Beyond the lands of Konoha, somewhere in the land of fire was a training ground where multiple children were conversing. This group of around 40 children were in pairs and talking to each other with happy expressions.
All of these kids were about the ages of 8-10.
Suddenly a root agent appears on the grounds as he flickers around looking for one duo.
It didn't take long before he found his target.
'I'll kill 36 later, his purpose was to be a sacrifice for recruit 35 anyways.' He thought with a cold glance at the innocent-looking kid, right next to the grey-haired boy.
Their current location was an outer base at the edges of the land of fire. One of the many root training facilities which they use orphans to siphon talent out. Debatably more effective than a hidden village due to the widespread information network they have.
Any kid with talent will and has joined.
Despite the good talent all around.
All the Kage-level shinobi have only been raised inside a Village.
One of the few things Danzo Shimura could never understand why?
If a kid with talent had the same resources why would one from a village blossom more.
What he didn't realise is that it's his own methods that limit the creativity and growth of an agent which slows them down.
Something he'll never end up fixing...
(POV - Kabuto Yakushi)
'I wonder where Mother is right now...' I thought my eyes unfocused.
It's been a year since I've volunteered to join the Root Like Mother. They have been treating me quite well and I have a friend now. Although he's a bit stupid and doesn't know how to do most things. My job half the time is teaching him what I learnt.
But hey isn't that what friends are meant for?
Teaching him how to use the basic ninjutsu and my medical jutsu also helped me develop my own skills further.
Hopefully, we both can leave this boot camp soon.
"Number 35, you have been relocated." A voice suddenly rings out.
Turning around the Root commander who was in charge of our horde of group was there.
He never gave us his name.
All I knew was that he was strong, extremely strong.
Diligently bowing, he gives me a curt nod.
Taking the papers being handed to me, showed where my destination would be.
"Hey, 35 where are you going?" 36 worriedly says trying to look over my shoulder.
Taking my time to read the contents my eyes widen in surprise. My new job isn't to be an agent anymore but to become the right-hand man of the Shimura Clan's heir.
'This is my chance to be closer to the orphanage!'
A smile hits my face as my thoughts wander off a little.
"I'm going to serve the Shimura's heir," I state a glimmering smile could be seen.
"Oh, that's great! WAIT how about me?" He murmurs.
Looking at the root captain he just shakes his head which makes me tilt mine confused. Saying my goodbyes we tell each other to meet up in the future.
It's time to head to Konoha...
There's more for me to do than just be a spy now.
Hopefully, Shimura-sama is nice...
--POV Karin Uzumaki--
Feeling the sun rays hitting my face I start to squirm around on my stone bed. Hugging my pillow I start to complain inwardly on how the curtains opened themselves.
"Ughh." I groan out not wanting to leave the very uncomfortable stone bed at the one time it feels fine to sleep on.
Standing up I make my way to the curtains and snap them shut just the way I like them.
It's now been a few weeks since Dad's death on his mission.
He promised he would come back.
But he didn't...
'He even pinky promised me, those aren't meant to be broken right?' I think to myself as my eyes start to water.
Mother and I didn't even get to see his body as the ninjas who came to tell us the news said that he was burnt to a crisp.
Not even honeycoating it to me, I guess I'm used to it by now but these guys are seriously getting on my nerves. This whole stupid village is the problem, why did Mama and Papa even start to live here.
Surely any other town that isn't a shinobi village would work.
But I guess I can't change that.
Preparing myself, I exit the house on the mission to scavenge for fair prices on the streets as all children should at trying times like these till Mama gets home to ease her burden.
Mama looks sicker every time she comes back from work.
I'm worried...
(POV Raiden Shimura)
After the meeting with Danzo, my body with some resistance went back to training. My strength won't grow without any consistency and effort after all I'm not Karin in this case.
Speaking of did she even train?
The weeks go by as I wait for my new subordinates.
Kabuto is taking longer than what was said while Karin's situation is a bit peculiar.
My skills have improved drastically. Since reaching the age of five, overall my skills have improved. Battle IQ according to Kakashi has improved to Low Chunin which, to be honest, is a real accomplishment for me.
Surprisingly my basic leaf academy style taijutsu, after focusing a bit more on it has improved to the same level as my shurikenjutsu as they both hit Low Genin. My Kenjutsu has improved to High-Genin after I finally mastered the Shimura Swift Death Style.
There's grace in simplicity.
One slice and they're dead.
My kenjutsu reached a standstill where it wouldn't improve anymore. I still need to improve my decision-making in short spans of time which is something I will learn about more when I get more combat experience in a few years.
I'll make use of the one year I'll spend in the academy to perfect my ninjutsu before I get a breakthrough in kenjutsu and taijutsu prowess when I get battle experience, but before that, I still need to do D-rank missions.
Ugh.
Most of my time outside of training was just hanging out with Shikamaru and Choji. While occasionally Hiruzen would visit which Danzo never interfeared.
He would tell me all sorts of stories,
Such as Danzo being a playboy...
...
There are two days till my new subordinates will arrive which is very good as I want to train them as much as I can. I'm not sure at what progression they are currently at in terms of their skills but I have to assume that they are still new as not every kid has the will to train as it's quite "boring" at times.
Right now I'm at the training Yamanaka's training grounds with the future Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
Crazy right?
Danzo told me that talks about how we are all under the "Hokage's faction" so we may as well befriend each other.
First of all, I call bullshit for that.
Not only is that man too calculating to make me just befriend clan heirs because it would be good for me. It must be because he wants to further his influence on the future of some of the clans even more.
Which in my opinion is pretty fair. He has an heir after all.
Today we are meant to do some physical activities for endurance and then chakra control training.
The trio haven't started any shinobi training yet which in contrast to me is light and day.
"Shikamaru let's go!" I call out as it seems he is currently daydreaming right now.
The lazy Nara snapping out of his trance gently walks up to Choji and I. Ino who introduced herself prior seemed to distance herself away from me for some reason.
Plus the fact she was granted access to skip this training due to being a girl...
In her own words.
"You're creepy."
Which is a bit much to say to a child, but who am I to complain?
It's not like something like that could get under my skin anyway. So after that little interaction I ignored her for the rest of the day. My future plans also included just not caring about her since her personality is cooked beyond belief.
It only improved when she became a milf.
"Yosh, we will do some laps around the training ground! Whoever wins gets to have some of my food." I cheekily say at the end which almost literally put a fire in Choji's eyes.
While a small manipulation tactic, anyone could understand it.
It's harming no one~
Maybe besides his body but that's not the point, it benefits him in the long run.
Shikamaru who was next to Choji, slowly crept away scared by his friend's enthusiasm. Seeing this I chuckled which made the Nara scowl.
"What a drag... I wanna go back to the park and cloud watch Raiden." He sighs out. Ignoring his plights, Choji with vigour started running in front leaving us behind.
"Keep your words RAIDEN!"
Seeing this I look back at Shikamaru with an incredulous expression. Shaking his head the boy just raised his arms helplessly.
"He'd do anything for a few extra bites?" I question
"Anything..." He quips back now with a smirk.
Hearing that answer the both of us started to jog forward laughing as a storming wind suddenly passed us. This ended up being Choji who already completed a lap.
"Damn..." 2x
----Third Person's POV (Inside the Yamanaka Compound)----
"So Danzo really is raising a certified prodigy huh." A tall plump man exclaims.
This man was Choza Akimichi, the Clan head of the Akimichi Clan.
He had brown hair with a red piece and a purple marking on his cheek. Currently, he was sitting on the floor next to a table with two other good friends of his. To his left was Shikaku and to the right was Inoichi, respective clan heads of the Nara and Yamanaka clans.
Inoichi had spiky ash blonde hair, with a strong jawline.
While Shikaku had black hair in a pineapple shape and multiple far scars with two dominant ones on his right cheek and right eye.
They were in a private room with sound barriers put up.
"Yes, and it seems like he's really raising him up like a normal kid, how weird..." Inoichi hums out sarcastically making Shikaku frown.
The Nara thought the political agendas of Danzo currently had a scrunched up. From the information the man gathered through his connections and his kid's words, Raiden Shimura was just a normal spoilt brat.
But a prodigy all the same.
"My son, Shikamaru, said whatever Raiden wanted, Danzo would give it to him. It seems like he's doting on him. The only reason I can think of is that he's pushing his heir to become the Hokage or be his backer in becoming a Kage.
Considering the current talents shown it's viable." He says gaining a nod from Choza.
The trio knew there was little they could do to diminish the Shadow of Konoha's reputation with the Hokage. So they didn't have much say in the matter of resisting influence.
Inoichi hearing this shuddered at the thought of a smiling Danzo.
Choza who was rubbing his chin, spoke out his thoughts.
"Let's get our heirs to influence Raiden a bit, Danzo isn't getting younger. His influence will be limited in the future. Get especially your daughter Ino to interact with him... She keeps avoiding the kid like the plague." Choza says squinting his eyes.
The Yanamaka Clan Head hearing this, stared daggers into his long-time friend.
'This bastard!'