18 Chapter 18

Land of Fire.

Hidden Leaf Village.

Although the First Great Ninja War was over, it brought many changes to the Shinobi world.

One of them was the foundation of an organization in Konoha.

Since the day Hiruzen was appointed as the next Hokage by the Second, his teammate who harbored deep rivalry towards him founded a separate Anbu Division. Also known as the Root.

And the founder was none other than Danzo Shimura, a man filled with pessimistic prospects.

Root, the branch of Konoha's Anbu subdivision carried out missions that Danzo believed would benefit Konoha- autonomous of Konoha's authority.

And because of its core, it began to be viewed as the unseen ones who support the great tree of Konoha from the depth of the earth.

In that sense, the Foundation was like a heaven-sent for Konoha.

But was that all there was to it?

________________

The underground base in Konoha.

The whole base was submerged in darkness. And the stillness of the darkness in the surroundings was terrifying.

*Tap*

"Hmm....."

Within that darkness, sat a figure with a cross-shaped mark and a handsome face.

The dim light coming out of the nearby flickering candle illuminated the thoughtful look on his face as his bandaged right eye vaguely came into the view.

Danzo lightly tapped on the desk, and while looking at the white file on the desk, muttered rather amusingly.

"Izuna Uchiha, hm..."

The photo attached to the file showed the face of a rather young boy. The eyes that stared back, contained strength that belied the owner's age.

He looked at the subordinate kneeling before him, who had a white tiger mask on his face.

"Yes Sir, he just returned from his first mission. The further details are on this scroll."

The subordinate had red shading stretched on his mask, out to the sides from around the eyeholes, slanted upwards. Under which an indifferent expression could be seen.

He continued after handing Danzo a scroll.

"All involved assert that the academy has never before witnessed such genius."

Who could've guessed that such a kid would show up just after Kakashi Hatake? And an Uchiha no less?

It was cherry on top for someone like Danzo who needed someone like him.

His icy gaze glared at his kneeling subordinate, who made sure to perform a thorough background check on him.

'I really do have good luck, don't I, Sensei?'

Danzo thought to himself as the image of the Second Hokage popped up in his head.

'I'll have it one day.'

His mood always sours whenever he recalls the event during which his rival took the title of Hokage away from him.

'Tch... I should've volunteered myself before him.'

Even now, after all these years the regret inside of him didn't disappear a single bit.

After all, he was just one step away from being the Hokage, if he could've volunteered himself for staying behind and facing the ambush.

But who could've guessed that it was just a test from Tobirama to check the Will of Fire?

And now here he was, doing all in his power to achieve what he craved.

That being said, his dried lips arched up after hearing the 6-years-old Izuna's battle prowess.

"Oh? It seems that I'll have to meet and see for myself. Heh... I can already see the different departments fighting to get him."

"Understood."

Danzo lifted his weary hips from the chair as the subordinate silently disappeared into the shadows.

'A prodigy not yet to be colored by anything, huh...'

Danzo quietly thought to himself, and while glancing at the tossed file on the desk, disappeared into the darkness.

The current Izuna was like a blank sheet of paper to him, whom he could mold however he wished.

_______________

The same day in the evening...

In front of the Academy.

"Oh, there you are!"

Izuna said the moment his eyes fell on his teammates, Kakashi and Mugino.

"Uh..hmm."

Both of his friends nodded at him, who soon arrived near them.

"Hm? Did you just come from training, Kakashi?"

Izuna asked the kid standing his opposite, with the tree as a support.

'Oh, so that's how it is, huh. Well not a bad thing, I guess...'

Izuna knew something was going on in his mind since their last mission. However, he still decided to ask, seeing his slightly ragged clothes and dirt around his mask.

"What? How did you know that?"

Eyes that were closed, suddenly opened as Kakashi glanced at him and threw a surprising question of his own.

"What's there is to be surprised about? Anyone can tell that seeing your condition."

"Haha, yes of course, just as Izuna said, Kakashi."

Mugino, who was sitting on a nearby bench, nodded his head with a light laugh.

"Oh, you guys... Haah."

He continued after closing his eyes and muttered as if he was speaking to himself.

Since his early childhood, Kakashi was very independent and self-confident, at times appearing arrogant and condensing.

But reality slapped his face hard when he saw something indescribable for the first time.

And then here he was, with a newfound resolve to overcome it.

"After all even I have something important that I want to protect, as a Shinobi."

Kakashi's voice was so soft that Mugino had to ask again.

"Huh? What did you say? Come again..."

"Hmph."

Kakashi who was in had his eyes closed with calm breathing, snorted, and didn't bother to say anything.

"Hmm... So that's your dream, huh. I too want to protect everyone at the orphanage."

Izuna alternated his gaze between Mugino and Kakashi, quietly thinking about something.

The corner of his lips curled into a soft smile. He really did have an interesting team.

"Oh, I see, all of you here."

Just as they were talking among themselves, a grown-up man's voice fell into their ears, as he suddenly appeared near them.

"Since you are already aware that mission rank is incremented to rank A, here's your remuneration."

"Oh? Haha, now that's what I call a good harvest."

Hizashi handed them their share of pay, and while feeling the warmth of the hard-earned money, Mugino perked up.

Well, he was an orphan kid and just a Genin, so it was understandable that he never received such a huge amount at once.

"Okay, today's dine on me. Let's march towards the market."

He had stars in his eyes as he announced with a wide smile on his face.

"All right then, I'll get going now, and yes, don't forget to be ready for your next mission the day after tomorrow."

Hizashi had a meaningful smile on his face, looking at Izuna as he left after reminding them of their next mission.

Leaving his students alone to have some fun, Hizashi disappeared with a burst of smoke.

"Hurry up everyone!"

"Haah... Slow down, will you?"

While laughing and talking among themselves, the trio strode towards the Akimichi food shop.

And the facepalmed Kakashi, who was just behind him, sighed at his extra cheerful behavior.

'Hm? What?!'

Following his teammates, not far from them, Izuna's steps came to an abrupt halt as soon as he glanced at the envelope.

He was shocked to find out a white paper alongside the money inside the envelope.

There was a notice of transfer of a substantial amount of 35,000,000 Ryo printed there.

"Oh, so that's why..."

When he laid his eyes on the notice, he was astonished, and soon concluded.

It was his share of bounty money on Gari's head. He was wanted by many nations and had the bounty of 70,000,000 Ryo in the bingo book.

Truth be told, Izuna was half-expecting this to happen, after all, he was the one who eventually took him down.

And he did it with the help of Hizashi, who had already left him weakened. So, fifty percent made sense to him.

Only after a long while passed by did he open his mouth and spoke in a low voice.

"Now that's a lot of money... Eh."

"Huh? What are you doing there standing Izuna? Come on, hurry up..."

"Hmm..."

When Kakashi formed a questioning expression, Izuna was startled as he nodded and appeared next to them.

"What the? Hey, can't you come normally? You surprised me out there!"

Mugino raised his weary hips from the ground while shaking his head. Izuna was like a gust of wind, suddenly appearing within a blink.

'Sigh... Even now, I can't follow any of his movements.'

Kakashi thought to himself, exhaling a defeated sigh. As the trio, Izuna, him, and Mugino made their way to their destination.

'So that's him, huh. Izuna Uchiha...'

A man who saw Izuna perform his previous deed, thought while sipping a medicinal tea.

He was sitting in the dark corner of a vacant shop, and his icy gaze followed Izuna's back.

Not just the place, but everything about him seemed dark.