Refining chakra wasn't difficult; Ryou had learned it almost instantly back then.
The difficulty lay in refining chakra rapidly, turning it into an instinct during battle—much like how some might react instinctively upon seeing a woman.
Whether beautiful or ugly, one had to ensure they could perform under any conditions.
Novices take a long time to refine chakra, but combat isn't turn-based; enemies won't wait for you to slowly gather your energy.
Once one can refine chakra under any circumstances, the next step is the efficient use of chakra to perform techniques.
White Hannya's teaching was stiff and blunt; he only explained things once, then fell silent, watching the orphans with hollow eyes.
He observed the orphans' progress in refining chakra while jotting things down in his notebook.
It seemed he was recording the orphans' cultivation progress.
The orphans who were quick to react had already quieted down to try refining chakra, while those who were slower scratched their heads, looking as if they were struggling with calculus derivatives.
Unable to derive anything—it was a truly frustrating feeling!
Among them, the one refining the fastest was a child wearing a black tall hat; it was Urushi, the oldest child in the orphanage.
In the original work, Urushi was the only Shinobi from the orphanage besides Kabuto and Nonō. Although he was only a Chunin, his talent for ninjutsu was considered top-tier among the orphans.
White Hannya nodded when he saw Urushi was the first to refine chakra.
This kid named Urushi had talent as a Shinobi; looking at the others, however—
They were just a bunch of mediocre leftovers.
Talent is something basically determined at birth. Your hard work only secures your floor; as for your ceiling, you'd better hope for good parents!
Snowy and Kuromaru hid underground, cautiously eavesdropping on the conversation between White Hannya and the orphanage children.
Hearing White Hannya teaching the children techniques for refining chakra, Kuromaru was somewhat surprised. "Snowy, is Root planning to train these orphans into Shinobi?"
Snowy nodded and asked Kuromaru, "Do you think this is an opportunity for them?"
"An opportunity?!"
Kuromaru was stunned for a moment.
It was indeed an opportunity, especially for these children who had nothing.
Becoming a Shinobi would be their chance to transcend their social class.
But the Shinobi of Root were too cruel. Kuromaru was just a dog and didn't know much about the village's major affairs, but he had heard of Root's cruelty from Tsume's mouth.
Those of 'Root' have no names and no emotions.
No past, no future.
Only the mission exists in their hearts. Supporting the great tree of Konoha Village from behind are the... 'Root' intentions buried deep within the earth.
Root stops at nothing to execute its missions; it is a heartless and cruel organization.
The casualty rate for Shinobi in this organization is the highest in Konoha because Root doesn't have Shinobi—only a group of Shinobi tools that execute missions and carry out high-level orders.
Kuromaru said to Snowy, "I'm afraid those children don't know what joining Root means yet. The people of Root are forcibly training them into killing machines."
"This isn't an opportunity. For them, once they enter Root, they will become killing machines from now on."
Snowy nodded. "Did you notice how these orphans are paired up?"
Kuromaru sniffed. "I can't smell anything!"
"Stupid dog!"
Snowy gave Kuromaru a slap and then said, "My master once told me that Root has a final test!"
"That is to make teammates kill each other until only one survives, thereby completely severing all emotions and turning them into pure tools for missions."
Kuromaru was shocked. "You mean these orphans were paired up from the start just for a later fratricide?"
Snowy nodded. "Root has a strong 'Bloody Mist' style; they believe in the theory of Shinobi as tools, and absolute obedience is emphasized here."
"Danzo also hates it when his subordinates have an independent will!"
Kuromaru said in disgust, "Danzo is such a dog. Instead of learning the good parts of Kirigakure, he only learns their bad habits."
"Snowy, we must save these children!"
Snowy rubbed his chin.
Ryou had sent Snowy to Konoha in the Land of Fire on one hand to support the Konoha Orphanage and put Nonō's mind at ease.
On the other hand, it was to infiltrate Konoha, establish a presence in the Konoha underground, and gather intelligence.
Saving the people from the orphanage was fine, but Snowy also planned to hide within Root and establish an intelligence post in its underground.
Root was the darkest place in Konoha, and Snowy wanted to use that darkness to hide himself.
Snowy and Kuromaru continued to monitor White Hannya teaching the orphans to refine chakra.
After listening for a while, they finally heard some useful news.
It was Urushi; he was the first to complete the chakra refinement training and was praised by White Hannya.
Urushi took this opportunity to ask about Kabuto's situation.
"Sensei, I want to ask where my brother went? He wasn't sent to the Shinobi Academy like the others, was he?"
Urushi was very worried about Kabuto. Kabuto had learned Nonō's Medical Ninjutsu at a young age and was the most talented child in their orphanage.
During these days together, Urushi had already sensed that Root was not a charitable organization, but a cruel and dark terrorist group.
Urushi didn't dare to question where the children who were taken away had gone!
But when it came to Kabuto, as an older brother, he couldn't continue being cowardly.
White Hannya looked at Urushi's face, which still held hope; once upon a time, he too had such vibrant emotions.
But once you kill a companion you've lived with day and night, you realize you're just tools for those in power, and tools cannot have their own thoughts.
"Forget about Kabuto! Excessive emotion will only harm you."
"But Sensei—"
Urushi wanted to press further, but White Hannya had already released his killing intent.
Urushi struggled to endure the killing intent of the Root Shinobi; his heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand.
No blade was visible, no blood was seen, yet he could clearly feel death pressed against his neck, cold enough to ache.
He would die, he really would die.
As Urushi collapsed heavily to the ground, White Hannya revealed a bit of information to him: "Kabuto has now become Lord Danzo's disciple. From now on, you are from two different worlds. Do not disturb his world."
Urushi lay on the ground drenched in sweat; he had been in extreme distress a second ago, but the next moment he started laughing.
"As long as he's not dead, that's good! He was taken as a disciple by Lord Danzo? Then he'll have more chances to stay alive in the future!"
Orphans are a group of people who have lost everything; surviving is more important than anything else.
"..."
White Hannya looked at the smiling Urushi without saying a word.
Snowy gripped Kuromaru's dog head with his claws, thinking about Kabuto. "Kabuto?! Ryou told me to pay special attention to Kabuto; this kid is the foster son Nonō took in."
"He learned Medical Ninjutsu at such a young age; he's no ordinary person. Why would Danzo take him as a disciple?"