Malphegor
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YTS: Ch. 168
🕑 Added 2025-04-15 00:36:47 +0000 UTCUnder the Flying Thunder God Technique, Kei brought along White Zetsu and Tobi, and they arrived directly at the Root's office.
Nonō, who hadn't slept all night, was sitting behind her desk, working overtime to process the latest intelligence coming in from the frontlines.
Yamato and Akeno sat obediently by her side.
One of them was holding a manga book, completely immersed in the world depicted within its pages.
Thanks to Kei's genjutsu simulation, the two had made astonishing progress over the past half month.
Although, compared to the precocious children of the shinobi world, they were still a bit immature in their thinking, they had nonetheless developed a certain level of self-sufficiency.
This allowed Nonō to relax somewhat compared to before.
She could now dedicate a significant portion of her energy to managing various affairs within Root.
One should not underestimate a spy who had traversed multiple nations and still managed to retreat unscathed. When it came to the affairs of Root, after merely watching Kei handle matters a few times, she was already able to replicate his methods and manage things on her own.
"Where's Mikoto?" Kei plopped down on a nearby sofa, picked up a cup of tea beside him, and took a big gulp.
Too much had changed over the course of the previous night.
Physically, he didn't feel tired, but with his brain running at full speed, it was inevitable that his mind would feel somewhat fatigued.
Fortunately, he had handed over everything to Shikaku. He only needed to focus on enhancing the strength of the Konoha ninjas, which meant he could finally breathe a little easier.
"She's overseeing the reform of the training class system."
"How's the progress?"
"Basically complete."
Nonō picked up a scroll beside her, intending to hand it to Kei. Seeing him wave his hand repeatedly, indicating she should continue working, she pursed her lips speechlessly, sat back down at her desk, and buried herself once again in the pile of documents.
The reform of the Root training class system wasn't overly complicated.
It mainly aimed to minimize injuries during combat training while ensuring that those who didn't qualify would be allocated to specialty classes matching their skills.
Sensing, administration, intelligence gathering, documentation, ninjutsu development, ninja tool development...
Among the various specialty skills taught, even children eliminated from the combat classes could find something they were good at.
Even if they couldn't, they would still learn a few skills to earn a living, and eventually be scattered across the nations and towns of the shinobi world as ordinary "dark operatives."
This new system might slightly reduce the combat strength of new Root members in the short term, but it gave otherwise mediocre children a chance to survive.
It also made Root's structure more comprehensive and diversified.
Though she had once undergone Danzō's emotion-suppression training, she was still a person—not a tool or machine. Like someone who had once been caught in the rain, she now wanted to hold an umbrella for others.
Most Root ninjas didn't say anything about the changes, but they were actively implementing and supporting the new system.
In just half a month, the framework for each specialty class had already been built and was starting to take shape.
Though initial costs might be several times higher than before, after Kei halted several highly expensive projects he deemed to have no future, Root was able to maintain basic financial balance and stability.
In the short term, this model should function well.
"Mhm." Kei nodded and didn't disturb Nonō any further. Instead, he waved at Yamato and Akeno.
In his plan, Root's future role was akin to SHIELD or CP0.
No matter the time or world, there always had to be those willing to do the dirty work. And such an organization must remain firmly in his control.
"Sensei." Yamato and Akeno blinked their eyes and happily jumped off their stools to run over.
To them, Kei—who had taken them from that dark underground lab and taught them all kinds of life knowledge—was someone they naturally trusted and relied on.
"Tobi, based on your abilities, see how much you can improve their strength without harming their bodies."
Kei patted the two little ones on their heads and spoke to Tobi.
"Yes~" Tobi threw a smug glance at Azō nearby, then walked up to the two children, and reached out his pale hands, placing them on their shoulders.
"Aiya~ I really can't, I really can't…"
"Skip the nonsense."
"Ahem~ they're both very promising kids, but their physical constitution is way too weak right now. If I possess just one of them, they might reach jonin level?"
"You can possess both at the same time?"
"Their bodies and chakra are highly similar. If they hold hands and allow their chakra to connect, I can enhance them both at once. Their displayed strength should be even higher, but without damaging their bodies… maybe a strong jonin?"
Tobi drooped his head, his voice full of grievance.
They were just five-year-old kids who had only recently started chakra training and had no signs of physical training at all.
How could they possibly withstand his full power boost?
He was desperate too, okay? Messing up the first task Kei gave him—it wasn't like he wanted this!
"You're probably stronger than a jonin yourself." Kei rubbed his forehead.
How could he not understand? If a single possession already brought one to jonin level, Tobi was clearly risking his life doing this!
Seems like seeing a five-element wooden clone any time soon was out of the question.
But… Once Yamato and Akeno grew up and their physical strength improved…
Yamato + Akeno + Tobi!
That combo would be a powerhouse on the super-kage level!
"You two have to study hard and train diligently, okay~ When you grow up, the great responsibility of protecting world peace will rest on your shoulders!"
Kei patted the little ones' heads, his tone gentle. The two kids blinked their innocent eyes and nodded seriously.
Nonō's face was full of black lines.
The great responsibility of protecting world peace? Wasn't this brainwashing!?
It totally was!
Even five-year-old kids weren't spared—how was this guy any different from Danzō!?
"Hey, hey, wipe that disgusted look off your face! It's not like I asked you to show me your panties. Is that necessary?"
Kei snapped at Nonō with annoyance.
"You finally can't hold back and are making a move on your subordinate? Truly, the fate of Root ninjas is sorrowful and bleak." Nonō put down the brush in her hand, her tone calm and indifferent. But her left hand, hidden beneath the desk, instinctively pressed down on her thigh.
She had tried many ways to remove the marks, but it was completely unremovable—and impossible to conceal!
"??? Tone it down! Don't corrupt the kids!" Kei turned to the two little ones with an awkward expression and said gently:
"Yamato, Akeno, do you want to go outside with mr for a bit?"
"Yeah, yeah!" Yamato grabbed Akeno's hand. They hadn't understood a word of what Kei and Nonō had said, but they grinned and nodded enthusiastically.
Whoosh—
With a ripple of space-time energy, Kei disappeared from the office with the two little ones.
Azō looked at the manga books they had left behind. He picked one up and sat on the sofa in the office to read it.
"Ara ara~ Is this workplace harassment? Aiya~ I really can't understand. Just now between you and Kei—who was harassing whom?" Tobi touched his spiral-shaped head and curiously leaned toward Nonō, who stared at him for several seconds.
Noting that he clearly had far more intelligence than White Zetsu, she decisively changed the subject.
"Name, gender, abilities, and special skills—I'll handle your employment registration."
"Huh? Ah! Oh! My name is Tobi! Gender… I don't seem to have anything down there, you fill it in as you see fit?"
"You're the one committing workplace harassment!"
"Ara ara? Me? Ah? This…"
