Chapter 105

Kaoi, now known as Shinsuke Akasaka, is 33 years old, lives near Konoha Ninja Hospital, and works as a medical supplies coordinator in the logistics department. He has a very regular work schedule.

On the surface, he appears to be an ordinary staff member, but secretly he is an undercover agent from the Hidden Cloud Village.

For three years and another three years, until now, he has not been discovered.

Kaoi initially became an undercover agent not because of his medical ninja status but because his naturally fair skin endured the harsh sunlight of the Hidden Cloud Village without turning dark.

He doesn't dislike dark-skinned big sisters, but unfortunately, he was chosen and sent to Konoha as an undercover agent.

Fortunately, the time is almost up.

With a few more major contributions, he will have the chance to return to the Hidden Cloud Village.

Entering the integrated office area of the Hokage Building, Kaoi smiled and greeted everyone on his way to the logistics department.

Upon entering, he noticed a new colleague.

Kaoi sniffed, his sharp instincts telling him this person was not ordinary.

He seemed to be from the ANBU or Root.

Having lived here for six years, he was very familiar with these two departments.

After all, if he slipped up, he would be caught by them.

Normally, ANBU or Root ninjas wouldn't come to the logistics department.

Unless they were...re-employed after being laid off.

Kaoi suddenly recalled the recent big event in Konoha that shocked all undercover agents: the dissolution of the Root.

All the undercover agents believed someone was manipulating things behind the scenes.

They had never seen such a grand spectacle with thousands of people.

But unfortunately, no one found any clues.

Putting that aside, Kaoi was quite grateful.

Being an undercover agent in Konoha, the most feared entities were the Root and Shimura Danzo.

Now that the Root had ceased operations, it made things much easier for them.

However, the ANBU was still unaffected; otherwise, they could have made big moves.

Kaoi didn't immediately approach the new colleague.

He returned to his desk and, after reviewing various documents, confirmed that this new colleague, Matsuga Otoko, was originally from the Root.

But he was quite peripheral, with no criminal record, and was assigned to the logistics department.

Kaoi quickly became acquainted with him through work.

As an undercover agent, he couldn't miss any clues.

He rarely dared to interact with Root members.

He decided to try his luck.

So, on Saturday, under the guise of welcoming the new colleague, he invited Matsuga to a barbecue restaurant for dinner and drinks.

"Come on, Matsuga, drink!"

In the private room, the atmosphere was lively.

Kaoi raised his glass and warmly pulled Matsuga in.

His face was flushed from the alcohol, but Matsuga's face was even redder, clearly not handling his liquor well.

"I have the utmost respect for Root members! Mighty and imposing!"

Kaoi praised while pouring drinks.

Matsuga quickly became complacent.

"Matsuga, can you tell me about the Root?"

Kaoi saw the right moment to probe, "It's a pity I couldn't join the Root due to various reasons. I hope you can fulfill my dream."

"Alright!"

Matsuga ate a piece of grilled meat and started talking.

He was already depressed about the dissolution of the Root.

After all, being a Root member, even on the fringe, was quite intimidating, and he enjoyed that kind of attention.

But now, assigned to the logistics department, he no longer had such opportunities.

Meeting a colleague who admired the Root, he decided to share his heroic stories.

Kaoi quickly felt speechless.

This?

As expected, a peripheral figure, knowing even less than he did.

No wonder he ended up in the logistics department.

There's a saying that the logistics department is a retirement home.

One can imagine how little Matsuga was valued.

"Anything else?" Kaoi wasn't satisfied and continued to ask.

"Yes!" Matsuga downed another glass of alcohol and started another story.

Kaoi's expression stiffened slightly as he heard the name Kushina Uzumaki.

Due to the Second Shinobi World War, Haruki's three disciples had gained different levels of fame.

Minato Namikaze was the most famous, followed by Mikoto Uchiha, and lastly, the survivor of the Uzumaki clan, Kushina.

It's said her sealing techniques were impressive.

But that was about it.

"Kushina Uzumaki is Lord Haruki's disciple, right? It seems the Root is quite focused on her. Why?"

"Ah...hic..." Matsuga lowered his voice, "I heard from a colleague that she's now a candidate for Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

Kaoi's body shook suddenly.

Big news!

His chance to rise had come.

...

Before Minato and his team went to the capital of the Land of Fire, Haruki had one more important task to do.

A study session.

Teaching the members of the Natsu Organization.

After a few days of preparation, he had completed the materials for the first lesson.

It was another sunny day.

Under the blue sky, a sailboat drifted quietly.

Before the class, Haruki informed Minato's team about the mission to the capital of the Land of Fire in a few days.

Minato, having been informed beforehand, was naturally the calmest.

Due to her personality, Mikoto had no resistance to going on missions.

But Kushina reacted the most intensely, not because she was unwilling, but because she was too happy.

She had long wanted to go out and explore.

"Alright, let's start the class."

Haruki patted Kushina's head, making her sit down and stop bouncing around.

"Okay."

Kushina quickly settled down and returned to Mikoto's side.

In such a serious setting, she knew how to behave.

Haruki tapped the table, drawing everyone's attention.

Before today, he had never directly explained the true reason for establishing the Natsu Organization.

First, he feared that the revolutionary ideals might be too advanced for this world. Second, he worried about making mistakes in conveying the message, thus dishonoring the great men.

But he also understood that if he didn't explain, the questions would always remain.

The more they debated, the clearer it would become.

Haruki now believed he had enough ability to correct any deviations.

"Back at the first meeting of the Natsu Organization, I mentioned our goal is to give everyone equal opportunities."

"I know you all have some doubts: why are we doing this?"

"We are all ninjas, and theoretically, we just need to follow the ninja code and complete our missions."

"But are other matters truly unrelated to us?"

"I wasn't born in Konoha but in an ordinary family in the Land of Fire."

"I should have become a merchant or farmer, but because of the last ninja war, my family was destroyed."

"In the days of wandering, I saw too many innocent people lose their lives and loved ones because of ninjas."

"They couldn't resist and died tragically."

"These cruel scenes are forever etched in my memory."

"Even more cruel is the fact that wars will continue in the future."

"Ninjas possess greater power, but why are they always adding fuel to the fire of slaughter?"

This was the first time Haruki spoke about his past.

In his previous life, he was fortunate not to have experienced war and couldn't truly understand its cruelty.

But in this life, he had witnessed so-called hell on earth.

The education he received in past life and modern thinking inspired revolutionary ideas.

Additionally, he was influenced by traditional culture.

Like most people, he had the aspiration to "benefit the world when in power, remain virtuous when in poverty."