"Danzo-sama... But?!"
As Danzo, known for his cunning and ruthlessness, unexpectedly embraced compromise, the Jonin of the root organization stood in utter disbelief.
"What are you still standing there for?!"
Observing his subordinate ninja still caught in shock, Danzo's gaze intensified.
"Yes!!"
Sensing the ominous aura emanating from Danzo's eyes, the root organization ninja was startled and promptly vanished from the spot.
"Hehehe..."
At that very moment, a deep and hoarse laughter resounded from behind Danzo.
"I remember telling you long ago..."
"Some birds are just not meant to be caged because their wings are too radiant."
From the murky depths of the shadows, a pale-faced ninja with long black hair gradually emerged. Beneath the purple eye shadow, a pair of slender, snake-like eyes flickered with a bewitching light — none other than the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru.
"Yakushi Yu... Although I've only seen him twice, I can tell..."
"This guy is an eagle soaring above the heavens, not a crawling insect on the ground. He's not someone you can control."
Observing Danzo's uncertain expression, Orochimaru unveiled a sinister smile.
"So, are you here to mock me specifically?"
Upon hearing Orochimaru's words, Danzo's expression darkened further.
"No, I'm here to tell you..."
"Our previous human experimentation facility has been discovered. I might leave Konoha in the next few days."
Standing beside Danzo, Orochimaru spoke in a casual manner.
"Discovered, huh..."
"It seems Konoha is no longer a safe haven for you. What's your plan next?"
At these words, Danzo furrowed his brows. Unexpectedly, the collaboration with Orochimaru in human experiments had been exposed.
"It's nothing major. I've long grown weary of this village."
"I plan to find a country without a ninja village and establish my own ninja village, expanding the scale of my research."
In contrast to Danzo's gloominess, Orochimaru appeared indifferent. His lifelong pursuit had been immortality and mastering all ninjutsu in the world, and he didn't harbor much enthusiasm for power.
"After the sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage..."
"Given Sarutobi's personality, he'll surely seize power again."
"In that case, I must find an opportunity to eliminate him. Otherwise, I won't have a chance to flourish in Konoha."
Listening to Orochimaru's plans, Danzo remained silent, his fist gradually clenching beneath his sleeve.
In the dimly lit base of the Root organization, two conspirators with their own schemes were lost in contemplation.
...
Emerging from the Root base, the clear sunlight and fresh air outside gave Yu a surreal feeling, as if he had entered a different world.
"What a gloomy character, even choosing a base in such an underground place that avoids the light."
Walking in the forest outside, Yu contemplated everything he had seen and heard in the Root organization base just now.
If it weren't for his Observation Haki subtly sensing that there was a powerful ninja hidden behind Danzo, Yu might have been unable to resist attacking him earlier.
However, considering Danzo's identity as the disciple of the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama and a ninja from the same period as the Third, this old man might have means to go down together if confronted, especially in his base.
"Keeping this old guy around is always a hidden danger..."
"When the time comes to bring Nono back, I must find an opportunity to get rid of this old fox."
Calculating his current strength and upcoming plans, Yu made a silent decision in his heart.
The next day, some people had not yet awakened from the early morning.
A piece of news had already caused a sensation throughout Konoha, and even the entire ninja world.
The disciple of the Third Hokage, the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, had his secret research on human experimentation exposed.
In no time, all the ninjas in Konoha were on a manhunt, pursuing the legendary ninja who had once rendered remarkable services to the village.
"Why..."
"Orochimaru... Why would you do this?"
In a forest within Konoha, at an underground secret experimental base, Lord Third faced Orochimaru, his once most beloved disciple, and countless containers around filled with human organs. The aged eyes of Hiruzen held a complexity and disappointment that words couldn't express.
"Are you here to kill me?"
"Can you really go through with it, Sarutobi-sensei..."
As the exposure of his secret human experimentation unfolded before Hiruzen, Orochimaru remained unfazed in the face of Hiruzen's complex and disappointed gaze. A hint of blood adorned his face, and a sinister smile played on his lips.
"Ninja Art: Wicked Snake Sound Blast!!"
With these words, facing Hiruzen and two Konoha ANBU ninjas, Orochimaru's hands swiftly formed a dozen seals. Immediately, an ear-piercing sound wave erupted from him, causing the destruction of all containers in the surrounding laboratory. The two ANBU ninjas behind Hiruzen collapsed instantly.
"Damn it... Orochimaru..."
"Are you really going to go that far?"
Watching Orochimaru deviate further from the path he had hoped for, Hiruzen, lying on the ground, felt both anger and helplessness. Despite his frustration, he couldn't help but soften his heart.
"Boom!!"
A violent explosion engulfed the entire underground research lab in debris.
Just as Orochimaru escaped from the underground lab, he saw another ANBU ninja emerging from the nearby forest. This ninja had silver-white hair, and dazzling thunder and lightning radiated from his hands. Surprisingly, beneath the mask, a blood-red Sharingan was concealed.
It was Kakashi, an ANBU ninja directly under the Hokage. Two years ago, he had successfully mastered the A-rank Lightning Release Ninjutsu known as Chidori.
"Such Lightning Release and Sharingan..."
"I see... Is this the Ninjutsu created by Scarlet Yu?"
Facing the charging ANBU ninja Kakashi, who was using Chidori, Orochimaru lightly licked his lips.
"Your eyes are not bad, but I don't need imitations..."
"If it were that kid, Yakushi Yu, it might be a different story. You're still a bit too green..."
Feeling the concealed Sharingan beneath Kakashi's cat-faced mask, Orochimaru's snake-like eyes flashed with a hint of greed. He effortlessly sidestepped Kakashi's sudden Chidori burst while speaking.
"Damn it..."
"Is this the difference between him and me?"
Toppled to the ground after just a few exchanges with Orochimaru, Kakashi felt the overwhelming power and killing intent emanating from Orochimaru. Shockingly, he realized that he couldn't even move his body!
Helplessly watching Orochimaru leave triumphantly, Kakashi couldn't believe the vast gap between himself and the Kage-level ninja. Yakushi Yu... Would the outcome be different if it were him?
As Orochimaru completely ignored him and disappeared into the forest, Kakashi couldn't help but clench his fists tightly.
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