Chapter Fifteen: Roots Without Restraint
On a lush forest path, five figures moved forward in silence beneath the lingering glow of the winter sunset.
This group was none other than the four members of Squad Thirty-One, escorting Shennong back to Konoha.
At the rear of the team, a brown ninja dog followed closely beside Ryuya.
Ever since Ryuya had saved it once again that day, Brownmaru had officially become his summoning beast.
Originally, Ryuya had had no intention of forming a contract with Brownmaru. After all, it was just an ordinary ninja dog—its strength was mediocre at best, and its growth potential was limited.
In the world of Naruto, aside from Pain's three-headed dog, there were hardly any truly powerful ninja dogs to be seen.
This clearly conflicted with Ryuya's vision of possessing a mighty summon like those of the Legendary Sannin.
But Brownmaru had latched onto him. As soon as its injuries healed, it became Ryuya's shadow, impossible to chase away no matter what.
And Ichikawa Shin, the squad leader of Team Thirty-One who had been absent for several days, did not allow Ryuya to casually keep it by his side.
Left with no other choice, Ryuya could only sign a contract with it as his first summoning beast.
Fortunately, a ninja was not limited to only one summoning beast. Brownmaru's existence would not greatly affect Ryuya's future ambitions of obtaining a far more powerful top-tier summon.
Still, whenever he thought about having to feed an extra ninja dog from now on, Ryuya couldn't help but worry about his wallet.
With his current finances, he could barely afford to support his own training alone.
"It's getting late. We'll rest here for the night.
Ryuya, go set up traps around the perimeter!"
After walking silently for half an hour, Ichikawa Shin leapt into a tree to scout the surroundings, then selected a suitable campsite and gave Ryuya his instructions.
"Yes, sensei!"
Ryuya responded and quickly turned to leave.
Reaching the outer edge of the campsite, Ryuya took out steel wire and small bells from his ninja pouch and began setting up warning traps.
After this period of training, he had already become very familiar with these basic wilderness survival skills.
This was a matter of life and death—he dared not be careless in the slightest.
When Ryuya finished and returned to the campsite, Sagawa and Yūhi Teru had already lit a campfire. The four of them sat around it, taking out their rations to eat.
Brownmaru quietly squatted to the side. Sagawa and Yūhi Teru didn't feed it—it only ever accepted food from Ryuya.
Ryuya sat down beside Brownmaru, tossed it a piece of dried meat, then took out his own rations and began eating.
The five sat quietly around the campfire, eating in silence, with little interest in conversation.
After rushing along the road for three consecutive days, everyone was exhausted.
Soon after finishing their meal, the four members of Squad Thirty-One each found a tree branch to rest on, while Shennong chose a spot by the campfire and rested on the ground.
Suddenly, the sound of figures swiftly moving through the forest broke the silence.
By the fire, Shennong, who had been resting against a tree root, slowly opened his eyes.
"Stay alert!"
Ichikawa Shin's urgent warning rang out through the air as he flashed into position in front of Shennong.
From the tree branches, Ryuya, Sagawa, and Yūhi Teru immediately jumped down as well, forming a triangular formation with Shennong protected in the center.
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
In a few rapid flashes, four figures appeared not far away.
Illuminated by the firelight, Ryuya saw that all four wore standard ninja combat attire and white animal masks.
ANBU… or Root?
Seeing the familiar attire, Ryuya's heart grew wary.
In Konoha, only the Hokage's direct ANBU and Danzō's Root operatives dressed like this.
If they were the Hokage's ANBU, Ryuya wouldn't be too worried. But if they were Root, then extreme caution was necessary.
Compared to the Hokage's ANBU, Root operatives were notorious for acting without restraint. Most of them were emotionless machines built solely for missions.
Under Danzō's control, Root had committed countless dark deeds over the years, all in the name of "for the sake of Konoha."
Ryuya was deeply wary of such people.
"May I ask what business brings you here, sirs?"
Noticing their attire, Ichikawa Shin's guarded expression eased slightly as he spoke in a low voice.
"Ichikawa Shin, Chūnin. We are here under orders to escort Medical Ninja Shennong back to Konoha."
The one in front, wearing a white cat mask, stepped forward and spoke.
"Under orders?
Escorting Medical Ninja Shennong is the mission of Squad Thirty-One. For you to take him would violate protocol unless you have an order from the Hokage's office."
Hearing this, Ichikawa Shin's expression darkened slightly, his previously relaxed posture once again turning vigilant.
For a ninja, the mission came above all else.
Even if unexpected changes occurred, the village would issue an explanation—missions were not abandoned midway without reason.
Seeing this, Ryuya's heart immediately rose to his throat.
"Of course it's the Hokage's order."
The cat-masked ninja nodded.
"Then please present the written authorization."
Ichikawa Shin showed no sign of backing down and extended his hand.
"Hawk, give it to him."
The cat-masked ninja instructed his companion on the right.
The hawk-masked ninja stepped forward with a scroll in hand and handed it to Ichikawa Shin.
Remaining cautious, Ichikawa Shin took the scroll and slowly unrolled it.
However, at the instant he opened it to examine the contents, a sudden change occurred!
Ninja Art: Super Beast Imitation Drawing – Grassland Serpent!
The hawk-masked ninja rapidly formed hand seals, instantly activating a jutsu.
A puff of white smoke rose as several water serpents burst out of the scroll, tightly binding Ichikawa Shin's body and limbs. One snake lunged straight for his neck.
Partial Expansion Jutsu!
Not far away, Ryuya—already on high alert—reacted without hesitation. Chakra surged through his body as his arms rapidly extended and enlarged.
From their actions, it was clear—these were Root operatives.
Only Root, under Danzō's command, would act with such blatant ruthlessness!
Just as the water serpent was about to sink its fangs into Ichikawa Shin's vital point, Ryuya's right hand intercepted it, while his left hand grabbed hold of the serpents binding Shin's body.
"Break!"
Clenching his teeth, Ryuya exerted force with both hands. The water serpents shattered instantly, dissolving into ink that flowed down Ichikawa Shin's body.
Ryuya's lightning-fast reaction completely caught the Root ninjas off guard. Before they could respond, Ichikawa Shin had already been freed.
Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!
The moment he broke free, Ichikawa Shin formed hand seals and unleashed a Wind Release jutsu.
A violent gale tore through the forest like countless blades, slashing toward the enemy.
The four Root ninjas remained unmoved. The cat-masked leader slammed his hands onto the ground, and an earthen wall rapidly rose up.
Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!
Countless wind blades struck the wall, leaving deep gashes across its surface.
"Retreat—now!"
Taking advantage of their defensive maneuver, Ichikawa Shin rushed to the weakened Ryuya, grabbed him, and shouted to Sagawa and Yūhi Teru.
The four members of Squad Thirty-One retreated at full speed, with the ninja dog Brownmaru following closely behind.
Against four Root operatives, Squad Thirty-One stood no chance.
To preserve their lives, Ichikawa Shin made the decisive call to withdraw.
As for the mission—they would demand an explanation from Root once back in the village.
"Good work, Ryuya."
Only after retreating a great distance and confirming that the Root ninjas were not pursuing did the team stop. Ichikawa Shin looked at Ryuya with praise.
Nearby, Yūhi Teru and Sagawa gazed at Ryuya with complex expressions—admiration mixed with envy.
In that critical moment, Ryuya had decisively acted to save Ichikawa Shin. His reaction speed and significantly improved strength were something neither of them could match.
Compared to the "deadweight" Ryuya of the past, the current Ryuya—capable of using Partial Expansion Jutsu—had already exceeded their expectations.
"Sensei… what about our mission?"
Despite the praise, Ryuya showed no trace of pride. His face was tense as he asked quietly.
That single use of Partial Expansion Jutsu had nearly drained all his chakra—he was still far too weak.
"Don't worry. They're still ninjas of the village. Though I don't know why they interfered with our mission, they'll have to give an explanation."
Ichikawa Shin reassured him.
Yet the anger and shock in his eyes were impossible to hide.
As a Chūnin, Ichikawa Shin had clearly felt the killing intent from that Root operative. Had Ryuya not activated his clan's jutsu in time, he might truly have died at their hands.
Root's unrestrained methods sent a chill through his heart.
Once back in the village, he would definitely report this to the Hokage.
For now, Squad Thirty-One found a hidden place to lie low, planning to take a detour and return to Konoha at full speed the next day.
"Not a bad kid at all.
Medical Ninja Shennong, please."
Back at the campsite, after forcing Squad Thirty-One to retreat, the four Root ninjas did not pursue further. The cat-masked leader muttered as he watched Ryuya's retreating figure, then turned to Shennong.
Their orders from Lord Danzō were clear: bring Shennong back safely. They had no interest in chasing after the fleeing squad.
"Who sent you?"
Standing by the campfire and having witnessed everything, Shennong calmly asked.
Seeing his reaction, the cat-masked Root ninja narrowed his eyes slightly—this was somewhat unexpected.
Those whom Lord Danzō personally took interest in were indeed no ordinary people.
With that thought, he spoke:
"Medical Ninja Shennong, please be at ease. Lord Orochimaru was concerned for your safety and specifically ordered us to escort you back to the village."
"Orochimaru…?"
Shennong's expression shifted slightly. After murmuring softly and hesitating for several seconds, he did not refuse and followed them.
The relationship between Shennong and Orochimaru was complicated—part cooperation, part mutual wariness.
Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, was not only immensely powerful but utterly inscrutable.
Dealing with him required the utmost caution.