Purple Cat's legs felt weak as she walked back to her locker room. After changing into her civilian clothes, she vanished from the Hidden Leaf Village ANBU headquarters via the overhead lightwell.
On her way home, a constant smile played on Yamanaka Rika's lips. Fox had said that if they had a child, the name should contain the character for "Night." Should it be Yamanaka Night-something, or something-Night Yamanaka? It was such a difficult choice.
During dinner that evening, her younger sister, Yamanaka Ryu, watched her for a long time before she finally couldn't hold it back. "Sister, what are you smirking about!"
Rika immediately straightened her face. "Eat! No talking at the table!"
Ryu huffed. "No talking? That's a rule for clans like the Shimura or the Hyuga who have way too many restrictions. Since when did we have that rule?" Ryu put down her chopsticks and leaned in close to her sister, whispering, "Sister, I know where you go every day. Are you one of those legendary ANBU ninjas?"
Rika's eyes tightened for a split second before she forced herself to relax. She had never told her sister about her assignments, but they were so close that Ryu might have guessed something from her movements. "Nonsense. How could I be an ANBU? Don't say such things. Spreading rumors can get you dragged away by the ANBU for interrogation."
Ryu quickly pulled back, looking fearful. "A classmate of mine was taken in for questioning because he spread rumors about Lord White Fang. They wanted to know who instructed him. When he came out, he was much more silent. He took a heavy blow being in that place."
Rika knew a bit about that matter. Recently, someone had been building momentum for White Fang, and his prestige was skyrocketing. Today, Fox and Lord Orochimaru had returned from the Land of Lightning; the next round of propaganda would likely be for Lord Orochimaru.
Just then, someone abruptly pushed open their front door. "Rika! The Clan Head summons you urgently!"
Rika abandoned her meal and hurried toward the Clan Head's estate. Ryu watched her sister's back with envy. Last time, she had seen the Clan Head speaking with her sister on the veranda, listening intently while her sister spoke slowly. Her sister's status in the clan was rising, and many Jonin held her in high regard.
Rika arrived and found the Clan Head, Yamanaka Inozono. "Rika, you're here," Inozono said. "Time is short. Has something happened in the ANBU or Root recently? Why did Advisor Danzo start visiting the clan compounds one by one this afternoon?"
Normally, Inozono would not pry into the affairs of the ANBU or Root, but the situation was exceptional. Danzo's movements were putting immense pressure on the clans.
Rika thought for a moment before speaking. "Lord Clan Head, do you remember the murders of Shimura Oka and Sarutobi Yui, who were about to be promoted to Jonin?"
"I remember." Inozono mused that those two didn't have the strength to be Jonin anyway. Sometimes the Third Hokage and Advisor Danzo exercised their power a bit willfully, and subordinates could do nothing about it.
Ri continued, "Besides those two, six members of Root have been killed over the past few months. I suspect Advisor Danzo is visiting the clans to replenish Root with powerful experts."
Inozono realized this was likely the case. Someone ran in from outside. "Clan Head! Advisor Danzo has entered the compound!"
"Invite him to the study... no, invite him to the Great Hall. I'm going now."
It was inconvenient for Rika to appear. She was an ANBU ninja and Danzo was a superior; siding with the ANBU or the family would be inappropriate, so she remained in the Clan Head's study.
Inozono waited in the Great Hall until Danzo arrived. "Please sit, Advisor Danzo."
However, Danzo remained standing. "Clan Head Inozono, though the Second Ninja World War has ended, the village's security is not optimistic. People hiding in the shadows frequently provoke the village and slaughter its key ninjas."
Inozono thought to himself, 'It's not the village being provoked, it's likely you.'
"Root and the ANBU urgently need capable ninjas to protect the village from the darkness and complete missions that ordinary ninjas cannot. I have already notified the Aburame, the Hyuga, and other clans. It is the duty of every clan to sacrifice for the Hidden Leaf Village.
The Yamanaka clan is no different. You will regularly supply two ninjas to Root: one elite Chunin or Special Jonin with excellent combat capabilities, and one child of high talent who has not yet entered the Ninja Academy."
Inozono's eyes were filled with confusion. He knew he couldn't dodge Danzo's demands and understood wanting a Special Jonin, but why a child? "Advisor Danzo, my Yamanaka clan is willing to offer a Chunin or Special Jonin, but asking for a child who hasn't even entered school... isn't that a bit improper?"
Danzo replied, "There is nothing improper. Root will train them from a young age; only then can we cultivate outstanding Root ninjas. This child will live and eat in Root and will never return to the Yamanaka clan. This is the requirement for you, and it is the same for the other clans."
Inozono's face turned pale. This demand was too much. "Advisor Danzo, the original intention of founding the Hidden Leaf Village was so that ten-year-olds wouldn't have to go to the battlefield. Now you mean to say a four-year-old must enter Root for training? I will absolutely not—"
Before Inozono could finish, a cold wind seemed to sweep through the room. Danzo's eyes, with their small, malicious pupils, stared him down. The chill seeped into Inozono's sleeves, making him feel as if he had fallen into a cellar of ice.
Even so, Inozono stood his ground. "No, I do not agree to a four-year-old child entering Root! Advisor Danzo, in the past year, my Yamanaka clan has already supplied many ninjas to the ANBU and Root. Currently, there is one Yamanaka ninja in each.
Not only do Root and the ANBU need us, but the Interrogation Force and the Barrier Team need us as well. We are still willing to send ninjas to Root and the ANBU—as you said, it is our duty to sacrifice for the village. But providing a four-year-old child? I cannot agree to that!"
Behind Danzo, C lowered his head. He was the Yamanaka ninja serving in Root whom the Clan Head had mentioned. Unlike ANBU ninjas who could go home when they had no mission, Root ninjas had to remain in the base twenty-four hours a day, waiting for Danzo's summons.
C knew that Danzo wanted four-year-olds to cultivate absolutely loyal subordinates who were untainted by clan influence.
"Yamanaka Inozono, even Nara Shikaku didn't say anything. Are you going to be the first to stand against me?"
Hearing that the Nara clan head hadn't objected, Inozono's resolve weakened instantly. He squinted his eyes in pain. If Shikaku had agreed, it meant the situation was unavoidable.
C said nothing, hoping the Clan Head would agree quickly. Root had suffered such heavy losses that Danzo was determined to strengthen it. Three or four-year-olds, trained from birth, were the easiest to turn into emotionless mission machines.
If they were never told their identities, they wouldn't even know who they were, eliminating concerns about loyalty.
Inozono hesitated again and again, finally sighing. "My apologies, Lord Danzo. I was mistaken just now; I became a bit agitated."
Danzo said, "I have someone in mind: Chunin Yamanaka Ryu. Let her enter Root. Her sister's strength is quite good, so I presume Ryu's talent is also excellent. Yamanaka Ryu, plus a four-year-old child. Deliver them to Root tomorrow."