Shikamaru turned his head sharply. The newcomer was dressed in a black kimono, half his face wrapped in bandages. He leaned on a wooden cane, appearing aged, though his head of black hair and the two crisscrossing scars on his chin stood out. His half-lidded eye held a sharp, vulture-like chill.
This old man was none other than Shimura Danzō—hailed by the Fourth Raikage in the original story as the "embodiment of darkness."
"Nara Shikamaru," Danzō said as he stepped out from the conference room, tapping the floor lightly with his cane. His voice was calm but commanding. "It was I who summoned you."
Although Danzō's sudden appearance left Shikamaru wary, he showed no hostility or distrust on his face. Familiar as he was with the original work and Danzō's character, he knew the man was even trickier to deal with than Orochimaru. As a Konoha elder, Danzō couldn't simply be accused or disposed of without solid evidence or risking being branded a traitor.
Danzō gave a subtle signal to an ANBU nearby. The masked shinobi bowed and swiftly left.
Shikamaru noted this with suspicion. That ANBU might very well have been Yamanaka Fū, the sensory-type operative from Root.
"Come in," Danzō said blandly once the suspected Fū had departed. He turned and walked back into the conference room without waiting for a reply.
After a moment of hesitation, Shikamaru followed. He couldn't fathom why Danzō—who had remained low-key throughout the Third Hokage's rule—would suddenly summon him.
Inside, Danzō seated himself at the head of the table without ceremony. Looking directly at Shikamaru, who stood silently with his arms at his sides, he said impassively, "I'm aware of many things concerning you—such as your actions in the Land of Waves. Acting beyond the mission parameters to assist your client of your own accord—such behavior is a breach of protocol."
"As a shinobi, such unsanctioned actions should be met with serious punishment," Danzō continued, striking the floor with his cane to emphasize the point. Then, observing Shikamaru's unreadable expression, he softened his tone. "But, I believe you are still young. And your performance at the Academy and in missions has been exceptional. As long as you continue to contribute to the village, this misstep can be overlooked. Do you understand?"
Shikamaru's heart stirred slightly, but his face remained impassive. He said nothing, curious to hear what else Danzō would say.
Seeing no reaction, Danzō frowned, his visible eye narrowing slightly. With a trace of displeasure in his voice, he asked abruptly, "Would you be willing to join my special ANBU task force—Root?"
The name stunned Shikamaru enough for his surprise to briefly show on his face. Catching himself, he masked it with a puzzled look. "Root?"
"Root operatives are the embodiment of true shinobi. They have no names, no emotions. Their past is erased, their future irrelevant. Only the mission matters. They dedicate their entire lives, silently sacrificing themselves for the greater whole. And it is precisely this Root, buried deep in the soil, that upholds the mighty tree that is Konoha."
Danzō's deep, slow voice delivered the speech while he watched Shikamaru closely.
"Root agents hold the same authority as ANBU, but answer only to me. They are not subject to the orders of anyone else."
It was a classic tactic—first, threaten with the Land of Waves incident; second, lure with lofty ideals; and third, tempt with power.
Shikamaru dipped his head slightly, pretending to be absorbing Danzō's words, while hiding the scorn tugging at his lips.
If he hadn't known the original story—and if he lacked the self-awareness of an adult with formed values—then perhaps the idealistic fervor in Danzō's voice might have ensnared a hot-blooded teenage Shikamaru, persuading him to join Root of his own will.
To remain hidden in the shadows meant isolation and manipulation—left to be twisted, controlled, and disposed of at Danzō's whim, with no agency of one's own.
Besides, what defined a "true" shinobi anyway? Did ancient, impoverished ninja who lived in obscurity and moved in darkness do so out of preference? No—those were products of circumstance, forced into the shadows by a hostile world. Wrapping themselves in darkness was never the point. People naturally sought the light. There may have been noble shinobi who chose sacrifice for the greater good, but never for the sake of being "true shinobi."
If Shikamaru were to sacrifice or dedicate himself, it would never be under the command of someone like Danzō—a man who only ever demanded sacrifice from others. In the original story, Danzō's extreme militaristic ideology, veiled behind collective righteousness, revealed his true selfish ambition: to become Hokage. Replacing collective good with personal power, he eventually tried to drag both Sasuke Uchiha and Tobi to their deaths with him—a final desperate act that was far from noble.
Shikamaru had already guessed Danzō's motive for recruiting him into Root.
Even without considering Shikamaru's own talent, his father—Nara Shikaku—was unmatched in reputation and influence within the Nara Clan and a shoo-in for the next clan head. And Shikamaru himself, with his intellect and potential, was clearly on track to inherit that role in the future.
Many in Konoha had already recognized that. Danzō's true aim was likely to use Shikamaru as a pawn to indirectly manipulate, or even control, the Nara Clan—paving the way for his own rise to power as Hokage.
"Lord Danzō," Shikamaru finally spoke, carefully choosing a tone of polite deference, "I'm currently just a low-ranking genin. I fear I'm not worthy to join a unit with such a noble mission."
Compared to Danzō—an elder and advisor to the Hokage—Shikamaru's position was insignificant. He had no choice but to bide his time and hold back. But their opposing goals were clear. When the time came, if Danzō's collusion with external forces could be exposed, Shikamaru wouldn't hesitate to bring him down.
"No matter," Danzō replied instantly, unmoved. "Root is responsible for training new ANBU recruits as well. If you join, you will receive more thorough and rigorous instruction."
Shikamaru frowned. Was Danzō truly so self-centered that he couldn't hear the implicit refusal in his words?
With slightly firmer tone, Shikamaru said, "My father and Asuma-sensei already provide me with plenty of training. I don't need to join Root for that."
"..." Danzō fell silent. Shikamaru's refusal was too blatant to ignore now. A brief flash of cold light flickered in Danzō's eye. "So Konoha nurtured you to this level only for you to chase empty glory and personal comfort—unwilling to make the slightest sacrifice for the peace and prosperity of the village?"
"Elder Danzō!" Shikamaru raised his voice to cut off the slander. His tone was no longer polite. "I don't believe that simply being an ordinary shinobi makes one selfish. Everyone contributes to Konoha in their own way!"
"True sacrifice defines a shinobi. Remaining in darkness as a silent protector—that is the original nature of shinobi throughout history!" Danzō's voice grew icy. His brows furrowed. "Empty words won't get you far in this world! Nara Shikamaru, I'll ask you one last time—are you willing to sacrifice and devote yourself for the sake of the entire village, becoming a Root member hidden in the dirt and shadows?"
"Apologies, Elder Danzō," Shikamaru replied without hesitation. "To my knowledge, there is only one person who currently represents the entire village—and that is the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi."