103 - Friends Who Sell You Out
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen, Danzō, Koharu, and Homura were present. They looked at the weak and frail Homura in front of them.
All four had serious expressions.
Initially, Hiruzen was somewhat dissatisfied with Kei for taking more than two days to return to the village.
But when he heard the intel about the alliance between Kiri and Iwa, he completely forgot about his previous grievances. On the side, Danzō, who had been called over temporarily, frequently cast admiring glances at Kei.
Simply because Kei had boldly speculated and carefully verified that the assassination of the Two-Tails jinchūriki by Kiri was too much of a coincidence, he managed to obtain such crucial information and even directly bring back an informant. This young man was even more outstanding than Danzō had imagined!
Why… why is he looking at me like that? Kei felt uncomfortable under Danzō's gaze.
It had been over a month since they last met. Now, Danzō was no longer wrapped in bandages around his head, and he no longer looked as disheveled as he had been in Konoha Hospital. Although his years in Root had made him exude an ever-present ominous aura, now that his face was fully revealed, he actually looked somewhat more pleasing to the eye?
Damn… don't tell me Hiruzen alone isn't enough for this guy anymore… Kei secretly complained in his heart while sneaking a glance at the status above Danzō's head.
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[Name: Shimura Danzō]
[Career: Ninja]
[Traits: Chimera Second Stage (Purple), Wind Release Mastery (Blue), Brainwashing Specialist (Blue), Genjutsu Mastery (Green), Water Release Mastery (Green), Sealing Mastery (Green), Ruthless (White), Merciless (White), Balanced Offense and Defense (White), Big Brainstorm (Black)]
[Chimera Second Stage (Purple):
By relying on the forbidden Chimera Technique, and with the assistance of top-tier scientists in the shinobi world, Danzō successfully merged the Mangekyō Sharingan with the bloodline of the Hōzuki clan, developing a pseudo-dual bloodline limit. This significantly enhances his Yin Release affinity, genjutsu talent, mental strength, insight, genjutsu resistance, Water Release affinity, and Water Release talent while greatly reducing the difficulty of mastering the Hōzuki clan's secret techniques. (Note: Maintaining this state drastically increases life force consumption.)]
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???
What the hell!? He evolved?!
Kei stared at the newly appeared purple status marker on Danzō's head, mentally freaking out.
It had only been a little over a month! How did this old man manage to get Orochimaru to create something like this? Also, in the original story, wasn't the Chimera Technique supposed to require specific environmental conditions to be used?
Did Danzō just happen to meet those conditions? Or was it that merging only two bloodline limits wasn't as troublesome as Hiruko's five? Or perhaps, Orochimaru found a way to bypass those limitations?
Looks like it requires sacrificing lifespan?
Reading the last note in the status details, Kei was certain—Danzō must have made some necessary preparations. Otherwise, given his notorious fear of death, there was no way he'd be sitting here so calmly, discussing matters with Hiruzen and the others.
Comparing Danzō's initial status, he had not only gained a new purple trait but also acquired two green traits.
He had already been ridiculously arrogant when his strength was declining due to old age. Now that his power had skyrocketed… wouldn't he start acting god-like?
Where did [Why Are You Gae?] go? Kei's gaze locked onto [Balanced Offense and Defense].
Just one glance at the details made his arms break out in goosebumps. It all made sense now.
[Why Are You Gae?] had undergone some kind of twisted transformation, becoming [Balanced Offense and Defense].
Who did he lay his hands on!
Kei's eyes discreetly scanned Hiruzen and Homura.
Seeing that their status hadn't changed much, his mind suddenly recalled a certain charming and mysterious snake lady.
No way… right? At this stage, Orochimaru should still have some moral boundaries. So… who was the unfortunate victim!?
He was now dying of curiosity.
If it weren't for the fact that the setting wasn't appropriate, he would've used a genjutsu on Danzō right then and there to interrogate him properly.
"Kei, go home and rest for now." Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and finally gave Kei an order.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Then, I'll take my leave." Kei nodded and was just about to leave the Hokage's office to go home and kiss Kushina, but before he could step out, Danzō spoke coldly.
"Wait a moment."
Danzō took out a scroll from his robe and placed it in front of Hiruzen. His sharp gaze locked onto his old comrade as he spoke in a serious tone.
"This is what you wanted. Root truly needs a ninja like you."
What the hell!? Kei froze for a moment, nearly shivering on the spot.
Damn it!
Didn't Shikaku say before I left the village that you guys were just probing each other as usual?
Come on, Danzō, you're actually serious about this!?
Please! Think this through! I'm a die-hard supporter of the Hokage faction, a ninja of the Yamanaka clan!
Not to mention, I'm also the boyfriend of the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, and I've stood by her side more than once.
Our positions are totally different!
And didn't you previously suspect that I was the one who attacked you?
Can you please keep doubting me?!
Hiruzen didn't immediately take the scroll Danzō placed in front of him. After taking a slow drag from his pipe, he finally spoke again.
"We'll discuss this later. Kei, you can go now."
"Yes." Without hesitation, Kei made his exit.
---
As soon as he stepped out of the office, he quickly formed a hand seal, connecting to Konoha's sensory barrier system through a backdoor.
Within moments, he pinpointed Shikaku, who was leisurely drinking with Inoichi and Chōza at a sake house.
Using a series of rapid Body Flicker Techniques, he arrived at their private booth in under two minutes.
Without a word, he grabbed Shikaku's arms.
"Bro! What the hell was that analysis of yours?! Danzō actually wants me to join Root for real!"
"Stop! Stop! If you keep shaking me, I'm gonna throw up—ugh!"
Shikaku, dizzy from being shaken back and forth, nearly coughed up all the sake he had just drunk.
Meanwhile, Chōza and Inoichi, their alcohol-numbed brains struggling to process what Kei had just said, simply glanced at Shikaku before giving up on trying to think it through.
No need to worry when the brain of the team is here.
"Hurry up! Analyze this for me! What the hell is going on? What's happened while I was out of the village? Just now, in the Hokage's office…"
Kei finally let go of the shaken-to-his-core Shikaku and recounted everything that had just happened in detail.
As for keeping it a secret?
Screw that!
These guys are way more reliable than those elders in the Hokage's office!
"Kei… honestly, I don't think joining Root would be that bad?"
Shikaku scratched his head.
As the newly appointed Jonin Commander, he had access to plenty of classified information about Root. He had even completed the investigation Kei had previously asked him to look into.
Yes, Root was ruthless, cold-blooded, and inhumanly cruel.
But could any ninja village exist without a dark side?
Although he hadn't quite figured out what Danzō was plotting, the idea of Kei joining Root—receiving the same treatment and status as Orochimaru, without being controlled by the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal—wasn't entirely a bad deal.
Once the Third Hokage retired and Orochimaru became the Fourth, wouldn't that make Kei the next leader of Root? And even if he didn't feel comfortable staying, without the cursed seal binding him, he could just talk to the Hokage and leave.
What could Danzō do? Force him to stay?
"Why the hell are you talking like that makes sense?"
Kei blinked, genuinely wondering if his so-called friend had already sold him out behind his back. Otherwise, how could he even consider supporting Danzō's idea?
"Root does the dirty work, sure. But if you joined, it's not like you'd be the one actually doing the dirty work."
"This isn't about the work! It's about Danzō's [Balanced Offense and Defense]! If you were in my shoes, you'd be freaking out even more than I am!"
"Balanced Offense and Defense?"
Shikaku narrowed his eyes.
That phrase… For some reason, when it came from Kei's mouth, it didn't feel entirely unfamiliar.