A few minutes ago, Danzo had completed all of his preparation. He was ready to approach and talk to Fujin for the first time and manipulate Fujin into joining the Root. Next to him were several Root ninjas who had helped him gather the information he needed about Fujin and his activities to allow Danzo to create the optimal strategy to recruit Fujin.
Torune asked, "Lord Danzo, should we accompany you?"
Danzo replied, "No. Hide yourself in the vicinity such that he can't sense you, but don't step anywhere near the seals. I'll meet him alone."
Everyone nodded. Torune led a few Root ninjas and they hid around Fujin's house but stayed far enough to avoid any seals and hid their chakra signatures.
A few minutes later, Danzo flickered to Fujin's house and stepped in front of his house. He was planning to walk normally and knock on his door, however, his feet stopped moving as he sensed something extremely absurd!
He looked at Fujin's house in disbelief and shock while thinking, 'What the hell? It feels like there are hundreds… no thousands of seals inscribed on his house.'
He focused chakra in his left eye to observe Fujin's house properly. The sight stupefied him! He wondered, 'Which maniac put seals on his house? Without using my Sharingan, I won't be able to even count exactly how many seals are inscribed on those walls. There should be at least over three thousand Seals.
And I can feel that several of these seals are stealth seals. But, since his house isn't hidden, those should be used to hide more seals. So the real number of seals could very well be much higher than three thousand.
Even someone like me will likely need days to find every seal and I still won't be sure of success. Even my Root headquarters doesn't have so many seals. Besides…'
Danzo's eyes focused on one spot on Fujin's house as he wondered, 'Why is there a Four Symbols Seal on his house? Is a Tailed Beast sealed inside? And why would Hiruzen put so many seals on his house? I need to reevaluate Fujin and Hiruzen's relationship.'
Danzo kept standing in front of Fujin's house while analyzing for a couple of minutes, confusing the Root ninjas. The only one who had a clear understanding was Hiruzen, who was sneakily watching from his crystal ball.
He observed Danzo's reaction and a peculiar expression appeared on his face. He wondered, 'Did this boy put every seal he ever learnt on his house? Still, this should be interesting.'
Hiruzen kept observing silently. Danzo concluded, 'No, this isn't Hiruzen's style. None of the Grandmasters in Konoha will do something like this. There is only one explanation. Hiruzen didn't make someone put seals on his house. This boy is a Grandmaster in Fuinjutsu as well.
Unbelievable, Hiruzen kept something like this hidden from me? Fighting Roshi, slaughtering numerous Iwa Jounins, killing Juzo and this level in Fuinjutsu… Once a war happens, he will easily be able to compete for the Hokage seat.'
Danzo's mood became very gloomy. The stronger Fujin was, the lower the chance of recruiting him. In addition, despite his extensive research, Danzo realized that he didn't have enough information about Fujin.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the time to wait. Despite the surprise, this was still the best time to talk with Fujin. He walked forward and rang the doorbell.
However, knowing how many seals Fujin's house had, Danzo didn't take a step through the door and kept standing outside. Though he was sure that he wouldn't be in any danger in Konoha, the vast number of unknown seals made him feel very uneasy.
So, when Fujin invited him in, Danzo said, "It's fine. We can talk here."
Fujin didn't insist on it and asked with a smile, "Okay. I wonder why an Elder is visiting me."
Danzo didn't reply immediately and observed Fujin properly. The start of the conversation wasn't how he wanted. Fujin seemed to hold the initiative instead of him. Danzo asked, "Suzuki Fujin, what are your opinions about the Anbu?"
Danzo had initially planned to butter Fujin up at the start and then try to recruit him. However, since he didn't hold the initiative, he decided to change his tactics.
Fujin wasn't too surprised by the question. Since Danzo approached him openly, he understood that Danzo didn't come in to attack him. If he wanted, he wouldn't meet him at a place where Fujin was the safest and he wouldn't appear alone. Of course, he still kept his guard up against any attempts of Genjutsu.
Instead of answering, Fujin showed a confused expression and asked, "What do you mean?"
Danzo replied, "I want to know what you think about the Anbu organization, the role it plays for the village, whether you think it should exist or not, and any other thoughts you might have on it."
Fujin thought, 'Indeed, it looks like this visit is for recruiting me. Does he think I'll be as easy to influence as Kakashi? After all, I don't have the mental baggage that Kakashi does.'
Fujin raised an eyebrow and said, "I wasn't aware that the Elders in the village are responsible for taking exit interviews and doing surveys. Did Grandpa send you?"
The only way for Danzo to recruit a capable ninja would be by creating a wedge between that ninja and Hiruzen. The wedge can be created with real reasons or by the stuff he made up to manipulate that ninja. However, by calling Hiruzen Grandpa, Fujin crushed most of Danzo's hopes.
Danzo didn't show any emotion on his face and replied, "We don't and Lord Hokage didn't send me. Suzuki Fujin, I'm interested in your answer."
Danzo's calmness and immunity to all hidden taunts surprised Fujin. However, seeing how different and scheming Hiruzen was, Fujin wasn't too surprised.
He sighed and said, "That's a rather complicated thing to answer on the spot. In my opinion, the Anbu is what absorbs the darkness in the ninja world and allows the village to enjoy the light. Of course, it won't be able to do that successfully all the time. Otherwise, the Great Ninja Wars would not have happened. As for its necessity…"
A smile appeared on Fujin's face as he continued, "I am sure that you Elders know the answer the best."
Danzo nodded and said, "Good answer. You are right. It is because of the work we do in the dark that our village can enjoy peace. However, there are still things that Anbu won't do. Or rather, it can't due to several issues such as manpower or secrecy.
For that purpose, I created the Root. We ensure that everything that is needed to be done for the village gets done. We are the roots that ensure that Konoha can stand strong."
Fujin asked, "Wasn't Root disbanded around 3 years ago?"
Danzo didn't answer Fujin directly and instead said, "The village will always need us. The Root will never be disbanded in its entirety. And, the members who were disbanded still have the same capability."
Fujin said, "I understand. But why are you telling this to me?"
Danzo said, "Suzuki Fujin, you might not know this, but I have kept an eye on you ever since you were young due to your talent. I wanted to invite you into the Root, but the Hokage didn't allow me. Seeing your current state, my expectations about you were correct.
The purpose of my visit is to invite you to the Root. With your capability, the best way you can serve the village is by joining Root. Every mission in the Root is completed with anonymity. So your identity will never be leaked. In addition, no one will be able to track your movements either. There won't be any incompetence in Root. And, you won't need to hold back while dealing with our enemies."
Fujin was surprised. He analyzed, 'I see. He is taking advantage of what Iwa managed to do and driving a wedge between me and Hiruzen while trying to fan and exploit any Will of Fire in me. Hmm, not bad. As expected from Danzo. No wonder so many talented folks stay loyal to Root. Unfortunately, he's trying it on the wrong guy.'
Fujin shook his head directly and said, "I'm afraid you have the wrong information. I'm tired of fighting in the darkness. I have no intention of joining Root or rejoining Anbu."
Danzo was surprised once again. This time, it was for a completely different reason. He thought, 'Strange. Not only did I miscalculate his abilities, but I also miscalculated his nature. He quit because he is tired of the darkness?'
Danzo felt a sense of disappointment. It was disappointment in failing to recruit Fujin, but rather a disappointment that Fujin couldn't adapt to the darkness. At the same time, he had nothing to say to Fujin to convince him to join Root. Fujin's excuse eliminated almost every reason he could use to convince him.
