Analysis

"Lord Danzo!"

"Hmm~"

This is the root that is hidden in the shadows of Konoha, guarding Konoha in the darkness.

At this moment, Shimura Danzo, the leader of Konoha's Root, looked coldly at his subordinate kneeling on one knee, who was wearing a mask. "The promise from fifty years ago?"

Unexpectedly, even after more than fifty years, the Uchiha clan still keeps that agreement.

The mansion that had remained unclaimed for so many years and was reclaimed by the village a few years ago was actually purchased by Madara Uchiha and given to that mysterious powerful figure as a token of gratitude for saving his life.

He tapped the cold armrest with his left hand, his brow furrowed slightly as if deep in thought. After a moment of silence, his gaze returned to his subordinate. "Have you found out what that brat obtained by the pool?"

"Reporting to Lord Danzo." Upon hearing his superior's question, the Root ninja answered respectfully without hesitation, "We've discovered it; it's the same Flying Thunder God kunai found on the Hokage Rock, likely left behind by the Second Hokage!"

"?!"

teacher???

Wasn't that mansion a gift from Madara Uchiha?

How can you still find the teacher's Flying Thunder God Kunai inside?

But soon, Danzo Shimura seemed to remember something and thought it wouldn't be surprising to find his teacher's Flying Thunder God Kunai in the mansion given to him by Madara Uchiha.

Although rumors have long circulated in Konoha that the teacher and Madara Uchiha had a strained relationship and that they both wanted to kill each other, as the teacher's student who personally experienced that era... he felt that the relationship between the teacher and Madara Uchiha might not be as rumored.

After all, the two of them... say they really hate each other, yet they've been spending so much time together. Can it really be that they hate each other?

Anyway, back then he always felt that there was something strange about his teacher and Madara Uchiha. They kept cursing each other, but the next day the two of them would be together peacefully. Although the First Hokage was also involved, he felt that it shouldn't be a big deal.

Back then, Madara Uchiha had already lost his chance to become Hokage, so there was no need for him to go to the Hokage's office every day.

But what about Madara Uchiha?

He called them despicable people, but he didn't distance himself from them; instead, he ended up hanging out with the teacher again.

And what about the teachers?

Despite claiming to be inherently evil, he never chased that guy away, even when he was extremely busy. Instead, he would close the door and get together with Uchiha Madara again.

What are they trying to do?

Just as Shimura Danzo was reminiscing about the past.

The subordinate continued respectfully, "Under the Flying Thunder God kunai, there's a letter, possibly left by the Second Hokage or Madara Uchiha!"

"A letter?!" Upon hearing this, Shimura Danzo immediately snapped out of his daze, his eyes narrowing as he quickly looked at his subordinate. "Tell me, what does it say?"

"I'm sorry, Lord Danzo." However, when faced with Lord Danzo's questioning, the Root ninja lowered his head. "We didn't see it clearly, and we were worried about being discovered, so we didn't get too close. The letter appeared too suddenly, and there was no time to find a suitable scout ninja. Besides, the letter had a jutsu seal on it, and it burned itself after a minute."

"Didn't even see clearly, and it was burned down?" Shimura Danzo frowned, his cold tone tinged with displeasure. "A bunch of useless idiots, they can't even handle something this bad!"

"I am terribly sorry, Lord Danzo." Hearing Lord Danzo's reprimand, the ANBU ninja dared not show any dissatisfaction, keeping his head bowed and speaking hesitantly, "Should I arrest that brat and interrogate him?"

"Bring him back? Hmph, Hiruzen just sent someone to warn us, and now you want me to bring him back?" Shimura Danzo snorted coldly, then paused, his tone wistful, "No matter what, Hiruzen is still the Hokage!"

Even if Hiruzen doesn't do anything to him afterwards, this is already going too far.

If Hiruzen hadn't said it before, it wouldn't have mattered, but now that he has, this is not the time to do such a thing.

Thinking of this, Shimura Danzo felt a surge of irritation and waved his hand, "Go down!"

"yes!"

Without hesitation, the Root ninja who received the order immediately disappeared from the spot.

Suddenly, only Shimura Danzo remained in the large, dimly lit hall. He tapped the armrest with his left hand again and fell into deep thought once more.

Fifty years have passed, so why would the teacher suddenly leave behind a letter and a Flying Thunder God Kunai?

And how did that brat find out?

With so many people coming and going from that bathhouse every day, why has no one ever discovered that seal?

Could it be that the teacher left some special code for that kid's family?

Only members of that brat's family could discover it?

Is this the case at Hokage Rock, and also around the pool?

But why did the teacher leave a specific code for that family, and what was written in that letter?

And it will be burned in a minute. What secret could be so important that it needs to be handled with such care?

At that moment, Danzo, who had been pondering something, seemed to realize something. He suddenly raised his head, his pupils shrinking instantly. "Could it really be that legend... the legend about the past!"

Thinking this, Shimura Danzo no longer hesitated. Suppressing his inner excitement, his cold tone once again echoed in the empty hall, "Someone come here!"

As soon as the voice faded, with a 'whoosh,' a figure knelt on one knee before Danzo in an instant, and said respectfully, "Lord Danzo!"

"Have someone keep an eye on that brat. Keep a close watch on him every moment. If they spot anything strange, they must report it to me immediately, but remember... don't get caught!"

"yes!"

"Remember this: any strange behavior or actions must be reported!" Danzo's chilling voice rang out again. Seeing the Root ninja's solemn response, he nodded in satisfaction, then pondered for a moment, his eyes flickering slightly. "Where did that brat go after reading that letter? Or did he do anything strange?"

"Lord Danzo, no, that brat went to eat ramen after leaving the bathhouse!"

"???" Danzo was taken aback upon hearing this, then his brows furrowed again. "Going to eat ramen? No other reaction or action?"

"No! Oh, right, that brat went to eat ramen with the fox demon brat!"

"..."

With that little fox demon... isn't this just eating ramen?

……

"Phew, finally back to life!" Naruto patted his stomach with satisfaction, then looked at Shijian across from him with a resentful expression. "Shijian, why are you so late? I've been waiting for you to come back and cook!"

"I was originally planning to go back and cook too." Shi Jian didn't hide anything and explained a little. He didn't expect that Naruto would wait for him to go back and cook until he couldn't stand it anymore before he came out to eat ramen.

And that's how the two met in front of Ichiraku Ramen's stall.

"But I was taken to a bathhouse on the way."

"A bath? Who dragged you to a bath?" Naruto complained, annoyed that his best friend had abandoned him to go take a bath. "Damn it, who was it? Why didn't they invite me?!"

Before Ishigami could even say anything to tease Naruto about the Third Hokage, a voice suddenly came from the side.

"I know!"

This immediately caught their attention. Naruto and Ishigami turned around together, and a chubby little boy was eating ramen while saying, "The young lady of the Hyuga clan, I saw him going home with the young lady of the Hyuga clan."

As soon as he said that...

Naruto: !!!

Shijian: ? ? ?

What?