92

"Yes! Master Gen!"

Upon hearing Uchiha Gen's orders, Madara Kyu immediately bowed and responded enthusiastically. Then, with a cheerful grin, he looked at the newly recruited Root agents, patting one on the shoulder.

"Good! Very good! You're all excellent recruits!"

"From now on, you'll be under my command."

"Don't worry, working under Master Gen is far better than working for Danzo."

"In time, you'll be grateful to have become his subordinates!"

Madara Kyu chuckled to himself as he reminisced about his past life under Danzo's Root.

Compared to the harsh, emotionless existence of being one of Danzo's disposable tools, his current life was pure bliss.

Now, he was the president of the Dark Star Chamber of Commerce, overseeing countless operations while living comfortably. People respected and admired him.

A far cry from the cold, isolated world of Root.

"You've really changed," Gen commented, his Sharingan gleaming with mild amusement.

"You actually laugh and joke now?"

He tilted his head, observing Madara Kyu. "You used to be as cold and expressionless as the rest of Danzo's tools. Now, you seem... normal."

Madara Kyu grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

"That's all thanks to your Seal of Enslavement, Master."

"That thing isn't just a control seal—it seems to repair our damaged personalities over time."

He gestured toward the other Root agents.

"Actually, everyone who was among the early recruits has regained their emotions. We're no longer just empty tools."

"It's like we've been... healed."

At first, Madara Kyu had been shocked by this change.

He had spent decades as a mindless killing machine. No emotions, no desires—just obedience.

But after falling under Gen's control, his suppressed emotions gradually returned.

Now, he finally felt alive again.

"I wasted decades being a lifeless tool," Madara Kyu thought bitterly. "Now, I can finally enjoy life."

"Oh?"

Gen's eyes flashed with interest.

"I never intended for the Seal of Enslavement to have this effect… but if it's capable of restoring lost emotions, that's incredibly useful."

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

Madara Kyu shrugged. "I never thought it was important."

"Besides, Owl hasn't changed much. He still acts the same as before."

"Maybe he's just good at hiding it. Or maybe staying at Root kept him from noticing."

After all, Root's environment suppressed emotions.

Even if someone regained their personality, they would still act cold and detached, just to survive.

Gen nodded. "Makes sense."

Still, this discovery was intriguing.

"Maybe I can use this to create a technique that restores suppressed emotions... could be useful for psychological healing."

But for now, he had more pressing matters.

"Anyway, these new recruits are in your hands now," Gen said, waving his hand dismissively.

"I've already taught them the Uzumaki Sage Body technique, alchemy, and basic body training. Make sure they practice."

"Also, don't just focus on making money. Ensure they train hard too."

Madara Kyu bowed. "Understood!"

Before leaving, Gen turned back with one last question.

"Any news on the Kusanagi Blade?"

He had tasked the Chamber of Commerce with tracking down legendary weapons.

Madara Kyu's expression turned serious.

"I've followed four leads so far, but three turned out to be fake."

"We're still investigating the last one. We can't confirm its authenticity yet, Master. I apologize for the delay."

Gen waved it off. "No rush. Keep looking."

Madara Kyu immediately bowed. "Yes, Master!"

Satisfied, Gen collected a batch of rare medicinal herbs from the Chamber of Commerce, then disappeared with Flying Thunder God.

Meanwhile, on the Rock Shinobi Frontline...

Danzo felt a shiver run down his spine.

Something was wrong.

Sitting in his war tent, listening to mission reports, he suddenly jerked his head up, eyes narrowing.

"Who?!"

"Who tampered with the security seals I placed on my headquarters' secret vault?!"

A storm of rage and paranoia filled him.

A nearby Root ninja—Jie—noticed Danzo's sudden shift.

"Lord Danzo, is something wrong?" Jie asked cautiously.

Danzo's fingers clenched into a fist.

"Someone breached my Root Headquarters in Konoha," he growled.

Jie's face darkened. "Impossible. Who could've bypassed your security?"

Danzo's mind raced.

"Was it Hiruzen?"

That was his first suspicion.

If anyone had the motive and skill to crack his defenses, it was Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Did he finally decide to move against me?"

"No... That doesn't make sense."

Hiruzen was too cautious.

And Danzo's presence on the frontline was too valuable.

If Hiruzen wanted to betray him, he would have waited until after the war.

"Then who?"

Danzo's mind flashed to another potential suspect.

"The Uchiha?"

"No... most of their elite are also on the frontlines."

Then, a horrifying thought entered his mind.

"Could it be... Uchiha Gen?"

The mere possibility made his blood run cold.

He knew that Uchiha Gen wasn't normal.

A child prodigy, a master of Flying Thunder God, and now... possibly the only person capable of breaking into his base unseen?

Danzo gritted his teeth.

"No. That brat is strong, but he shouldn't have the skill to locate my vault, let alone break in."

But what if he did?

The thought gnawed at him.

"Did I underestimate him?"

Danzo turned to Jie.

"Take a small squad and return to Konoha immediately. Investigate what happened to our base. Find out who did this."

Jie bowed. "Understood, Lord Danzo!"

As Jie left, Danzo's paranoia deepened.

"This situation is dangerous. If critical secrets were stolen, I could be exposed."

Without wasting time, he drafted a classified letter to Hiruzen, demanding an explanation.

Meanwhile, in Konoha...

BOOM!

A massive explosion erupted from Konoha's northern district—Danzo's Root Base had been completely destroyed.

Panic spread through the village.

From afar, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the flames rise, his face dark with worry.

"That's... Danzo's headquarters?"

Through his Telescope Jutsu, he zoomed in—just in time to see Mist Shinobi operatives escaping with stolen scrolls.

"Damn it! Those are Konoha's secrets!"

Snapping into action, he barked orders.

"After them! We cannot let them escape!"

Immediately, two full Anbu teams sprinted after the escaping Mist Shinobi.

But by the time they caught up, only the weakest members remained—the true mastermind had already vanished.

Back in his office, Hiruzen scowled as he read Danzo's furious letter.

"He has the nerve to blame me for this?!"

"Maybe if he protected his base better, this wouldn't have happened!"

Grinding his teeth, Hiruzen muttered.

"Danzo… I think I've tolerated your recklessness long enough."

Little did he know...

Danzo had lost far more than just documents.

Uchiha Gen had stolen everything.

End of Chapter.

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