Walking on the dark and damp wooden corridor, the intersections at both ends were swallowed up by thick darkness.
This corridor is suspended above the bottomless abyss, and below is the bottomless darkness.
And this corridor is just one of countless criss-crossing corridors.
Orochimaru walked steadily towards the darkness of the corridor. At the end, he pushed open a door and walked inside.
In the room, someone was already waiting for his arrival.
"Danzo, why do you come to me at this time?"
Orochimaru asked the people sitting in the room.
Nominally he is a new member of the 'Root' and exists as Danzo's deputy, but in fact, he is the nail that drives the teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi into the 'Root'.
Used to monitor and restrict some of Danzo's extreme actions.
Therefore, when he joins the 'Root', he has neither freedom restrictions nor a curse seal, and his name is retained. He will not live like a machine like those 'Root' members.
"You take a look at this first."
Danzo didn't care about Orochimaru's way of referring to himself as his equal. In fact, he didn't have the ability to force Orochimaru to do something he didn't like.
Danzo, who was sitting there, threw a document on the table in front of Orochimaru.
Orochimaru sat down and gave Danzo a confused look. He couldn't tell what the other party wanted to do, so he looked away, picked up the file on the desktop, and opened it.
Just seeing the name of the plan on the paper, Orochimaru's expression changed slightly.
——Mudun cultivation plan.
"This is a newly established research project in the village. The purpose is to cultivate ninjas who can use wood escape like the first generation. I hope to get your help."
Danzo's voice was low, while he carefully observed Orochimaru's changing expression.
"Is it to deal with the tailed beast?"
Orochimaru regained his composure and quickly understood the intention.
Wood Release, like the Sharingan, both have the ability to restrain tailed beasts.
However, since the death of the first Hokage, Wooden has disappeared from the ninja world, and there has not been another Wooden ninja.
The Sharingan has been passed down very well, but it is the exclusive ability of the Uchiha clan.
Danzo, the leader of the 'root', is the top executive who most rejects the entire Uchiha clan.
If you can't control the Sharingan, cultivating Wooden ninjas is also a way out, and it's easier to control.
"It's not all for the tailed beasts, it's also to scare some ninjas with bad intentions in the village. For this, we must use the power of Wood Release."
Danzo also secretly stated that he has not yet relaxed his vigilance against the Uchiha clan, and when necessary, will take some extreme measures to limit the growth of this ninja clan.
"Really? What an interesting plan."
Orochimaru had a smile on his face and his voice was magnetic and hoarse.
"The village sacrificed many excellent ninjas in the last ninja war. I don't know when the next ninja war will come. This is also for the future of the village. The power of wood escape to calm the troubled times will become sharper than White Teeth. Blade.”
"I see."
The death of Sakumo has really shaken up Konoha. Konoha White Fang, who was responsible for the destruction behind enemy lines during the war, is a huge threat to all countries that cannot be underestimated.
Now we need a sharp weapon that can replace Konoha's White Fang to shock the nations and stabilize Konoha's defense.
"Does Tsunade know about this?"
If you want to cultivate Wooden Ninja, you must use the remains of the first Hokage and extract the necessary cellular energy from the remains.
With Tsunade's character, it is absolutely impossible for her to agree to this kind of desecration of the remains of the sages, and she would even make a fuss at high-level meetings.
Especially this is his grandfather's body.
"Of course it's impossible to let her know. If she did, things would become very troublesome."
Danzo's expression remained unchanged, he didn't know what he was thinking.
"In other words, Sarutobi-sensei has already acquiesced to this plan, right?"
Orochimaru pondered for a moment.
Without Hiruzen's acquiescence, he would not believe that Danzo would have the courage to touch Mu Dun.
What's more, the strength of the roots alone is not enough to study the power of wood escape.
"You are able to understand so quickly. You are truly the most talented ninja among the three ninjas. Your mind and knowledge, as well as your understanding of ninjutsu, have a very powerful role in promoting this plan."
Danzo showed his appreciation for Orochimaru's talents without hesitation.
"It seems that Sarutobi-sensei arranged for me to be in the root, not just for me to monitor you. I understand, since it is beneficial to the village, I will continue to do it."
The second-generation Hokage Senju Tobirama whom he most admired developed so many forbidden techniques based on human experiments and opened up many ninjutsu schools, which have benefited many Konoha ninjas to this day.
In this village, there are indeed many things that cannot be seen.
And most of these secrets that cannot be seen in the light have roots behind the scenes.
The enforcer of Konoha's darkness.
"Where can I find 'material'?"
"Don't worry about this. Volunteers have been screened from the village in advance and will cooperate with the experiment."
"That way I don't have any worries."
Orochimaru nodded, indicating that he understood.
"The experiment will start next week. I need to check the information first and make full preparations."
After Orochimaru said this, he took the plan and left the root conference room.
Walking out of the conference room, Orochimaru looked at the road eroded by darkness ahead, then lowered his head and glanced at the wooden escape plan he brought out of the conference room, and murmured to himself:
"Mudun... I wonder how many people will be sacrificed this time..."
Life is really too fragile and too cheap.
After sighing, he looked up and looked ahead. Orochimaru stepped forward into the darkness without hesitation.
◎
October.
The weather is getting colder.
In the forest, a group of four people were running.
"Hey, Kakashi, slow down!"
A Konoha ninja wearing a Chuunin uniform shouted to Kakashi who was running at the front.
I hope he can listen to what he said.
Kakashi just looked back and saw that the chuunin teammate who shouted at him was carrying a wounded ninja on his back, panting, obviously being dragged down by the wounded behind him.
Kakashi stopped and said coldly: "Just throw him away, and the three of us will continue to complete the task."
"W-What? What did you say?"
The chuunin looked at the childish-looking Kakashi in disbelief.
I didn't expect to hear such words from Kakashi's mouth.
Although he had spoken too much before, this time he really reached the bottom of this chuunin.
"It is the rule of the ninja to complete the mission, and the ninja is just a tool to complete the mission. Since it is a burden and cannot form a combat effectiveness, it will only drag down the three of us, so don't worry about it and just leave him here. Or... kill him ”
Kakashi took out a kunai and threw it at the chuunin's feet, asking him to make a decision.
His father Sakumo chose a companion in the mission, so he was slandered by rumors. His suicide also proved his father's guilty conscience and vulnerability.
Therefore, what he is going to take now is to choose the path of mission.
A companion who has been seriously injured during the mission, cannot provide combat, and may even drag down his teammates, abandon him in advance and choose the mission. This is what Kakashi now believes is the right path.
"You guy, do you know what you are talking about? You are also a Konoha ninja, how can you say such things?"
The chuunin reacted and roared angrily.
"Are you really a ninja? With your naive mind, you should go back to ninja school and re-study. Don't forget that completing the mission is the path that a ninja should really choose."
Kakashi stared at the chuunin with cold eyes.
"You little brat!"
The chuunin was already gnashing his teeth.
Kakashi just gave him a cold look and didn't answer. He turned around, carrying the White Fang dagger on his back, and walked forward alone.
"Captain, look at that guy, he said such a thing! It's so irritating! What a genius!"
The chuunin said dissatisfied.
"Okay, Kakashi doesn't mean any harm. It's important to complete the mission."
The Jonin captain shook his head helplessly. In theory, Kakashi's suggestion was indeed the best choice.
But he couldn't feel sorry for giving up his companion's life so easily.
"Captain, when you go back, replace Kakashi. This guy is just a black sheep in our team."
The chuunin was still aggrieved.
"I'll mention it to Hokage-sama."
"Captain, you have mentioned this to Mr. Hokage many times, but Kakashi just won't change. He is really not suitable for development in our team. Give him up. This kind of person is not suitable to be a companion."
The chuunin said helplessly.
The Jonin captain remained silent. Under the pleading look in the Chuunin's eyes, he finally hesitated for a moment and nodded.
"Okay, after I go back, I will apply to Lord Hokage for a transfer order to transfer Kakashi to another team."
"Hurry up, I don't feel safe at all with this guy as a companion."
As a chuunin carrying the wounded on his back, Kakashi's indifferent attitude towards his teammates was really too much for him to endure.
Even a genin with average strength would be better than such a ruthless genius chuunin.
◎
transfer order.
Hiruzen, who was sitting in the office, suddenly had a headache when he looked at the transfer application submitted by a certain jounin in his hand.
I hope Kakashi Hatake will be transferred to another team. The reason is that Kakashi cannot coordinate his teammates and does not know how to work as a team. He has many times caused discord among his colleagues at work.
After reading the transfer application form, Hiruzen took out the transfer application form in a similar format from the drawer. Without exception, the applications were for the teams that Kakashi had been in.
But each time he didn't stay long, there was one team. Kakashi only stayed for a few days before he was kicked out of the team by the jounin who led him. He thought that his team would drag down such a talented chuunin. I hope Kakashi Develop in another Jonin team.
Is this the fourth time... or the fifth time?
At this moment, there was a knock on the office door.
Hiruzen shouted to the outside: "Come in."
The Konoha Jonin who was knocking on the door came in, saluted Hiruzen respectfully and said, "Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen put Kakashi's information in the front, and the jounin consciously stepped forward to pick it up and read it over.
"Well, what do you think Kakashi?"
"genius."
This jounin only had these two words to comment on.
"I remember that a teammate of your team died. I want Kakashi to join your team. What do you think?"
After Hiruzen finished speaking, the Jonin's expression immediately changed, and then he calmed down and said: "Lord Hokage, I am not strong enough to teach such a genius. Putting him into my team will only bring this kind of If the genius is buried, you should let him join another team to develop."
He knew Kakashi's name.
Especially recently, some unfavorable news for Kakashi has been circulating among the jonin leading the team.
Naturally he had heard of this kind of thing.
Although his team does need to be supplemented by personnel, if Kakashi is added, it may cause the entire team to fall apart, let alone teamwork.
Hiruzen didn't force it and let the jounin go.
Then, another jounin came in, and Hiruzen asked the same question. This jounin also declined politely with a slightly changed expression, saying that he was incompetent and could not teach such a talented chuunin. He hoped that Hiruzen would The Hokage also invites Gao Ming.
Next, the jounin summoned by Hiruzen had similar euphemisms.
Their opinions were very unified, saying that they had no chance of being a talented chuunin like Kakashi, and they did not have the ability to teach this kind of ninja who graduated at the youngest age in Konoha's history and became a chunin.
Obviously, they may have exchanged some opinions with each other, and they are unwilling to accept people who disrupt teamwork. Even if they are geniuses, they will push them out without hesitation.
"Lord Hokage, I am willing to accept Kakashi, but if he disobeys the order and disrupts teamwork, I will remove him from the team."
It wasn't until the twenty-first Jonin came that he finally found a Konoha Jonin who was willing to accept Kakashi.
But the other party put forward such a precondition.
If Kakashi obeys the order and does not damage the relationship between the team, he is willing to accept such a talented chuunin to join his team and perform tasks together.
Hiruzen smiled and said, "Don't worry, Kakashi will obey your orders as a jounin."
The Konoha jounin laughed bitterly.
Of course he knew that Kakashi would obey the orders of his jounin.
In fact, the other jounin did not exclude Kakashi because he did not obey orders, but because Kakashi always destroyed the team relationship, causing the relationship between colleagues to deteriorate. This is why many jounin are unwilling to accept such a genius. reason.
For a Jonin, maintaining good team relationships is a very critical link.
Kakashi broke this agreement and naturally became unpopular.
"I also hope he can stay in my squad."
I don't expect Kakashi to make any contribution to the team. As long as he can not damage the team relationship, thank God.
After hearing this, Hiruzen had no choice but to nod his head and agreed to the jounin's request.
"To be honest, Hokage-sama, I don't think Kakashi is suitable for performing tasks in a regular team. He is more suitable for places like Anbu and Roots."
Before leaving, the jounin said a heartfelt message.
Hiruzen was considering this jounin's suggestion. Leaving aside the ANBU, the root's power had been growing over the years.
If Kakashi is arranged into the root, it is equivalent to giving Danzo a sharp weapon.
Hiruzen knew clearly about this kind of thing.
He can rely on Danzo's roots, but the premise is that the strength of the roots will not exceed his expectations.
And Kakashi's talent is simply too outstanding.
He entered school at the age of four, graduated at the age of five, and became a chuunin at the age of six. Even if he became a jounin at the age of ten, Hiruzen would not be too surprised.
Such a sharp weapon must not fall into Danzo's hands to increase the root's power.
As for joining ANBU... Although Kakashi's talent is indeed shocking, it is not yet at the lowest level of ANBU.
Moreover, ANBU is not an educational institution. There will be no one to teach Kakashi how to fight and practice ninjutsu step by step, which is not conducive to Kakashi's current growth.
But...the regular Jonin team is very repulsive to Kakashi and unwilling to accept him.
This was exactly what was bothering Hiruzen.
Regular teams will not accept it.
ANBU is not qualified.
The roots cannot be given.
Do you want him to be the captain? It is estimated that teammates will die in the mission soon.
Kakashi, who puts his mission first, is definitely capable of doing this now.
Never before had a chuunin given Hiruzen such a headache. He didn't know where to make arrangements, so he could only wait and see for a while.
◎
Konoha Village, in the meatball shop.
Shiraishi invites Kakashi to eat meatballs here.
"Kakashi, it's really rare to see you now. How are you doing lately? I heard people say that you seem to have had conflicts with your colleagues recently."
Shiraishi held a bunch of meatballs in his hand, took a bite, and smiled at Kakashi sitting opposite.
Shiraishi felt a very cold and numb aura on Kakashi's body, and his eyes lost their due brightness.
How should I put it, Shiraishi had only seen this look in the eyes of root ninjas before.
There is no name, no future, and no life. In his eyes, it seems that there is only a mission.
Like a machine, it starts to operate according to the established program.
"It's not bad, it's just that there are a few more burdens on the mission."
Kakashi did not move the meatball in front of him, but said in a cold tone.
"They are your teammates, don't say that about them. Teamwork is very important in the mission."
Shiraishi sighed.
Sure enough, Sakumo's death was too heavy a blow to his heart.
He was still struggling with the question of which was more important, the mission or his companions.
There is no standard answer to this question from beginning to end.
Kakashi in this state really worried Shiraishi.
"I can't cooperate with them at all. They care too much about insignificant things and are often disturbed by external information. Ninjas only need to complete their tasks."
Kakashi said.
“Have you ever heard of the barrel principle?”
"I don't want to listen to your long talk here, and you have just become a chuunin, so you are not qualified to preach to me. If you want to preach to me, wait until you become a jounin."
"..."
This inadvertently touched Shiraishi's sore spot.
"Furthermore, if they can continue to fight, I will naturally help them, but if they cannot form a fighting force, it is natural to give up. As a ninja, completing the mission is the first priority. When necessary, there is no need to give up on your companions. People can make irresponsible remarks about me."
Kakashi continued to speak in a very cold tone.
"Do you really think so?"
"The man who chose his companions is dead. I don't want to make the same mistake as that man."
"..."
It was reasonable and well-founded, leaving Shiraishi unable to defend himself.
"But your colleagues are disgusted with you, right?"
"This has nothing to do with you, I'm just following the rules a ninja should abide by."
Kakashi said.
"Yeah?"
Shiraishi knew that he could not dissuade Kakashi from thinking on the verge of collapse now.
He took out a bag from his ninja tool bag, put it in front of Kakashi and said: "These are my special military ration pills and some antidote. Take them and use them. Since you have chosen mission first, then you must Protect yourself. Because once you are injured during the mission and lose the ability to fight and move, your companions will abandon you."
Kakashi was slightly startled and looked up at Shiraishi, not taking the bag on the table where the soldiers' food pills and antidote were stored.
"What? Isn't this the path you chose? It's a completely different path from Sakumo-sensei. Now is not the time to hesitate."
Shiraishi looked at Kakashi calmly and smiled slightly.
Kakashi silently put the bag away and said softly: "Thank you."
"You're welcome, this is what I should do. After all, I watched you grow up. Now that Teacher Sakumo is gone, I will take good care of you regardless of circumstances. If it doesn't work, I will tell Liuli that you can enter her The team performs the mission.”
"No, it's too much trouble for you. I will take care of myself."
Kakashi shook his head and rejected Shiraishi's proposal.
Shiraishi said nothing and ate the meatballs quietly.
"If there is nothing else, I will go practice."
Kakashi stood up from his seat and was about to reincarnate and leave when Shiraishi's voice sounded from behind:
"Kakashi, do you think Sakumo-sensei made the wrong choice?"
"Ah, so I took a different path than him."
After saying that, without waiting for Shiraishi to speak again, Kakashi walked towards the outside of the meatball shop with an indifferent expression.
When he said these words, he had already denied the path taken by his father Sakumo.
A wrong path.
And what he wants to take now is the path that a ninja should take.
"It seems that the psychological problem is more serious than I thought. This unpleasant brat is completely opposite to Sakumo-sensei. Are they really father and son? When Sakumo-sensei was in Konoha Hospital, , Isn’t it the wrong hug?”
Shiraishi watched Kakashi's figure disappear from his eyes, while eating meatballs and muttering.
Although Kakashi was not very likable before, he would never say such slanderous words with a cold face.
But it's almost time, it's time for him to question the will of fire.
In other words, after experiencing these things, his heart may have begun to waver.
The indifference on his face is just a cover-up and disguise of strength.
The reason for Kakashi's contradictory thinking is inseparable from the current Konoha environment.
What a boring and twisted village.
