Konoha Village, Uchiha Compound
The Root ninjas quickly retracted their tongues upon Natsuhane's command.
Seeing this, Natsuhane couldn't help but think to himself:
"This group is just like robots, following my commands without question."
"Heh... Danzo, you may not have excelled in other areas, but your training of subordinates is top-notch."
Scanning the group, Natsuhane noticed that all the Root members were men. Not a single woman was among them.
"Such impressive training techniques, but used in the wrong place..."
Natsuhane couldn't help but feel that Danzo had died too early. If he were still alive, Natsuhane would have sought his advice.
Every official member of the Root organization had undergone Danzo's "eradicate the self" training as children.
Those who completed this training had no concept of "emotion," whether it was towards friends, family, or even the village.
The "Root" members had no names, no will, no past, and no future.
They only followed one belief.
Their master's orders.
Whatever mission the master assigned, they would execute it without hesitation.
After learning of Danzo's death, they felt lost, not knowing where to go. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, took over, and they regarded him as their new master.
Now, Hiruzen had handed the "Root" to Natsuhane.
Constantly changing masters was of no consequence to them. They felt no emotional turbulence, as they were devoid of feelings, even towards Danzo.
They recognized their master, not the person.
Perfect killing machines...
"How long have you been wearing those masks?"
"?" The lead Root member was taken aback. He didn't understand why Natsuhane was asking such a peculiar question.
He answered truthfully, "Since we became official members of the Root, we have always worn our masks. Without the master's order, we do not remove them."
"Isn't it stifling to wear masks in this heat? It could cause breakouts. A man's appearance is important; you shouldn't be careless about it."
"Uh... thank you for your concern, but we are used to it," replied the Root members, increasingly bewildered. They began to feel that their new master was somewhat... unconventional.
Natsuhane touched his nose. "Don't wear them anymore. Take off your masks."
"Hmm? Lord Natsuhane, are we to undertake a long-term mission?" The Root members were suddenly energized, knowing from past experiences that removing their masks usually meant an important, long-term mission.
Natsuhane chuckled, waving his hand. "Relax, there's no mission. I just don't want to see you wearing masks."
"..." The group, though confused, obediently removed their masks.
Underneath the masks were young faces, clearly those of teenagers. Despite their youth, there was no trace of innocence, only coldness and composure.
Natsuhane nodded in satisfaction. "Much better. You only get a few years of youth; wasting it behind masks is a shame."
The Root members did not understand the meaning behind Natsuhane's words, as their thought processes were entirely different from his.
"Lord Natsuhane, is this really alright?" the lead member couldn't help but question. "We operate in the shadows, handling missions that must remain unseen. If people see our faces, the Root's existence loses its purpose. We..."
"Stop talking about purpose," Natsuhane interrupted, his gaze intense. "Let it die with Danzo! From now on, if you work under me, you follow my standards. No more masks for any task!"
"Wearing masks for too long, you'll forget the face beneath. It's time to reclaim your identity."
"Now, I have your first official mission."
"Come inside and join my wedding, using your real faces..."
...