Chapter 117

Looking at Yamato, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression was complex.

Minato Namikaze, meanwhile, breathed a sigh of relief—having Yamato meant more blame would fall on Danzo; Danzo was dead, but still useful.

“Genma, how do Itachi plan to arrange Yamato?”

Minato Namikaze asked.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed at Yamato, a thought stirring in him—he wanted to teach the boy himself—but Fujinaka Genma answered quickly and seriously: “Yamato is still young; I’ll train him for two years, then assign him to the Hokage’s direct Anbu unit.”

Minato Namikaze turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and asked, “Third Hokage, what is your opinion?”

Hiruzen Sarutobi withdrew his gaze from Yamato, his eyes flicking between Fujinaka Genma and Minato Namikaze; he felt a pang of disappointment, but mostly relief, and said, “Genma’s strength speaks for itself—he will surely train Yamato well.”

At that moment, one of Fujinaka Genma’s shadow clones returned and said, “Fourth Hokage, Third Hokage, all Root ninja who left Konoha have been brought back.”

The clone then dispersed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled, then instantly understood—Fujinaka Genma had already marked the Root ninja with Flying Thunder God seals.

Clearly, he had anticipated that loyalists to Danzo would flee the village.

“Then, how should these people be dealt with?”

Fujinaka Genma asked.

Minato Namikaze looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.

After a moment’s thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Fujinaka Genma and said, “Genma, Itachi are now the head of Root—what is your opinion?”

Fujinaka Genma’s expression was calm as he stated plainly: “They disobeyed orders and abandoned the village during a critical moment. Though they caused no direct harm, they are, in fact, traitors.”

“If they make contact with Root members carrying out missions elsewhere—especially those embedded as spies—the consequences would be unimaginable.”

His stance was clear.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded without objection: “Itachi are the head of Root—Itachi handle it.”

Minato Namikaze also nodded: “Genma, both the Third Hokage and I trust Itachi!”

Fujinaka Genma nodded, then took his leave.

He still needed to sort out Root’s current situation.

Taking Yamato with him, Fujinaka Genma returned to the Root headquarters.

After assigning One to care for Yamato, Fujinaka Genma went straight to the location where the Root ninja who had left Konoha were imprisoned.

Thirteen in total, each held in solitary confinement.

Standing before the cell door, he paused for a moment, then stepped inside.

Looking at the Root ninja bound in chains, their chakra sealed, Fujinaka Genma spoke: “Why did Itachi leave the village?”

The Root ninja glanced at Fujinaka Genma but said nothing.

“Itachi don’t have to tell me—I already know.”

Fujinaka Genma immediately activated his Mangekyo Sharingan; as their eyes met, he cast a genjutsu, forcing the Root ninja to expose every thought within his mind.

This method was more direct than reading memories—it bypassed even mental seals.

Soon, the Root ninja confessed everything.

It matched Fujinaka Genma’s expectations closely.

They were all diehard loyalists to Danzo, fleeing Konoha to rally other Root ninja and seek revenge.

Fujinaka Genma smiled at the confession: “Since Itachi’re so loyal to Danzo, I don’t want to kill Itachi.”

The Root ninja, just freed from the genjutsu, changed expression: “What did Itachi do to me?”

“I will never betray Lord Danzo!”

“Itachi dare kill Lord Danzo—Itachi will be punished!”

Watching the Root ninja rage, Fujinaka Genma’s Susanoo-patterned Rinnegan spun rapidly beneath his iris.

The shouting ceased instantly; the Root ninja’s gaze went blank, and a crimson, eerie pattern surfaced in his black eyes.

But soon, the pattern faded, his eyes returned to normal, and the Root ninja bowed deeply to Fujinaka Genma: “Hail, Lord Genma—I pledge my life to serve Itachi!”

Byakugan—rewriting willpower—its effect was explosive.

The Mount & Blade system rated loyalty at 100.

Fujinaka Genma also gained 1000 Mount & Blade points.

“Excellent.”

Fujinaka Genma smiled, nodded, and waved his hand—releasing the chains and chakra seal from the Root ninja.

“From now on, your codename is Jin.”

“Yes, Lord Genma!”

Jin nodded as if reborn.

Fujinaka Genma turned and walked toward the second cell.

This was his first time using the full-body Byakugan—previous interrogations and earlier uses were not the full version, and did not permanently alter a person’s will.

“Still, it’s exhilarating—but the chakra cost is enormous.”

Fujinaka Genma sighed inwardly.

Permanently rewriting a person’s will consumed one-tenth of his total chakra.

“But Byakugan isn’t infallible—if someone’s willpower is strong enough, they can still break free.”

Fujinaka Genma recalled the faint resistance he had sensed during the jutsu’s activation.

“If it were truly perfect, wouldn’t I be invincible with enough chakra—able to rule the entire ninja world?”

Fujinaka Genma chuckled to himself, then thought of Kaguya, and silently warned himself: “The hardest thing to control in this world is the human heart—the human will.”