Game Merchants Starting from the Ninja World.

Chapter 367 The Successor to the Will of Fire, Root Leader: Aizen

"Lord Aizen!"

"Thank you, Lord Aizen! I want to become like you someday!"

The children from the orphanage all gathered around Aizen when they saw him.

They chattered amongst themselves, their faces filled with longing as they looked at Aizen.

Aizen crouched down, patted the little girl who was looking up at him, and said with a smile, "Hinaki Ri, huh? That's a very nice name."

Looking at the little girl whose face was slightly flushed from being called by name,

Aizen smiled gently and said, "I am just an ordinary person. It is because of the Will of Fire that I am able to become someone worthy of being remembered in your eyes. Therefore, you must not forget to learn the Will of Fire."

"Only by understanding the Will of Fire can one become a hero who protects the village."

Words of earnestness

Like a gentle stream, it nourishes the children's hearts.

They all eagerly assured Aizen that they would definitely become heroes who protect the village.

Leaving the orphanage,

Aizen headed towards the Hokage Building and soon arrived at the Hokage's office.

He very politely dusted himself off, knocked on the door, and waited until Danzo's voice came from the office.

I turned the doorknob and entered the office.

"Sandaime-sama."

Through his glasses, Aizen looked respectfully at Shinobu sitting in the chair.

Or rather... the parasitized Renxiong.

The change in his soul could not be hidden from Aizen's perception.

Within his sight, Hiruzen Sarutobi was already dead, and the person in front of him, cloaked in the skin of a ninja hero, was a sinister-looking soul.

Aizen, through his recent investigation, also learned the identity of this soul.

Danzo Shimura.

The former Hokage advisor and leader of the Root organization, he always longed to become Hokage but was unable to achieve it.

Did they unexpectedly manage to seize power and achieve their dream through some special means?

The other party did not speak.

He quietly reviewed the documents.

Aizen maintained his respectful posture and gentle smile, standing silently in place without making a sound to disturb him.

After a long time,

Danzo looked up, a rare, complex smile on his face, and said, "Sousuke, the recent reconstruction of Konoha has caused a mountain of documents and work to pile up. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

His strategy of winning over civilian ninjas was to completely control Konoha Village.

among them,

Aizen Sousuke is definitely a shining gem.

It was so perfect that even Danzo couldn't find the slightest flaw.

Danzo even suspected that this perfect person was a spy sent by the enemy, but the more he got to know him, the more he realized...

Using someone as talented as Aizen Sousuke as a spy would be an enormous loss, and no one would be willing to do that.

Even Danzo, who was extremely suspicious and wouldn't easily trust others,

Even Aizen Sousuke was moved after he willingly allowed himself to be marked with a curse.

The root of all trouble lies in the tongue.

A low-level curse seal that prevents the person cursed from revealing related information.

Danzo used reward points and one [Upgrade Scroll] to upgrade the low-level curse seal to the second-tier [Tongue Curse Root Extinction - Control].

Anyone who has been placed under the curse seal cannot escape it, and if they violate the contents of the curse seal, their body will suffer a strong backlash.

That is why,

In just half a month, Danzo had already made Aizen Sousuke a very convenient tool.

It even allows them to process Hokage documents.

"Aizen, the ninja clan didn't get any spoils of war, so they deliberately caused a lot of trouble in the village. It's all thanks to you."

Danzo, wearing the Hokage's hat, looked down at the street outside the window.

"Lord Hokage, there's no need to say that. It's all part of my duty."

Aizen was very perceptive; he picked up a pile of documents that had been separated from the desk and sat down in the corner to start working on them.

Most of them are trivial matters that don't involve ninjas, are rather complicated, and waste time.

Truly secret intelligence and documents,

Aizen kept his eyes straight ahead, not even glancing at the others, simply focusing on his paperwork.

Danzo stood by the window without turning his head, and deliberately asked, "Aizen, do you also feel that what I did was wrong?"

"The Naruto is right."

Aizen didn't even raise his head, and his answer seemed to come entirely from his heart, without any consideration of the pros and cons.

Danzo scrutinized Aizen through the reflection in the glass window.

Aizen, without hesitation or concealment, added, "This is the Will of Fire, the burning Konoha. Its warmth should shine on everyone, not just the ninja clan."

"Like a lush, growing tree."

"If the branches extend too densely, it will only make the tree more and more burdened, and eventually it will be crushed."

"A sturdy trunk is the foundation of a great tree."

Aizen looked up, adjusted his glasses, and said, "The ninja clan is able to grow because of the nutrients supplied by the trunk. If they only know how to take but are unwilling to sacrifice in times of crisis, then they are bad branches."

"I can understand your actions very well, Hokage-sama. Everything you do is for the sake of the village, which is why I am willing to join you and pave the way for you."

It sounds like a compliment.

However, Danzo could not detect a trace of flattery in Aizen's eyes; everything he saw was genuine.

But... it seems like there's something he wants to say but is holding back?

Danzo sat back down at his desk, casually opened a drawer, frowned slightly when he saw the familiar tobacco pouch, and tossed it into the trash can at his feet.

"Aizen, you seem to be holding back?"

Danzo stroked the Hokage's hat, his face expressionless, and said, "Speak freely, I won't blame you."

"As expected of the Hokage, you noticed?"

Aizen seemed to have his secret exposed, and looked slightly alarmed before lowering his head and saying, "In fact, even the thick and sturdy trunk is not the core of this great tree."

"In everyone's eyes, the trunk is the indispensable part that supports the entire tree."

"but……"

"Actually, the part that truly supports the entire tree is the root system. It takes root in the darkness and constantly draws nutrients to ensure the tree's growth."

"But they remain unknown and are even disliked by others for being covered in mud and filth."

Aizen raised his head, his gaze sharp, and said, "Just like your friend Shimura Danzo back then, who was willing to accept all kinds of criticism, just to protect Konoha in obscurity. In my opinion, that kind of Will of Fire is no less than anyone else's."

"This is what the village is lacking right now. If all the mud falls on the Hokage, I will feel very guilty. It would be my dereliction of duty."

In the presence of the Hokage, the Will of Fire of others is even more admirable.

This is a very foolish thing to do.

But it gave Danzo a sensation akin to drinking sweet spring water under the scorching sun.

That is precisely why Aizen's words came from the bottom of his heart.

Danzo suppressed a smile and said, "You're right, but these days, there are far too few ninjas who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the village, tarnish their own reputation, and take root in the soil to become unknown members of the Root."

Thinking of this, he gave a slight snort and continued, "Only thinking about becoming Hokage, only knowing about light and glory, how could they understand the importance of Root?"

"Today's ninjas have all been brainwashed by a superficial understanding of the Will of Fire, and are unable to grasp its true essence!"

"Aizen, you're very good!"

Danzo stared intently at Aizen, as if he were looking at a raw, unpolished gem.

What a perfect subordinate, the perfect Will of Fire!

After a moment's thought,

Danzo spoke up, "Starting tomorrow, the Shadow Organization will allocate five hundred elite players to form Root. Aizen, you will serve as the leader of Root, responsible for upholding the darkness of Konoha!"

"I acknowledge your Will of Fire. Keep it up!"

"I am truly humbled. Thank you, Hokage-sama, for enabling me to better serve Konoha!"

(End of this chapter)