It has to be said, as expected of the massive Root, it loves to burrow underground, never forgetting its original intention, just like snakes who love to burrow, Orochimaru also loves to dig holes.
Going downwards, twisting and turning, there were various Sealing Technique runes everywhere, preventing others from infiltrating and leaving using Earth Release.
It was very particular, just a bit of a waste of taxpayer money, but when Ling thought that most of this money was military funding from the Fire Country Daimyo, she felt much better; at least her own wool wasn't being fleeced.
Lord Danzo, that old man, must have dug many holes; this base doesn't even seem to be Lord Danzo's main base.
Undoubtedly, Lord Danzo was waiting for Ling's arrival at this moment, so it was inevitable that Lord Danzo had been watching her early on.
"Lord Danzo, Uchiha Ling has been brought."
The Anbu Squad Leader knelt on one knee, and after reporting, immediately used Body Flicker Technique to move to the side, ready to guard against Ling's movements at any time.
"Uchiha Ling, this old man has been waiting for you for a long time."
Lord Danzo leaned on his cane with both hands, his right eye bandaged, and looked at Ling with a serious expression, giving off a strong sense of oppression.
"Oh? What does Lord Danzo want with a mere Ninja Academy Student like me?"
Ling tilted her head and smiled, looking quite relaxed, but she was ready to summon Mahoraga at any moment.
"This old man has investigated you. The Uchiha Clan doesn't value you, but this old man values you. Serve me, and you can learn any Secret Technique you wish."
Lord Danzo didn't beat around the bush. He didn't have much time; it wouldn't be long before the Third Hokage knew he had taken Ling, so he had to make Uchiha Ling his subordinate within this period.
"Lord Danzo, why do you say that? The Uchiha Clan values me very much; they gave me a large number of Ninjutsu scrolls and Genjutsu insights."
Ling looked puzzled, as if she truly felt that the Uchiha Clan had treated her well, and she was very grateful to the Uchiha Clan.
Even an old schemer like Lord Danzo couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his eye upon hearing Ling's words.
"Uchiha Ling, joining Root not only means you can learn the Village's Secret Techniques but also protect Konoha. This is the embodiment of the fire will."
Lord Danzo directly used enticement and moral blackmail, because he found Uchiha Ling's understanding of Konoha's fire will absolutely astonishing.
Even he, upon reading it, felt that Hiruzen was indeed a great Ninja. A genius like Ling, with such an understanding of the fire will, after he became Hokage, letting her publicize his great achievements would surely surpass Hiruzen's reputation.
"Ah? Root? Doesn't Konoha only have Anbu?"
Ling looked shocked, completely feigning ignorance of Root. She did this to buy time; she didn't believe the Third Hokage would remain indifferent if he knew she had been taken away.
Because Ling was very sure that the Third Hokage definitely needed her to achieve some goal, whether it was to be a spy or to become a bridge between the Village and the Uchiha Clan.
"Root is also a type of Anbu. It's just that what Anbu can do, my Root can do, and what Anbu cannot do, my Root can also do!"
Although Lord Danzo's tone was calm, it carried an undeniable Domineering, and he would not allow others to question the meaning of Root's existence.
"Sugoi, that's amazing! I think the Third Hokage-sama's Anbu has no reason to exist at all."
Although Ling said this, she was internally complaining that Lord Danzo's Root and the Third Hokage's Anbu were too much like the East and West Factories.
"Hmph, Uchiha Ling, you have good insight. One day, this old man will definitely replace Anbu."
Lord Danzo was quite pleased. Who said the Root in the darkness doesn't like sunlight? Lord Danzo knew very well that to become Hokage, one must stand in the sunlight, not cower in the shadows as he did now.
He felt that there was one sentence in Uchiha Ling's fire will insights that he liked the most: it's not that one is recognized only after becoming Hokage, but rather that only those who are recognized can become Hokage.
It truly spoke to his heart; otherwise, he wouldn't be so eager to recruit Uchiha Ling for his own use.
He needed such a talent to reverse his image and lay the foundation for him to become Hokage.
"What do you think? Do you want to join this old man's Root?"
Despite some surging emotions, it didn't affect Lord Danzo from getting down to business. He still needed to quickly recruit Ling for his own use.
"Uh, well, I'm still young. How about we talk about it after I graduate from the Ninja Academy?"
Ling naturally didn't want to join Root; she didn't want to have the Orochi Tongue Seal placed on her tongue.
At that time, her life and death would not be her own to control. With her beauty, she would probably be trained into someone formidable.
Then she would daily enjoy being filled like a cream Pouf, and finally, like Yakushi Nonou, to obtain intelligence from other countries, she would have a title similar to a 'walking miko'.
It should be known that in Japanese culture, shrine miko used to also have the job of 'divine attendant maiden'.
"Your strength is already enough to graduate from the Ninja Academy. As long as you agree to this old man, you can graduate tomorrow."
Lord Danzo's tone was firm, seemingly unashamed of his abuse of power, but rather proud of it.
"Uh, well, thank you, Lord Danzo, for thinking highly of me, but Hokage Uncle said that for any major decision, I must discuss it with him."
Ling lowered her head, tapping her index fingers together, speaking very cautiously and like a white lotus.
"Hmph! Damnable Hiruzen, he already made his move early!" Lord Danzo cursed Hiruzen Sarutobi's despicable shamelessness in his heart, not expecting that Hiruzen Sarutobi had already successfully brainwashed her that day.
Just as Ling was brought into Lord Danzo's Root base, the Barrier Team also noticed the appearance of a giant snake and someone fighting.
So they immediately reported to the Third Hokage, and the Third Hokage took a deep puff of his pipe.
His first reaction was to think that Orochimaru was up to something.
After looking through the Telescope Technique, he discovered Ling being taken away by Root, and he instantly perceived and concocted the conspiracy behind it.
It must be a conspiracy between Lord Danzo and Orochimaru. They summoned a giant snake to ambush her during Ling's training. After the snake was defeated by Ling, Root would then appear, falsely accusing Ling of attacking Orochimaru's summoning beast, claiming she must be a spy, and taking her back for investigation.
Moreover, Root must have used Anbu's name, which is why Ling went with Root without resistance.
And Lord Danzo's goal must be because of Ling's exceptional talent and her superb understanding of the fire will.
With a genius like Ling joining, in just a few years, Lord Danzo, both in terms of subordinate strength and public opinion, would be sufficient to fulfill his ambitions.
He had always known that Lord Danzo wanted to become Hokage, but unfortunately, due to his relationship with his old partner, his guilt towards Lord Danzo, and his inability to fully control Konoha, he needed a 'black glove' and thus had to allow Lord Danzo to run rampant.
Now, Lord Danzo's actions had touched his bottom line, so he immediately ordered Sarutobi Shinnosuke to lead three Anbu squads to bring back Uchiha Ling.
"Hmph, Lord Danzo, as long as I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, am in office, you will always only be the Hokage's assistant!"