Yakushi Nono spoke calmly.
"My intelligence-gathering ability is very strong, and I also know many of Root's secrets, as well as their Ninjutsu scrolls. I believe those would interest you."
Kairen thought for a moment. The secrets of Root were useless to him, but those Ninjutsu scrolls—those were useful.
Even if there weren't many high-level techniques among them, it was still worth it. After all, even a mosquito is still meat.
He released Yakushi Nono's chin and sneered.
"You really came to the Senju household asking for money? You picked the wrong place. Tsunade-sama's already buried in debt and has no idea where to borrow more to pay it off!"
Yakushi Nono fell silent, staring blankly at the wooden floorboards beneath her feet. Someone who possesses Wood Release shouldn't be short of money… right?
...
"Mmm~"
Kairen sat on his bed while Fenchu climbed onto his back with its claws. One man and one bear silently stared at Yakushi Nono.
After about three to five minutes of silence, Kairen decided her test was over. Yakushi Nono truly wanted to serve under him.
Kairen smiled, then waved his hand.
A towering stack of bills—taller than Yakushi Nono when she crouched—appeared before her eyes.
Her pupils constricted sharply. That pile must have been worth several million ryō at least.
Kairen leaned against the bedside, resting his head on one hand as he watched her expression.
"Well? Too little?"
"All… all of this is for me?!" Yakushi Nono pointed to herself in disbelief.
Kairen nodded.
"From now on, you'll work for me. Consider this your advance salary."
"Gulp!"
Yakushi Nono swallowed hard, her hands trembling as she stared at the mountain of cash.
With that much money, the orphanage's funds would finally be secure—and she could buy plenty of nutritious food for the children.
Was there any better boss in the world than Kairen? An advance payment of several million ryō—just like that.
During all her years of working tirelessly for Root, she'd never seen so much money at once.
Besides, Danzō had always been stingy to the extreme. If not for needing her intelligence skills, he probably wouldn't have paid her at all.
...
"Mmrr~"
Even Wolon realized he couldn't handle Yakushi Nono. After wrestling with her for a while, he collapsed onto the floorboards, panting heavily.
Seeing Nono's excitement, Kairen asked,
"Has Root been completely disbanded?"
Yakushi Nono nodded.
"Part of it was merged into the Anbu, and another part was taken away by the Shimura clan."
For an organization as critical as Root, even after dissolution, its members couldn't just be released into the open—they knew far too many secrets.
"Hmph!"
Kairen snorted.
Danzō died, but the one who profited wasn't him—it was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Then he turned his attention to the Shimura clan. Once a small shinobi family, but under Danzō's corruption and hoarding, they had become a major one—skilled in Wind Release.
"How many Jōnin does the Shimura clan have now?"
Kairen asked. Since he had killed Danzō, the Shimura clan surely hated him to the bone. He needed to understand them before planning their elimination.
Yakushi Nono answered,
"There are 30 Jōnin on the battlefield. In the village, only 5 clan Jōnin remain, along with 2 former Root Jōnin."
Seven in total.
For Kairen, who had already restored his system, wiping them out on a whim would be easy. Not worth worrying about.
He continued,
"Have they made any moves? Trying to plot against me, maybe?"
Yakushi Nono shook her head.
"No. Even the Third Hokage was forced to step down by you. The Shimura clan wouldn't dare do anything."
Kairen nodded, though he still felt uneasy. Humans were three-dimensional beings—one could never see the whole picture from just one side.
What if one of those Shimura Jōnin suddenly decided to kidnap Kurenai or Shizune? Then what?!
He looked at Yakushi Nono again.
"So you've completely left Root?"
She shook her head.
"Not yet. I was reassigned to the Anbu's Intelligence Division. I still return to Root's base regularly to organize information."
Kairen crossed his legs and asked,
"How many Ninjutsu scrolls are in Root?"
Yakushi Nono replied,
"A lot. They've collected standard elemental techniques from the other four Great Ninja Villages, as well as Ninjutsu from several smaller villages."
...
As a shadow organization operating in secrecy, Root had agents executing missions all over the world—naturally, they needed techniques from outside the village.
Kairen's eyes gleamed. He pointed at her.
"Since you've sworn loyalty to me, I'll give you a mission—go undercover in the Anbu and copy all the Ninjutsu scrolls."
He needed those scrolls both to gain experience and to learn new techniques. After all, the more Ninjutsu one mastered, the better.
Just like money—the more, the better. Who doesn't love money?
Kairen formed a hand sign.
"Wood Release: Wood Clone!"
A chunk of wood grew from his back, taking shape until it became another Kairen.
The Wood Clone was the predecessor of the Shadow Clone—more durable, longer-lasting, and able to withstand far greater pressure.
Kairen pointed at the clone.
"From now on, you are my intelligence operative. Codename: Pangolin."
Pangolin knelt on one knee.
"Pangolin accepts the mission!"
Kairen nodded at the two kneeling before him—Yakushi Nono and Pangolin.
"From today onward, you are my Advanced Agents."
"This mission is very important. You must complete it. If you fail—men clean the toilets, women warm my bed."
Yakushi Nono was speechless. It seemed this mission was something Kairen made up on a whim.
Then he pointed at Pangolin.
"Besides infiltrating the Anbu, you have another critical task. Get close to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Mitokado Homura—those three old geezers—and poison them with a bowl of chicken soup."
"Yes, Chief! Pangolin guarantees completion!"
With a wave of his hand, Kairen made Yakushi Nono and Pangolin vanish from the wooden hut.
He walked to the window. The night wind blew coldly, filling the air with a faint "Mission: Impossible" atmosphere.
Kairen smirked inwardly.
Konoha's high council… I've sent out my Advanced Agent, Pangolin. Prepare to be taken down by chicken soup!
He dramatically waved his imaginary cloak, looking every bit like a calculating spymaster.
"Drip... drip..."
It was as if the heavens themselves were startled by Kairen's darkness—the rain began to fall.
Looking out at the rain-soaked Konoha Village, he mused.
Under the rain… who can pass without getting wet?
Then he shouted toward Tsunade's room next door.
"Tsunade! It's raining outside—it's all wet! Are you wet over there too?!"
" It's the middle of the night—go to sleep already!" Tsunade's angry voice came through the wall.
Kairen chuckled, picked up the exhausted Wolon from the floor, tossed him onto the bed, and flipped him onto his back.
He lay down beside him, wrapped an arm around Fenchu, and slowly drifted into sleep.
A moment later, he sat up again, frowning in confusion. Something felt… unfinished.
He tapped his forehead.
"Damn, my memory's slipping—I forgot to give Tsunade a beautiful dream!"
Kairen transformed into a puff of smoke and silently drifted into Tsunade's room.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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