Chapter 118: Step by Step!

Fujinaka Genma did not recklessly use the Byakugan technique.

Of the thirteen Root ninja he brought back, he only “converted” five, giving them new codenames—Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi, and Xin—to serve as his personal guards.

As for the others, he publicly declared them traitors and executed them before the eyes of other Root ninja.

This sent a clear message to everyone: Fujinaka Genma also possessed thunderous methods.

By the end of that day, Fujinaka Genma had gained preliminary control over Root.

This “preliminary” control meant that after eliminating Danzo, he caused no further chaos or serious consequences.

He also won the tentative acceptance of the Root ninja currently in Konoha.

But that was all—true control of Root, let alone matching Danzo’s authority, still required great effort from Fujinaka Genma.

That night, Fujinaka Genma moved into the Root headquarters and stayed up all night studying its operations.

Especially its missions.

He needed to quickly learn all current Root missions—whether espionage, assassination, or elimination.

The Root ninja inside Konoha were temporarily stabilized; now came the Root ninja outside Konoha.

Fujinaka Genma intended to minimize the impact of Danzo’s death and preserve Root’s strength as much as possible.

In an instant, the night passed.

In the morning, Kushina Uzumaki appeared at the base, carrying a lavish breakfast.

“Work is important, but don’t neglect your health.”

“Take some time to go home—Akie is very worried about Itachi!”

As she placed the food on the table, Kushina Uzumaki said.

“Understood, Master Kushina!”

Fujinaka Genma stretched, rose, and walked to the table; the aroma hit him at once, and he couldn’t help exclaiming: “Master Kushina, your cooking has improved greatly!”

“Of course it has—I learned for a long time from Akie!”

Kushina Uzumaki beamed, then whispered: “Genma, Itachi did well yesterday. Keep it up!”

Fujinaka Genma smiled knowingly—he knew she meant eliminating Danzo.

“Alright, I have to go help Minato.”

“Remember to come home for lunch, or else…”

Kushina Uzumaki raised her fist, her threat unmistakable.

Fujinaka Genma immediately straightened his posture and nodded solemnly: “Yes, Master Kushina!”

Watching his student’s demeanor, Kushina Uzumaki burst into laughter, waved goodbye, and vanished in a flash.

Fujinaka Genma looked at the full table of food, then called out to Shino Ma Long waiting outside: “Ma Long, come in.”

Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!

Three figures appeared beside Fujinaka Genma: Shino Ma Long, and Ren and Yi.

Fujinaka Genma pointed to the food and said: “Itachi haven’t eaten yet—have some together.”

Shino Ma Long and the other two froze, but Ren and Yi quickly obeyed.

Because they were under Byakugan, Fujinaka Genma’s will was their will.

He said eat—so they ate.

Shino Ma Long hesitated, then nodded: “Yes, Lord Genma!”

As they ate, Fujinaka Genma noticed Shino Ma Long’s loyalty had suddenly surged to 80.

This works too?

Fujinaka Genma was slightly speechless.

Ninja—so easily moved?

He’d simply thought so much food was too much for one person to eat alone, and that eating this much so early didn’t suit his habits—not any attempt to win loyalty.

Yet the effect was extraordinary.

As they ate, Fujinaka Genma chatted with the three, learning about Root through casual conversation.

Last night, he spent the entire night reviewing Root’s ongoing missions—and among them, he saw the name Yakushi Kabuto.

Fortunately, Yakushi Orochimaru’s plans had barely begun.

He’d only recently sent out Yakushi Orochimaru, who was still lying low in Suna.

When they’d finished eating, Fujinaka Genma took out paper and pen and began writing a list.

Copied directly from the Mount & Blade system.

Every Root ninja with loyalty above 70 was listed.

A total of 103.

Excluding Shino Ma Long and the five—Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi, and Xin.

Currently, Fujinaka Genma had accumulated 55,000 Mount & Blade points from this.

Combined with the remaining points from his earlier purchase of Immortal Talismans, he now had exactly 60,000 Mount & Blade points.

Reorganizing Root had great potential.

He handed the list to Shino Ma Long and said: “Summon these people.”

“Yes, Lord Genma!”

Shino Ma Long and the other two wiped their mouths, put on their masks, and departed.

Half an hour later.

At the base entrance, everyone on the list had arrived.

Fujinaka Genma wasted no time—he immediately assigned tasks, dividing them into twenty-five groups of three to five members each.

Their mission: contact Root ninja currently on missions outside Konoha, including spies.

Their goal: stabilize them.

Fujinaka Genma believed that if he presented Danzo as having died heroically in battle—and himself as the worthy successor—those outside would accept him.

After issuing the orders, Fujinaka Genma compiled a full report and sent it via Yamato to the Hokage’s office.

Then he continued sorting through Root’s internal affairs.

Root held too many secrets—he had to understand them all.

Days and nights blurred into a week of relentless work.

Aside from returning home at noon to see Akie, sleeping one or two hours at night, and eating three meals, he was constantly occupied.

He was even busier than Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage.

And this was with Shadow Clones to cheat—without them, it would have taken far longer.

Yet after a week, Fujinaka Genma had further solidified his control over Root.

All Root ninja now obeyed without question, and the number with loyalty above 70 increased daily.

This was due to Fujinaka Genma’s style—he acted decisively, ignored rigid hierarchy, and genuinely cared for his subordinates’ lives.

In his view, his subordinates’ lives were his strength—he could not afford to waste them carelessly.

As time passed, reports continued to come in from outside.

Good news: as Fujinaka Genma had predicted, the Root ninja on external missions did not know the truth of Danzo’s death, making them easier to stabilize.

Once stabilized, he began recalling Root ninja—except those on long-term espionage or critical missions—to eliminate lingering threats.

Thus, Fujinaka Genma steadily tightened his grip on Root’s power.

Meanwhile,

News of Fujinaka Genma’s rise as leader of Konoha’s Root spread through every channel to the other ninja villages.

This was unavoidable.

Other villages had spies in Konoha; Konoha had spies in other villages too.

But the true cause of Danzo’s death remained secret.

The Shimura clan had been stabilized by Hiruzen Sarutobi.