I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 61 The Birth of the Shadow Rasengan!

"The roots absorb new blood..."

The impatience on Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face faded, and his two gray-white eyebrows twitched slightly.

The Root, also known as the "Dark Training Department".

This organization hides in the shadows of Konoha, and its biggest goal is to secretly eliminate any obstacles that hinder the village's development.

In his early years, Danzo Shimura failed in his bid for the position of the Third Hokage.

However, due to Hiruzen Sarutobi's momentary soft-hearted concession, Danzo Shimura was still able to establish a deeper ninja force—Root—within the Hokage's direct assassination tactical special forces (Anbu).

Although nominally, Root is a force belonging to the Dark Side.

However, in reality, almost every ninja in Root was responsible only to Danzo Shimura.

As the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi was well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of such a ninja force lurking in the deeper shadows.

Danzo Shimura and his Roots bore the burden of all the "darkness" for Konoha.

The Third Hokage, as he was known, naturally maintained the image of "absolute light and greatness."

However, excessive darkness inevitably breeds certain unnecessary desires and threats.

While allowing the roots to grow freely, Hiruzen Sarutobi also actively suppresses the expansion of their power.

The most fundamental and important way to limit the growth of the root is to strictly limit the addition of its members!

"Danzo, you just said 'a young ninja from the Nara clan'?"

Various thoughts flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind. He looked at Danzo Shimura and took the initiative to ask.

"When did Root decide to recruit members of the Nara clan?"

"Didn't you always complain that the Nara clan's ninjas weren't 'dark' enough?"

It is true that the Sarutobi clan has been on good terms with the Ino-Shika-Cho clan for generations, and is an ally and witness to the Ino-Shika-Cho clan.

However, this does not mean that the Sarutobi clan can forcibly interfere with the life direction of every ninja from the Ino-Shika-Cho clan.

If any ninja from the Ino-Shika-Cho clans wanted to enter Root on their own initiative, Hiruzen Sarutobi would not forcibly stop them.

However, if Shimura Danzo were to use coercive methods to forcibly "recruit" certain ninjas to join Root...

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi won't agree so easily!

But then again.

Since Danzo Shimura founded Root, most of the members he recruited were war orphans and civilian ninjas, with few members of ninja clans, let alone the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

After all, among the three clans of pig, deer, and butterfly, apart from the mountain clan, the overall personalities of the other "deer" and "butterfly" families are too distinct and do not conform to the mysterious and dark beliefs of the Root organization.

"I should have just said that."

"I said calmly," Shimura Danzo said.

"That Nara clan ninja is very young."

Being young means having greater plasticity and being able to undergo more intensive training (brainwashing).

"A young Nara ninja, capable of fighting Minato and even forcing him to summon Gamabunta?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi strung together Danzo Shimura's words and stroked his beard with a puzzled look.

"When did such a talented ninja emerge from the Nara clan? What is his name?"

Shimura Danzo, realizing he hadn't been bluffing about this issue after all, sighed inwardly.

"Nara Langui."

"Him? Wait, isn't that the kid who just graduated from the Ninja Academy this year?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was completely stunned.

"Several ninja academy teachers have commented that he 'lacks ninja talent'."

"Danzo, are you sure your information is correct?"

Is this even possible?

Danzo Shimura frowned slightly.

He had just received the intelligence about the "Nine-Tails' rampage" and rushed to the Hokage's office after a quick glance, without having time to search for more detailed information about Nara.

However, he just graduated from the Ninja Academy and is only 9 years old... He is indeed a very promising talent!

"Perhaps he deliberately concealed his talent level while in the ninja academy."

Shimura Danzo said coldly.

Or perhaps... they're just too lazy to show it off.

"No……"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. He could tell that Danzo Shimura didn't know much about Nara Rinka, and he had no intention of telling him at this moment.

"Danzo, I advise you not to have too much confidence and expectation in recruiting Nara Rinka."

"He's no ordinary ninja."

……

Leave the Hokage Building.

Like a rat, Shimura Danzo retreated back into the darkness of the Root.

Under his orders, the Root ninjas swiftly began gathering intelligence on Nara Rinka.

Despite the tight schedule, the elite ninjas of Root managed to gather as much intelligence as possible.

This includes Nara Ranke's family background, school performance, lack of talent, and friendships.

After carefully reviewing the information about Nara's Thousand Cassia, Shimura Danzo finally understood why Hiruzen hadn't told him to have too high expectations.

Both parents alive, a happy family, and immense wealth...

Shimura Danzo was a little puzzled as to why this guy didn't give up being a ninja and instead went home to inherit the family fortune.

Even Shimura Danzo felt a bit of a challenge when faced with a young ninja from such a family background.

The root of the matter is his one-man show.

However, once he leaves Root, the other ninjas of Konoha will not completely obey his orders.

If Root wants to recruit ninjas, it still needs to follow the "basic rules".

Generally speaking, Danzo Shimura targeted ninjas with special abilities and dark secrets hidden in their hearts.

During recruitment, he would do his best to appeal to their emotions, reason with them, and entice them with benefits.

Ninjas are tools.

Even if you're just a tool, you still need to do tasks to earn money and survive!

Otherwise, what's the point of ninjas joining Root?

Tu Zhicun Tuanzang: He's old, has a bandaged face, and kisses on his lips.

No salary, no career advancement opportunities, no ninjutsu materials...

Aside from those "orphans" raised by the Root organization itself, who would risk their life for Shimura Danzo without expecting anything in return?

However, Danzo Shimura pondered for a moment.

His past tactics seemed to have little effect on Nara Rangatsu, a guy who looked like a winner in life.

Not to mention the "inherited personality traits" of the Nara clan's ninjas.

"It seems the only way to bring Nara Rinkazu into Root is to unleash the dark side within him..."

Danzo Shimura focused his attention on the interpersonal relationships within the Nara Rankei.

"Perhaps it's my good fortune, but this genius ninja happens to have a Root elite member by his side!"

……

Nara Rinka had no idea that an old man was secretly plotting against his young body.

Without the distractions of daily routines, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to his cultivation.

Two days have passed in the blink of an eye.

That morning.

Inside the cultivation room.

A shadow clone suddenly exploded into a cloud of smoke, transferring all the memories and experiences of training in ninjutsu to the original body.

A glint flashed in Nara Rinka's eyes. He raised his right hand, resonating the [Chakra Crystal] on his index finger. Streams of chakra energy gathered in his palm and flowed continuously in different directions.

Chakra continuously gathered and compressed together, gradually forming a high-speed rotating energy ball with astonishing density, emitting a faint glow.

A new message notification popped up on the panel.

[Rank A Technique: Rasengan]

[Spell Description: An energy sphere compressed in the palm displays an infinite spiral of possibilities]

[Spell Effect: A non-attribute chakra energy ball that can be activated with one hand without hand seals, possessing immense destructive power and expandability]

[Surgical Procedure Evaluation: Kidney and Liver Removal!]

[You have developed an A-rank technique, the Rasengan, which will enhance your Ninjutsu and Wisdom attributes!]

"After so many days of hard work, especially the Shadow Clone Jutsu's tireless practice, we've finally mastered this A-rank ninjutsu!"

Nara Rinka couldn't hide his excitement.

"Now that the Rasengan has been developed, it's not impossible to imagine the prototype of the Rasengan, the S-rank ninjutsu exclusive to the tailed beasts, the Tailed Beast Ball!"

But Nara Rinka also knew that the reason why the Tailed Beasts were able to use the terrifyingly destructive [Tailed Beast Ball] was related to their own enormous amount of chakra.

Nara Rinka even had some doubts about whether his A-rank ninja tool, the Chakra Crystal, could actually support a single Tailed Beast Ball attack...

High-burst, high-power ninjutsu and forbidden techniques are certainly attractive.

However, without sufficient "hard conditions" to support it, even the best ninjutsu cannot be released.

all in all.

Nara Rinkei had no intention of developing the Tailed Beast Ball until his chakra level reached the level of "Little Hashirama".

Just like before, when his [Precision] attribute was low, he didn't consider developing [Rasengan].

"Although the Rasengan doesn't quite match my current fighting style, it's not what I need to use it for close combat!"

Nara Rinka took a deep breath to calm her excited emotions.

"My true purpose is to use the [Rasengan] to upgrade the [Shadow Piercing Bullet]!"

He seized the opportunity and began practicing the fusion of the Rasengan and Shadow Piercing Bullet with great enthusiasm.

They possess extensive experience in creating the [Spiral Shadow Piercing Bullet] and [Spiral Shadow Binding Bullet].

Nara Rinkazu's speed in integrating the two techniques was astonishing, and he soon reaped the rewards.

However, the newly created spell seems to have encountered a minor mishap...

Nara Rinka raised his right hand, and the shadows gathered and spun in his palm, eventually forming a jet-black energy ball.

[Rank A Technique: Shadow Spiral Ball]

[Technique Description: An advanced Yin Release secret technique created based on the Rasengan]

【Technique Effect: By precisely controlling one's own Yin Release chakra, a 【Shadow Rasengan】 can be created that can switch between "shadow" and "physical form".

When the Shadow Rasengan is in a solid state, it will gain greater hardness, stronger destructive power, and a longer duration than the Rasengan.

When the Shadow Rasengan is in Shadow Form, it will cause severe disruption to the target's chakra upon impact.

[Spell Evaluation: Dark Orb, the weak shall shun!]

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(End of this chapter)