his head to glance at Shinji.

Then, in a deep, slow voice, he said:

“I knew it. Uchiha, as always, have no manners.”

“Kid, this will be your first lesson as my subordinate.”

“You want answers?”

Aburame Ryoma tilted his head, adjusted his smug little sunglasses, and flashed a sinister smile.

He picked up a towel from the basin at his feet and tossed it to Shinji.

Then, with a chuckle, he said,

“First, fix how you address me. After that, work hard for your answers!”

Shinji glanced at the pristine white towel in his hand, then back at Aburame Ryoma’s sinister grin. Small bugs occasionally crawled out of his ears, over his shoulders, and back again.

At that moment, Shinji fell silent.

(End of Chapter)