「 𝑱𝒖𝒏 𝑺𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒖 」𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉

[I]: Root

"At Root there are no names, no feelings, no past and no future; there is only the mission." Those were the words of their leader, thundering almost rhythmically in their heads during those days. After all, how can there be order without sacrifice, and, cohesively, what is a village without order?

But what about peace? Peace is a subjective ideal, and what is "peace" to some is oppression to others, and it is precisely those who are oppressed who cause unrest. True leaders establish order as the basis for progression and development, and for that, sacrifices must be made. Only the fittest dares to move the right pieces, even a nimble Bishop is no match for the King.

-Our duty is to maintain the great tree of Konoha from the depths of the earth.-a whistling voice came from the gloom of that great hall... swaying, vehement...-You know what that means, don't you?

-Sir...-a hesitant, childish, masculine voice appeared, which, to tell the truth, was the purest contrast to the previous one.

-Quiet...-this time, it was a small, silky-smooth female voice.

This was a dark, bulky room that sheltered a dozen young children. In front of them, an older man, stout but frail-looking, leaned on his cane, looking at them through his left eye.

-We can all see the leafy tree that stands out among the others; the firmness of its trunk, the greenness of its leaves. But this tree would be nothing without the roots that nourish it and bind it to the earth...

One step... knock... another step... knock...

-What do you think it means, young boy?-he walked slowly towards the infant with the hesitant and clumsy voice, rattling his cane as he walked.

-Forgive me, Mr. Danzo. I didn't mean to interrupt...-an anechoic, halting sigh came from the black-haired boy. He was small, very pale, perhaps ten years old, contemporary to the eleven others around him.

The old man, seeing his reaction, just looked at him.-The roots of the great tree that keeps Konoha standing strong and leafy, show no hesitation when faced with obstacles that threaten the integrity of the tree... Do you get the point?-he looked almost lasciviously.

-Show no mercy to the enemy, sir. That is the basic principle of an AMBU...-he was interrupted.

-Mercy? Virtue of love, condolence... pity... Don't be silly, kid. -This time, he stopped looking at him to turn.

The little milky-skinned boy couldn't help but make a quizzical face, directing, perhaps unconsciously, his eyes to the gray-haired to his left...

-What's my point then?-he remained in his place, his back to them.

-Roots have no emotions.-this time, it was that little girl's voice that came through; barely audible, but not faint.-Anyone who interferes with the growth of the root will be oppressed and eradicated. Not because it feels hatred, spite, or revenge, but because that is its purpose... to expand, to nurture the tree, to keep it alive. Not out of love, but because, again, that is its purpose...-that little voice was not weak, rather... icy, like metal left to drift on a winter's night.

That ghostly phonetic was coming from small, cold lips, belonging to a childish, slender figure. She had long blonde hair and deep cobalt blue eyes that framed an expressionless face. To her right, almost like a reflection of herself; with short hair but with the same ash blonde and violet eyes, another slightly taller girl with the same facial expression. To her left, that jet-black boy with a voice as shaky as paper, which matched the light shade of his skin.

-Excellent.-the elder placed both hands on his cane, one of which was ostentatiously bandaged. Then he just nodded, satisfied with the blue-eyed girl's response.-It is still impressive to me how you young people can be so adaptable. It only took you a year to understand, my child, the purpose of this foundation.