Chapter 95:
Orochimaru's sudden and strange request left Gui momentarily stunned.
He couldn't quite process it why would Orochimaru want him to stick out his tongue? And while walking no less? Did this kid have some odd hobby or quirk?
But seeing how much Danzo seemed to favor Orochimaru, Gui didn't dare refuse outright.
"Can I at least ask why?" Gui ventured cautiously.
Though both Root ninjas and the Hokage's ANBU were categorized as covert operatives, the truth was, their duties were different. Hokage's ANBU often handled missions targeting external threats, so while they wore masks to hide their identities during operations, they didn't have to be as secretive in their daily lives. When not on missions, they could be seen without their masks, walking openly in the village.
Root operatives, on the other hand, lived in the shadows. Most of them had no names, no families, and were expected to bury their emotions. Their work was far darker, sometimes involving tasks against their own people. Their faces had to remain hidden even more meticulously than the Hokage's ANBU, as secrecy was paramount to Root's operations. Many had worked together for years without ever knowing what the other looked like under the mask.
Orochimaru seemed to sense Gui's hesitation. "There's no particular reason, I just want to take a look. You can remove half the mask it's nothing serious."
Gui remained unsure.
"Don't worry," Orochimaru added, his voice calm yet unsettling. "If anyone questions you, you can put the blame on me. I'm sure Danzo-sama wouldn't hold it against you."