"Confirmation."
Even upon witnessing the Sharingan, her certainty stood at a solid 70-80%.
Yet, for prudence's sake, Yakushi Nonō refrained from blind trust, maintaining a sliver of vigilance: "I need to see Danzo's passphrase!"
As a 'ROOT' affiliated spy, it was imperative for her to verify with the passphrase before fully committing.
"Is this satisfactory?"
Uchiha Sogetsu produced a scroll from his sleeve and cast it aside.
As the scroll unfurled, a distinct pattern emerged. Yakushi Nonō's gaze quivered, and she involuntarily bit her lip.
"Subordinate, Wandering Miko, reports to Mr. Owl!"
At this juncture, Yakushi Nonō could ascertain that the Uchiha operative codenamed 'Owl' before her was indeed the envoy dispatched by Danzo.
The implication of a spy entrenched in a foreign land all year was self-evident upon receiving a summon.
Throughout her tenure in Kirigakure Village, she'd often awaken from the same nightmare when reminiscing late at night.
In her dream, she'd rouse to a directive from Konoha to undertake an exceedingly dangerous mission.
She'd die in the mission and plunge into a sea of crimson blood.
Those distant children in Konoha would never see her return.
Yet, as the dream scene unfolded before her eyes, Yakushi Nonō felt her heart quiver with those words.
The intricate blend of emotions, tinged with a hint of sorrow, tempted her to refuse.
But when the words reached her lips, they retreated.
As a spy shinobi, defiance of orders would only culminate in her demise.
Moreover, should she decline the mission, the children at the orphanage in Konoha would meet a similar fate at Danzo's hands.
"Comply with your directives."
Yakushi Nonō bowed her head, her eyes holding back the sorrowful tears.
"Observing you, it seems you are less than eager," Uchiha Sogetsu lounged on a chair, regarding her with intrigue, and uttered in a casual tone: "Yakushi Nonō, I've heard tales from Danzo. You oversaw an orphanage and nurtured countless children, correct?"
Every prospective spy would have an exhaustive records.
This records would encompass their life narrative, proficiency in ninjutsu, character vulnerabilities, and the like, rendering them more susceptible to manipulation by superiors.
The Achilles' heel of Yakushi Nonō was the orphans under her care.
Danzo fixed his gaze and utilized the resources he provided to the orphans as leverage to coerce Yakushi Nonō into undertaking espionage tasks.
"Yes, sir."
Yakushi Nonō, responded with a vacant expression. "Excuse me, how may I assist you?"
"No rush."
Uchiha Sogetsu waved dismissively and inquired further, "I've heard you hold great significance. You seem attached to those children. Care to enlighten me?"
"Is this relevant to the mission?"
Yakushi Nonō furrowed his brows, reluctant to entertain the query.
"It's unrelated to the mission."
Uchiha Sogetsu smiled faintly. "Nevertheless, I'm curious. Is that permissible?"
Observing the bothersome individual before her, a hint of irritation flickered in Yakushi Nonō's eyes.
Despite her reluctance, she drew a deep breath and stated, "I harbor a fondness for children. Having lost my parents in the war, I strive to safeguard those orphaned by it. Satisfactory, sir?"
In uttering the last two words, she deliberately emphasized her tone, conveying her discontent.
"I inquire, do you seek liberation from Danzo's grasp?"
Uchiha Sogetsu paid no heed to her tone, lounging comfortably in his chair, right hand propping up his face.
"Pardon?"
Yakushi Nonō, appeared slightly taken aback, as if not fully comprehending.
"I'm asking, do you desire liberation from Danzo's control?"
Uchiha Sogetsu patiently reiterated, wearing a gentle countenance devoid of impatience.
"I..."
Yakushi Nonō's eyes gleamed, her heart stirring.
However, swiftly, rationality quelled the excitement, prompting her to halt abruptly. Dropping to her knees with a thud, she bowed her head deeply to the ground.
Yakushi Nonō's forehead glistened with cold sweat as she bit her lip, shaking her head vigorously. Her voice trembled as she pleaded, "No, please, believe me. I have absolutely no intention of betraying Danzo-sama. Please, don't harm those children!"
In that moment, myriad possibilities raced through her mind.
Yet, the most probable was that Danzo had dispatched someone to test the strength of her resolve.
As a spy entrenched in foreign lands, should she falter in her determination, Danzo's ruthless nature would swiftly seal her fate.
"Raise your head, Yakushi Nonō."
Uchiha Sozuki's sudden intervention left Nonou feeling powerless, a trace of hypnotic influence lacing his words: "Fear not, Danzo and I are not one and the same, and what I spoke earlier was no test."
The hypnotic resonance, coupled with psychological cue, gently assuaged the turmoil within Yakushi Nonō's heart.
Her emotions gradually steadied, and she lifted her gaze to meet the young man before her. In his gentle eyes, she detected no malice; rather, they exuded warmth and acceptance, akin to a newborn's innocence—bright, unclouded, and pure.
"Now, can you answer my question?"
Uchiha Sogetsu's voice jolted Yakushi Nonō back to the present, its allure akin to a force penetrating the depths of her soul: "Speak it boldly. What is your desire?"
She hesitated, clutching her garment's hem tightly with both hands, nibbling on her lip as she whispered, "I, I desire…"
Though hesitance lingered, she ultimately chose to place her trust in the lad before her.
Fearful of being unheard yet equally wary of her voice's volume, her suppressed resentment toward Danzo erupted like a blazing inferno.
With a resounding cry, she declared, "I wish to be rid of Danzo's grasp! I refuse to perish here! I yearn to return—those children require my presence!"
"Then let us strike a bargain."
Uchiha Sogetsu leaned in, arms crossed, the woman's silhouette reflected in his gaze: "I shall resolve this predicament for you, but you must fulfill a task for me."
At this, Yakushi Nonō recoiled in astonishment, her pupils quivering with disbelief. "Impossible. Danzo commands the Root and stands as the Hokage's most trusted confidant. You are but an ANBU. How could you possibly aid me in this?"
"How, you ask?"
"By addressing the issue at its root, naturally."
In the midst of it all, his forte lay in dissecting the root causes of issues and then proceeding straight from the origin.
Just as he was about to respond to Yakushi Nonō, a sudden surge of three naked killing intents, accompanied by potent chakra fluctuations, emanated from a nearby location.
"Hm?"
Uchiha Sogetsu arched his eyebrows, exhaling softly. "We'll leave this for now; we have company."
"No, someone's swiftly approaching!"
Yakushi Nonō also perceived it; they were coming from the northwest. Three formidable chakras, devoid of hidden murderous intent, were heading their way.
"Wait here for me."
Uchiha Sogetsu rose leisurely from his seat, speaking calmly. "I'll attend to some matters outside. We'll resume our conversation upon my return."
********
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