The headache intensified as the hours passed. Danzo Shimura, leader of ROOT, sat in his office, surrounded by documents, maps, and plans, but none of it seemed to ease the pressure in his mind. He knew he had to continue with his plans, but frustration overwhelmed him. His scientists and strategists seemed trapped in an endless cycle of failures and corrections, and time kept slipping away. While ROOT's missions were executed efficiently, there was always something holding them back, something preventing their objectives from being fully realized. Basic agricultural developments could be replicated, but Danzo had no interest in such nonsense. He much preferred Kaito's war toys—simple yet with great potential.
Kaito's file—the one who had disrupted his plans—gave him a constant reason to keep moving, though at times, uncertainty tormented him. The boy, who had seemed harmless at first, had completely exceeded Danzo's expectations. Some time had passed since the mission was launched, and Danzo had believed that ROOT's strength would either subdue him or eliminate him swiftly. However, things had not gone as expected. Kaito had shown an unexpected resilience.
The memory of the attack on Kaito was still fresh in his mind. He had sent an elite squad—ROOT had aimed to finish him immediately, or at least capture him. Yet only one member of the team had returned, and the news he brought was far from favorable.
"They're all dead. The creature they faced… it was impossible to handle," the survivor reported, his face gaunt.
That creature was more than just an obstacle—it was a reminder of how unpredictable forces beyond his control could be.
Danzo struggled to accept his failure. Moreover, he couldn't count on that bastard Hokage, as it could end with him empty-handed. The return of the lone survivor was a harsh blow to his ego, but his calculating mind knew he had to keep moving forward.
"What matters is that Kaito remains missing," he thought with cold precision. Some claimed the boy was dead, devoured by wild animals, or that he had fallen into a deadly trap from which he couldn't escape. Any possibility surrounding his disappearance served Danzo's purposes. And yet, the ROOT leader knew better than to blindly trust in his death. If he had learned anything over the years, it was that no one disappeared without leaving a trace.
"That bastard Hanzo, he wasn't even useful for something this trivial. And he expected me to support his plans?" Danzo muttered, his eyes filled with icy disdain.
From time to time, his gaze drifted toward the map of the Hidden Rain Village, hoping to find some clue about what had really happened to Kaito. But no answers presented themselves. Where was he? Was he truly dead? Danzo couldn't be sure. As his thoughts intertwined with doubts and certainties, his mind returned to the throbbing pain in his skull.
ROOT's scientists, tasked with analyzing the schematics, the studies on the mysterious dōjutsu, and their potential applications, were making progress at a snail's pace. The projects he held in his hands depended on new techniques that were beyond the reach of current technology. However, these techniques were unstable, and certain properties of the weapons were too complex to replicate at will.
The young man possessed an ability that, in theory, could have been of great use to ROOT. His aptitude for handling instruments—even some he had invented himself—and his connection to the earth were powerful resources. If they could be harnessed, they had the potential to shift the balance of power—not only in the Hidden Rain but across the entire ninja world. But if he was dead, there was nothing to fear. He couldn't wield his power, and the problem would resolve itself.
However, Danzo never fully trusted the idea that someone so promising had truly perished. He couldn't afford to let a threat like Kaito slip through his fingers.
Resting one hand on his right wrist, he covered the bandages that concealed his Sharingan. A sigh of frustration escaped his lips as he gazed out the window of his office. The sky was dark, thick clouds rolling slowly overhead. The wind howled mercilessly, and Danzo, motionless, felt as though nature itself was working against his efforts.
The headache worsened as his mind devised ways to proceed. He knew he had to act; he couldn't remain idle. If Kaito was alive, he had to be eliminated—or, at the very least, controlled—before he could realize his full potential. Danzo would not allow someone like him to threaten the stability he sought to impose. He expected Kaito to become just another piece on ROOT's chessboard.
"Better if he's dead," Danzo murmured to himself, gritting his teeth.
The order was clear. If Kaito had survived, ROOT would need to act swiftly to eliminate any threat before he became even more powerful than he already was. If he was dead, Danzo could proceed with his work, advance his research, and continue with the plans that would ensure his absolute control from the shadows of the ninja world.
With that resolution in mind, Danzo Shimura rose from his chair, ready to move forward with the same unwavering mentality.
"I hope that bastard Orochimaru doesn't fail again and waste another batch of brats… Damn it, this time, I'll assemble a larger squad."