At the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice Fields.
Shimura Danzo, along with Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Torune, took refuge in a small town here, having received the news that Konoha had labeled Shimura Danzo as an S-rank rogue ninja.
...
For an entire day, Shimura Danzo was unable to eat.
Shimura Danzo had never imagined that he would one day be expelled from Konoha. He had spent almost his entire life in Konoha and dedicated his life to the village.
Shimura Danzo believed that the most tragic ending to his life would perhaps be dying for Konoha, leaving his name on the village's Memorial Stone, thinking that the most gratifying end for him would be to work hard for Konoha and have his statue placed on the Hokage Rock in the village.
But then...
He suddenly became a rogue ninja.
Who would have thought that at nearly seventy years old, he would become a rogue ninja!
This was simply humiliating!
Shimura Danzo could not accept this fact in any way. He wanted to go back and tell everyone that this was all a conspiracy by Sarutobi Hiruzen!
However...
Akihara Kagura sent a message through Aburame Torune, indicating that everything in Konoha was under Sarutobi Hiruzen's control. If he returned, he would only become a scapegoat.
Knock, knock, knock...
There was a knock on the door.
Shimura Danzo did not want anyone to come in, and he spoke with a gloomy face: "Didn't I say I wanted to be alone for a while today?"
"Lord Kagura is here."
...
Shimura Danzo sighed, a glimmer of hope igniting in his heart: "Let Kagura in! Everyone else, stay outside."
When Akihara Kagura came in, he saw that Shimura Danzo's spirit didn't seem quite right, as if he had aged several years!
"What exactly is going on?"
Shimura Danzo looked up at Akihara Kagura, anger flashing across his face: "Akihara Kagura, how could I become a rogue ninja of Konoha, what exactly is going on!"
"Shouldn't this be a question for Lord Danzo?"
"The situation is too serious, even I have no solution."
"It was an order personally issued by the Third Hokage."
Akihara Kagura sat opposite Shimura Danzo, softly saying: "I originally applied to the Third Hokage to handle all matters secretly, forbidding anyone from leaking information, waiting for Lord Danzo to return before discussing. But the Third Hokage insisted on issuing a wanted order..."
"Monkey!"
Shimura Danzo clenched his fists tightly, full of hatred: "That bastard pinned everything on me!"
Shimura Danzo fiercely looked at Akihara Kagura, sternly saying: "Akihara Kagura, you should know, I don't have the Sharingan, all the Sharingan in the Root have been destroyed, now in the ninja world only Uchiha Obito and Hiruzen have the Sharingan!"
"But... the evidence is substantial."
Akihara Kagura frowned slightly, calmly saying: "Because some ninjas with both Wood Release and Sharingan were discovered in the village? I also saw when dining with Kakashi, the village had discovered several ninjas with dual Kekkei Genkai..."
Akihara Kagura, staring intently at Shimura Danzo, continued: "The most troublesome thing is, Lord Danzo led some ninjas with dual Kekkei Genkai to attack advisor Homura Mitokado and the ninja from the Mist, this has caused too severe an impact, although I did not have a conflict with Lord Danzo at that time..."
"What are you talking about!"
Shimura Danzo looked at Akihara Kagura with a face full of shock and disbelief: "I have not done these things, I have been staying here ever since receiving your message, I have never left, when did I lead people to attack Homura Mitokado?"
"What?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Shimura Danzo with some surprise: "Lord Danzo, didn't we just meet in the Land of Rain a few days ago?"
"How could it have been me!"
"Besides, those people were all under the monkey's command!"
Shimura Danzo was always aware that those ninjas with kekkei genkai were under Sarutobi Hiruzen's command, and he almost immediately figured everything out. Hiruzen wanted to take this opportunity to pin the blame on him!
Shimura Danzo clenched his teeth with resentment, saying, "It's that monkey trying to frame me deliberately! I will admit to what I have done, but I will never admit to what I haven't done!"
"But..."
Akihara Kagura looked at Shimura Danzo and reminded him, "Advisor Homura Mitokado also thinks it was you. Everyone thinks you did it. Otherwise, the two advisors wouldn't have agreed to the Third Hokage issuing a warrant for your arrest. Both advisors hoped to solve this internally..."
Shimura Danzo felt an indescribable sense of grievance and pain in his heart. This old man, who always liked to wrong others, was tasting the bitterness of being wronged for the first time.
This taste of being wronged...
Was almost too much for the nearly seventy-year-old man to bear.
"No one wanted things to come to this..."
Akihara Kagura quickly comforted Shimura Danzo with his wisdom from a past life and even poured him a cup of tea, "However, I do have a plan. Kakashi and I have captured twelve ninja with kekkei genkai in the village..."
"Interrogate them immediately!"
Shimura Danzo grasped at this lifeline as if it were a straw.
"But..."
Akihara Kagura hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Shimura Danzo and gently reminded him, "The results of the interrogation will lead back to the experiments you oversaw..."
"Alright."
Akihara Kagura's expression turned solemn, and he continued softly, "Even if it really was you, it doesn't matter. We were going to resolve this issue anyway..."
"It wasn't me!"
Shimura Danzo firmly refused to admit to it, even providing his strong evidence: "You destroyed all the Sharingan in the foundation. I guarantee I have no Sharingan. Only monkey controls the Sharingan, only his Anbu could collect Sharingan from the Uchiha clan lands!"
"But..."
Akihara Kagura looked at Shimura Danzo and reminded him again, "The Anbu have always claimed they were ordered to destroy the Sharingan long ago..."
This unwarranted accusation!
Shimura Danzo had no choice but to accept it!
Because Sarutobi Hiruzen had blocked all paths of escape!
However, Akihara Kagura was a man of integrity, offering Shimura Danzo a way out: "Even if they were secretly hoarding Sharingan, what for? The Sharingan isn't that strong, is it?"
"Maybe the Sharingan isn't strong enough!"
Shimura Danzo immediately felt he had grasped the truth, staring intently at Akihara Kagura: "But you are strong enough, the Wood Release ninja are powerful enough!"
Shimura Danzo pieced together the truth, finding a reason for Sarutobi Hiruzen: "It must be because of your success, because your Wood Release is powerful, that monkey bastard started thinking again about using the First Hokage's cells. Coincidentally, he obtained a batch of Sharingan material on the night of the massacre, which accidentally led to the success of his experiments..."
"But..."
"Monkey doesn't want this to be discovered..."
"All this time, whatever inconvenient task there was, I would do it. He never dared to let me control the power of Wood Release, taking you and Tenzo away from my Root right from the start!"
"However, this was accidentally discovered..."
"That Monkey bastard made me take the blame for him, in the world of illusion as in reality!"
Akihara Kagura marveled at Shimura Danzo's meticulous logic.
That he could uncover such a truth…
However, once Shimura Danzo began to harbor suspicions towards the people of Konoha, his thought processes became incredibly divergent. He even considered another possibility.
"Perhaps…"
"Hiruzen was silently controlled by Uchiha Obito…"
"Uchiha Obito took away the Kotoamatsukami Mangekyo Sharingan that I had taken from Shisui, and secretly controlled monkey. Hasn't he already taken control over the Mizukage of the Mist Village before?"
"…"
Akihara Kagura thought this line of thinking was not incorrect. If they could pin this blame on Uchiha Obito, it would also be an excellent choice for him.
"Lord Danzo."
Akihara Kagura admitted that both of Shimura Danzo's theories made sense, but they had to recognize one fact: "No matter how much evidence you have, even if the Third Hokage was truly controlled by Uchiha Obito or was conducting experiments privately, everyone would still blame you because at that moment, the Hokage laid all your evidence before everyone…"
"Unless…"
"In front of everyone…"
"You confront the Hokage, expose what the Hokage has done, let everyone know you are innocent, and the Hokage is the one who has erred. Only then, you might have a chance to return to Konoha and refute the Hokage's warrant for your arrest."
"Good!"
Shimura Danzo gritted his teeth.
Sarutobi Hiruzen exposed all his dark deeds, even using them as evidence for his warrant. Why shouldn't he seek revenge against Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Moreover…
Once this defection incident broke out…
How could he possibly become the Hokage with this incriminating evidence coming to light?
"No matter what, let's first evade the Hokage's pursuit!"
Akihara Kagura persuaded Shimura Danzo to consider the bigger picture and added fuel to the fire on the mountain: "The Hokage announced in the meeting that capturing you should be the priority for the village's ninjas…"
"…"
Shimura Danzo immediately felt a surge of hatred!
Every defector from Konoha harbors hatred towards their bonds, and Shimura Danzo's hatred was even more intense than Uchiha Obito's!
However…
After his hatred, Shimura Danzo had to face a tragic fact: "I do not wish to abandon Konoha, so where can I go now?"
Shimura Danzo glanced at Akihara Kagura and asked, "You have brought me to the Land of Rice Fields, do you intend for me to seek refuge with Orochimaru?"
"Not seeking refuge, just temporarily residing."
Akihara Kagura shook his head and continued, "It so happens that there has been some unpleasantness between Orochimaru and myself. He has always wanted to use the Living Corpse Reincarnation to take over my body. I hope Lord Danzo can help mediate, ideally making Orochimaru realize…"
"We are now equals as allies…"
As Akihara Kagura reached this point, he smiled at Shimura Danzo, saying, "Just like how I am now with Lord Danzo…"
"…"
Shimura Danzo knew this had already become a fact.
Because Akihara Kagura's status and strength were above his, even holding a more advantageous position in this alliance, but his heart still felt somewhat uncomfortable…
"It was I who brought you back to Konoha."
Shimura Danzo recalled his first encounter with Akihara Kagura.
"So…"
Akihara Kagura smiled warmly at the elder before him, extending his hand in friendship: "I will definitely help Lord Danzo return to the village."
"…"
The heart of Shimura Danzo was greatly relieved, and he nodded in agreement to Akihara Kagura's request: "Then, I shall talk to Orochimaru for you..."
"Then, I would trouble Lord Danzo to stay in the Land of Rice Fields, to monitor our alliance with Lord Orochimaru, to prevent him from constantly causing trouble for us."
Akihara Kagura found the turn of events truly wondrous.
Initially, Orochimaru had sent him to Konoha to monitor the alliance with Shimura Danzo, and now, Akihara Kagura was asking Shimura Danzo to monitor his alliance with Orochimaru...
However...
This arrangement was beneficial for Orochimaru.
After all, Orochimaru could now personally monitor his alliance with Shimura Danzo.
Of course.
There were also certain disadvantages for Orochimaru.
Because too many in the ninja world wanted to kill Danzo.
The Land of Rain.
The base of the Akatsuki organization.
When Nagato and Konan learned that Shimura Danzo had defected from Konoha and became an S-rank rogue ninja, they immediately saw it as a great opportunity for revenge!
Uchiha Itachi...
Also saw it as a good opportunity!
Because killing Shimura Danzo to avenge Uchiha Shisui also meant eliminating one of the most dangerous S-rank rogue ninjas to Konoha!
Most importantly...
Uchiha Itachi still believed that Shimura Danzo possessed the Uchiha Shisui Mangekyo Sharingan, especially since Danzo had been secretly experimenting with the Sharingan he acquired on the night of the Uchiha clan massacre!
Kakuzu, the Akatsuki member who loved making money, brought even more useful news: "The price for the corpse of the S-rank rogue ninja, Shimura Danzo, has shot up to 190 million ryo in just a few days, and there's even a rumor that a living person would double the price. Could this person become a member of my team?"
"..."
Is that wanting Danzo to become a member of your team?
The members of the Akatsuki didn't want to burst Kakuzu's bubble!
"Kakuzu, we have found a more suitable newcomer for you."
Tendo Pain refused Kakuzu's proposal, softly saying, "This newcomer possesses the ability of immortality, more suited to be your new teammate... As for Danzo, he is better off as a corpse, to be exchanged for money."
"Alright, then!"
Kakuzu then nodded in satisfaction.
Tendo Pain added, "However, this matter is of great importance, Konan and I will go with you."
"We can also..."
Uchiha Itachi offered.
With the death of Biwa Juzo, Uchiha Itachi got a new teammate, Kisame Hoshigaki, the S-rank rogue ninja from the Mist Village, who grinned, showing off his shark-like teeth: "Mr. Itachi, do you have plans for hunting Danzo? Aren't you allies?"
"He and..."
Uchiha Itachi was interrupted before he could speak.
"Let's go together."
The Sasori of the Red Sand volunteered.
However, Sasori's new teammate, Deidara, with his blonde ponytail, opposed discontentedly: "Hey, hey, hey, Sasori, I have no interest in that Shimura Danzo. When can we move out to kill that bastard Akihara Kagura?"
"..."
Tendo Pain immediately felt a headache coming on.
Would letting this Deidara know that Akihara Kagura is one of their own really end up turning the Akatsuki base upside down?
And...
Has this newcomer Deidara always been this confident?
Sasori glanced at Deidara and kindly advised, "If you want to die now, don't drag the Akatsuki down with you."