Yamato and the little girl, having grown up inside growth chambers since childhood,
couldn't speak, couldn't express themselves, and couldn't even understand spoken language.
Even with the [Mind Body Transmission Technique], Kei Yamanaka could only vaguely perceive some emotional responses from them.
He sensed that Yamato didn't want to leave the girl's side for even a moment.
Considering both of their Wood Release Kekkei Genkai abilities, it was indeed best that this fact remain unknown at this stage.
After some deliberation, he summoned Otsu, the captain of Root's Squad Two, and summoned Yakushi Nonou, who was on leave and currently helping care for orphans at the Konoha Orphanage.
Gentle, patient, affable, and experienced in taking care of children,
who could be better suited for this task than her?
"Lord Kei, reporting for duty—Informant Unit 'Wandering Shrine Maiden.'"
Nonou truly lived up to her reputation as the top-tier spy known as the Wandering Shrine Maiden. Her mastery of emotional control was practically perfect.
Despite secretly wanting to bite Kei to death every time she saw the +++T brand on her thigh during baths,
in face-to-face meetings, her expression always remained completely calm.
Cold, distant, steady, restrained...
Her external image and demeanor were indistinguishable from those of an ordinary Root ninja.
"With the relationship between us, you don't need to be this formal."
Kei gave Nonou a helpless look, as she treated him like just another official superior.
"I don't recall having met Lord Kei before."
"Come on now, I know your mind has cursed me countless times. There's no need to pretend otherwise."
"Lord Kei worries too much. I have absolute loyalty to Root, strictly follow Root ninja protocols, and would never curse my superiors."
Nonou slightly lowered her head, concealing the nearly uncontrollable twitch on her face.
Again with the [Mind Body Transmission Jutsu]!
Stay calm, stay calm!
Quickly adjusting her state, she forcefully emptied her mind to prevent herself from drifting into thought.
Within mere seconds, Yakushi Nonou had entered a completely emotionless and thoughtless state.
Root enforced strict discipline among its ninja.
If caught cursing one's superiors...
she wouldn't come out unscathed.
"Relax, I'm not using the [Mind Body Transmission Technique] right now."
Rubbing his forehead in frustration, Kei silently cursed Danzo again.
Look at the kind of person they've turned this girl into!
"..."
Nonou remained silent briefly, then cautiously raised her gaze to meet Kei's eyes directly.
After a moment, her previously tense posture finally eased slightly.
"!!! You just cursed me again, didn't you?"
"Lord Kei, please rest assured. I was merely praising your deep care for comrades, kindness toward subordinates, and acknowledging you as an exceptional ninja who embodies the Will of Fire."
"Oh yeah, sarcasm really is your strong suit."
Kei rolled his eyes irritably, deciding not to continue playing verbal games with Nonou.
He pointed toward the interior of the medical room, indicating the little girl lying inside the growth chamber and Yamato half-propped up beside it.
"I've got a long-term assignment for you: teach these two kids how to speak, write, extract Chakra, and learn basic life skills, and take care of them."
"Root's training methods?"
"No, the usual way children are raised."
"...Understood."
Yakushi Nonou studied Yamanaka Kei for a long moment before bowing deeply and accepting the mission.
Children who entered Root...
Would they even get a normal education?
And...
Speech? Literacy? Basic knowledge?
Judging from their appearances, these two kids looked about five or six years old. Shouldn't they already be able to speak by now?
"I'll give you the mission scroll later. I'll pull your file from the Intelligence Unit... for now, just act as my assistant temporarily."
Yamanaka Kei waved his hand dismissively and stood up, walking out toward the medical ward.
Before he had full control over Root's personnel, rushing to overhaul its system would only create problems.
If he wanted Root to become what he envisioned, he'd have to play it slow.
"Understood."
Nonou bowed respectfully again.
An assistant, huh?
As long as the boss wasn't too strict, maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all?
"Oh, by the way, these two—the boy is Yamato, and the girl is Xiao He."
"Understood."
——————
After leaving the infirmary,
Kei replaced the shadow clone on duty inside Root and the one disguised as Danzo with fresh clones.
With a groggy mind, he trudged back home.
He'd been busy nonstop for hours.
Over the past couple days, he hadn't even closed his eyes once. After hastily eating dinner, he drifted off with Kushina's warm, soft body curled against him.
When he woke again, it was already noon the next day.
Stretching widely,
Kei narrowed his eyes slightly at the snowflakes drifting outside the window, along with the lanterns and ribbons hanging in front of every household within the clan compound.
Suddenly realizing something—
Time really flies. The New Year was almost here!
"Kushina-sama, Master Kei's genjutsu is amazing! If someone can experience six full years within an illusion in just six days, wouldn't that mean they could learn anything super fast?"
A voice of an unfamiliar little girl came from outside the bedroom door.
"Mmm... No technique is completely flawless. There must be certain limitations. But this kind of technical matter, you should ask Shizune directly. Even I'm not very clear about it myself."
Kushina patiently tried to explain what she understood to Shizune.
Shizune was a newly graduated Genin who had recently graduated from the Ninja Academy alongside Kurenai Yuhi.
Just after graduation, she was requested by Tsunade from Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Previously, Tsunade had left her at Konoha Hospital for studies.
Now that Tsunade had been absent from Konoha Hospital for several days undergoing genjutsu treatment, worried, the girl brought a basket of fruit and came to visit.
Their hushed conversation continued just beyond the door.
But at this moment, Kei was considering the feasibility of that idea Shizune had just mentioned.
Because he usually used genjutsu for combat and brainwashing, he honestly never thought much about other applications.
However... perhaps it could work?
Although training through illusions—detached from reality as they were—relied entirely on the caster's ability to simulate skills based on personal experience and understanding, there might still be potential.
Moreover, even after breaking free from the genjutsu, it still takes time for one's body and memories to adjust and align with each other.
Still, this technique can greatly accelerate the process of mastering various skills!
The only downside is—
For Kei himself, however, this technique has a limitation—it requires another person or animal to assist during casting, and only speeds up mental processes.
After all, how could a genjutsu built solely from his own knowledge and memories simulate something he's never mastered?
Even if forcibly simulated, it would likely amount to no more than a shallow imitation.
Quickly reviewing the logic behind casting this genjutsu,
Kei was just about to get up and freshen up,
When Shizune's gossip-filled voice came again from outside the door.
"Kushina-sama, Tsunade-sama… Is it really true—are you two getting married?"
"Huh? Why are you asking that?"
"I heard that among the aristocrats at the Daimyo's mansion, people used to shave off their eyebrows before marriage—to show their lifelong commitment… Tsunade-sama…"
"Cough cough cough~!"
Kei immediately started coughing loudly upon hearing that, deliberately drawing the attention of the two women outside the room.
What the hell was this?!
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