Mokgetsu discreetly headed to the Root Base as instructed by Shimura Danzo.
He had to admit that Sarutobi Hiruzen handled things better in personal interactions. While Sarutobi Hiruzen chose to visit Mokgetsu at his home after work, Shimura Danzo maintained an authoritative stance, summoning Mokgetsu to the Root Base.
Of course, Shimura Danzo might have considered the implications and did not want Sarutobi Hiruzen to know Mokgetsu was still in contact with Root.
Mokgetsu was aware of this but it didn't change his impression that Shimura Danzo wasn't up to par.
"Lord Danzo." Upon entering the Root Base, Mokgetsu immediately assumed his role, greeting Shimura Danzo with respect. His demeanor and expression were impeccable.
Sitting in his office chair, Shimura Danzo nodded slightly, satisfied. From Mokgetsu's attitude, he could see that Mokgetsu was still loyal to Root and Konoha.
"You performed excellently on the East Coast Battlefield, showcasing the momentum we Konoha Ninja should have," Shimura Danzo praised.
Shimura Danzo seldom praised others, believing that urging them forward was more effective for improvement, but he couldn't find any fault with Mokgetsu's task this time.
The most important aspect was that Mokgetsu made Shimura Danzo appear superior to Sarutobi Hiruzen at a high-level meeting, which was the main reason Shimura Danzo praised him.
Since the start of the war, Shimura Danzo had endured plenty from Sarutobi Hiruzen, and now he finally got a chance to demonstrate his foresight to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"This is what I should do as a Root Ninja and a Konoha Ninja, showing no mercy to those who dare challenge Konoha," Mokgetsu replied solemnly.
If he were facing Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mokgetsu would downplay his achievements and emphasize collective efforts, but standing before Shimura Danzo, he had to be more hawkish. This is what they call adapting to your audience.
"Indeed, one must be ruthless with enemies. If it weren't for the need to oversee the situation, I would have gone to the battlefield personally to teach those Hidden Mist shinobi a lesson myself!" Shimura Danzo was very satisfied with Mokgetsu's response, and his gaze towards Mokgetsu grew more approving.
If he weren't still in his prime, he might consider nurturing Mokgetsu as his successor.
Shimura Danzo believed that grooming a successor before he himself became weak could lead to issues, and with his health being fine, there was no need for anyone to dilute his power.
He gave a glance to a Root Ninja nearby, who promptly brought over several Scrolls and placed them on Shimura Danzo's desk.
"I've heard you are interested in Fuinjutsu; these Scrolls contain a wealth of sealing technique knowledge from the Uzumaki Clan, including Advanced Fuinjutsu. It's part of your reward for this mission," Shimura Danzo explained.
Even though Mokgetsu enjoyed benefiting from Sarutobi Hiruzen's training, Shimura Danzo was worried that Mokgetsu might be subliminally swayed to Sarutobi Hiruzen's side, so he decided to reward Mokgetsu generously.
Mokgetsu was different from ordinary Root members; he was a powerhouse with battlefield effectiveness. Even if Mokgetsu were to leave Root now, there wasn't much Shimura Danzo could do about it.
However, Shimura Danzo believed such a thing wouldn't happen. If Mokgetsu suddenly severed ties with him, it would certainly suggest some ulterior motive, prompting Shimura Danzo to investigate thoroughly for the safety of Konoha.
"Thank you, Lord Danzo," Mokgetsu expressed gratitude.
What Mokgetsu had learned from Kushina was the most orthodox Uzumaki Fuinjutsu; Shimura Danzo's offer was slightly late.
However, Shimura Danzo had indeed cultivated a good amount of Fuinjutsu himself, and some content in the Scrolls could still be new to Mokgetsu.
"Previously, I observed your demonstration of Wind Release under Hiruzen; while decent, it still falls short of a true Wind Release expert. Here are some of my experiences with Wind Release, another reward for your mission,"
Shimura Danzo then placed a blue Scroll on the table.
Upon realizing it contained Shimura Danzo's own Wind Release experiences, Mokgetsu feigned a surprised expression followed by visible excitement and gratitude.
"I've watched you grow since you were little. When you first joined Root, I knew you would be a valuable Ninja for Konoha," Shimura Danzo reminisced about Mokgetsu's early days in Root.
Mokgetsu displayed a nostalgic expression, but internally, he felt nothing.
Shimura Danzo was transparent; by giving rewards and recounting the past, he simply wanted to strengthen his great image in Mokgetsu's eyes, as Mokgetsu's strength and standing in Konoha grew.
After all, Mokgetsu was now completely different from ordinary Root members, not just in strength but also in the limited interactions he had with Shimura Danzo throughout the year, making it challenging for Shimura Danzo to have the opportunity to manipulate him.
"Strength is important, but so are planning and strategy. Mokgetsu, when you encounter difficulties, never forget Root or me," Shimura Danzo downplayed Mokgetsu's strategizing skills, suggesting that he should rely more on Root.
What else could Mokgetsu say but to agree?
After playing the part alongside Shimura Danzo, Mokgetsu returned home, took a bath, and started reviewing the Sealing Technique Scrolls given by Shimura Danzo.
For Mokgetsu, Shimura Danzo and Root were currently more of an asset.
As long as he occasionally acted for Shimura Danzo, he could leverage Root's influence and resources.
If Shimura Danzo ever acted against Mokgetsu, he would have no problem turning against him. He was no longer the Chunin Teacher who had just entered Ninja School; now, Mokgetsu was one of the strongest Ninja of the new Konoha era, rivaling even the Yellow Flash—Blazing Sun Mokgetsu.