Thanks to Simu, Jia also obtained free time for training.
Consequently, the two of them trained in the training ground until evening.
After Simu's explanations, the areas Jia originally found difficult to understand suddenly became clear as day.
After all, Jia's Wood Style was personally implanted by Simu, who understood his body exceptionally well; the suggestions provided were sharp and addressed the specific problems Jia encountered during his cultivation.
"I've really troubled you, Yi, you didn't even have time to practice your own ninjutsu," Jia said somewhat apologetically.
After all, Yi had spent the entire afternoon guiding his training, leaving no time to familiarize himself with the two Wood Style techniques he had just mastered.
Simu curled his lip upon hearing this and gestured for Jia to look toward the edge of the arena.
"What?"
Jia looked in the direction Simu pointed and saw the massive crater Simu had blasted out earlier that afternoon using Wood Style: Great Spear Tree; he immediately broke into a wry smile.
"That's true, a genius like you probably doesn't need to practice at all."
"Glad you know."
Simu placed his hands behind his head, scanned the surroundings, and then walked toward a certain corridor.
Seeing this, Jia hurriedly followed and asked, "Yi, where are you going?"
"To eat, Lord Danzo didn't even bother telling us where the cafeteria is..."
Just as Simu was complaining, a figure stepped out from the corridor.
He had grayish-white hair and wore a pair of round-framed glasses.
A gentle smile appeared on his face as he asked politely, "You two must be the newcomers who just joined Root, Jia and Yi."
"Yes, may I ask if there is something you need, Senior?" Jia stepped in front of Simu to speak.
"Hello, my name is Kabuto Yakushi. You can just call me Kabuto."
Kabuto smiled and narrowed his eyes, then lifted the lunch boxes in his hand toward them.
"This is the medicinal cuisine Lord Danzo specifically instructed me to prepare for you. It contains various herbs that can effectively relieve your training fatigue and repair the damage to your bodies."
"Then we shall trouble Lord Danzo and Senior Kabuto."
Jia smiled and took the lunch boxes from Kabuto, thanking him politely.
As for Simu, he was currently staring fixedly into Kabuto's eyes.
Kabuto naturally detected Simu's gaze; he touched his own face, his smile remaining unchanged. "Is there something on my face?"
The corners of Simu's mouth curved into an identical arc as he laughed. "No, I just think your smile is very hypocritical."
"Uh..."
The smile on Kabuto's face stiffened for a moment, but he immediately returned to normal.
"Mr. Yi certainly likes to joke..."
"I'm not joking."
Simu directly interrupted Kabuto's attempt to smooth over the atmosphere, took his own lunch box from Jia, and continued speaking while sitting down cross-legged: "Your smile is indeed very hypocritical. However, you might turn out to be a very interesting person."
Hypocritical, but interesting?
What kind of nonsensical description is that?
Although a significant amount of anger rose within him, Kabuto's strong spy training allowed him to calm down quickly; just as he was about to say something, Simu spoke again.
"Mmm, an unexpectedly good aroma."
Simu had already opened the lunch box and shoved all the food into his mouth in just a few bites, swallowing after a couple of chews.
Jia, who hadn't even moved his chopsticks yet, was left dumbfounded.
This guy not only has terrifying talent in ninjutsu, but his eating speed seems equally terrifying.
"It's pretty good, is there more?"
Simu turned his gaze toward the lunch box still in Kabuto's hand.
"There is, but..."
Before Kabuto could finish, the lunch box was snatched away by Simu, opened, and downed in one go.
It was all done in one smooth motion!
Kabuto was also a bit stunned.
Because that last lunch box was a backup kept in case of emergencies, and it was also medicinal cuisine spiked with the hallucinogenic drug.
This guy just ate two portions of the hallucinogenic drug at once, will he be okay?
Kabuto knit his brows slightly.
However, given how this brat had just treated him, it wouldn't hurt to let him suffer a bit; if something went wrong, he could just step in and save him later.
Seeing Simu eat so fast, Jia felt embarrassed to slowly savor the delicious food Kabuto made and had to speed up his eating.
After the meal, Simu finally patted his stomach and gave Kabuto a thumbs-up.
"Even though your smile is quite hypocritical, your cooking is actually not bad."
"I thank you..."
Kabuto was somewhat speechless.
This guy's eyes are indeed quite sharp...
With his years of spy experience, his smile should have been flawless, yet it had actually shown a crack before this brat.
Regardless, at least the boy praised his craftsmanship.
Kabuto quickly suppressed the slight anger in his heart; after all, under the influence of the hallucinogenic drug, they would soon be controlled by Lord Danzo and become his dogs...
What did a little mockery matter?
Thinking of this, he put on his standard smile again. "Thank you for the compliment. If you are full, please follow me. I will take you to your rooms to rest."
"Every member has an independent room in Root, equipped with water and electricity to meet all living needs."
"You can usually eat at the cafeteria, but for the near future, you will both need to consume medicinal cuisine to supplement your training. This is a privilege granted by Lord Danzo."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses; this was indeed a 'privilege' only elite members of Root deserved.
He introduced the Root facilities to the two newcomers while leading them to their rooms.
"These are your rooms. Get some rest early."
"Thank you, Senior Kabuto," Jia said politely.
As for Simu?
That guy had already walked into his room while yawning.
"Sorry, Senior Kabuto, Yi is just not good at expressing himself."
Jia apologized on Simu's behalf.
Kabuto just smiled and didn't mind.
"It's fine. Rest early, I'll take my leave now."
"Mhm, take care, Senior Kabuto."
Jia waved and then returned to his own room.
Walking away, Kabuto adjusted his glasses with some helplessness.
These two newcomers really don't seem to know how to talk...
He rounded a corner, his expression turning calm, and knelt on one knee toward the shadows in the corner.
"How is it?"
Danzo's raspy voice came from within, and his body slowly emerged from the dark shadows.
Kabuto said expressionlessly, "The mission has been successfully completed. Based on the drug's effects, they should be about to fall asleep."
"Mhm, well done."
Danzo reached out a hand and patted Kabuto's shoulder lightly as encouragement.
Immediately, his body moved past Kabuto toward the rooms of Simu and Jia.
Back in his room, Jia immediately felt a wave of drowsiness; soon, the entire world became blurred, and he collapsed onto the bed in exhaustion.
Simu in the next room was the same; as a wave of fatigue hit, he lay down on the bed.
Then, as expected, a certain old man easily opened the door.
the dim light of the hallway was blocked, silhouetting an aged figure.
Danzo chose Simu as the first target for control.
He closed the door, and heavy footsteps sounded in the room, but Simu, lying on the bed, showed no reaction.
After all, this brat ate two portions of the hallucinogenic drug in one go, Danzo thought.
The special drug Kabuto developed was quite potent; it could effectively lower a person's mental defenses and put them into a deep sleep. Combined with the long-term influence of Genjutsu, it could change a person's personality and even their memories to a certain extent.
What Danzo needed to do now was apply Genjutsu while Simu was asleep and his mind was in chaos!
He walked slowly to Simu and pulled off the bandages wrapped around his eye.
In the darkness, a crimson eye suddenly lit up, with three pitch-black tomoe slowly swirling within.
If this scene were witnessed by others, they would surely be shocked.
Because embedded in Danzo's right eye socket was the unique Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan—the Sharingan.
After revealing his Sharingan, Danzo gripped Simu's shoulder tightly.
The sudden sharp pain caused Simu to open his eyes involuntarily.
The powerful ocular power of the Sharingan instantly erupted, surging into Simu's body like a torrent.
Genjutsu, activate!
As Danzo continuously injected Genjutsu chakra through the Sharingan, Simu's mental world underwent a massive transformation.
His past memories quickly became blurred, as if covered by a layer of thick mist.
The people he had seen and the things he had done were no longer clear.
Within the mist, his own life seemed to completely lose its color and meaning, with only one figure becoming clearer and clearer...
"Lord Danzo?"
Danzo's figure appeared in Simu's mental world.
Not just him, but numerous Root members were currently kneeling together before Danzo.
Danzo, the only one standing, seemed to have become the pillar of this mental world; everyone existed only by depending on him.
"We are the roots buried deep underground, with no past, no future, no name, and no self. Everything is for the Hidden Leaf, everything is for Lord Danzo!"
The slogans echoed repeatedly in his ears.
Simu's gaze became increasingly dazed.
Danzo revealed a smile.
Yes, just like that. Continuously forget the past, forget yourself, and forget your companions.
In the end, you can only exist by leaning on me like a puppet. I will become your spiritual pillar, the very meaning of your survival in this world.
"Everything is for Lord Danzo..."
"Is it?"
Danzo saw the brat's lips suddenly curl up slightly.
Before he could react, all the Root members around him vanished, and the pervasive white mist quietly dissipated.
"What is going on?"
Danzo's expression instantly became serious.
He wanted to use the Sharingan to dispel the Genjutsu, but he realized the bandages wrapped around his body had disappeared at some point, and his right eye containing the Sharingan had returned to normal.
Feeling the changes in his body, Danzo looked at his right hand in horror.
Under his gaze, the originally hideous right hand also began to change.
The ten Sharingan embedded in it slowly closed, sank into the skin, and disappeared; eventually, not even a trace remained. Even the arm composed of Hashirama cells returned to its original form.
"What is going on?"
Danzo was truly panicked now.
What made him even more flustered was that the wrinkles on his face were disappearing bit by bit, and even his body was returning to its youthful appearance.
"Is this Genjutsu?"
He observed the surroundings with great tension.
As an elder of the Hidden Leaf—the number one power in the shinobi world—Danzo had not encountered such a crisis in many years. While he was tense, his rejuvenated body gave him a strange sense of confidence.
Immediately, the surrounding white mist cleared.
The shadows of swaying trees emerged from the dissipating mist, and a touch of night spread from beneath his feet, quickly enveloping the entire mental world.
This was a forest shrouded in the night; the smell of gunpowder reaching his nose made Danzo tighten up instinctively.
Though he hadn't participated in combat or missions for many years, he was still an old ninja who had taken part in the First Shinobi World War. He could conclude almost instantly that he was currently on a battlefield!
The white mist finally vanished completely. A male ninja with silver-white hair, wearing blue Warring States-style armor and three red markings on his face, was speaking with a serious expression.
Although decades had passed, Danzo could still recognize this person's identity at a single glance.
The Second Hokage of the Hidden Leaf, and his own teacher—Tobirama Senju!
As for those beside him...
Danzo turned his head to look left and right.
Hiruzen, Koharu, Homura, Kagami, Torifu...
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, said with an incredibly heavy expression: "Everyone, the situation is urgent. We need one person to stay behind as a decoy to save the others."
Upon hearing these words, Danzo felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
That's right!
That's right!
I've returned to that moment.
The First Shinobi World War—the critical moment when they were besieged by the Kinkaku Force!
At this time, someone had to step forward as a decoy, or the entire group would face annihilation.
Of course, for the person who chose to be the decoy, given that their chakra was already bottomed out, it was essentially a choice of death.
Thinking of this, Danzo's breathing began to grow heavy.
Because he knew that the most critical moment had arrived!
The key moment that would determine who would become the next Hokage!
This was a test given to them by their teacher, Tobirama Senju. As long as he said he was willing to be the decoy, he could pass the teacher's test and become the Third Hokage!
Danzo was extremely excited; after all, becoming Hokage was his lifelong dream and obsession.
And now, this opportunity was right before his eyes!
As long as he said those words, he could...
Danzo almost said the words, but he suddenly thought of one thing.
What if...
The teacher really lets me be the decoy?
What if the teacher isn't testing them, but simply wants Hiruzen to step forward and become the next Hokage?
In that moment of hesitation, another voice already rang out from beside Danzo.
"Teacher, leave the decoy mission to me!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward, speaking with full confidence.
"Don't worry, I will definitely survive!"
Danzo's mouth hung open; for a moment, he couldn't say anything at all...
He clearly saw surprise, relief, and... trust in his teacher's eyes.
The kind of trust sufficient to entrust the future.
Danzo finally spoke, desperately wanting to say something, but Tobirama Senju was faster.
"You've done well, Hiruzen. I have decided to entrust the position of Third Hokage to you. When you return to the Hidden Leaf, you will inherit my title."
The moment these words were spoken, everyone present fell into a brief daze, except for Danzo, who kept his head lowered, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"Teacher, you mean..."
Hiruzen naturally understood the meaning of these words; his teacher intended to trade his own life for the lives of his disciples!
Before they could speak to dissuade him, Tobirama continued: "No need for words. I know my own body best; I won't make it back. Before I die, I hope to escort you all one last time."
"Teacher..."
The students present immediately had tears welling in their eyes.
"Do not feel sad for my passing. Where the leaves of the Hidden Leaf flutter, the fire shall also burn unceasingly. My burning flame can illuminate you, the newborn leaves. I am very happy."
"So, you must live on well, assist Hiruzen, and take good care of the future of the Hidden Leaf."
After Tobirama finished, he gave them no chance to linger and simply said to Hiruzen, "I leave the Hidden Leaf to you."
With that, he disappeared from the spot without any hesitation, leaving behind only a resolute voice.
Soon, terrible explosions sounded in the distance, followed by the violent chakra auras erupting from Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
After all, in the eyes of the Gold and Silver Brothers, the Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was far more important than these brats.
"Teacher... the teacher is..."
Koharu Utatane couldn't control her emotions, and tears slid down from the corners of her eyes.
Torifu Akimichi also showed a look of sorrow.
On the other hand, Kagami Uchiha said calmly, "Koharu, stop crying. Teacher sacrificed himself because he hoped we could live on. We cannot fail the teacher's expectations."
Hiruzen Sarutobi had resolution in his eyes: "Kagami is right. We absolutely cannot fail our teacher. Move fast, get back to the Hidden Leaf, and regroup!"
"Mhm."
Because Hiruzen was designated as the next Hokage by the teacher, this small group naturally began to center around him and agreed with his decision.
However, there was one exception.
"Why? Just why?!"
Danzo suddenly roared in anger, "I also wanted to step forward! Why is it that I just can never become Hokage?!"
"Hiruzen?"
Under everyone's horrified gazes, Danzo's arm suddenly exploded.
Within the spreading blood mist, thick, hideous tentacles emitting a strange aura burst forth!