Three years had passed, and Satoru had finally made his way into the Dark Department, becoming one of its members. However, as expected, his tendency to push boundaries and jump across lines didn't sit well with everyone, especially Danzo. The older man looked at Satoru with barely contained irritation, as if the very presence of the young shinobi was a nuisance he could barely tolerate. He often wanted to sweep him out and never see him again.
"Uh, aren't you uncomfortable?" Kakashi asked, looking at Satoru with some confusion as they walked together toward the Hokage's office.
Satoru, wearing his usual blindfold and mask, grinned. "The blindfold is part of the body," he said briskly, with no hesitation in his tone. "It can't go away. Why would I get rid of such a fashionable setting?"
Kakashi's expression remained deadpan. He had learned long ago that there was no changing Satoru's eccentric ways. "Okay, hurry up, Hokage-sama has something to see us about," Kakashi urged.
Satoru lazily shook his head. "It won't be anything important. But look at this sun, it's perfect for a nap."
Ignoring Kakashi's exasperated sigh, Satoru continued, strolling leisurely toward the Hokage's office. As they arrived, the door was already open, and the Hokage was sitting behind his desk, his face serious.
"You're here," the Third Hokage greeted them, his eyes weary with the weight of his responsibilities. "I need to discuss something important."
Satoru and Kakashi exchanged glances, but both remained silent, waiting for the Hokage to explain.
"Orochimaru has a number of secret research facilities around the country. You know this, right?"
Kakashi nodded calmly. "Yes."
Satoru said nothing but nodded slightly, his thoughts already drifting. He had expected this to be the topic of the meeting. Orochimaru's defection had caused a ripple effect that was still being felt throughout the village. If the Hokage had been firm earlier, they might not have to deal with his legacy now.
The Third Hokage continued, his tone more serious now. "Orochimaru destroyed some of them before leaving the village, but others remain untouched. Some of these we don't even know about."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "Seems so. At the time, we were all focused on chasing him down. There wasn't much time to deal with these places."
The Hokage sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging under the weight of years of leadership. "A team recently discovered one of these hidden facilities. It's not clear what it was for, but it's one of the places Orochimaru abandoned. Even after three years, his legacy is still causing us trouble."
Kakashi remained silent, waiting for the Hokage to finish.
The Hokage paused, then looked at them both seriously. "I need you both to go and investigate it. We need to know what Orochimaru left behind."
Satoru, though not one for showing too much emotion, felt the gravity of the situation. The mission had already been handed to them, but there was something about it that felt… off. He glanced at Kakashi, who met his gaze, understanding the unspoken exchange between them.
"Understood," Kakashi replied first, his voice calm and composed.
Satoru merely nodded, his expression neutral. He didn't share Kakashi's sense of urgency, but he knew it was a task that needed to be done. It was inevitable.
---
Meanwhile, at the Root base, the dimly lit hallways were filled with the flickering light of candles. Danzo stood at the end of the hallway, his face partially obscured by a bandage covering one of his eyes. He slowly turned to face two Root members who were kneeling before him.
"I've run out of pupil power in this eye," he said in a low voice, a cold edge in his words. "Go find a replacement for me."
The two Root members exchanged looks, one of them daring to glance up at Danzo before lowering his head again.
The second member, more composed, stayed silent, waiting for Danzo's next order.
Danzo lifted the bandage from his eye, revealing the Sharingan. Its chakra pulsed weakly. "I need a new, vibrant Sharingan," he murmured. "The one I have now is close to useless. A waste."
The members of Root bowed their heads in response, but Danzo wasn't done yet. He turned his gaze to one of them, his voice cold and calculating. "To attack the Uchiha, we need preparation. But there's one person who might be a good fit for what I need."
The first Root member raised an eyebrow, confusion flickering on his face. "Who do you mean, Danzo-sama?"
Danzo's lips curled into a smile, but there was no warmth in it. "A boy who didn't have a family, someone who killed his best friend—a boy named Kakashi Hachiki."
The second Root member's eyes widened slightly. "Kakashi?"
Danzo nodded, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "Not just him. There's another. Uchiha Satoru."
The mention of Satoru's name caught the second Root member off guard. "Satoru Uchiha? What do you want with him?" he asked.
Danzo's face twisted with a cruel smile. "You know why. The little brat has caused me enough trouble. His eyes... those eyes of his, I will have them."
His gaze darkened, and his voice grew colder as he continued, "Satoru Uchiha. I want his eyes. They'll serve a greater purpose."
---
As Danzo stood there, plotting, Satoru was far from knowing the dangers closing in on him. In the shadows of Konoha, forces were moving, and his future was about to take a darker turn. Though he had his own plans, not even he could foresee the whirlwind of events that would soon change everything.
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