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

"You, a dignified Blazing Release ninja who killed countless of my comrades, have ended up like this. Isn't that pathetic?"

Unfortunately, faced with his sarcasm, Ye Cang didn't even have the strength to speak. He could only struggle to move his fingers before closing his eyes completely.

A Kirigakure ninja dressed as an ANBU member jumped down from the cliff, checked the man, nodded, and instructed him, "The Scorching Release ninja, Pakura, is confirmed dead. Bury him anywhere."

Other ninja villages certainly wouldn't waste the corpse of a bloodline ninja.

However, Kirigakure has already begun implementing its Blood Mist policy, treating all bloodline ninjas with hostility and paying them little attention.

Gradually, the fog dissipated, and the canyon welcomed the first rays of sunlight of the day.

The nearby Hidden Mist ninjas had all withdrawn, leaving behind only kunai and bloodstains.

Click!Click!

The mountain cracked open, and Uchiha Shisui emerged from within, carrying a huge scroll, letting out a long sigh of relief.

This is a sealing scroll specially prepared by Shimura Gengetsu. It can not only shield a person's entire aura, but also ensure that the person inside remains unconscious.

After confirming that there were no traces left by Kirigakure in the vicinity, the Uchiha quickly took the scroll and left the area, returning to the Land of Fire.

.....

Konoha.

Above a small waterfall outside the village.

Uzuki Yugao and Yuhi Kurenai are training their chakra control.

The two women had already mastered the usual wading, and hot springs and calm waters no longer provided much of a workout, which is why they came to a place with rapid currents.

You need to adjust the chakra output under your feet in real time according to the changes in water flow speed.

Because they had only been training for a few days, Uzuki Yugao and Yuhi Kurenai were not very skilled and often fell into the water.

Shimura Gengetsu sat on a large rock, surrounded by a pile of leaves, studying the nature changes of the wind attribute. Beside the waterfall, a female ninja from the Hyuga clan was observing Kurenai Yugao's condition with her Byakugan activated.

This was a teacher specially invited by Hyuga Hizashi. Through his Byakugan, he could determine where the two of them were having problems with their chakra output, which was more accurate and direct than their own experience.

Although Hizashi himself has Byakugan, Yugao and Kurenai are female ninjas, so they can only go to the branch family to find another one.

The Third Hokage also played a significant role; otherwise, no ordinary person would have been qualified to do so. When Yugao and Kurenai found out, they were very grateful to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

But Shimura Gengetsu felt that Sarutobi Hiruzen was after him.

Otherwise, why would he value Kurenai and Yugao so much? Their strength and talent are not even worth mentioning to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

However, Gengetsu Shimura did not refuse.

Accept all the sugar coatings, and return the shells to their original location.

A rapid whooshing sound came from the distant woods. Shimura Gengetsu looked up and saw three Root ninja leaping towards him and quickly kneeling on one knee.

Kurenai Yuhi and Yugao Uzuki, who were cultivating, also noticed it, exchanged a glance, and jumped ashore at the same time.

"Young Master Xuan Yue, the mission is complete," the leading Root ninja whispered.

"You brought the person back?" Shimura Gengetsu's eyes lit up.

"It's located at the root base and is currently receiving treatment."

"I understand." Xuan Yue jumped off the big rock and shouted to the other side of the waterfall, "You two are not allowed to slack off. I have something to do and I'm going back first."

After saying that, he returned to the village with three Root ninjas.

"What happened?" Kurenai asked, opening her mouth in confusion. "Why do I feel like... Gengetsu seems quite happy?"

Uzuki Yugao shook her head. "What we need to know, Lord Xuanyue will naturally tell us. Let's continue cultivating."

After saying that, she stepped into the waterfall.

Chapter 52 Gengetsu's Desire for Filial Piety, and Nono's Questioning (Seeking Data!)

In order to avoid attracting Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention, Gengetsu Shimura, though somewhat anxious, pretended to be normal and strolled leisurely to the Root base after entering the village.

Unfortunately, I couldn't see Yekura right away; she was receiving treatment from a medical ninja in the medical room.

After thinking for a moment, Shimura Gengetsu turned a corner and arrived at the interrogation room.

Uchiha Shisui is right here.

"Senior Shisui".

The person he wanted had been brought back, so Shimura Gengetsu was in a good mood and greeted him politely.

“It’s Gengetsu-kun.” A smile appeared on Uchiha Shisui’s tired face.

After enduring wind and rain for half a month, and then traveling at full speed for a day after rescuing someone, even an elite Jonin would be exhausted.

"You can leave now. I'll handle the questioning." Xuan Yue waved his hand, dismissing the two ninjas who were originally supposed to be in charge of the interrogation. Only he and Shisui remained in the room.

"Senior Shisui, please tell me about the process of this mission."

Uchiha Shisui nodded and began to speak slowly and deliberately.

When the Hidden Mist ninja launched his sneak attack on Pakura, Shisui intervened, using genjutsu to manipulate him into kicking Pakura to his hiding place. In a very short time, he switched the scapegoat's back with an identical injury.

He then quickly used a scroll to seal the heavily injured Ye Cang, and then led him into a secret passage that had been prepared in advance.

He only dared to take the next step after all the Mist Ninja had left.

Upon arriving at the border of the Land of Fire, they used a pre-arranged code to find the Root personnel responsible for providing assistance, and after that, nothing much happened.

"As expected of Shisui-senpai, he took everything into account, including the environment and people's hearts." Shimura Gengetsu did not hold back his praise. "If you ask me, you should be the head of the Uchiha clan. You are much better than that bitter and resentful uncle."

“Xuan Yue-jun, please stop joking.” Uchiha Shisui said with a wry smile, “Clan Chief Fugaku is a very competent clan chief, and I respect him very much.”

"And I believe that Itachi will definitely be an even more outstanding clan leader in the future."

"Is that so?" Shimura Gengetsu, who was now thinking of filial piety, gave a noncommittal reply and did not continue the topic with Shisui.

"Thank you for your hard work on this mission, Senior Shisui. The Root will handle everything else. I believe you will know what to do when you get back."

Uchiha Shisui stood up and nodded. "I understand. I've just been recuperating these past few days and haven't gone anywhere."

The person has been brought back, and Zhishui doesn't want to ask what will happen to the roots.

However, he sincerely hoped that Shimura Gengetsu would succeed and add a powerful fighter to the village.

"........."

After seeing off Uchiha Shisui, Shimura Gengetsu encountered another 'old friend'.

The door to the medical room was pushed open, and the medical ninja who walked out was none other than Yakushi Nonou, who had disappeared for some time.

"Dean Nonou, it's been a long time."

"Young Master Xuan Yue..."

Unlike Shimura Gengetsu, Nonou's expression was not good at this moment, and she even looked at him with a hint of hostility.

Xuan Yue suddenly realized, "So you've seen Dou?"

“Young Master Xuan Yue,” Nono said, suppressing her anger, “Why? Kabuto is just a child, he’s even a year younger than you, why did you bring him into Root!”

When Nono returned to Konoha after completing her mission, she saw Kabuto training diligently at Root, just like the other ninjas.

She felt like the sky had fallen.

Nonou really likes Kabuto, who is very sensible. When she is too busy to take care of him, Kabuto manages the other leaders, including the children who are even a little older than him, very well.

She also felt sorry for Dou, who had to become so sensible at an age when she should have been innocent and carefree.

For the sake of the orphanage and for Kabuto, Nono forced herself to complete the mission assigned by Danzo, hoping to exchange her own darkness for the bright future of others.

But after seeing that scene, Nono knew that all her efforts had been in vain.

She was able to suppress her anger and not lash out thanks to the years of intimidation exerted by Danzo and Root, which forced her to remain rational.

“I never forced him to do anything.”

Genjuro Shimura shook his head innocently, his big eyes meeting Nono's angry gaze without flinching: "He just found out everything you did for the orphanage and made his own choice."

Nonou exclaimed excitedly, "But without your permission, Kabuto could never have joined Root."

"Why wouldn't I agree?" Gengetsu Shimura looked at her with suspicion. "In my heart, Kabuto's value is far greater than that of an elite spy like you. How could I possibly turn away someone who is willing to join Root?"

“Dean Nonou, I advise you not to worry about Kabuto.” Gengetsu Shimura waved his hand. “I’m easy to talk to, but my old man isn’t so kind. Focus more on the mission. Don’t wait until Kabuto grows up and is able to protect the orphanage, by which time the grass on your grave will be three feet high.”

"Live well, live until the day when Dou and the orphanage become better and better. That will be the greatest recognition of his efforts."

After saying that, Shimura Gengetsu lost interest in talking, walked around the stunned Nono, and went into the ward.

......

Inside the pristine white room.

Dark lines extended outwards from Ye Cang in all directions of the room, and Xuan Yue recognized the origin of this technique at a glance.

Sealing Technique: Lion's Roar.

Those trapped in the center of the formation will have all their acupoints sealed, making them unable to use chakra, and the cursed seals will wrap around their bodies like chains.

Yekura is currently still unconscious. The kunai that pierced her back was poisoned, which interferes with the flow of chakra, which is why a Kage-level powerhouse could lose her fighting ability so easily.

Shimura Gengetsu didn't care about anything else, only whether such a perfect back would leave a scar. After going in, he hurriedly turned Yekura over and then breathed a sigh of relief.