Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

After giving a command into the darkness, Shimura Gengetsu vanished in a flash.

.........

The next day, Shimura Gengetsu woke up naturally.

When he went downstairs for breakfast, the maid told him that a little boy with white hair had been waiting at the door since early morning, and no matter how she tried to persuade him, he refused to come in.

Gengetsu Shimura was somewhat surprised. He knew the servant was referring to Kabuto, but he wondered why he was standing at the door.

He took a sip of porridge and instructed the servant to bring the person in.

Soon, Kabuto Yakushi stood in front of him, looking flustered.

"Why don't you come in and wait outside?" Shimura Gengetsu asked.

Dou's voice was low, "You...you told me to come back at ten o'clock, but it's not time yet..."

Gengetsu Shimura smiled, pointed to the empty seat opposite him, indicating that Kabuto should sit down. He then told the waiter to bring another breakfast and leave. Soon, only the two children remained in the large living room.

"Let's eat first, then we'll talk."

After saying that, Shimura Gengetsu ignored him and ate his breakfast by himself.

Dou lowered his head and ate his meal, but he was still uneasy.

From their first meeting, he was deeply impressed by Shimura Gengetsu, especially when Shimura Gengetsu smiled at him, which gave him a chill down his spine.

Danger.

Despite not being much older than him, Kabuto instinctively felt fear when he saw Shimura Gengetsu, just like a mouse seeing a cat.

This fear did not dissipate after Shimura Gengetsu had been absent for some time; on the contrary, it intensified after this meeting.

.......

Finally, Shimura Gengetsu finished his breakfast, and Kabuto immediately put down his chopsticks the next second.

"Kabuto, do you know why I called you here?" Shimura Gengetsu asked with a smile.

"I don't know," Kabuto replied cautiously.

"Do you know about Dean Nono's other identity?"

Shimura Gengetsu sipped his milk, his little mouth swaying slightly. "You're smart, but don't try to outsmart me. I hate self-righteous people."

Cold sweat appeared on Kabuto's forehead. He hesitated for a long time before whispering, "Dean Nono... is a ninja."

"That's true."

Gengetsu Shimura nodded, a straw dangling from his mouth. "But to be more precise, she was a spy for Root, who brought a great deal of important intelligence to Konoha during the Third Shinobi World War..."

"......"

This was the first time Kabuto had heard about Dean Nono's deeds, and he looked on intently.

"Do you know what a root is?" Shimura Gengetsu suddenly asked a question that left Kabuto even more bewildered.

He's not even a ninja, so it's already quite remarkable that he knows about the Anbu.

Root?

That's something even ordinary Chunin and Genin don't know about. Let alone Kabuto, the Ninja Academy doesn't teach these things.

"Listen carefully." Gengetsu Shimura cleared his throat.

“The Root will kill those whom the Anbu dares not kill, and will manage things that the Anbu dares not manage. In short, the Root will manage what the Anbu can manage, and will manage even more what the Anbu cannot manage. Act first and report later, with the Hokage’s special permission… No, what is the Hokage? We don’t need to pay attention to him. He can’t manage the Root. This is the Root, absorbing nutrients and growing its roots wildly.”

The pharmacist stared blankly, his mouth involuntarily agape.

Even the Hokage can't control Root?

That sounds so arrogant...

"So? Do you understand now?"

"Hmm, I think I understand, but why are you telling me all this?" Kabuto asked, puzzled.

He's just an orphan, nothing special about him, so why tell him this information?

"Dou, you don't know the truth."

Shimura Gengetsu suddenly changed his expression, his face full of sighs, "Your Dean Nono has actually wanted to leave Root a long time ago and focus on running the orphanage."

"But the conditions don't allow it. She's an elite spy from the Root, and she knows too many people's secrets. How could my old man let her just retire like that?"

"Besides, there are so many orphans in the orphanage, and they all need money for food, drink, and toileting. If she doesn't carry out her mission, where will your funding come from?"

Kabuto's face had turned deathly pale. The thought of Director Nono having to do things she didn't like for the sake of the orphanage made his nose sting and tears well up in his eyes.

“However…” Shimura Gengetsu changed the subject, “I can give you a chance.”

"If you can become a stronger spy and demonstrate value beyond hers, then what's wrong with letting go of a mere Nonou?"

Chapter Thirty: Kabuto Yakushi's Resolve, His First Mission

Kabuto was experiencing a mix of emotions at that moment, so much so that his brain started to short-circuit due to the overwhelming amount of feelings.

He finally understood why Dean Nono would disappear for a period of time from time to time, and why she often had caregivers take care of them.

It turns out they were going on a dangerous mission.

Thinking about how Director Nonou had been in all sorts of dangerous situations for the sake of the orphanage, Kabuto Yakushi felt like he couldn't breathe.

These orphans knew nothing and had no idea what the director had sacrificed.

"why me?"

After an unknown amount of time, Kabuto Yakushi suddenly looked up and asked in a hoarse voice, "I'm just an ordinary orphan. Do I have the right to be compared to Dean Nono?"

He wasn't afraid, but rather afraid that he wouldn't do a good enough job and would implicate the dean.

“Of course you don’t have that kind of value right now.” Shimura Gengetsu shook his head slightly, and continued under Kabuto’s disappointed gaze, “But I’m optimistic about your future.”

"I believe you can definitely become an excellent intelligence ninja."

"Will Dean Nono be able to leave Root by then?" Kabuto asked expectantly.

"No."

Shimura Gengetsu's words made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

“Once you enter the Root, even if you die, you’ll be a Root ghost.” Gengetsu Shimura yawned. “It’s impossible for her to quit, but I can stop her from carrying out missions and let her take charge of the orphanage’s development. This is a way to store up reserve forces for the Root. This is already the best outcome. Don’t push your luck.”

"If you want to talk to me, you need to demonstrate your value. You are not qualified yet."

"I understand." Kabuto lowered his head, his glasses reflecting the light.

He jumped off his seat, knelt down on one knee in front of Shimura Gengetsu, and said, "Young Master Gengetsu, I am willing to join Root and serve you."

"Very good, you've already entered the Ninja Academy, right?"

"Yes, I just enrolled last month."

"Attend classes normally during the day, and receive training at the root base in the evening. Remember, do not tell anyone, including your dean."

“I understand,” Kabuto replied obediently.

Gengetsu Shimura's words just now made young Kabuto understand a principle.

The importance of self-worth.

Only when a person possesses value can they be valued and obtain the results they desire.

Gengetsu Shimura believed he had potential, and that was his value.

What needs to be done next is to convert potential into real strength, so that Shimura Gengetsu knows that he did not misjudge him.

At that time, Dean Nono will be able to break free and live the life she wants.

The living conditions of the children in the orphanage will also be improved.

Suddenly, Dou had a goal to strive for and found the meaning of life.

"Seijiro, take him to familiarize himself with the way, and arrange a teacher for him as well." As Shimura Gengetsu finished speaking, Aburame Seijiro emerged from the shadows.

As the two were leaving, they ran into Uchiha Izumi, who had come looking for Yamanaka Gengetsu.

Izumi's big eyes were filled with doubt. She glanced at the pocket, but didn't ask any more questions. She skipped and hopped into Shimura's house.

"Xuan Yue, I've come to visit you! Tomorrow you'll officially become a ninja, let's go celebrate!"

Gengetsu Shimura witnessed a very interesting scene.

When Uchiha Izumi and Yakushi Kabuto crossed paths, they were in the shadow cast by the gate.

One person ran towards the light, while the other walked towards the darkness.

...

The next day.

After a day of rest, the Hiashi team gathered at the foot of the Hokage Building.

After the three arrived, Hyuga Hizashi led them into the Hokage Building and to the mission release center.

Konoha's missions are generally divided into two types. The first type is a commission mission that anyone can post, with the reward set according to the difficulty of the mission, and the village taking 20% ​​as a handling fee.