Note: Don't Forget to join my Pãtreon/flokixy to get access to +50 Advance Chapters or unlock the full story from the shop support so I can bring more Chapters for you
Danzo returned to the underground base of Root with a darkened expression. His perfect moment to seize control had been ruined—though he still believed it was merely an unfortunate coincidence. After all, no one could truly control every variable.
Just like back in Amegakure.
Who would have thought that wiping out a fledgling organization would lead to such a blunder? Even his old comrade, Hanzo of the Salamander, had gone into hiding and still hadn't resurfaced.
Danzo sat in silence for a long time. The best opportunity had passed. Now, all eyes were on Yūhi Kurenai, waiting to see if she could secure funds from the Daimyō. If he stepped forward now, proclaiming himself the one to lead Konoha to victory against Sunagakure, it would seem forced.
So, in the end…
He would have to cooperate with that Uzumaki.
Exchanging information bit by bit, slowly building his own reputation.
Danzo's eyes narrowed slightly, displeasure flickering in their depths. Being forced to move at someone else's pace was unbearable. Normally, he was the one manipulating others.
As he brooded, Yamato entered with a grim expression, kneeling and presenting a sketchbook.
Danzo took it without a word, flipping through the pages.
"Ah. This is it? Sai's drawings."
Yamato nodded. "Yes. Sai turned it over voluntarily."
Danzo glanced at him but said nothing, simply skimming the sketches—images of Sai and Shin, the boy he had once seen as an older brother.
He closed the book.
Only one thing mattered:
A tool meant to have no emotions was now mourning a dead friend.
"Did Sai say anything?"
"He claims to know nothing. Insists he hasn't been in contact with anyone."
Danzo stroked his chin. "Your thoughts?"
Yamato exhaled slightly—he hadn't dared speak until asked. "The Uzumaki's words are lies! He outright admitted he wants to weaken Root! Every member of Root was trained by you personally—none would betray you! He must have gotten the information elsewhere!"
Danzo tapped the sketchbook. "Yet outsiders couldn't possibly know the details of your and Torune's abilities. Or this sketchbook. If he learned of these from the outside… does that mean all our intelligence has been compromised?"
Yamato fell silent.
That was the one thing he couldn't understand. His and Torune's abilities were unique, their executions flawless, their missions left no survivors.
How could their secrets have leaked?
After a long pause, Danzo finally made his decision.
"Dispose of them."
Yamato's head jerked up. "But… Lord Danzo—"
Danzo's gaze was ice. "Remember, Yamato. When a tool develops its own will… it ceases to be a tool."
"…Understood." Yamato bowed his head, not daring to meet his eyes.
"The village is issuing a full-scale bounty on those two Uzumaki brats. Have our people monitor their movements. The moment there's a lead, leak it. Let them suffer a bit too."
"Yes."
As Yamato left, Danzo leaned back in his chair, muttering to himself.
"We are the roots buried deep beneath Konoha, supporting it from the shadows… Hiruzen, I will make this village reign supreme over the shinobi world. I will prove the Second's choice wrong. I am the one worthy of being Hokage!"
Somewhere in the depths of the base, screams echoed through the dark corridors.
Nightfall – A Bar in Konoha
Yūhi Kurenai sat in the corner of the dimly lit izakaya, pouring strong liquor down her throat like water.
Despite the high-proof alcohol, her face only carried a faint flush. As a seasoned drinker, she hadn't been truly drunk in years.
She stared at her reflection in the glass, shaking her head with a bitter laugh.
"I swore off drinking… so why am I here?"
Was it because she realized how powerless she was alone?
Or because she didn't love this village as much as she thought?
Her father had died protecting Konoha.
Was this place really worth it?
She violently shook her head, slapping her cheeks.
"Stop it, Kurenai! This village raised you! That Uzumaki killed so many people! You can't forgive him!!"
"Huh? Kurenai? What are you doing here?"
Startled, she turned to see Mitarashi Anko plopping down beside her, already waving for another cup.
"Anko…"
"Hah! Perfect timing—it's been ages since we drank together. Hey, boss! Another round!"
Anko grinned, eyeing Kurenai's plate. "Ugh, wasabi octopus? Still into the hardcore stuff, huh?"
Kurenai smirked. "What else are you supposed to eat with alcohol? Dango like you?"
Anko poured herself a drink. "What's wrong with dango? I could eat it with rice three meals a day and never get sick of it."
"Keep that up and you'll get fat."
"Nah, I've got the metabolism of a godsend."
Kurenai rested her chin on her hand, gazing out the window.
"Something happen? You never liked strong drinks before."
Anko's grin faded slightly. "Yeah. Went to Genma's funeral today. We used to bet on who'd make jōnin first… Now it's just me." She took a sip. "Oh, and Asuma went to help the Nara clan. You didn't go?"
"Nara?" Kurenai realized—it must have been Shikamaru's funeral. She shook her head. "I don't know them well. Only met the kid a few times when looking for Asuma. But… the Nara clan has trouble? They're one of the major clans."
Under the Third Hokage's support, the Nara clan monopolized Konoha's pharmaceutical trade, ran deer farms for medicinal ingredients, and controlled the medical division. They were prosperous, influential.
Anko sighed. "Yeah, but with Shikaku and his son dead, the main family has no heir. The branch families are already fighting over assets. Lady Nara announced she's downsizing. Asuma's there to keep the vultures from picking the bones clean. The Ino-Shika-Chō have always served the Sarutobi, after all."
The ancient "Earring Oath" bound the three clans to the Sarutobi.
Kurenai's eyes widened. "But… the Nara father and son died for Konoha! How can the village let this happen?!"
Anko swirled her drink. "Money talks. The Nara's medicine trade made a lot of enemies. With the Third and Shikaku gone, who's left to stop them? And let's be real—the village is broke. Everyone's scrambling for scraps."
She leaned in conspiratorially. "Here's a hot one—got it from a retired ANBU granny in exchange for my precious dango."
Definitely not a reliable source.
"Rumor has it the Third had a hand in the Uchiha massacre too. Back then, the village was at its limit. Too many shinobi, not enough resources. So… poof. One less clan to feed. Their assets got redistributed, bought the village another decade of peace. Sound familiar?"
Kurenai's breath hitched.
Was the Yūhi clan next?
No—that was impossible!
"L-Let's just drink," she stammered, refilling Anko's cup.
The more she drank, the clearer her mind became—yet the thoughts wouldn't leave.
She knew these were just rumors. Over the years, she'd heard plenty—like how the Third Hokage had a crystal ball for peeping at women's baths.
Absurd.
(Though she had stopped going to public baths after that.)
Clutching her cup, Kurenai hesitated before finally asking:
"Anko… what if you met someone… a really, really bad person? Someone who killed your comrades, did terrible things… but also saved your life? Taught you things? Made you feel… valued? If that person asked you to join them… what would you do?"
Drunk and swaying, Anko blinked blearily. "Huh? Why bring up Orochimaru? That bastard always spouted philosophy… saved my ass more times than I can count…" She hiccuped. "Hey, don't tell anyone, but… when he left, he asked if I wanted to come. I said no, but…"
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"I was scared."
"Of what?"
"That I'd betray the village. That if he asked me one more time… I'd say yes." She slammed her cup down. "But that bastard just left! Next time I see him, I'm killing him!!"
Kurenai didn't respond, staring into her drink.
After a moment, she turned back to the window.
The confusion remained.
But somehow…
It felt a little lighter.