Chapter 1272: Operation_3

She personally ended the life of a respected senior, and strikingly, the Wandering Witch’s heart felt no ripple.

Perhaps, in this world, there is little left that can stir her emotions.

After all, she was once a member of Root.

Trained from a young age by Root as a selected member, she grew up to become an elite medical ninja within the organization, also excelling in intelligence work.

Naturally, she was subjected to Root’s unique training methods.

Forget names, forget the past, forget death; life bound only to missions and the village.

Emotions were deemed unnecessary.

Precisely because of this, even when she personally killed Aburame Ryuma, a once-respected senior, her heart remained unruffled.

She acknowledged that her true capabilities were far from matching Aburame Ryuma’s, but knowing his abilities allowed her to design his demise. When the plan script was meticulously executed, it felt like having an afternoon tea, devoid of tension, with a sense of ease.

“By the way, before dissecting the body, start by opening his head.”

The Wandering Witch collected her thoughts, her indifferent gaze shifting toward Aburame Ryuma’s corpse’s head.

“Why?”

The middle-aged medical ninja asked curiously.

“There are two brain-eating worms. Mr. Ryuma used one for combat, while the other is stored in his brain, usually dormant. Upon his death, he used a secret technique to activate this brain-eating worm, consuming the brain internally, destroying the nervous system, and preventing anyone from retrieving memories from his brain. Moreover, due to the worm’s small size, it is usually undetected unless closely monitored. This worm had recorded the battle against me; if it flew back to the Root’s base, it would expose my capabilities.”

The Wandering Witch explained.

“Root… it truly is a terrifying organization.”

The middle-aged medical ninja broke into a cold sweat.

If not for the Wandering Witch’s reminder, he might have overlooked the existence of the second brain-eating worm.

Thankfully, there was here a former Root member who coincidentally knew Aburame Ryuma’s secretive techniques. Otherwise, if the second worm were to escape, it might leak information about the carrier ship.

Even dead, Root ninjas remain a shadowed threat.

He cautiously glanced at the Wandering Witch, wondering if ninjas joining Root have abnormal psyches.

“Ninjas joining Root possess exceptional skills. Kekkeigenkai and Hiden Jutsu ninjas are given priority consideration. Unfortunately, most Root members have been replaced by now. I am not too familiar with the current Root. The codes and external bases have undergone certain changes.”

The Wandering Witch sighed.

Even though she had left Root, she couldn’t help but marvel at the organization’s mystic practices.

Coupled with Danzo’s extraordinarily shrewd leadership, even among its members, not all secrets are comprehensible.

She knew Aburame Ryuma’s ability secrets because Aburame Ryuma was her direct superior.

Every time intelligence was gathered externally, it was Aburame Ryuma who met her for contact.

Thus, Aburame Ryuma disclosed his secrets to her for better operation of the Root’s intelligence system, which now ironically became the means to exploit this secret.

“Alright, let’s begin the dissection now. You will conduct the surgery, starting by opening his head to extract the second brain-eating worm. This is rare experimental material; be careful not to damage it.”

The Wandering Witch commanded.

“Yes, Miss Nonoyu.”

The middle-aged medical ninja nodded solemnly.

◎

Land of Rain.

Root’s temporary base.

Located within a cavern, it’s a secret space cultivated by Root members.

Sitting in a chiseled secret room, bright yellow candlelight illuminated and expelled the darkness from the environment.

Danzo calmly sat with closed eyes on a chair resting, a simple wooden table placed in front of him piled with a large number of intelligence documents, either in file folder or scroll form, laid on the table.

Some had already been opened, bearing traces of handwriting.

At this moment, the door to the secret room was knocked.

Danzo’s shut eyes abruptly opened, his body slightly moved on the chair to prevent stiffness.

“Come in.”

The voice transmitted outside, clearly reaching the ears of the knocking Root Ninja.

With a creak, the door was pushed open.

“Danzo-sama.”

Entering was a sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth, neither thin nor plump, hair of orange hue styled with a side part and a short ponytail, a refined ninja blade strapped behind him, shorter than conventional blades.

Upon entrance, he slightly bowed before Danzo.

“Fuu, what’s the matter?”

Danzo called out the young man’s name.

Full name Yamanaka Fuu, a clansman of the Yamanaka Clan of Konoha, only seventeen yet already a Special Jonin in the village.

Skilled in the Yamanaka Clan’s mind-transfer secret techniques, and endowed with a powerful perception ability.

Adept at assassination, intelligence dispatch, and collection work.

Also one of the rare combative ninja types in the Yamanaka Clan.

Upon joining Root, he effectively capitalized on his talents.

Though having joined for merely three or four years, he was deeply trusted by Danzo.

“There’s rather bad news.”

Yamanaka Fuu gazed directly into Danzo’s eyes, his expression solemn.