c123 – Don't Let Danzo Succeed
"Teacher Orochimaru, I heard that Sarutobi Shinnosuke has been promoted to frontline commander for the war with Kumogakure."
In the dimly lit, serpentine corridors of the underground research base, Gen Uchiha handed over several vials of tissue samples and sealing scrolls in order. The faint sizzle of bubbling fluids echoed around them.
"It's of little consequence," Orochimaru said without looking up from the operating table. His long fingers continued dissecting a preserved shinobi cadaver with disturbing precision. "A commander of a thousand-man unit—he's a pawn, nothing more."
"True, but the political implications are troubling," Gen replied coolly, narrowing his eyes. "By rights, you are a superior candidate, both in combat and in intellect. Yet Hiruzen bypassed you."
"It's fine." Orochimaru licked his lips with an unsettling smile. "Let them play their games. I prefer the purity of research."
"Kumogakure has made its move. I suspect Iwagakure won't stay quiet. Do you think they'll act next?"
"Iwagakure… or perhaps Kirigakure. Both harbor their ambitions."
"Danzo is paranoid about Onoki. He's been plotting again this time he's sending a deep-cover spy to Iwagakure."
"A predictable move," Orochimaru said, his golden eyes gleaming. "Onoki is the definition of a long-game tactician. But Danzo underestimates the risks of poking the Stone."
"And what of Kirigakure? Isn't he afraid of Yagura?"
"Not particularly. Despite being the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura is no Onoki. More importantly, Danzo senses that the bloody civil war there has made them unstable. It's Iwagakure he fears he sees a kindred spirit in the Tsuchikage. Manipulative. Calculating. Dangerous."
Gen Uchiha frowned.
Indeed, Onoki though ruthless still acted in the interest of Iwagakure, even begrudgingly protecting his people. Danzo, by contrast, had proven again and again that he'd sacrifice anything, anyone, even Konoha's own, for his twisted vision of the village's "security."
The thought of Danzo sending a spy to Iwa triggered something. That mission… wasn't that the one?
He remembered. That scene from the manga Danzo manipulating Yakushi Nonou into infiltrating Iwagakure under the codename "Mother", and later pitting her against Yakushi Kabuto, her foster son. Both unknowingly became victims of his "information sterilization" tactics, resulting in tragic betrayal and bloodshed.
"This bastard…" Gen's fists clenched. "He nearly wiped out an entire maternal bond just because he no longer trusted them?!"
If he didn't trust Nonou and Kabuto anymore, the logical route was to pull them back, watch them covertly, assess the threat. But no Danzo fabricated lies, severed ties, and let emotional attachment mutate into violence.
This wasn't tactical brilliance.
This was psychological rot.
Danzo's plan had to fail.
"The spy he's sending isn't ordinary, is she?"
"No," Orochimaru said, placing a scalpel back on the tray. "That woman was once the top asset of the Intelligence Division. Nicknamed 'The Walking Witch', though her real name is Yakushi Nonou. She now runs the Konoha Orphanage."
Of course. Just as in the manga. Nonou, the kindly nun who raised Kabuto. The same woman Danzo would eventually trick into accepting one last mission, leading to tragedy.
The memory of that future massacre, it infuriated Gen. The cruelty of forcing a mother and son to kill each other under false pretenses…
Disgusting.
"Danzo should've recalled them if he had doubts. Monitored them. If nothing was wrong, keep them close. If there was a threat, take them out swiftly and cleanly. But to let them kill each other?! Just because of your own internal fears? That's twisted."
Orochimaru merely smirked, enjoying Gen's outrage like an amused serpent watching a trapped mouse.
"She's from the Intelligence Division? Not ROOT?"
"Officially, no," Gen replied. "Though the boundaries between departments blur under Danzo's influence. His 'Foundation' has tentacles in everything: Intel, Torture, even the Orphanage system."
"Tsk. The man really fancies himself as Hokage," Gen sneered. "ROOT might be a sub-department on paper, but in the shadows, it's already acting like an independent military state."
"You seem to resent him," Orochimaru noted lazily.
"Respect is earned. Even you know what he did during the Uchiha relocation talks."
Orochimaru paused.
Gen recounted the night of the Nine-Tails Attack how Danzo had mobilized ROOT without authorization, commanding them to obstruct the Uchiha Police Force during the emergency. The same act that escalated tensions, sowed seeds of suspicion, and eventually contributed to the Uchiha Massacre.
"Giving unauthorized orders to a clan police force in crisis… that's treason."
"You're brave to speak this way."
"I've nothing to fear. I have the Uchiha. I have you, Teacher. And Danzo fears us both."
Orochimaru chuckled, "Still… a cornered rat is the most dangerous."
"I'll be careful."
Gen accepted the warning, but he was resolved.
He would not let Danzo destroy another bond.
"I want to intercept the 'Walking Witch' first."
"Your thoughts are dangerous," Orochimaru mused, but his tone was more intrigued than disapproving.
"Not dangerous. Practical. That woman's talents should be yours, Teacher."
Orochimaru's hand paused.
Yes, an elite intelligence operative under his direct command especially one of Nonou's caliber would be invaluable.
"Still, Danzo is useful. I need some of his support funding, test subjects, facilities…"
"Then we don't oppose him publicly. Let's recruit her… covertly."
"A double-agent?"
"Triple-agent," Gen smirked. "She plays for ROOT, Intelligence, and us. That way, she can still complete her mission, but for our benefit."
Orochimaru's serpentine eyes glittered.
"Very well. Once we complete this experiment, we'll visit the Orphanage."
Fifteen minutes later, the procedure was complete. Gen recorded the cellular data, and both master and apprentice sank into the earth using Orochimaru's Hiding Like a Mole Technique.
---
The Konoha Orphanage stood at the edge of the Sixth Ring, a modest cluster of wooden houses shrouded in calm.
Unlike the shinobi quarters or the Uchiha compound, this region lacked formality more nature than structure. The air was clean, unpolluted by ambition or fear.
Children played in the courtyard. Some made crafts under the shaded eaves. Their laughter was the kind that came only from innocence something Danzo had long forgotten.
But as Orochimaru and Gen emerged from the shadows, the mood changed.
The children stopped.
A silver-haired boy with round glasses rushed inside to alert the adults.
Moments later, a woman stepped out. Flanked by a heavyset matron, she wore a modest nun's outfit, with a white scarf and kind eyes behind large round glasses.
Yakushi Nonou.
Her expression stiffened briefly at the sight of Orochimaru.
But she quickly masked it with a warm smile.
She was, after all, a professional.
But deep inside, a storm had begun to brew.
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