[Sponsored] P2W Chapter 224: The Root

[This Chapter Is Sponsored by Erik Reynoso! Everyone, please thank him in the comment!]

Konoha, Inuzuka Clan.

"What! That's too much!"

The Inuzuka Clan has always been neutral. Even their investments were just gestures of goodwill, offending no one. Moreover, the clan's strength was not very strong.

Among Konoha's secret technique families, the Inuzuka Clan was the weakest, but they rapidly developed due to their advantage in training ninja dogs.

However, they suffered during wartime. As indispensable trackers on the battlefield, they were also prime targets for enemy ninjas.

Thus, before every Great Ninja War, the Inuzuka Clan's strength would increase significantly, moving away from the bottom of the secret technique families. But after the wars, they would suffer heavy casualties.

Their indispensable tracking abilities, without strong protective power, always troubled the Inuzuka Clan. They had wanted to connect with the Aburame Clan to see if they could further their relationship in the future.

Like the Ino-Shika-Chō alliance, a solid, long-standing alliance allowed for the complement of secret techniques.

They understood the principle of "huddling for warmth," but just as their relationship with the Aburame Clan reached a critical point, the alliance between the Yamanaka and Uchiha clans emerged, awkwardly halting their plans.

But now!

In the Inuzuka Clan's living room, an angry Inuzuka Tsume, radiating a wild beauty, slammed her hand on the table, furiously saying, "How great were the Inuzuka Clan's losses in the three wars! Does the Hokage not know? And now, the Root division is still so presumptuous."

The most experienced and mature jōnin of the clan, Inuzuka Gaku, calmly looked at the family members, less than ten in the living room, and couldn't help but shake his head.

"The Root division has explained everything. The clans of Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara, and even Sarutobi have had personnel drafted. Our Inuzuka Clan cannot use this as an excuse."

Despite this, the hot-tempered Inuzuka Tsume couldn't suppress her anger, "For the village, if not for the Third Hokage's command errors in the three wars, our clan wouldn't have suffered so heavily!"

"Inuzuka Tsume!" Seeing Inuzuka Tsume bring up the past mistakes of the three wars, Inuzuka Gaku gravely banged the table to stop this topic.

The errors made in those wars were serious enough to cause the Third Hokage to resign. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been a Hokage stepping down.

Knowing her impulsiveness, Inuzuka Tsume took a deep breath, but still couldn't suppress her anger, "My husband was seriously injured in the three wars and didn't survive the second year after the Night of the Nine-Tails. Now I only have a son and daughter. I absolutely refuse to send my children to the Root division!"

At this, Inuzuka Tsume showed a fierce protective instinct. She was the mother of Inuzuka Hana and Inuzuka Kiba.

The other Inuzuka families also showed displeasure. Unlike other clans, the Inuzuka, though called a secret technique family, were actually more like a ninja household.

Each had their own family, and when issues arose, the strongest ninja from each family would come to discuss. At its peak, the Inuzuka Clan had just over fifty families and just over a hundred ninjas.

Now, with only nine families, it meant that the so-called Inuzuka Clan barely had twenty to thirty members left.

Inuzuka Gaku, looking at everyone's grim faces, understood their pain. Who wouldn't cherish their own children, especially for a clan already facing a population shortage?

"Sigh, I have two illegitimate children with ninja talent outside. One could join the Root division, but they must return to the Inuzuka family first."

Inuzuka Gaku finally sighed and proposed a solution, noting that influential and powerful members of large families often have lovers or illegitimate children outside.

However, under the long-standing traditions of the ninja world, especially in the conservative noble families, illegitimate children are not acknowledged, let alone allowed to inherit the family's assets.

At most, being allowed to inherit the family name is considered a favor. Most families turn a blind eye to this, as long as the bottom line is not crossed.

After Inuzuka Gaku spoke, others started to think. The issue of illegitimate children is usually kept out of the public eye. As for inheriting the family's secret techniques? If you dare teach them, you could be thrown out of the family the next day. Some stricter families might even execute offenders internally.

Unless acknowledged, and this time Inuzuka Gaku used the opportunity to bring back two illegitimate children to the Inuzuka clan. They would receive treatment like ordinary clan members and could even train in the family's secret techniques, but only the basic ones. Only after the next generation feels a sense of belonging could they be eligible to learn more advanced techniques.

"Root demanding three spots this time is too much," someone complained. Once you enter Root, there's no coming back.

The main issue is that the current generation of the Inuzuka clan lacks a prodigious genius. Otherwise, Root wouldn't be demanding three subpar individuals but a genius.

"Let's draw lots," it was proposed. "We all know the situation of the Inuzuka clan and what everyone's doing in private. Let's use this opportunity to bring back those outside. After all, the Inuzuka clan is at its lowest point in history."

As someone who has been through it all, Inuzuka Gaku knows that population growth is crucial for the clan's development. The current state of the Inuzuka is perilous.

Even though their current rules prohibit women from marrying out and only allow men to marry into the clan, having illegitimate children is the fastest way to increase the population.

Allowing these people to return and bear the Inuzuka name, those with ninja talents, at most, could learn the clan's basic secret techniques. This is the fastest way to rejuvenate the clan.

Moreover, the talent for being a ninja is selective. As for basic secret techniques? Just the basic level is enough to reach the mid-ninja level.

Mid-ninja! That's the ultimate achievement for most ninjas.

"I agree."

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

As each family nodded in agreement, Inuzuka Tsume couldn't help but scoff. She was dissatisfied with these so-called illegitimate children being allowed to proudly bear the noble Inuzuka name, but there was no choice.

This issue wasn't unique to the Inuzuka clan; other major families were also troubled.

Root demanded people, either geniuses or otherwise. No one wanted to offend Root, so they reluctantly handed over a few children with ninja talents who were quite promising.

These children are the future of the clans, but there's no other choice.

However, this is still better than the plight of civilian ninjas, who have no choice in the matter.

Once selected, regardless of how many children a family has, a direct order is issued. Families unaware of what Root is are happy, thinking it's a high-level secret department of the village. Their children are excited, dreaming of becoming legendary ninjas.

But families with ninja parents who know about Root are stricken with grief. Unable to refuse Root's orders, they can only prepare a lavish last meal and give all their love to their children in their final days.

Helplessly, they have to send their own children to Root.

Families with two or more children fare slightly better, finding relief in their remaining children.

Some rejoice, others grieve. Those unaware of the truth might be happy, at least they're not in despair. Those who know can only accept everything as it is.

…

Police Department, Conference Room.

In the conference room this time, there were densely packed, over a hundred Jonin seated on the floor, while sitting above were Hyuga Hizashi, Aburame Shibi, and the leader, Uchiha Yoru.

Among the crowd below, the Uchiha clan accounted for half the number. The remaining half were mostly from the Hyuga branch family, followed by ordinary ninjas and members of the Aburame clan.

However, those who could come here this time were at least of the Special Jonin level. It can be said that this meeting gathered 80% of the high-end combat power centered around Uchiha Yoru.

In the entire Konoha, there were about six to seven hundred Jonin in the combat formation, and a large part of them were Special Jonin. This indicated the value of a Jonin's status.

Of course, the greatest foundation of the Five Great Ninja Villages, apart from these, also included some Jonin who retired from combat due to injuries or old age. Although their combat strength was no longer at its peak, they had rich experience and passed on everything they knew to the next generation.

They were responsible for infusing fresh blood into the new generation, which is the biggest reason why the Five Great Ninja Villages have stood for so many years.

"Everyone, you must have heard about the Root Division," Uchiha Yoru said, looking at the power he possessed, feeling a sense of pride. This power was his confidence to intimidate the old folks of the Konoha.

Even though there might be hesitations and wavering if a real internal war started, the power of nearly a hundred Jonin was enough for him to threaten the Konoha. Even the peak-time supporters of the Legendary Sannin were only about this number.

Although he shamelessly borrowed the power of the clan, it was also a part of his strength.

"Lord Yoru, the Root Division plans to conscript three Byakugan boys from the Hyuga clan," said Hyuga Hizashi, the first to speak, with an expressionless face that revealed no emotions.

But the anger on the faces of the Jonin from the Hyuga branch family was clear to everyone. Since the 'Caged Bird' incident, what they hated the most was being controlled by such cursed seals. The actions of the Root Division were like sprinkling salt on their wounds.

Following that, the least noticeable Aburame Shibi slightly bowed his head and said in a deep voice, "The Root Division's conscription order also includes three young ninjas from the Aburame clan."

Uchiha Yoru, sitting at the top, showed no emotion upon hearing this. Instead, he turned to the Uchiha side, where Uchiha Shisui took a deep breath and reported, "Clan head, our clan has also received the conscription order, asking to conscript two young ninjas."

"This is because the clan head has been busy at the police station recently, so we are only informing you now."

Everyone understood Shisui's so-called excuse. As the clan head, Uchiha Yoru wouldn't allow himself not to be the first to know the news.

However, Uchiha Yoru looked at everyone with a strange smile, slowly took out a conscription letter from his chest, and joked with everyone, "Interestingly, the Police Department also received a Root Division conscription order, crudely demanding the conscription of five civilian young ninjas."

Instantly, the faces of the ordinary Jonin ninjas below changed. Coming from ordinary ninja backgrounds and having reached the Jonin level, they thought this matter only involved the major ninja clans and did not expect it to involve them too.

Many of them joined the Police Department partly due to Orochimaru's influence but also for their own sake, bringing their families with them. Moreover, they had their factions within the Police Department.

For example, small groups from their respective clans, and small civilian factions banding together. If they ignored this issue, their positions as so-called team leaders would be unstable, and their unity would dissolve.

Seeing everyone's reactions, even the proudest Uchiha clan, though angry, showed frustration. Seeing this, Uchiha Yoru shook his head, feeling a bit disappointed.

It seemed that the long-standing prestige of the Hokage and high-ranking officials had deeply ingrained in everyone. The first reaction of all was anger, but more than that was frustration. This also confirmed one thing – though frustrated, they would accept it without significant reasons.

But Uchiha Yoru did not think so. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wanted to use this as a test. If they endured this time, they would only expose their vulnerability, just like the Uchiha clan had once been slowly eroded.

A slow and insidious erosion, like boiling a frog in warm water. Wasn't this exactly how the Uchiha clan was brought down by the Third during the original timeline?

Moreover, he was not Uchiha Fugaku, who only sought to compromise with the village and find a peaceful solution. From the beginning, his goal was clear: the entirety of Konoha.

"Heh."

After looking around at everyone, Uchiha Yoru revealed a self-mocking smile. The order in his hand slowly burned in the shocked gaze of everyone present.

"When did the mere Root have such audacity?"

Looking at everyone, Uchiha Yoru's face showed a relaxed and heavily ironic smile. "The Konoha Police Force was established during the Second Hokage's reign, and its strict command was to protect Konoha, but Root!"

Uchiha Yoru scoffed disdainfully, "If I remember correctly, Root was a department reluctantly established by the newly appointed Third Hokage, Hiruzen, because he couldn't control the overall situation."

Uchiha Yoru's words were actually conservative.

According to official records, after Sarutobi Hiruzen succeeded as Hokage, he failed to effectively continue the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama's policy of managing the Uchiha clan. This led Danzo to bear the village's darkness, gaining the right to establish his independent organization "Root" under the guise of the Anbu training department.

"Just Root, when did they have the right to bark in the Police Department? Is it the Third Hokage, who resigned and returned to power?"

Uchiha Yoru displayed the Uchiha clan's arrogance and disdain vividly. The first part of his statement made it clear he looked down on Root, as it was a department established during the Third's era, whereas their Police Department was established during the Second's.

The second part was even more ruthless, directly addressing a sore point, a blatant reflection of the current Hokage.

"Hiss!"

Hearing this, the faces of the Jonin changed, and many even gasped in shock, looking at Uchiha Yoru.

This was nothing short of doubting and scorning the current Hokage.

It was clear he implied that the Third resigned due to a major mistake, and now he wasn't preparing to step down after returning to power?

However, Uchiha Yoru's attitude also ignited passionate gazes among many. These people were all martial-minded, at least proving one thing: Uchiha Yoru's ambition! Aiming for the Hokage's position!

If the Third was reluctant to step down, then he would openly aim for the Hokage's position!

In the crowd, Shisui's face changed as he looked at the arrogant Uchiha Yoru, sighing inwardly. Yoru, knowing it was impossible, still wanted to give the village a chance, forcing them to elect the Fifth Hokage.

At this time, whether Tsunade or Jiraiya returned, either could become the Fifth, but Uchiha Yoru's chances were the slimmest.