Arc V Chapter 12

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    Arc V Chapter 12

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    Nara Satoshi was a proud Konoha ninja, a ninja history didn’t care about, a ninja whose fate mattered little, but history cared in a rare show of mercy and told is story.

    Satoshi was one among many. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes to protect Konoha. His name remained unknown, forever shrouded in mystery. He wasn’t a Sannin. He wasn''t a White Fang. He wasn''t a Minato. He wasn''t a Kakashi. He wasn''t an Itachi. He wasn''t an Asami, the rising star among Konoha''s ANBU. He wasn''t like them. He never would. He wasn''t born lucky. He was just a normal ninja, such was his destiny.

    He was a simple man with modest goals, the very definition of Konoha’s abundant mediocrity. At least, he was an ANBU, which meant he wasn’t completely worthless. He was only insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

    Satoshi strolled past unused training facilities, unused barracks on his way. They had fallen into disuse since the day that the Hokage had officially dissolved Root. He was a former member of Root, a high ranking member too. He remained a leading figure to this day. On paper, Root didn’t exist any more. The Hokage fully integrated them into the ANBU following the Uchiha massacre and their involvement in the entire affair, but reality was different. Root escaped the entire disaster rather unscathed.

    There were no arrests, no demotions, no investigations, no serious consequences. The vast majority of Rott ANBU retained their ranks and positions. Not the smartest choice from the Hokage. As usual, Hiruzen was all bark, no bite. In truth, Root survived in the shadows and remained active behind the scenes.

    Root suffered admittedly from a dubious reputation, mainly due to Danzo, but not every Root member was inherently evil, or rotten to the core. Reality was complex, full of shades of grey and beyond simplistic black and white distinctions. There were also good people who served in Root, brave people who fought and died for Konoha just like everyone else.

    Not all common sense was yet lost. There were still some critical voices left within the organisation. Most of them were senior members like him. They joined when Root was founded back then under Danzo''s leadership, and they often disagreed with his course of action, but Danzo overruled them.

    Younger recruits, meanwhile, underwent a much stronger indoctrination, with mixed results. Danzo''s program produced excellent ninja, no doubt, but the failure rate was staggering, the casualty rates appalling, and the side effects plenty. His training regime had a negative impact on their psyche and mental stability. Danzo and his methods crippled the children emotionally. His inhuman training turned them into soulless husks. Many of them broke.

    Satoshi entered the conference room. Perhaps it was truly time to quit Root

    “Yes.” Noriaki nodded.

    “We all know Asami, don''t we?” Satosh remained calm.

    “Yes.”

    “We know what she is capable of?”

    “Yes, we do.” Noriaki agreed.

    Satoshi sighed. “I guess then you probably know that we are as good as dead. The little princess will slaughter us!” His common sense warned him. It rarely failed him.

    Noriaki remained unfazed. “Probbaly. I predict that our chances are 50-50, but such is our duty.”

    Satoshi clicked his tongue. “50-50, how very encouraging. I will let my men know that we only have a fifty percent chance to die. Seriously, Noriaki, why are we doing this? This is going to be a suicide mission, and you know it, Noriaki. We all know it.

    I have no problem with his Danzoness deciding to fuck around with her, but please without getting us involved. I certainly don''t want to bite the dust because of him and his little adventures.” The rest of the table remained silent. Nobody looked particularly excited about their special mission. Everyone knew what was at stake.

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    Subaru joined his side. “Noriaki, I think that Satoshi has a point.”

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