Danzo had considered the possibility that Orochimaru had come to question him, and he had even prepared an explanation.
Everything he did was for the sake of the Hidden Leaf. That was the excuse he had already planned to give.
However, Orochimaru didn't bring up Nawaki's death at all—in fact, he came with an unexpected proposal.
Nawaki's death had deeply affected him, pushing Orochimaru into taking an interest in the study of life itself.
Danzo's hoarse voice couldn't hide his excitement.
"Orochimaru, you're the most promising of my juniors.
You have talent, will, and diligence. Yet your limit lies in your civilian body, one without a bloodline.
In the face of a true bloodline, effort means nothing."
Danzo clenched his fist slightly as he went on.
"I've honed my Wind Release for forty years—and what did it amount to? Against a true bloodline user, I was crushed instantly.
You've mastered Earth Release and Summoning Techniques—and yet?
You've never seen Lord Hashirama or Uchiha Madara on the battlefield. That is what a real powerhouse looks like."
He looked Orochimaru straight in the eyes.
"You and I are both shackled by the limits of our bodies.
But giving up isn't our way. The limits of the body are not unbreakable.
Lord Tobirama once had theories—never realized—but I believe they hold great promise.
If you are willing to conduct research into the ninja body and the essence of life for the sake of the village, I will provide everything you need."
Danzo leaned closer, his tone low and serious.
"Tobirama's notes on transplants, physique, and bloodlines—I'll give them to you tonight.
During wartime, all captured enemy ninja will serve as your experimental material.
After the war, you'll be able to recruit volunteers from the Anbu.
Those trained by the Anbu have iron resolve—they'll understand."
He paused, his single visible eye narrowing.
"If your research shows results, I'll even volunteer myself as your subject.
I already have certain materials for transplantation, but I lack a perfected technique."
Orochimaru thought to himself that Danzo must be eyeing the highest-grade material available in the shinobi world.
He spoke with quiet eagerness.
"I'd like to begin the research tonight."
A rare smile crept onto Danzo's lips.
"Then tonight, I'll prepare the equipment and send all prisoners in camp to your tent.
Onoki killed the Senju clan's young heir, Nawaki.
The Hidden Leaf will naturally retaliate.
I'll order the Anbu to capture Hidden Stone ninja alive—all living specimens will be yours.
During wartime, you'll never lack test subjects. Focus on progress, not restraint."
He paused briefly.
"However, I do want to set the initial direction of your research."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's interest piqued. "What direction?"
Danzo's expression darkened.
"I want you to start with eye transplantation."
Orochimaru understood instantly.
Danzo's old teammate, Uchiha Kagami—his body had never been found after death.
That could only mean his Sharingan had ended up in Danzo's hands.
Whether that was given willingly or taken by force was anyone's guess.
"Orochimaru, from this day forward, you'll be in charge of Root's laboratory. Your code name—Alpha."
"Why Root?" Orochimaru asked. "Why not the Anbu?"
Danzo answered calmly.
"Hiruzen refuses to bear the village's dark reputation—even for missions the Anbu completes in secret.
From now on, Root and I will bear all the village's sins.
To protect Hiruzen's name, Root's duties have expanded—we train recruits for Anbu and handle missions even the Anbu can't touch."
He added quietly, almost smugly.
"Don't worry, Hiruzen will soon know—and approve—of your inclusion."
Orochimaru turned and left the tent.
Outside stood the Fox Squad, guarding the entrance. Danzo called out.
"Fox, come in."
Yagami received a new mission: to deliver all prisoners in camp to Orochimaru's tent.
Danzo also informed him that Orochimaru was now a member of Root—chief of its laboratory—with full authority equal to a division commander.
At the holding pen, Yagami ordered three of his team members to bind five Hidden Stone prisoners with rope and take them away.
The prisoners had been drugged by the interrogation unit, they couldn't use chakra or resist.
One of them asked in panic,
"Where are you taking us? Are we being exchanged for prisoners from our village?"
Yagami thought for a moment before replying evenly,
"If I'm not mistaken, the age of prisoner exchanges is over. From today onward, the Hidden Leaf will no longer trade prisoners."
"W-why? Why are you so cruel?"
Yagami shook his head silently. You should've just taken your own life.
When they reached Orochimaru's tent, Yagami saw a young boy already waiting outside.
The curtain lifted—Orochimaru stepped out, eyes falling briefly on the prisoners.
Through the tent flap, Yagami saw two crude operating tables, scattered with simple surgical tools—knives, scissors, forceps, awls.
The boy spoke excitedly.
"Lord Orochimaru! Please accept my condolences!
Nawaki's death was tragic, but I'll train twice as hard—to make up for his regret!
Please take me as your student! I swear I won't let you down!"
Orochimaru's gaze at the prisoners was one of faint disgust. He turned back to the boy.
"Does your clan head know you're here?"
"No. I haven't met him—Clan Head Danzo might still be in the village."
So this boy from the Shimura clan didn't even know Danzo was on the front lines.
He'd taken Nawaki's place on the squad and thought Nawaki's death was his chance to shine.
Orochimaru's lips twisted into a strange smile.
"Very well. Go inside first."
Then he turned to Yagami:
"Bring the prisoners in. Don't leave—wait outside until morning. You'll handle the bodies."
"Understood, Lord Orochimaru."
Moments later, screams of agony erupted from within the tent.
Orochimaru frowned, irritated—and the screams abruptly stopped.
All night long, muffled cries and groans came from within, sending chills down the spine of anyone nearby.
By morning, Orochimaru emerged from the tent.
Sunlight touched his pale face—he seemed to savor it, though it was unclear whether he was enjoying the warmth… or the experiment.
He gestured toward the Fox Squad.
"Go in. Dispose of the corpses."
Inside lay six mangled bodies.
Wait—six?
There had only been five prisoners.
The sixth… was the Shimura boy.
Had Orochimaru dissected him too?
Would Danzo know? Should he report it?
After some thought, Yagami decided he should.
Orochimaru wasn't his superior—Danzo was his superior's superior.
The prisoners' bodies were burned outside camp, but the boy's corpse was kept aside.
Yagami entered Danzo's tent and reported everything.
Danzo paused for a moment, then said flatly,
"I understand."
Inwardly, Danzo thought: To receive new eyes, some sacrifices must be made. The boy was of my own clan—our physiques are similar. Orochimaru wasn't reckless. Still, I'll have to limit the number. He mustn't dissect too many Shimura.
Yagami was stunned. That's it?
He quickly left, deciding not to interfere again.
The boy's body was soon burned.
As the flames consumed the remains, Yagami sighed. Danzo truly is ruthless—cruel to others, and even crueler to his own.
And that boy… trying to act like the "next Nawaki"? What a pitiful death.
Especially those hollow eye sockets—where had his eyes gone?
Not long after, Black Ape, the squad captain, recovered and returned from the village to the front lines.
"Long time no see, Fox."
"Long time no see, Captain."
Yagami looked down. The captain's injured leg was much thinner than the other—he'd lost an arm and walked with a limp.
"Our next mission," said Black Ape, "is to capture at least three Hidden Stone ninja alive—the stronger, the better.
Fox, your squad is the strongest in the team. You'll take point this time.
You'll be rewarded—I've just secured a scroll of Earth Release techniques. You may pick one."
Yagami's eyes lit up.
After so many successful missions, he could finally learn a new technique.
The Anbu had no fixed standard for rewards.
They were based on completed missions—and how firmly one upheld the Will of Fire.
The latter was entirely subjective, depending on the superior's view.
Fortunately, Black Ape thought Yagami's Will of Fire was solid as steel.
Yagami opened the Earth Release scroll and skimmed through the list.
He already knew several techniques: Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole, Earth Release: Earth Substitution, and Water Release: Water Formation Wall.
He needed an offensive one now.
Then he saw a familiar name—Earth Release: Earth Spear Barrage.
He had seen a Hidden Stone jonin use this during the Battle of Mount Ushigashi.
By channeling chakra into the ground, sharp stone spears would burst upward, impaling enemies instantly.
It could even strike from behind—a perfect assassination technique.
"Captain, I'll take this B-rank jutsu."
Black Ape's expression tightened.
"My leg was shattered by that very technique. A good choice."
He opened the scroll to the corresponding section and let Yagami copy it down.
"We leave tomorrow night to capture Hidden Stone ninja. Learn it quickly."
That night, Yagami went to the camp's training field and began practicing.
He had chosen this jutsu for a reason—it required only one hand sign.
Just a single Ox seal, and the technique was complete.
He remembered a quote from his previous life: 'No need to aim—just shoot first. Whoever fires first wins.'
It was the same for ninja—jutsu with fewer signs were faster, deadlier.
"Earth Release: Earth Spear Barrage!"
A spike of hardened earth shot upward, piercing a log—though it shattered on impact, still too weak.
It was far harder to master a technique through practice than to have one granted by a system.
But Yagami kept at it, repeating until he could harden the chakra-infused earth to pierce wood clean through.
When the sun rose, the wooden posts were riddled with holes.
He nodded in satisfaction. Good enough for battle.
What came next was repetition—refining speed and power.
A few perfect jutsu were worth more than a thousand he couldn't use.
Even Kakashi, who had copied a thousand techniques, only relied on a handful in combat.
That night, Black Ape's unit set out.
Crossing the border forest of the Land of Fire, they entered the endless plains of the Land of Grass.
Hidden Leaf shinobi were used to forests—seeing such open land made them uneasy, as if exposed.
"Advisor Koharu Mitokado just struck a deal with the Hidden Cloud," said Black Ape.
"They plan to attack the Land of Waterfalls while Hidden Stone is weak.
That means the enemy near the Grass border might retreat soon.
Move fast—or we'll miss our chance."
The Battle of Mount Ushigashi had shifted the tide—now the Hidden Leaf was on the offensive.
Using his Byakugan, White Ram scouted ahead and reported.
"Four-man Hidden Stone squad. They just drew water from the river and are heading northeast."
"Good," said Black Ape. "White Ram, take the center with me. Fox Squad and Monkey Squad, flank and encircle them."
Yagami's squad advanced toward the river.
But as he leapt forward, something pricked at his senses—an odd irritation in his nose.
Since awakening the Senju bloodline, his body was sharper, more sensitive to even faint stimuli.
He had inhaled something unpleasant—something from the water.
Yet at a glance, the river seemed normal.
Monkey's squad was already moving quickly.
Yagami didn't slow down.
Still, that faint, acrid scent lingered. Why does the river smell like that?
He pushed the thought aside to finish the mission.
The Hidden Stone squad soon realized they were surrounded on three sides by Leaf Anbu squads.
They tried to break through—each one was at least chunin level, fast and skilled.
Yagami channeled chakra into his arm and threw a kunai with full force.
With his enhanced body, his physical power and precision had improved dramatically.
The kunai skimmed the ground, striking a Hidden Stone shinobi in the leg.
The man screamed and fell, rolling on the grass.
The others didn't stop to help—they bolted ahead.
"Nice throw, Fox!" Black Ape shouted.
"You've gotten stronger."
Purple Cat immediately used the Mind Transfer Technique to seize control of the downed ninja, while Antelope injected him with poison.
The man went limp—a live capture complete.
The rest of the battle was a tiresome chase.
The Hidden Stone ninja fought fiercely, their comrades covering each other's retreat.
Capturing them alive took much longer than killing them.
Eventually, their leader looped around—back toward the river.
"Wait!" White Ram shouted. "It's a trap!"
They had been chasing for half an hour—too far from the Byakugan's range.
Hidden enemies lay in wait by the river.
Dozens of figures burst out of the water, all wearing gas masks—the mark of the Hidden Rain.
After the Leaf and Cloud decided to ally against the Hidden Stone, Onoki must have made a counteroffer.
He had convinced Hanzo of the Rain to join their side.
The Hidden Stone and Hidden Rain had formed an alliance.
Yagami's mind raced. The faint odor from the river… it was poison!
"Everyone, be careful! The air is poisoned!"
***
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