Root Base.
The Root ninjas were all released from the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
However, while the physical Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal imposed by Akihara Kagura was removed, the psychological seal remained. They were still prohibited from mentioning Shimura Danzo.
Besides the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, Shimura Danzo also used other means, including devices for mental control, to brainwash these ninjas.
Akihara Kagura was decisive, selecting a guy named Yamanaka Fu from these Root ninjas to be responsible for re-brainwashing the group, ensuring they completely forget Shimura Danzo and avoid causing trouble for Lord Danzo.
Besides this,
There were some children from the Root that needed handling.
One child, however, proved difficult to manage. This was a young fellow named Aburame Torune, who was only eleven years old and somewhat solitary.
This child, belonging to the Aburame clan, couldn't easily be sent back. He did not wish to return to his clan, possessing a unique ability involving nano-level poisonous insects that could kill others by destroying their cells upon contact.
Even if Aburame Torune were sent back, he might not have the chance to become a ninja. It's estimated no one would want to be his teammate, as they would have to wear protective suits, and he wouldn't even be allowed to participate in the Chunin Exams.
This child…
Seemed to have nowhere else to go.
"You and Yamanaka Fu, come serve as my personal guards."
Akihara Kagura felt he was gradually becoming like Shimura Danzo.
Could it be…
Becoming the leader of the Root…
Really took on Shimura Danzo's script?
"Fu, take the remaining children to the orphanage."
Akihara Kagura looked over the remaining children and said: "Tell Dean Nono, I will allocate some funds from the Root to the orphanage, so the children can attend school when they're old enough, and find jobs when they grow up…"
"Yes."
A group of Root ninjas accepted the order.
The Root ninja selection system established by Shimura Danzo over many years was completely dismantled on the first night after Akihara Kagura took office.
Among them, a little devil named Sai took a moment to look at Akihara Kagura, seemingly wanting to remember what Kagura looked like.
Konoha Orphanage.
Yakushi Nonou and Kabuto were still comforting the children of the orphanage.
After all, the events of tonight were too shocking, even comparable to the Nine-Tails disturbance years ago, with the emergence of the true Thousand Hands causing fear among many children.
Before they could finish calming them, someone knocked on the door of the orphanage.
When Yakushi Kabuto opened the door, he saw a group of Root ninjas, which immediately made him tense, fearing that Shimura Danzo wanted to cause trouble for him and Yakushi Nono amidst the night's chaos.
"We are here on Lord Kagura's orders."
Upon seeing Yakushi Kabuto, Yamanaka Fu immediately explained his purpose, pointing to a group of kids behind him: "These are orphans once taken in by the Root. Lord Kagura has instructed us to bring these orphans to the orphanage…"
"Lord Kagura?"
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Yamanaka Fu with confusion.
"Yes."
Yamanaka Fu nodded, appearing somewhat polite: "Lord Kagura has become the new leader of the Root tonight, and has ordered us to bring these children here…"
"The leader of the Root?"
Yakushi Nono walked over, somewhat surprised by the news he had heard.
"Did Shimura Danzo die tonight?"
Yakushi Kabuto furrowed his brow.
If that was the case, it was indeed great news for them!
"..."
Yamanaka Fū remained silent for a moment, then gestured to his mouth and whispered, "Lord Kagura has forbidden any of us from mentioning that person's name again. However, according to Lord Kagura, that person has merely retired…"
"Then let's not mention it."
Yakushi Kabuto immediately acquiesced.
Yakushi Kabuto didn't want to hear the name Shimura Danzo either.
Yamanaka Fū seriously conveyed Kagura's orders: "Lord Kagura has instructed us to inform Dean Nono that the children are to be sent to the orphanage. The children who should attend school can go to school. Lord Kagura will allocate some funds from the Root for the orphanage…"
"..."
Yakushi Nono nodded seriously.
Yamanaka Fū, along with a group of Root ninjas, left, leaving behind a bunch of kids at the Konoha Orphanage. Watching these somewhat anxious children, Yakushi Nono revealed a tender smile in his eyes and softly comforted them.
Having once been in the Root's training program, Yakushi Kabuto was very familiar with the environment there. He couldn't help but feel fortunate for these kids.
However...
Yakushi Kabuto was more worried about Akihara Kagura.
Tonight's events were too significant. Whether Akihara Kagura was related to the last appearance of the giant Kannon statue, and whether he had been injured in the battle, were of concern.
The Konoha Hospital had only received one Uchiha orphan, but Yakushi Kabuto took the opportunity to learn some news. This turmoil had actually resulted in many deaths!
"What's wrong, Kabuto?"
Yakushi Nono noticed Kabuto's unease.
"It's nothing."
Yakushi Kabuto immediately hid his emotions and smiled, saying, "I want to visit the Root base to see Kagura. I have something to discuss with him."
"Alright."
Yakushi Nono did not stop him.
If the Root was indeed led by Akihara Kagura, she going to come out of retirement to prevent Kagura from leading the Root without achieving any results...
Elsewhere.
At Shimura Danzo's home.
Shimura Danzo was still waiting for the Root ninjas to deliver the Sharingan to him, but no one had arrived, giving him a faint sense of something going wrong.
This won't do!
Shimura Danzo touched the bandages around his eye sockets, which were actually empty, hoping to use the batch of Sharingan for the Izanagi technique!
Only in this way...
Could he possess greater combat power!
Shimura Danzo became restless, picked up his cane, and hurried to the Root base. He was very worried that something had happened to the batch of Sharingan.
The lingering influence of Shimura Danzo was still present, making entry into the Root's base a non-issue. However, all members of the Root kept their heads low, none daring to speak more to him than necessary…
However, no sooner had Shimura Danzo entered the Root's base than Akihara Kagura seemed to sense his arrival, coming personally to greet him.
"Lord Danzo's timing is impeccable."
Upon seeing Shimura Danzo, Akihara Kagura immediately waved the Root's ninjas away, speaking softly, "I have to go to a meeting at the Hokage's office tomorrow morning. There's a discrepancy in the count of Sharingan eyes, and I needed to ask Lord Danzo about it…"
"You brat!"
Shimura Danzo's gaze sharpened!
Was this brat threatening him?
When Akihara Kagura brought up the matter, he appeared troubled: "I've just reviewed the batch of Sharingan eyes kept by the Root and there are only eleven. The number is odd…"
"Regardless, this doesn't match up with the number of casualties reported by the Konoha Police Force. Has Lord Danzo perhaps intercepted another batch on his own…"
"I have not!"
Shimura Danzo clenched his teeth, declaring firmly, "When I led the Root there, we were already a step too late. Uchiha Obito had already stolen a batch of Sharingan eyes from the corpses of the Konoha Police Force…"
This matter…
Shimura Danzo was truly wronged!
Because not only he needed Sharingan eyes as consumables for using Izanagi, Uchiha Obito also collected Sharingan eyes as consumables.
The members of the Konoha Police Force were killed by Uchiha Obito, who also collected a batch of Sharingan eyes first. It was fortunate that Shimura Danzo arrived in time, or else even those Sharingan eyes would not have been obtained!
Akihara Kagura looked at Shimura Danzo in surprise, the reason being very real: "Uchiha Obito himself has the Mangekyo Sharingan, why would he steal Sharingan eyes?"
"…"
Shimura Danzo felt unable to answer.
Was he expected to reveal the truth about Izanagi?
Such a thing was absolutely impossible!
But…
He couldn't bear this false accusation!
Because he couldn't reconcile the deficit of Sharingan eyes no matter what!
"I don't want to explain."
Shimura Danzo stared at Akihara Kagura, his voice deep, "Why Uchiha Obito would steal Sharingan eyes, I am not clear, but the Root has collected only so many Sharingan eyes…"
"Uchiha Obito cannot provide proof for Lord Danzo."
Akihara Kagura looked at Shimura Danzo, continuing seriously, "This discrepancy in numbers has to be resolved as soon as possible, either by replenishing or destroying them. The Root's ninjas have only come into contact with the batch that Lord Danzo ordered to be delivered to the base…"
"…"
Shimura Danzo felt like he was going to lose his mind!
At this moment, where was he supposed to find more Sharingan eyes to balance the books!
Why do I have to cover this loss myself! The Sharingan that Uchiha Obito took away, why should he be the one to make up for this loss!
"Everyone believes that our Root division has obtained a considerable number of Sharingan."
Akihara Kagura looked at Shimura Danzo and continued seriously, "If the Third Hokage asks about this during the meeting at the Hokage Tower tomorrow, should I say that the Root division only destroyed eleven Sharingan? Doesn't this number sound too suspicious…"
"…"
Shimura Danzo felt like he was going to be driven mad.
Even if this number was suspicious, it wouldn't match up anyway!
"The Root ninjas can prove for me…"
Shimura Danzo stared at Akihara Kagura, finding his favorable evidence: "They all saw that the Root division only obtained so many Sharingan…"
"But…"
Akihara Kagura looked at Shimura Danzo and continued, "The Root ninjas can only prove that the Root division obtained so many Sharingan, they cannot prove that Lord Danzo obtained so many Sharingan, the Third Hokage will not believe this…"
"Tomorrow…"
"When Sarutobi Hiruzen asks…"
Shimura Danzo could only take this blame, and said in a deep voice, "Just claim that the Root division destroyed one hundred and fifty-four Sharingan, this number matches the seventy-seven corpses at the Konoha Police Force building, I can pretend that your and Orochimaru's matter never happened…"
"So many?"
Akihara Kagura frowned slightly, his expression subtly pleading, "Isn't the account for these Sharingan a bit too off, can't Lord Danzo hand over another batch…"
"I… do not have any!"
Shimura Danzo was nearly driven mad.
He originally came to Akihara Kagura to demand Sharingan, why did he end up owing Akihara Kagura over a hundred Sharingan instead!
"This account is too large."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, unwilling to bear this risk for Shimura Danzo: "I can help Lord Danzo erase a zero, Lord Danzo can personally write down this account, transferring one hundred and forty Sharingan from the Anbu…"
"…"
Shimura Danzo was a bit stunned.
He didn't gain anything, yet had to write an IOU?
"I've said!"
Shimura Danzo glared at Akihara Kagura, furiously said, "I can forget about you and Orochimaru's matter! Don't forget where you originally came from!"
"You were originally just an experiment of Orochimaru, to take away Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nono from me, you deceived both me and Orochimaru!"
"Akihara Kagura, don't forget, it was I who brought you back to Konoha."
Shimura Danzo watched Akihara Kagura with a sinister tone returning to his voice, threatening, "You'd better think it through. If it becomes known to the Hokage that you stayed at Orochimaru's research base until you were ten before being brought back to the Konoha Village, do you think he would still trust you?"
"I don't want the Third Hokage to know about this."
Akihara Kagura met Danzo's gaze and continued, "Similarly, I need Lord Danzo's assurance that you won't disclose this matter, ensuring that Dean, Kabuto, and I aren't disturbed in our lives."
As Kagura spoke, his expression gradually became more sincere: "I am aware of the troubles I carry, which is why I chose not to aspire to become the Hokage, but instead to lead the Root."
Danzo's expression softened significantly.
If this young man doesn't want to be Hokage, Danzo thought, then Akihara Kagura is indeed taking a step back, and it seems he truly wishes it so...
"We maintain peace by imposing mutual restrictions."
Akihara Kagura looked at Danzo and shared his intention: "As long as you write an order calling upon one hundred and forty Sharingan, I won't hand this order to Lord Third Hokage. It serves as a reassuring promise to me."
"Anyway..."
"This matter is already a fact."
Akihara Kagura, watching Danzo's somewhat unpleasant expression, continued, "Everyone already believes you've acquired so many Sharingan, so writing one more order doesn't really matter, does it?"
"I will help you conceal this matter. Should the Third Hokage ask tomorrow, I will claim all the Sharingan were destroyed and will not reveal that you've hidden over a hundred of them."
Danzo fell silent.
This scapegoat was inevitably his to bear, wasn't it?
"Pen."
Danzo released his cane and extended his hand towards Akihara Kagura, still maintaining the pride he had as the former leader of the Root.
Akihara Kagura respectfully handed Danzo a pen.
As long as Danzo was willing to take the blame for the shortfall of Sharingan, if the Root's ninjas all had Sharingan in the future, it could be attributed to Danzo conducting human experiments.
~~~
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