First Subordinate?

"Guren…"

Sarutobi Ryo's eyes widened slightly.

Comparing her to the image he remembered…

Yes, Sarutobi Ryo was now sure.

This small girl was one of Orochimaru's chosen bodies for reincarnation in the original story.

What can she do? Sarutobi Ryo kept his face calm, but his mind was racing with thoughts.

The Yakuza men, having been asked about her, all started talking at once, trying to explain.

Unlike most people, who only knew basic fighting moves, she could do much more.

They said she was quick and reacted fast. She was physically very impressive.

But most importantly…

"She knows Ninjutsu! She can breathe fire…"

The Yakuza members looked at Sarutobi Ryo nervously.

"Okay, that's all I need from you. Go back and keep quiet. Act like nothing happened…"

Sarutobi Ryo waved his hand dismissively. Relieved, the men bowed and quickly left.

"Why did you sneak into our place?"

Sarutobi Ryo put his hands behind his back and told the Root Ninja to let her go.

"..."

Guren lay on the ground, lifted her head, and looked around. Her eyes showed how hopeless she felt.

Everyone here was much stronger than her. She couldn't fight them.

At this rate … I'll never get my revenge. Sarutobi Ryo watched her, noting her thoughts.

Sarutobi Ryo: "Revenge?"

Sarutobi Ryo's question made her story come out quickly.

Guren's parents were both Ninja who didn't belong to any village.

Back when there were many warring clans, everyone fought each other.

Then, the Senju and Uchiha clans joined together to create Konoha, and many other clans joined them.

But some clans didn't like Konoha, so they went into hiding or left the Land of Fire completely.

Guren's family was probably one of those small, unimportant groups.

She had lived a happy life with her parents.

Then, a woman from the Twelve Guardian Ninja came and started taking control of this Port Town.

Guren's parents were good people, so they protested right away.

Because of this, the woman killed her whole family in the middle of the night.

Guren was lucky to survive. After hiding, she started planning how to get revenge.

The Port Town had changed a lot recently. She couldn't help but sneak in to see what was happening, but she was caught.

That was the main part of her story.

"Revenge, huh."

Sarutobi Ryo nodded.

"Follow me."

He motioned for her to come with him. Guren was confused, but she slowly stood up and followed Sarutobi Ryo and Yamanaka Hui.

They went into a room on the side of the manor, and Sarutobi Ryo opened the door.

A woman was lying on the bed.

The woman covered in jewels was Guren's enemy, the former Twelve Guardian Ninja.

According to Yamanaka Hui, after what happened, the leaders of Konoha contacted the Fire Daimyo, the ruler of the Land of Fire.

The Fire Daimyo immediately removed the woman from her position that night and "happily" announced that a new person could be chosen from among the Konoha Ninja.

These gestures aside…

This event was one of the changes caused by Sarutobi Ryo being transported to this world.

The Twelve Guardian Ninja had always been made up of Ninja who didn't belong to any village since Konoha was founded.

The first Konoha Ninja to become one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja wouldn't appear until many years later, when Asuma grew up and joined them.

History… had changed.

Because of Sarutobi Ryo's involvement, the future of the Ninja World was becoming harder and harder to predict.

"!"

It was her!

Enemies always feel a strong hatred for each other.

Guren's face immediately showed extreme anger.

Her blood was boiling, and she was about to attack, but Yamanaka Hui stopped her.

"Look closely."

Yamanaka Hui told Guren to examine the woman's condition.

As she looked, Guren slowly calmed down. "What… happened to her?"

The woman's eyes were wide open. She wasn't moving on the bed.

Besides breathing, she seemed like a dead body.

"This one's become an idiot…"

Yamanaka Hui said sadly.

The enemy you wanted revenge on is now a brain-dead idiot.

That's what happens when the Yamanaka Clan's Secret Technique is used to violently invade someone's brain.

"!"

Hearing the truth, Guren fell to her knees, her eyes empty.

She wanted revenge, but not… this kind of revenge…

"Someone has already taken revenge for you…"

Yamanaka Hui patted her head.

"Our Young Master beat her down with just a few punches…"

Yamanaka Hui was very good at dealing with children.

She made up a dramatic story about what she had seen, telling Guren an exciting tale.

Guren was just a kind and simple child; she didn't understand much.

She was immediately tricked by the sly Yamanaka Hui.

By the time she finished listening to the story of "Young Master Sarutobi Ryo bravely and righteously beating the evil Twelve Guardian Ninja"… she walked over and knelt down in front of Sarutobi Ryo.

"I can never repay your kindness… I can only serve you like a slave… no, I can only repay your kindness by serving my Young Master…"

Yamanaka Hui sighed and said with a pleased look.

Sarutobi Ryo glared at Yamanaka Hui, then looked at Guren. "You know Fire Release. What else?"

"?"

Guren looked up, confused.

Besides Fire Release… there was nothing else.

"..."

Sarutobi Ryo didn't say anything.

The atmosphere became tense… then Sarutobi Ryo spoke again.

"My goal… is to become Hokage, to change Konoha, to change this Ninja World… In short…"

Sarutobi Ryo's eyes burned with passion, showing an incredible, bright light.

"I want to make this world a better place, so that terrible things like your parents being killed by bad people never happen again… Are you willing to help me make that future a reality?"

"Lord… I am willing!" Guren nodded firmly, ready to fight for that beautiful future.

Sometimes, you don't need fancy words. You just need to be honest and clearly state what you want and what you believe in.

Sarutobi Ryo: "Very good… From today on, you are my comrade."

----

After Yamanaka Hui sent someone to bathe, feed, and dress Guren, she returned to the hall.

"Young Master, aren't you going to let her join Konoha?"

"..."

Sarutobi Ryo shook his head. He didn't plan to let Guren enter the Village yet.

In the future, when the time was right, he would find a way for her to become a Konoha Ninja, but not now.

"Konoha is a place that eats people up and spits out the bones… A little kid like her would be destroyed."

Even a strong person like Hatake Sakumo was tricked by the leaders of Konoha, let alone a newcomer like a child.

Guren, not being from Konoha, would probably be recruited by Danzo into Root like Kabuto, and then go down a dark path.

So…

"It's better to let her grow up here."

The local Yakuza would be her base and her safe place, where Guren could slowly grow stronger.

In the meantime, if he had time, he would guide her training.

"Alright, I'm going to take a bath and rest…"

Sarutobi Ryo got up, thinking about Guren's abilities.

She only knows Fire Release right now …

Guren, in the original story, had the Crystal Release Kekkei Genkai.

Crystal Release was created by combining Fire Release and Earth Release.

I'm really looking forward to it …

Sarutobi Ryo thought.

He was excited for the day Guren grew up and developed Crystal Release.

Her greatest value was her ability to naturally create Crystal Release.

During this time, Guren could grow and help him manage the Transportation Company here, eventually… becoming his representative, or even… the public face of this Transportation Company.