[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha":3,"chapter-starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-113":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting Off with Horse and Sword in Konoha",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2349164,4591,"Chapter 113: Setting the Tone!","starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-113",113,"\u003Cp>No one expected Danzō to die so quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma didn’t expect it either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Danzō felt invincible, believing his Izanagi could turn the tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps he thought Fujinaka Genma wouldn’t dare strike down a leader in Konoha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he didn’t know that Fujinaka Genma, given the right opportunity, would kill him even in the Root’s base—or right before Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The truth proves: don’t be overconfident!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma stared at Danzō’s corpse and felt he must take this as a lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Fujinaka Genma remembered Izanagi: “Does the Root have any backup records on Izanagi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it costs an eye, it’s a life-saving technique—he couldn’t ignore it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He retrieved the sealing scroll, packed Danzō’s body, and walked into the Root base.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, in the gloom, Fujinaka Genma saw Root ninja wandering helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danzō is dead!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their cursed seals were gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they felt no relief—only the collapse of faith, the loss of their spiritual pillar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma saw it, and felt it too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to admire Danzō’s brainwashing skills—they were masterful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped, facing Root ninja who stood before him, weapons raised but too afraid to strike, and said calmly: “From now on, I am your leader.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Root remains Root!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Itachi are still the heroes who guard Konoha from the shadows!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few Root ninja calmed slightly, lowering their weapons; Fujinaka Genma immediately activated his Charm attribute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Six men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One point assigned to each.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching them, Fujinaka Genma monitored the changes in the Mount & Blade system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Mount & Blade system, under the Root roster, the loyalty values behind the six names began rising after the Charm points were distributed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, they jumped from 0 to 10, then surged higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they reached 60, the pace slowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, the six Root ninja knelt before Fujinaka Genma: “We bow to Lord Genma!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren’t fully subdued yet, but they no longer resisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied, Fujinaka Genma nodded and stepped forward: “Follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the Root ninja knocked out outside, the base didn’t hold many personnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the headquarters; Root had other bases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the experimental facilities—none were here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This headquarters held mostly secret documents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, every Root member had living quarters here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After distributing 15 Charm points, everyone still standing in the Root headquarters acknowledged Fujinaka Genma’s authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After touring the place, Fujinaka Genma stepped back out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the previously knocked-out ninja were beginning to wake up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fujinaka Genma, where is Lord Danzō?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did Itachi do to Lord Danzō?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they realized their cursed seals were gone, each Root ninja demanded answers, voice trembling with false bravado.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma said nothing—just pulled out Danzō’s corpse. “Danzō attempted to assassinate me. I executed him on the spot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They can testify!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The waking Root ninja turned to look behind Fujinaka Genma—among them was Danzō’s former bodyguard, Aburame Ryūma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, Fujinaka Genma had shattered Ryūma’s mask, so one of the Root ninja behind him directly named him: “As Lord Genma said, Lord Danzō tried to assassinate him—and was killed in return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fujinaka Genma, how dare Itachi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Root ninja cried out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not dare?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma snapped coldly, his gaze piercing the Root ninja: “When Danzō leaked my whereabouts and Konoha’s plans to the Iwa ninja last time, he should have died then!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Root upholds the rules—guarding Konoha from the shadows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your duty is to protect, by any means necessary—Itachi should be heroes of the dark, not vermin crawling within it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Root ninja immediately argued: “Lord Danzō never betrayed Konoha—he only opposed the Hokage’s decisions, which didn’t serve Konoha’s interests!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Avenge Lord Danzō!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Root ninja charged again—but Fujinaka Genma killed him instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he showed no mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Know when to be lenient—and when to be ruthless to crush resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After killing three more, no one dared move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t serve Konoha’s interests?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma laughed. “Itachi mean didn’t serve Danzō’s interests?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He wanted battlefield glory to become the Fourth Hokage—but never considered that endless war would bleed Konoha dry. Even if they won, what then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lose your strength, and hidden enemies will end your life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides—could Danzō even lead Konoha to victory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could he defeat the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t. Could he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Root ninja were silenced, unable to utter a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strength is simple: Itachi can, or Itachi can’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danzō is dead—he was weaker than Fujinaka Genma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma can’t defeat Ōnoki; therefore, Danzō couldn’t either. No surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guardians of Konoha’s shadows—that was Root’s founding purpose. But Danzō forgot. Itachi forgot. Itachi became his blade for his own ambition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Itachi were meant to be Konoha’s blade—aimed at the enemy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma sighed, glancing at Danzō’s corpse: “Danzō had merit—and faults. Merit and fault cannot cancel each other.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Danzō is dead. He deserved it. But he will still be buried as a Konoha hero. He will still have a memorial stone—that is his merit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t vilify Danzō outright—he was factual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danzō had faults, but he had merit too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Shimura clan, granting him posthumous honor was reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Root ninja had nothing left to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were loyal to Danzō—but not mindless, nor trained into fearless killing machines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They feared death. They feared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who had dared to rise after being beaten and after Danzō’s death? All were Shimura clan members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember: your loyalty is not to Danzō, not to me, not to any future Root leader.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is to Konoha—to your families behind Itachi—to the Hokage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fujinaka Genma spoke with finality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t believe a few words could instantly change their minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was setting a tone—establishing a principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the influence of Charm, his words had an unexpected effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the fifteen standing behind Fujinaka Genma, five suddenly crossed the 70 loyalty threshold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gained 700 Mount & Blade points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Aburame Ryūma and others who hadn’t received Charm points saw their loyalty rise from negative values, inching upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A very good start!\u003C\u002Fp>",998,"2026-06-21T02:29:34.312Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","85da7bb97dde32d1f139c37dd9ada38ce5c5264d610ef5a5724d459c782f1472","starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-114","starting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-chapter-112",157,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-off-with-horse-and-sword-in-konoha-cover.jpg"]