Born with a great love for the Uchiha

'Isn't this more like a thousand-year-old tortoise than a three-tailed turtle?'

Gen Uchiha shook his head, no longer paying attention to Black Zetsu, and began to deal with the official documents in front of him.

After a few days of "newcomer trial period".

Gen Uchiha has mastered the method of classifying and processing files.

There are only a handful of documents on his desk now.

This size is worlds apart from the "mountain of documents" he had when he first became Hokage.

Gen Uchiha acted swiftly and decisively, quickly reviewing the matters that required the Hokage's personal attention. He then turned to two special scrolls.

This is a scroll submitted by the first detachment of the Dark Division, detailing the internal situation of the Dark Division.

The first document contains all the mission records of the Dark Division over the past three months.

The second document is a complete list of active members of the Dark Division.

Gen Uchiha quickly scanned the Anbu mission log. The contents were nothing more than the usual assassination and reconnaissance missions, with nothing noteworthy.

As for the second scroll...

Gen Uchiha spread it out and placed it flat on the table, his finger tracing the complete list of Anbu members.

...Kakashi Hatake...Yamato...Itachi Uchiha...Yugao Uzuki...

Uchiha Gen's fingertip lingered briefly on the name "Uchiha Itachi".

Ever since he became the Fifth Hokage, he has always had the idea of ​​reorganizing the Anbu.

However, his time in power was short, and Gen Uchiha was not yet familiar with the overall situation of the village, so he did not take any action for the time being.

Apart from Kakashi Hatake.

Gen Uchiha basically did not interfere with the missions and operations of other Anbu members.

Uchiha Itachi, the son of the former clan head, was once regarded as a young genius who would serve as a bridge between the clan and the village...

Towards the end of the Third Hokage's reign, Itachi Uchiha was guarding the Hokage's gate.

Even after the Fifth Hokage took office, Itachi Uchiha was still guarding the gate for the Hokage.

Although the title of "Hokage's bodyguard" sounds pretty impressive.

But in reality, a gatekeeper is just a gatekeeper, and a gatekeeper is just a gatekeeper.

'That's fine... the clan doesn't need Itachi Uchiha for food.'

Gen Uchiha expressionlessly ignored the name "Itachi Uchiha" and continued reading.

He saw many familiar names on the list of ANBU members, but the one that caught his attention the most was a ninja from the Aburame clan.

Aburame Ryoma.

The list of members provided by the squad leader of the first detachment of the Dark Division contained a detailed record of Aburame Ryoma's work experience.

From the shadows to the roots and back to the shadows...

Ryoma Aburame's experiences are quite extensive.

Gen Uchiha knew about Ryoma Aburame because of Ryoma's identity as "Danzo Shimura's right-hand man".

He thought that Ryoma Aburame had long since disappeared from this world.

After Shimura Danzo was publicly executed, the Root organization was immediately disbanded.

Although Uchiha Gen later led members of the police force to clean up the Root base, they did not find much, and Yamato's deduction confirmed that there were still important figures alive in Root.

But Uchiha Gen never expected that the "important person" was Aburame Ryoma.

And now, the other party has reappeared before him in this way.

Then the mess at the root should also be thoroughly cleaned up.

After browsing through the entire list of Anbu members, Uchiha Gen closed the scroll.

"Someone come here."

At the Fifth Hokage's command, Itachi Uchiha, who was guarding the gate outside, flashed in.

"...Summon Aburame Ryoma to see me."

"Yes."

Uchiha Itachi accepted the order and left.

When not out on missions, the elite Anbu members are mostly concentrated in the Hokage Building.

Therefore, Aburame Ryoma arrives very quickly.

Only half a minute had passed.

Ryoma Aburame then arrived at the Hokage's office.

Itachi Uchiha, who brought his men, tactfully withdrew from the Hokage's office, closed the door behind him, and continued to stand guard at the entrance.

"Lord Godaime."

Ryoma Aburame was dressed in a standard ANBU uniform, wearing an animal mask, and his kneeling posture was impeccable.

“Ryoma Aburame, member of the Dark Division, is at your disposal.”

"Aburame Ryoma".

Uchiha Gen didn't get angry. He just sat behind his desk, speaking calmly as if he were having a casual chat.

"Didn't you ever think about running away?"

"Lord Godaime."

Ryoma Aburame remained kneeling, his eyes beneath the mask fixed on the floor of the Hokage's office.

"I don't understand what you mean."

"Then let me put it more clearly."

Gen Uchiha leaned forward, his hands clasped together and placed on the table.

"After the rogue ninja Shimura Danzo was publicly executed, you were in charge of cleaning up the Root organization, right?"

"Yes, Fifth Hokage."

Without the slightest hesitation, Aburame Ryoma answered immediately, adding as he did so.

"But this is an order given to me by the Third Hokage."

"did you mean……"

A half-smile appeared on Uchiha Gen's face.

"Even the Third Hokage betrayed the village?"

"Your subordinate wouldn't dare!"

Ryoma Aburame subconsciously looked up to deny it, then lowered his head again to look at the floor.

"I absolutely did not mean that!"

"……never mind."

Gen Uchiha shook his head and stopped pursuing this trivial matter.

Since Ryoma Aburame dared to appear in front of him personally, Gen Uchiha would not completely exterminate him like he did with Danzo Shimura.

There should definitely be a difference in treatment between "traitors" and "convicts who surrender themselves".

"From today onwards, you are no longer affiliated with the Dark Division."

With a single sentence, Uchiha Gen removed Aburame Ryoma's official position.

"Now, I'm giving you two choices."

"First, go to the police interrogation room, confess your crimes, and give a clear account of all the names of the Root remnants you know, and all the illegal things the Root has done over the years... one by one."

"In that case, you will receive lenient treatment."

"Secondly, go see Shimura Danzo now."

Make your choice.

Aburame Ryoma knelt on the ground and remained silent for a long time.

"Lord Godaime."

Ryoma Aburame removed the ANBU mask from his face, revealing the pale face of a middle-aged man.

There was not a trace of regret on his face, only the composure of accepting defeat.

"I plead guilty."

In Aburame Ryoma's mind, he never thought that Shimura Danzo's actions were wrong.

Everything Shimura Danzo did was for the purpose of protecting the village.

This is why Ryoma Aburame did not defect or leave the village after Danzo Shimura's death.

Because he also has Konoha in his heart!

Ultimately.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was still unable to simultaneously bear the light and darkness of the village as the Hokage.

That's why Root was born, and Root ninjas like Ryoma Aburame, who stood in the darkness to protect the village, were born!

Aburame Ryoma remembered Shimura Danzo saying something like this—

"Hiruzen Sarutobi is Konoha under the sunlight, he is the root buried deep in the earth."

The roots are the true foundation of the leaves.

Without roots, trees would be uprooted by winds blowing from all directions.

The failure of Danzo Shimura, the failure of Ryoma Aburame and others, was not a failure of the will of Root.

It's all because a super strong guy appeared in the village!

The Light of Konoha, the Fifth Hokage, the God of Shinobi in the New Era!