The terrified Root Ninja led the way, not even daring to look back.
He led Lu Ming through the intricate underground tunnels of Konoha Village, twisting and turning until they finally reached a hidden subterranean building.
This was the headquarters of Root, a lawless place where even sunlight could not penetrate.
Water droplets seeped through the walls, and dim torches flickered on both sides of the corridor, distorting human shadows.
The air was thick with the smell of mold and blood, characteristic of a place that never saw the light of day.
Lu Ming stopped and looked around at the labyrinthine, gloomy structure.
“What a disgusting place.”
Lu Ming sneered.
“It’s dark and damp like a sewer. Staying in a rat hole like this where you can’t even see the sun, it’s no wonder people’s minds become completely twisted. Everything raised in here is just a bunch of light-shunning vermin.”
These words echoed directly through the core area of Root.
A dozen Chakra fluctuations emanated from the darkness.
The Root elites hidden in the shadows were provoked by his words, and their killing intent locked onto Lu Ming.
“Presumptuous.”
An aged voice emerged from the darkness ahead.
Danzo Shimura stepped out of the shadows, surrounded by a dozen top-tier Root experts.
His right eye was wrapped in thick bandages, and his right arm was hidden tightly beneath his broad robes, revealing only a single eye.
Danzo looked at Lu Ming and countered,
“What do you know? Where there is light, there will be shadows. For the great tree of Konoha to flourish, there must be Roots buried deep underground to absorb nutrients.”
“Root exists precisely to carry the darkness for Konoha.”
“Without us handling the dirty business that cannot see the light in these dark corners, how could you have stability in the sun!”
Lu Ming listened to this high-sounding rhetoric and chuckled, not even having the interest to refute it.
Seeing Lu Ming remain silent, Danzo thought he was intimidated by his presence.
Leaning on his cane, he took two steps forward, his single eye sizing Lu Ming up and down.
“Uchiha Lu Ming.”
Danzo spoke arrogantly,
“I have seen your entire file. During the Third Shinobi World War, you saved many Uchiha clansmen with your exquisite Medical Ninjutsu.”
“Not only that, you are a rare Genjutsu genius.”
At this point, Danzo paused.
“Most surprising of all is that when you encountered the main force of Iwagakure, you actually forced back the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki with an S-rank Lightning Release: Kirin.”
“That battle made you famous, turning you into a genius that Konoha and even the entire Ninja World look up to.”
The surrounding Root Ninjas remained expressionless as they listened to Lord Danzo’s assessment, but their hands gripping their Ninja tools relaxed slightly.
However, Danzo’s sole bit of praise turned into disdain.
“But!”
Danzo slammed his cane down heavily.
“Geniuses are something this world has never lacked! Your so-called achievements are simply not worth mentioning in the face of true power!”
“You think you are strong? In my eyes, you are nothing but a hollow name.”
“The Lightning Release and Three-Tomoe Sharingan Genjutsu you are so proud of, compared to Uchiha Shisui who possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan, are like a firefly competing with the bright moon! You can’t even compare to one of his fingers!”
Faced with Danzo’s disparagement, Lu Ming quietly watched him perform.
He stepped forward and questioned,
“Lu Ming! I ask you, what was your purpose in deliberately approaching the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Uzumaki Naruto tonight!”
Danzo’s voice echoed in the underground space.
“The Nine-Tails is the Village’s ultimate weapon! Your Uchiha Clan already carries the suspicion of the Nine-Tails Rebellion, and now you are privately contacting the Jinchuriki.”
“Speak! Do you intend to use that beast to plot something sinister and overthrow Konoha!”
As this heavy accusation was leveled, the dozen Root elites drew their ninjato, the sharp blades all pointing at Lu Ming in unison.
Lu Ming raised his head, looked at Danzo, and spoke.
“Danzo, do you know that your posture of thinking you control everything really makes me nauseous.”
Lu Ming narrowed his eyes.
“So nauseous that… I want to kill you directly!”
As the words fell, Lu Ming did not weave any signs.
Terrifying killing intent and spiritual intimidation erupted from within Lu Ming’s body.
This was the ultimate spiritual power unique to Lu Ming—Conqueror’s Haki.
Black and red materialized lightning raged outward from Lu Ming as the center, sweeping through the surrounding underground space.
“Argh!”
The first to be hit were the dozen Root elites who had drawn their swords.
These killing machines, who had undergone the most brutal training, screamed when they came into contact with the spiritual intimidation!
They felt as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on them!
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
The dozen Root elites couldn’t even last a second; their legs gave way, and they all knelt on the cold stone floor.
They clutched their chests with both hands, gasping for air as cold sweat soaked their black bodysuits.
Even the few Jonin-level Root experts standing at the back could only barely use their ninjato to prop themselves up on the ground, lacking even the strength to lift their heads!
And Danzo Shimura, facing the pressure directly, felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
“This… what kind of power is this?!”
Danzo’s single eye bulged so much it almost popped out.
Cold sweat slid down his aged cheeks and dripped onto the bluestone floor.
But he was, after all, a battle-hardened Konoha High Command member; a strong survival instinct forced him to bite the tip of his tongue to stimulate his nerves.
“Genjutsu! This is Genjutsu!”
Danzo roared out.
He raised his intact left hand and rapidly wove a sign:
“Release!”
The few Root Ninjas around who could still barely maintain consciousness also desperately tried to disrupt the Chakra flow in their bodies, attempting to break this terrifying pressure.
However.
One second passed.
Two seconds passed.
The black and red lightning pressing on their souls did not weaken; instead, it became even more violent!
A Root Jonin kneeling on the ground hissed in sheer terror,
“It can’t be released! This is killing intent and spiritual pressure!”
“What?!”
Danzo was completely stunned.
Killing intent and spiritual pressure?!
How could someone, by sheer presence alone, make a dozen Root elites lose their combat effectiveness and even make a Kage-level powerhouse like him find it difficult to breathe?!
This was simply not a power a human should possess.
Lu Ming stood where he was, looking down at the sweat-drenched Danzo.
Looking at Lu Ming’s peerless posture, greed began to sprout in the depths of Danzo’s heart.
Too strong!
This power that even made him tremble—
If it could be held in his own hands, who could possibly stop him from taking the position of Hokage of Konoha?!
Danzo forcibly suppressed the fear in his heart.
He struggled to straighten his hunched back, trying to regain the dignity of a Konoha High Command member.
“Uchiha Lu Ming… you are an anomaly.”
Danzo forced himself to stay calm.
“I take back what I just said. Your strength has far exceeded my expectations.”
Danzo looked at Lu Ming and stated frankly,
“I summoned you tonight for three purposes.”
“First, the Nine-Tails is Konoha’s ultimate weapon. I will never allow the Uchiha Clan to lay hands on it again.”
“Your contact with the Jinchuriki crossed my bottom line.”
“Second, not long ago, a massive Mangekyo aura erupted within the Uchiha Clan Compound.”
“I suspect someone in your clan has awakened those cursed eyes again. This power must be investigated!”
“As for the third…”
Danzo paused, his tone becoming serious.
“Uchiha Shisui, that naive fellow, has been completely brainwashed by that do-gooder Hiruzen Sarutobi and has defected to the Hokage’s faction.”
“I need an equally powerful force to keep him in check!”
At this point, Danzo spread his arms and threw out a temptation he believed was impossible to refuse.
“Lu Ming, staying in that isolated and decaying Uchiha family will only bury your talent completely!”
Danzo directly offered recruitment.
“Become my subordinate. Join Root. As long as you are loyal to me, I can give you power second only to one!”
“Whether it is Forbidden Jutsu, resources, or status, I can satisfy everything.”
“Together, we will control Konoha’s darkness and dominate the future of this Village!”
All the Root Ninjas kneeling on the ground struggled to lift their heads, waiting for Lu Ming’s answer.
Lu Ming finished listening to Danzo’s impassioned recruitment speech.
He was stunned for a moment.
Then, he threw his head back and laughed loudly.