Chapter 26: Danzo Always Has Various Plans

Location: Konoha, Root Base.

Hanma, Danzo, and Orochimaru sat around a tea table, silently sipping tea.

The appearance of these three individuals together made the atmosphere in Root even more eerie. Even the usually stoic Root members showed discomfort, feeling waves of unease.

Seeing these three together brought a two-fold discomfort, both psychological and physical.

Shimura Danzo, a man who moved like a ghost in the shadows of Konoha, known for his unscrupulous methods, earned the title of the Darkness of the Shinobi.

Orochimaru, though still relatively normal in personality, was already considered a freak by ordinary people. His transformation into a serpent was becoming evident, with a noticeable tendency towards breakdown.

Uchiha Hanma, with a body akin to a demon, emitted a hellish aura of blood during battles. To the Anbu of other villages, he was always a symbol of death.

With these three gathered, the atmosphere was intense. If they didn't discuss how to annihilate a village, it would feel inappropriate.

Hanma savored the clear tea, which had a lingering and refreshing aftertaste, likely a special supply of the Daimyo's mother tree flame tea.

It seemed the Root of Konoha was well-nourished, at least not skimping on good tea for its mouth.

A heavy silence fell, with no one wanting to speak first.

Hanma enjoyed his tea as if lost in its sweetness.

Orochimaru was engrossed in Hanma's body function manuscript, eyes narrowed.

Danzo went through documents, showing decent administrative capability.

About twenty meters from them, a spy who had infiltrated the Konoha market was nailed to a cross, undergoing inhumane interrogation.

After some time, a Yamanaka clan member from Root stopped his technique and came over to report.

"Danzo-sama, the information has been compared with the data provided by the Anbu, and it matches."

Danzo nodded, flipping through the information before passing it to Hanma and Orochimaru.

Although the Anbu had already decoded the spy's brain, Danzo no longer trusted their abilities.

If he, Shimura Danzo, were Hokage, such infiltrations would never occur in Konoha!

"The rats in the gutters are restless. They must pay for provoking Konoha."

Hanma waved the intel and smiled, "Calling them rats isn't quite right, is it? Hanzo of the Salamander is still quite a formidable opponent."

Danzo snorted and, with a commanding tone, said, "A summoning beast like the Salamander is almost useless against your speed. Could anyone stop you from infiltrating the Hidden Rain Village?"

Hearing this condescending tone, Hanma smiled but didn't retort. He just tapped the table, indicating he was listening.

Danzo continued outlining his plan, "We can infiltrate the Hidden Rain to assassinate Hanzo and then annex the Hidden Rain in one swoop!"

Orochimaru glanced at Danzo in surprise, putting down his book without even looking at the intel.

With snake-like vertical pupils, he questioned, "That doesn't align with Sarutobi-sensei's intentions."

Upon hearing the name Sarutobi, Danzo's face turned agitated, but before he could speak, Hanma interrupted.

"Indeed, Elder Danzo, there's quite a difference between the Hokage's advisor and the Hokage himself."

The term "Hokage" seemed to act as a secret technique, throwing Danzo into a frenzy.

He waved his hand and looked at Hanma fiercely, "Regardless, this plan of mine is the most beneficial to Konoha."

Why should I follow your orders instead of the Hokage's? The Uchiha clan might as well rebel directly, saving us from your backstabbing.

Reasserting his stance to only act under Hokage's orders, Hanma resumed drinking tea.

Orochimaru also looked at Danzo disdainfully and remarked, "Assassinating a village leader in peacetime would certainly draw condemnation from other villages. If it triggers a chaotic war across the Shinobi world, can you bear that responsibility?"

Danzo's face darkened completely. "Dedication and sacrifice are a ninja's duty. For Konoha's sake, nothing is off-limits."

Looking at the delusional Danzo, Hanma couldn't help himself. He had held back this for ten years.

"Elder Danzo, why do I hear that in the past, the ones who sacrificed themselves were the Second Hokage and my father?"

"If you had the courage to stay behind then, wouldn't both the Second Hokage and my father have had a chance to survive?"

These words cut like a knife, darkening Danzo's face to the color of a Cloud ninja's. He abruptly stood, flung his sleeve, and left.

Orochimaru appeared saddened and softly asked, "Are you still haunted by your father's death?"

Hanma waved off the sentiment. "I've forgotten what my old man even looked like. I just wanted to remind him not to demand from others what he himself couldn't accomplish."

"But he did have a point: The Hidden Rain's provocation is serious, and we need to respond."

Orochimaru remained silent, increasingly uninterested in warfare with his growing obsession with research.

Seeing Orochimaru's demeanor, Hanma thought of something. Had they already begun their Wood Release experiments?

Better to remind him, as they might need to collaborate in the future.

"Working with that old man is very risky and requires caution."

Orochimaru was taken aback. Was this a warning? Seeing Hanma's normal expression, he slowly nodded.

Location: Konoha, Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage looked kindly at Hanma and patted his old back.

"Your first time mentoring students, not easy, is it? Back when I taught them, it was exhausting."

One had to admit, the Third's demeanor and communication skills were far superior to Danzo's.

At least people were willing to listen, not faced with a sour expression and orders.

Hanma nodded in agreement. "Yes, these kids are hard to handle, quite troublesome."

This was pure obliviousness to his fortune; many desired to teach Minato, Nawaki, and Kushina but had no such opportunity.

After some small talk, the atmosphere warmed. The Third took out his pipe, deeply inhaled, and hesitated, seemingly wanting to ask something but feeling embarrassed.

Hanma was in no rush, giving the Third ample time to ponder, holding the initiative.

With a sigh and a long exhale, the Third finally posed a deeply apologetic yet necessary question.

"Hanma, can you be honest with this old man, just what level is your strength at?"