The Root of Darkness

by Amorphis760

I was nothing special before I died the first time but when something offers me the chance to live again I take it. Reborn into a world of death I will survive. There will be no mercy and no pity. For there are monsters that roam this world and to survive I might have to become one myself. Elements of the Gamer and X-overs in later chapters.

3. Meeting Kushina

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto sadly.

Quick note for those who missed it. I've decided to have the being that sent Shiro to Naruto's world strip him of his memories of the show except for a few inconsequential things such as names and the first quest he received.

Saiko's hand was comforting as she led me out of the room and into another. My mind was still so calm after what I had done that I couldn't really bring myself to focus on my surroundings. Lord Danzo was waiting in the other room with a complicated sealing array on the floor. I was directed to stand in the middle of it and I did so carefully as to not disrupt the complicated lines. When I was in position Lord Danzo slapped his hands on the array, Chakra flowed out of him, and the lines began to writhe and twist pulling off the floor to hang in midair. "Open your mouth and stick out your tongue."

I did so and the ink flowed into my open mouth, directly under my tongue, burning as it did so. It was an excruciating pain, yet I didn't move and soon enough the flow stopped. With it no longer streaming into my mouth the pain also faded away leaving a tingling sensation in my mouth.

Ding! Received Root Seal of Silence: Silence is golden and this seal prevents you from revealing Konohagakure or Root secrets to anyone not in Root or approved by Lord Danzo. In addition a Chakra pulse directed at the seal will reveal yourself to operatives near you. Burns itself to nothing upon your death.

Approved people:

Lord Hokage

Jonin Commander

ANBU Commander

Once more Saiko's hand went to my shoulder and I let her lead me to wherever she wanted to go. I was distracted by what I had just done yet at the same time I was still tranquil as though I had done nothing more than take a walk in the park. Even my brooding was stripped away as it must have interfered with my Gamer's mind skill. I wanted to rage at that yet rage was replaced by calm and then I felt nothing but calm about what I had just done. I guess I'll never be allowed to angst over my decisions with this skill and truthfully I don't think I wanted to get rid of it. It's been such a long time since I've had to control my emotions I would be a wreck without it and I think it's one of the few things keeping me sane at the moment.

"We're here." I snap out of my thoughts and notice a bathroom? I looked at Saiko questioningly. "You're covered in blood brat." I looked down and saw that yes my black clothes were covered in dark red blood. My face must be covered as well if the amount on my clothes is any indication. Quickly stripping myself and throwing the soiled clothes in the wash, black is so good at hiding blood stains, I stepped into the bathroom proper.

I sat down on a small stoop but before I could even start washing myself I felt a washcloth on my back start moving in soothing circles. "Saiko sensei, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like brat? I'm doing my duty as your sensei to clean you up after your first kill."

"I can do that myself."

"I know that brat but this is tradition. Now shut up and let me do this." I swallowed my complaints as her fingers skillfully massage my head while applying shampoo. Eventually her careful ministrations ended and with a quick rinse we moved to the onsen where she pulled me onto her lap while wrapping her arms around me. We sat in silence just letting the heat of the water soak in.

The entire thing was done in silence and I appreciated that. It was just two people relaxing while Saiko was there for me if I needed it. I could see why this would become a tradition. A bonding experience between mentor and student even if the bonding is caused by something horrific.

My thoughts began to slow and I realize I actually feel tired. Like I could go to sleep tired. "Sensei did you poison me?"

"Wha? Brat what are you talking about?" I can feel her indignation. Sorry my bad for destroying the moment.

"I feel tired like I could go to sleep tired. The last time that happened I woke up here."

She let out a long drawn out sigh. "Idiot, if you feel tired then go to sleep."

"Okay,' a yawn, 'thank you Saiko you're the best." I drift off to sleep the feeling of hot water and Saiko's strong arms surrounding me the last things I feel.

~Interlude~ Danzo

Reports after reports fill my desk and I methodically read them one after the other. The earlier sealing took more out of me than I would like to admit but there's no time for rest. Kumo has been venturing into occupied lands testing our response and readiness. I sent three squads to disrupt supply lines and point them at Mist. Let them bleed and die in the mist while we focus on Iwa.

Saiko flickered before me kneeling and I bark out a "Report," before going back to the frontline reports.

"Shiro displayed a distinct lack of focus after his first kill. This cleared up after reaching the bathroom and during the soak he displayed no sign of mental, emotional or physical shying away from killing based on how he reacted." A pause and then a small snort. "He did think I poisoned him after becoming tired enough to fall asleep."

I look up sharply at that. "So his bloodline does have limits. How long has it been? Two years without sleep disregarding when he was poisoned?"

"Yes Lord Danzo." I lean back considering my options. For all his skill he is still a child in many ways and I am loathe to send him on regular Root missions during a war. Too much potential for something to go wrong. Indeed I have plans for him to survive until adulthood to see if his bloodline can breed true. Maybe he can be the start of a new clan that can rise to dominance and secure Konohagakure's place at the top where it belongs.

Maybe something closer to home I muse. My mind flicks through reports and plans are set into motion. "Saiko when Shiro wakes up have him test his elemental affinity if he has a water affinity you will be sharing his with another." It's almost unnoticeable but I haven't gotten to my age by being unobservant. Saiko is feeling jealous? No more anxious than anything like a mother bird watching her chick's first flight. Good maybe Shiro will reciprocate those feelings. Another tie to the village is always good as it keeps ninja loyal and in good moral. What was not good was catching it during a formal report, a mission in itself, but I'll let it slip in favor of giving me this new information.

"You'll still see him during the night, but you'll have to change your sleep schedule of course." If anything her ramrod straight posture became even more so. Ah, embarrassed at being caught. "I of course do not care what you get up to while off duty as long as nothing you do will affect your mission performance." With that gentle reprise I dismiss her and get back to my never ending paperwork. Whoever wants to be Hokage must be mad they have to deal with even more paperwork than I do. That reminds me I'll have to set up an appointment later to seek his approval for my plan. Giving the mountain of paperwork a quick glance and having an irrational urge to light it on fire while dancing in its ashes, a quick check for genjutsu after the urge hits me, and I set off for the Hokage.

~Interlude End~

You have slept in a bed. Health and Chakra are restore to 100%. All status effects are removed.

I woke up instantly. I suppose it's an effect of Gamer's Body because I've certainly never been the kind of person that can spring awake without at least 2 cups of coffee and a few choice curse words to anyone that gets between me and my drug of choice. Eh, I don't plan on sleeping again any time soon just to test this. Too much to learn, too much to do.

Thinking back to how I fell asleep I could help but feel better. Even with the forced calm the very human interaction made me feel better. I suppose that shows that I'm not a complete monster although I did feel the safest in the arms of a trained killer so I'm not sure what that tells me. I shrug it off not deeming it a true worry or concern. Doesn't mean I wouldn't say no to a repeat if the option presented itself.

Hopping out of bed and getting dressed doesn't take long. Saiko appeared as soon as I finish dressing. Here's to hoping that once my Sense Chakra finally levels up high enough I'll be able to sense where people are so they can stop surprising me by popping up. I had briefly considered trying to emulate their Chakra hiding skills but I was told in no uncertain terms by Saiko that bad things would happen to me if I did. They probably wanted to confirm that I'm loyal to the village before they teach me anything too advanced.

It's a policy I agree with in theory although I do dislike it in practice. It's also part of the reason why I don't have more offensive skills at the moment. The warnings were subtle and my request for more techniques was met harshly enough that I got the message. Focus on the basics for now and later you will be rewarded. Enough wool gathering for now let's bring it back to Earth before Saiko kicks my ass for being distracted.

"Thank you for what you did last night." I blurt out before she can start speaking.

Saiko tried to wave it off. "It was tradition brat."

"It may have been tradition but you didn't need to do it and it was nice for me. So thank you." As I said the last part I bowed from the waist. I felt Saiko's Chakra for a brief moment as I did so. It felt… bubbly before her control slammed down and I lost it.

"None of that. Now here, I have something for you." She pulls out a small strip of paper and hands it to me. "Do you know what this is?" I nod.

"Yes sensei, this is Chakra sensing paper. You channel your Chakra into it and you can tell your affinity by how it reacts. Did I get it right?"

"Yes, use it now." I reach inward and direct a small amount of Chakra through my hand, letting it flow onward into the paper. Almost immediately it became soggy enough to drip water then it suddenly splits in half like someone took a knife to it.

Ding! Discovered primary Water affinity with minor talent Wind affinity

My head tilts at the display. "Saiko sensei does this mean I have two affinities?"

"Not really, it's more along the line of having a main element which you will always be better at and a secondary element that you have some talent in but you're not stuck with learning it. If you choose to pursue a different secondary element it just be a little more difficult. Except fire and earth. The fire and earth elements will be extremely difficult for you to learn and all the techniques that use it will cost more in terms of Chakra."

Ding! For learning the nuances of Elemental Affinity gain +1 WIS

"Interesting." A momentary pause. "Does this mean I can start creating more offensive techniques now?" She had the gall to ruffle my head at that. I'm deadly serious woman don't make fun of me.

"Sure brat most people wait until chunin to start creating a signature or unique jutsu but you always want to run ahead of others. Now,' she switched tracks, 'Lord Danzo has a potential mission for you." I straightened and gave her my full attention.

"It's not confirmed but I believe you will be apprenticed to a jonin other than myself." My stance must have screamed confusion at that because she expanded upon it. "Your bloodline is too unique to not eventually introduce into the ninja community. In order to do that we will need to establish an identity within Konohagakure and you having an apprenticeship with an established jonin, with the full knowledge and blessing of the Hokage is key."

Ah, they want me to be a stud horse later. I'm not… opposed to the idea but I would prefer a steady partner instead of a bunch of one night stands. More emotionally filling, not that I feel anything but calm. I do have a few questions though. "I thought that when you joined Root you never left."

She tilts her head to the side as though considering the question. "I could see how you might have that assumption but it's incorrect. Lord Danzo's philosophy is about being able to have absolute control of your emotions during a mission so as to ensure that they do not interfere with it. That does not apply when you are not on a mission. You can do pretty much anything off mission as long as it does not interfere with your ability to perform said missions. Some of the Root Shinobi do take this to the extreme but most of them are volunteers from ANBU who for whatever reason joined Root. However most of the Root members have a civilian or public persona that allows them to relax when not on a mission."

That answers some of my questions but I still have more. "So are we just a branch of the ANBU then?"

She makes a so-so gesture. "Kind of. Root takes on missions that are deemed too dangerous or too vital to fail. Don't worry though all those missions are stickily voluntary. We also fill in when ANBU doesn't have enough manpower for a mission or just doesn't have assets in the area. We also, in cases like you, find and recruit exemplary talent." So kind of an axillary branch that compliments it.

"Why are you being so open about this now?" I could feel her deadpan stare through the mask. "Oh right the seal. Sorry that was dumb of me." One more question then.

"Will you still be teaching me?"

"Of course brat you're not getting rid of me that easily. When you're done with training during the day you will be escorted back to the base for more training with me." Her head tilted to the side. "Come Lord Danzo is waiting. Close your eyes if it helps."

I didn't have time to question her before everything blurred and suddenly we were kneeling in front of Lord Danzo and an old man with a ceremonial robe and hat must be Lord Hokage. My head was still spinning and my eyes were still adjusting to the sudden change in light, but I remained kneeling, waiting to be called on.

"Rise and remove your mask." An aged voice commanded me. I removed my mask, strapping it to my side with an application of Chakra, and rose to attention before them. A weary sigh rose from Sarutobi. "It seems like children are called to war ever younger as time passes. I thought the creation of Konoha was supposed to let children enjoy what little childhood they have in peace not call them to war."

"You know war is not so kind as to avoid them old friend. Besides shinobi fight so others can live in peace, even if that peace is merely an illusion or as our young shinobi put it. It is not your duty to die for the village, it is your duty to make others die for theirs." Sarutobi puffed on his pipe for a while mulling over the philosophy.

"A good philosophy for one so young. It is your wish to apprentice him to Kushina, yes?" Kushina, Naruto's mother?

"Correct. She has expressed dissatisfaction with her inability to participate in the war and I believe that having an apprentice will tie her further to the village and give her something to focus on besides the war."

"You are sure he will be able to perform his duty as a genin of the Leaf?"

"Absolutely, Lord Hokage." A slight sigh came from the Hokage.

"Very well send for Kushina Uzumaki."

Ding! Quest Alert The Red Hot Blooded Habanero

The jailer for the Nine Tailed Fox, Kushina Uzumaki, is described as a quirky fun loving woman with a monster of a temper. Impress her enough during the meeting and she will be willing to take you on as her apprentice.

Rewards: Increased learning speed for Water and Wind affinity, Kenjutsu, Taijutsu and Fuinjutsu

Odd, no experience gain for completing the quest. Maybe it's because I'll make up for it with the training she'll give me. I also had to internally sigh. Another quest that I can't take the option not to take it. Probably because it's not one I thought up like the first one.

As we waited for her to arrive Sarutobi rubbed his wrist absently and then proceeded to work his way through the mountain of paperwork on his desk. I let myself study him as he worked taking in the greying beard and grandfatherly appearance. I knew I would never be able to study him without being caught and the momentary flash of his monstrously thick and potent Chakra let me know he caught me. Going with a casual shoulder twitch in a 'I was curious and didn't mean anything by it way', fyi ninja are freaking masters of body language, they got the message. Lord Hokage let out a grunt/chuckle as the door to his office slammed open admitting my new teacher. It was kind of sad to say I was happy being able to finally sense a jonin even if she doesn't really count. The tailed beast contained within her would make any amount of suppression worthless.

"Hey old man got a mission for me? I can do it or maybe you're letting me get into the war. I would totally destroy anything in my way. Dattebane!" At the last word she went as red as her hair and started muttering to herself. "Stupid I swore I would stop saying that. Stop it, stop it, stop it." A loud clearing of a throat cut through her rant.

"Thank you for coming so quickly Kushina. I wanted to make an offer for you that involves young Shiro here." Calm emerald eyes met sapphire blue eyes as she turned to fully look at me. It was more of a courtesy once over instead of an information gathering one although it could be one and the same if you got good enough.

"What could involve the shrimp and me?" Throughout this entire conversation I had not spoken or moved from my spot as I had not been given leave to. Kushina was a valued jonin and could get away with some things whereas I was an untested nobody with an interesting bloodline. I would not speak out of turn because the Hokage could have me executed for it. Not that I thought he would but it cost me nothing to stay quiet and potentially everything if I didn't. Huh, kind of like a real life mission.

"Young Shiro here is in need of an instructor. I was recently told that his main affinity was water and you know how rare that element is within Konoha." She nods her head reluctantly, her eyes darting back and forth between me and the Hokage.

"Just for clarification you aren't having me train him up to take on that, are you?" I got to see something I thought I would never see before. Danzo and Sarutobi actually looked startled as though the thought had never even passed through their minds. It was actually Danzo who spoke next and not the Hokage.

"No." His voice was strong and commanding. "He will have nothing to do with it, however knowledge of how to subdue and contain it would certainly not be unwelcome if you are willing to teach him. This would be a formal apprenticeship between you and him."

The tension leaking off of her dissipated at his words. I don't blame her I would be tense to if my superiors told me to train up the next vessel for the nine tailed fox. She turned back to me and studied me more in depth this time. I was still standing at attention waiting for permission to talk or move as she did so. "How old are you anyways?"

It took me a second to process the fact that someone is actually talking to me rather than about me yet I still waited for the slight signal from the Hokage before I spoke. "I am three years old ma'am." She let out a gasp at the confirmation of how young I was.

"Three,' she muttered to herself, 'what makes you think you're ready for my tutelage?"

"Lord Danzo must have believed me adequate enough to receive further training and Lord Hokage must agree otherwise we wouldn't be here." There were three separate snorts at my reply. Probably because it was a little cheeky. Kushina went back to studying me, or more accurately staring into my eyes searching for something. We were interrupted in our impromptu stare off by Lord Danzo speaking again.

"Shiro is correct in this regard. We do believe that he is ready for the next step in his training and his elemental affinity makes you a good choice for him. As he is now I believe he could take on and possibly come out on top of a freshly graduated genin. He's not quite as strong or as fast as one but I believe he knows more tricks and the fact he is a Sensor would help him immensely. If you choose to be his mentor the full file on him will be provided."

"A Sensor,' she breaks eye contact to look back at Danzo. Her hand flutters to her stomach. 'Does that mean you can?" She trails off at the end. A tricky question one I'm not quite sure how to answer. I look towards Lord Hokage and he motions me to answer her question.

Now how to phrase this. "Standing next to you is like standing next to the sun you shine so brightly." Her lips slightly twitch at the answer. "Yet at the same time it's like looking at the depths of an abyss. There is so much… fury and maliciousness within you. I fear that if whatever is in you is freed from its cage its rage will blot out the sun and the lands will run red with blood as it consumes everything in its path."

"It seems a sad fate to be stuck with such a being inside you. Feared by others for what you keep at bay and not respected for being what you really are. A jailer for a monster." I bowed deeply to her. "Thank you for keeping it at bay."

"Kyah." There was a feminine squeal above me and suddenly a pair of arms lift me off the ground to bury my face into her jonin jacket while they wrap me in a hug. "He's so cute being all serious. I have to have him just so I can show Mikoto and introduce him to Itachi. You're both so serious you'll get along great." All of this is said in a rush of nearly incomprehensible babble she was talking so fast.

"I'm taking him. We'll go get Ramen. You like Ramen right? Of course you do Ramen is the food of the Gods and everyone loves it. Here take the mask." She unhooked my blank mask and tossed it onto the Hokage's desk. "Thanks for the cute little apprentice old man. See you later." She threw me over her shoulder like I was a sack of flour and bolted from the room. I was so confused where was the serious Kunoichi from earlier? Had I missed the Hokage dismissing us? Oh god, did we just ditch the Hokage and Danzo? I looked back as the door was closing and mouthed 'Help me.' The last sight I saw was them chuckling.

Ding! Congratulations Quest Complete.

~Interlude~ Danzo

I let myself slowly walk through the streets of Konaha letting the atmosphere of the village I had sworn to protect filter through me. The sun was drifting towards the horizon by the time I finally arrived to the Hokage's tower. The undercover ANBU secretary waved me through to the Hokage after a discrete test to see if I was who I really was. I approved of the paranoia after all the enemy is out to get you and in a time of war you can't be too safe.

My old friend was sitting at his desk working at a mountain of paperwork even higher than mine. The ceremonial hat was covering his baldness but I know it's there. God we've grown old. Letting out a sigh he reached for his pipe and lit it.

"Hello Shimura, I do hope you haven't come to be the bearer of bad news again have you?" Letting out a slight chuckle I sat down in one of the chairs facing his desk.

"Yes and no. I have news of Kumo trying to probe our borders and have sent out orders to deter them from doing so again which we can go over later. I also have more news on the most recent addition to Root, a young Shiro if you can remember my report on him." He leaned back in his chair puffing on his pipe no doubt trying to recall the report.

"The child forming Chakra strings at 1 year old?" I nod.

"I have an updated file on him here." I place the folder on his desk and he lets out a groan at the sight of even more paperwork. Letting out a slight chuckle at his antics I continue on.

"I'll go over the highlights now. From what we've seen so far we assume that his bloodline makes his body extremely adaptable. When looking at his muscular structure it's been observed by the Hyuga that his muscles break down like normal when working out but immediately after finishing they repair themselves and grow stronger for it. In addition he seems to be developing a poison immunity after his first encounter with one. He also seems immune to all forms of genjutsu and even the famed eyes of the Uchiha did nothing to him. Which the operative threw a hissy fit about later."

He openly laughs at the image of the prim and proper Uchiha's throwing a fit. I continue on. "He seems to be able to operate without the need for sleep and during a Sensor course he went without food or drink for 2 weeks with no visible sign that it affected him." I receive a dirty look for that but I can only shrug. "It wasn't meant to last that long but he didn't seem to be in any distress so I let it continue."

"Onto his Chakra spikes. We don't know exactly what's happening but we assume it's part of his bloodline adapting to the need for more Chakra and given his ability to 'eat' knowledge with his abnormally high learning speed we are left with a nearly fully trained 3 year old genin. We have also found that both his Chakra regenerates extremely quickly if he rests in a meditative state and that he heals extremely fast both of which are improving as time goes on."

A silence settles between us as Hiruzen considers all that I've told him. "I assume you have a plan then that requires my input."

"Yes I do. I don't know if it's part of his bloodline but the kid has the emotional range of some of my veteran ninjas. Calm and collected no matter what happens. Even his first kill of a bound prisoner didn't elicit more than a temporary daze which he soon recovered from.."

He frowns at that. "He's not a sociopath is he?"

"No nothing of the sort it's like his emotions are tied down and all he has left is calm acceptance. He's shown flashes of emotion but then it's replaced by calm almost immediately afterwards. To that end I wish to pair him with one of the more boisterous jonin, one Kushina Uzumaki. In addition to learning from a skilled jonin it will give him a chance to express himself as well as occupy Kushina and keep her attention away from the war."

He gives me a knowing look. "And introduce him into the village for his eventual addition into the clans of Konoha if his bloodline breeds true." I nod, no point in trying to deny it.

Hiruzen leaned back and puffed on his pipe some more. "I would like to see him for myself before I make the final decision."

"Of course I'll come back tomorrow with the results of his Chakra affinity test and we'll go from there. Now onto the Kumo matter." The rest of the meeting is spent going back and forth on measures and appropriate responses but I believe we hashed it out in the end.

The next day came all too soon and the first meeting between Shiro and Hiruzen went well in my opinion because Kushina was called for. His responses and actions were perfect for being in front of the Hokage and even when spoken to he waited for Hiruzen's permission to speak. When he did speak though we all let out a snort of disbelief. He considers himself adequate, what a joke, if he's merely adequate what are other people?

His recounting of the demon foxes Chakra and his actions afterwards were surprising yet Kushina certainly approved if her reaction was anything to go by. Both Hiruzen and I politely didn't point out her damp eyes as she ran from the room yelling about ramen of all things. The panicked look in Shiro's eyes and him mouthing 'Help me.' was just the icing on the cake. Both of us started laughing once the door closed completely. I do so love it when a plan comes together.

~Interlude End~

Name: Shiro

Age: 3 year - 0 months

Title: Rookie Root Shinobi

LVL: 8 - 1% to next LVL

HP: 590/590

Chakra: 8550/8550

Elemental Affinity: Water

STR: 61(67.1)

VIT: 59

END: 63

DEX: 75

INT: 53(54.59)

WIS: 53(54.59)

LCK: 13

Points: 40

Money: 800