'Transfer….?'
Stunned, Yugao stood in shock, staring at Kiyoshi, who had just voiced this unexpected suggestion.
After processing what he said, her cheeks turned bright red.
"This... Let's forget about it."
Although she had to admit that when she was first chosen as a backup to join the Anbu, she felt genuinely honored and excited.
But gradually, she saw the darker, bloodier, and more ruthless side of Konoha, hidden beyond its usual noble facade.
Even the high-ranking officials, who appeared righteous and selfless, were not as upright as they seemed.
Even the Third Hokage, who appeared warm and compassionate, caring for his subordinates, wasn't as benevolent as he seemed.
She was indeed not fond of life in the Anbu.
But due to various concerns, Yugao hesitated.
She also feared bringing trouble to Kiyoshi.
Naturally, she declined with soft restraint.
"You have long since grown tired of Anbu life, haven't you?"
Kiyoshi observed her reaction and felt a surge of understanding in his heart.
"Yes, but I…."
Yugao sighed, about to say something more.
"No 'buts'." Seeing her hesitation, Kiyoshi waved his hand and smiled, "Yugao-nee, don't worry about it, leave this to me."
"No, Kiyoshi, you don't understand."
What worried her most wasn't the idea of not being able to leave the Anbu or even arousing the Third Hokage's suspicion.
Her real fear was that the Third Hokage might outwardly approve her departure from the Anbu while secretly assigning her a mission to monitor Kiyoshi.
If that happened, what would she do?
Would she betray the village for Kiyoshi's sake, or would she accept the mission?
Even if Kiyoshi did nothing against the village, her actions would harm him.
She wouldn't be able to face him directly.
"I know, you mean that the higher-ups will most likely ask you to spy on me in secret, right?" Kiyoshi said with a knowing smile.
"Kiyoshi…."
Yugao looked at Kiyoshi, whose perception seemed to pierce right through her.
She sighed and nodded slightly.
Lowering her head in resignation, she muttered, "I'm glad you understand."
Although she disliked getting involved in dirty politics, she hadn't spent years in the Anbu without absorbing the implications around her.
She was fully aware of just how unique Kiyoshi was.
Even the Uchiha clan had once been subjected to 24/7 surveillance ordered by the higher-ups.
And Kiyoshi, wielding the First Hokage's Wood Style, was immensely powerful and beyond the control of the higher-ups.
They refrained from issuing orders to Anko and Kurenai because they saw those two as too close to Kiyoshi to be reliable.
But as an Anbu, Yugao was different. She was someone who had only had minimal interactions with Kiyoshi, a "tool" used to following orders.
If they could plant an informant close to Kiyoshi, those high-ranking officials wouldn't waste such an opportunity.
Even the Third Hokage, despite his noble demeanor, would most likely use the justification of "it's all for the village" to persuade her to monitor Kiyoshi.
"Come with me."
Kiyoshi smiled slightly.
Before she knew it, he had gently wrapped his arm around Yugao, who stood, surprised, and they disappeared from the room instantly.
Swish…
The next moment, they reappeared.
He had brought Yugao to the base of the Root.
"What is…."
Inside a large, brightly lit room, dozens of Kiyoshi's clones meticulously inscribed intricate sealing jutsus on scrolls and tags.
Yugao stood frozen, stunned.
"All of this?"
"I'm developing a forbidden technique that can seal any jutsu into an appropriate medium. By merely injecting chakra, anyone can unleash the jutsu continuously."
"For example, I could seal the Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu into a medium and replicate it onto a Genin's body."
Kiyoshi offered an example with a smile. "So, even if that person hasn't mastered the Fire Style or has no talent, or even without years of arduous training."
"As long as they have enough chakra, they can easily perform and release the Great Fireball Jutsu."
"What?"
Yugao's eyes widened, her mouth agape as she stared at him in disbelief.
She couldn't believe it. "Is something like that really possible?"
This concept completely shattered her understanding.
Being able to use powerful jutsus without any talent or training?
"It hasn't reached that level yet. Right now, I can only inscribe jutsus onto scrolls. It's not yet perfected." Kiyoshi shrugged and walked toward the exit.
"Follow me."
"Where are we?"
Yugao followed him, instinctively examining her surroundings.
The architectural style seemed eerily familiar.
"Lord Kiyoshi."
In the dim corridors, masked guards stood, each bowing respectfully toward Kiyoshi as he passed.
Seeing the masks and uniforms, Yugao's pupils contracted sharply.
Wasn't this the attire of Root?
Watching Yugao's conflicted expression, Kiyoshi smiled. "This is Root. You should recognize it well enough."
"What? The Root base?"
Her face paled as she stared at Kiyoshi in shock.
Was he…. involved with Root?
Without much explanation, Kiyoshi led Yugao, whose mind was swirling with questions and growing unease.
They twisted and turned through the compound until they reached a heavily guarded chamber.
Ignoring the salutes of the Root members, Kiyoshi formed a hand sign, activating a seal.
He guided Yugao through the barrier and into the room beyond.
"Is this…. Root's archive?"
Looking around at the rows of neatly organized files and labeled scrolls, Yugao couldn't suppress her suspicion.
"Rest assured. The Root is now under my control."
Kiyoshi gently brushed her cheek and smiled, "Two years ago, Danzo tried to use Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan to control me, but I managed to turn the tables on him instead."
He wasn't worried about Yugao leaking this information.
At worst, Tsunade could simply take over Konoha a bit sooner.
Besides, it would also be a test of Yugao's trustworthiness.
"What?"
Yugao's eyes widened, staring at Kiyoshi in disbelief.
Danzo, the leader of Root and one of Konoha's high-ranking officials, had tried to control Kiyoshi—only to be subdued instead?
But as she thought back, she remembered a terrifying battle in the capital of the Land of Fire two years ago.
According to Anbu's investigation, Root had likely been involved.
At that time, both Kiyoshi and Lady Tsunade were in the capital.
It seemed that Danzo had indeed targeted Kiyoshi's abilities, only for his plan to fail miserably.
In trying to seize the advantage, Danzo had only ended up worse off.
"Don't dwell on it too much."
Seeing her confusion, Kiyoshi comforted her gently.
He took out a file containing information about the Third Hokage and the two elder advisors.
Handing it to Yugao, who stood still, shaken, he said.
"This is the information Root has gathered since its establishment, including secrets about certain clans, and even some of the dirty deeds of the Third Hokage, Koharu, and Homura."
"The things recorded here go far beyond the darkness you encountered in the Anbu."
"This..."
Yugao hesitated.
Could she, a mere Jonin and Anbu, even have access to such things?
"Yugao-nee, read through these first." Kiyoshi smiled gently, motioning her to relax. "Then you can decide whether to stay by my side or remain in the Anbu."
"If you truly don't want to know these things, I can always seal your memory afterward."
Yugao "...."
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