Chapter 423: Ryuichi
"You performed well this time." Back in the Hokage's office, Tsunade finally brought up what had just happened. "However, your methods were a bit too rough, which doesn't reflect well."
Haruno Sakura did not respond to Tsunade's words but frowned and looked towards the corner of the office.
A man dressed as a Root ninja walked out of the corner.
"You are...?" Sakura frowned slightly. The man's figure and the chakra on his body felt somewhat familiar to her.
She must have seen him somewhere, and recently, so she had an impression.
"My name is Ryuichi, a sensory ninja. Formerly affiliated with Root." The man took off his mask and smiled faintly. "Before, thank you for sparing my life."
"Sparing your life?" The girl was stunned for a moment.
She twirled her hair around her finger, thought for a moment, and quickly remembered—
"You are the Root ninja outside the cave that day!" She pointed at the man and said with sudden realization.
She remembered that after taking care of Danzo that day, she did see a Root ninja when walking out of the cave entrance. She also remembered that she had just obtained Shisui's Sharingan at that time and was in a good mood, so she ignored him and directly told him to scram.
Why would he appear here? Haruno Sakura's expression became strange. If this weren't the Hokage's office, she would have wanted to activate the Yin Seal and prepare for battle.
"Yes, that's me." Ryuichi nodded and replied.
"Master, why is he here?" Haruno Sakura turned to Tsunade. The latter smiled without speaking. Instead, Ryuichi stepped forward and replied, "After you knocked Danzo Shimura unconscious that day, I realized this was a good opportunity to leave Root, so I... secretly slipped back into the village and found Tsunade-sama."
"Is that so?" Sakura looked at him suspiciously.
In other words, he betrayed Danzo and Root... he was a traitor.
Ryuichi smiled shyly: "Because I am a sensory ninja... their restrictions on me were not as strict as on ordinary Root ninja."
"Hmph..." The girl pursed her lips, took a step back, and didn't really want to deal with a turncoat.
"Originally, he would have 'attended' this meeting as well." Tsunade said with a smile, "However, because you did quite well, I simply saved him the trouble of appearing."
"So you had arrangements long ago?"
Tsunade smiled reservedly.
As a former sensory ninja of Root, Ryuichi knew a large amount of intelligence; he was a card that could turn the tide! And Tsunade's backup plan wasn't just Ryuichi. Even if Haruno Sakura had answered incorrectly and stepped into the trap just now, she was completely confident in turning the situation around and handling the advisors clearly! It was just that since Sakura performed well, Tsunade didn't steal her limelight.
But since it wasn't used, there was no need to mention these small matters.
Tsunade waved her hand: "Ryuichi, Danzo Shimura has been dismissed and detained by me, and Root is disbanded starting today. You can rest assured. There is nothing for you to do today; go back and rest first, and come see me tomorrow morning. Understand?"
"Yes! Hokage-sama!"
Ryuichi showed joy upon hearing this and bowed excitedly before leaving.
"Don't look at others with that kind of disdainful look, Sakura." Tsunade said to the girl after seeing him leave.
Haruno Sakura shook her head: "People who can betray Danzo might also betray us. Besides, can there be any good people coming out of Root?"
"It's different. Ryuichi was coerced by Danzo to join Root." Tsunade explained, "He had no sense of belonging to Root in the first place. It can be said that only now has he truly joined Konoha and become a Konoha ninja."
She sat at her desk and said seriously: "Next, we have to screen and incorporate more Root ninja. Danzo's die-hard followers and ninja whose thoughts have been completely distorted by Root need to be cleared out and thrown into prison. Other Root ninja who were coerced into joining, whose thoughts can still be turned around, or who have no misdeeds, need our help, support, and recognition to help them integrate into the big family of Konoha. This is in line with the spirit of Konoha!"
"I'm saying so much not to make you responsible for managing those Root personnel, but to tell you that as my disciple, your every move represents my thoughts to some extent, so you must pay attention to your words and deeds. In short, in front of former Root ninja, you are not allowed to look at them with that kind of eyes and expression again! I demand that you treat them as normal, ordinary Konoha ninja."
Haruno Sakura frowned and shrugged her shoulders.
"Alright, I'll try my best."
She curled her lips and said.
Hmph, she had been threatened by people from the same village twice in total, and both times it was Danzo and his Root playing tricks. How could Sakura not have opinions about Root?
Seeing their uniform and sensing that uniquely oppressive chakra, she couldn't help but start being vigilant, okay! When facing Root and Danzo, if she didn't raise her vigilance, she could be killed by underhanded means at any time!
"Not try your best, but must!" Tsunade emphasized her tone.
"Yes, yes, yes~" The girl dragged out the ending sound, her voice becoming very cute.
Tsunade looked at her disciple standing in front of her with some helplessness.
Suddenly felt she was really quite cute.
Just now in the conference room, she felt Haruno Sakura's methods were a bit too intense. Being unforgiving when gaining the upper hand is sometimes not a complimentary term. The Hokage faction being too aggressive and pressing might also invite resentment. That was why Tsunade didn't beat the Hokage advisors to death with one stick—although if she had been tougher at the time, she could indeed have done so. But Tsunade believed getting the tangible benefits was enough; face could be left for others. So the advisors were not dismissed, but changed from substantial positions to nominal ones. Essentially it was the same thing, but saying it out loud left some face for Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
If it were Haruno Sakura, she probably wouldn't leave any face or substance, stomp them hard, make them unable to turn over again, and then roll away dejectedly. Doing so might feel very satisfying and relieving at the time, but what about the turmoil caused later, and the vigilance or resentment of the neutrals and those under the advisors? It would be hard to handle.
As Hokage, one needs to look at the big picture.
However, on second thought, this kind of vigorous girl is charming. It's normal for young people to have a temper; on the contrary, being like a seasoned politician at a young age would be too lifeless.
"Forget it, I'm too lazy to lecture you." Tsunade smiled faintly and shook her head, "What are your arrangements recently? After the Chunin Exams, Konohamaru and the others should be promoted to Chunin and become independent. You can be free for a while."
Haruno Sakura pondered for a moment.
"I want to learn Senjutsu."
Yang God Mode had to start with learning Senjutsu.
"Senjutsu..." Tsunade frowned, "In principle, I don't object. However, you should know that Senjutsu is different from other ninjutsu. Cultivating Senjutsu can kill people."
She stared into Haruno Sakura's eyes and said slowly: "Moreover, the death rate of cultivating Senjutsu is very high...!"
"I know." Haruno Sakura nodded and said solemnly.
"I have... prepared myself mentally."
Tsunade looked Haruno Sakura up and down carefully. Her mood was subtly heavy.
"Regarding the preparatory work for learning Senjutsu, I have mentioned it to the Slug Sage a few times. They have been ready for a long time. You summon a small slug, greet it, make an appointment, and go there alone. I won't accompany you."
"Yes, Master!"
"Then... when I'm not around, stay safe."
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