Chapter 103: Evolve! Danzō Shimura!

Inside the Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado were all present.

They all wore grim expressions as they looked at the weakened Gokuraku Castle En before them.

Initially, Hiruzen had felt somewhat dissatisfied about Kei Yamanaka's delay of over twenty days before returning to the village.

But when he heard the intelligence regarding Kirigakure's alliance with Iwagakure,

he had completely forgotten that earlier grievance.

Danzō, who had been urgently summoned over, kept sending appreciative glances toward Kei.

All because Kei had boldly suspected something was off about Kiri's attempt on the Two-Tails Jinchuriki—then carefully verified it.

Eventually obtaining such critical intel and directly bringing back the source.

This young man was even more impressive than he'd imagined.

"Not again... why are these old geezers staring at me like that?"

Kei felt uncomfortable under Danzō's gaze.

It had been over a month since their last meeting.

Now, Danzō no longer had bandages wrapped around his head, nor did he show any trace of the battered state he'd been in at Konoha Hospital.

Although years spent in Root still gave him a gloomy aura,

now that his entire face was visible...

He actually looked somewhat pleasant?

"Ugh... Is one Hiruzen not enough for this guy anymore?"

Kei mentally grumbled.

Instinctively, he glanced upward at the ability traits above the other man's head.

...

[Name: Danzō Shimura] 

[Occupation: Ninja] 

[Traits: Chimera Technique Rank 2 (Purple), Wind Release Mastery (Blue), Brainwashing Expertise (Blue), Genjutsu Proficiency (Green), Water Release Proficiency (Green), Sealing Proficiency (Green), Unscrupulous Methods (White), Ruthless Nature (White), Balanced Offense & Defense (White), Wild Imagination (Black)]

...

[Chimera Technique Rank 2 (Purple)]: Through the Forbidden Jutsu Chimera Technique, assisted by top-level scientists in the ninja world, fused the Three-Comma Sharingan and Hozuki Clan bloodline. This created a pseudo-dual Kekkei Genkai, significantly enhancing Yin Release affinity, genjutsu talent, mental fortitude, perception, resistance to genjutsu, Water Release affinity, and Water Release talent; greatly reducing the difficulty of mastering Hozuki Clan secret arts. (Note: Maintaining this state accelerates life-force consumption.)

???

What the hell?!

[Evolved?]

Kei mentally scoffed as he stared at the purple-tier trait above Danzō's head.

It's only been a little over a month!

Did this old bastard actually get Orochimaru to pull off something like this?

Besides, in the original canon, wasn't the Chimera Technique supposed to require very specific timing and terrain conditions to use?

Did Danzō just happen to find the right moment?

Or is it possible that fusing two Kekkei Genkai doesn't require the same complexity as merging five bloodlines like Shimon Hiruko?

Alternatively, could it be that Orochimaru—the research-obsessed scientist—solved those issues?

"It seems like it's costing life-force…"

Kei read the footnote at the end of the trait description.

He was certain Danzō must've made adequate preparations already.

Otherwise, given how much this old man valued his own life, there's no way he would sit here calmly discussing things with Hiruzen.

That old man nowadays not only gained a Purple-Rank Skill [Chimera Technique Rank 2], but also obtained two Green-Rank Skills—[Genjutsu Proficiency] and [Water Release Proficiency].

Back when his physical strength declined with age and his power weakened significantly, he was still incredibly arrogant.

Now his strength suddenly skyrocketed this much?

Wouldn't he start flying to the heavens next?

Wait a second...

"Bro, You Smell So Good went where?"

Kei Yamanaka's eyes locked onto the White-Rank Skill [Balanced Offense & Defense].

Just reading the detailed description of this skill listing gave him goosebumps on his arm.

It finally clicked.

The White-Rank Skill [Bro, You Smell So Good] had undergone some sort of transformation—it became [Balanced Offense & Defense]!

This old guy...

Who exactly did he mess with to cause this?!

His gaze subtly swept over Hiruzen Sarutobi and Homura Mitokado.

Seeing neither of their skill listings had changed much, Kei's mind immediately jumped to that exudingly seductive Snake Auntie.

Surely... it couldn't be her.

At this stage, Orochimaru's bottom line shouldn't be that flexible yet, right?

Who on earth could be the victim here?!

Kei was burning with curiosity inside.

If the situation were different, he'd seriously consider hitting Danzo with a Genjutsu just to find out who he messed with.

"Kei, you go back and rest for now."

Hiruzen exhaled thick plumes of smoke before finally issuing orders to Kei Yamanaka.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. I'll take my leave then."

Kei nodded, preparing to exit the Hokage Office and return home to snuggle up with Red Pepper.

Beside them, however, Danzo Shimura suddenly spoke up.

"Wait."

Danzo pulled a scroll from inside his robes and placed it in front of Hiruzen.

He locked eyes with his longtime comrade,

and seriously continued speaking.

"This is what you want. My Root truly needs a ninja like Kei Yamanaka."

???!!!

Kei was momentarily stunned, nearly unable to resist shuddering on the spot.

Goddammit!

Before leaving the village, Shikaku Nara said you two were just engaging in your usual mutual probing!

Don't kid around, Dan! You're not serious about this, are you?!

Come on!

Think clearly—you must remember, I'm a firm supporter of the Hokage faction and a loyal member of the Yamanaka Clan!

Plus, I'm even the fiancé of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and have stood by Kushina multiple times!

We don't stand on the same side, alright?!

And furthermore, weren't you suspecting me of doing something to you previously?

Please, keep suspecting me, will you?!

Hiruzen didn't pick up the scroll Danzo had placed before him. He silently took another puff from his pipe before speaking again.

"We'll discuss this later. Kei, you head back first."

"Yes."

Kei immediately vanished.

Once outside the office door, he quickly formed a seal with one hand, accessing through Konoha's Sensing Barrier's hidden backdoor.

He quickly found Shikaku Nara, who was leisurely having drinks with Hayato Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi at Sammiya Tavern.

After consecutive uses of the Shifting Body Technique,

in less than two minutes, he arrived at the private room inside Sammiya, grabbed Shikaku Nara by the collar and shook him furiously.

"Talk! Did you sell me out?! I refuse to believe you didn't suspect Dan might actually want me in Root!"

"Something's not right. Danzo wants me to join Root—is this your idea?"

"Stop! Stop! I'm gonna puke if you keep shaking me like this! Ugh~"

Nara Shikaku, grabbed and shaken back and forth, nearly spewed the alcohol from his stomach.

Nearby, Choza Akimichi and Hayato Yamanaka heard what Kei Yamanaka had said. They exchanged uneasy glances before both quickly raised their cups and took small sips of sake.

Unable to explain themselves, they glanced at Nara Shikaku and immediately gave up trying to think of an excuse.

We've got an external brain on the job—no need to panic!

"Damn it! Your expressions say it all—you're all in on this? Are you even human anymore?"

Seeing the reactions on their three faces, Kei instantly knew his guess was correct.

He was practically itching to give them a taste of some paternal discipline.

Squeezing his fists tightly, he glared viciously at the trio and finally let go of Nara Shikaku's collar.

"You'd better have a damn good explanation."

"...Cough...Kei, truthfully, I actually think joining Root might not be that bad."

Nara Shikaku chose his words carefully before speaking.

As the newly-appointed Jonin squad leader, he had access to a wealth of classified intel regarding Root. Even the matter Kei had previously assigned him to investigate had already been clarified.

Brutal, emotionless, cruel—even inhuman.

But what hidden village doesn't have its own dark side?

But joining Root, receiving treatment and status comparable to Orochimaru's, without being bound by the Tongue-Cutting Seal?

Once the Third retires and Orochimaru becomes the Fourth Hokage, wouldn't that just make you the obvious choice for the next Root leader?

And even if you eventually decided it wasn't for you and wanted to quit,

without the Tongue-Cutting Seal controlling you, all you'd need was a word with the Third.

Do you really think Danzō would dare say no?

"You want me to become the next Shadow of the Ninja World?"

Kei Yamanaka's face twisted into a grimace.

It wasn't something he'd ever seriously considered… but now that he thought about it, maybe it wasn't such a bad idea after all?

"Granted, Root does a lot of dirty work, but if you joined, you wouldn't have to get your hands dirty yourself."

"...Then again, if I became a department head, wouldn't I just end up being the scapegoat anyway? And with Danzō currently balancing offense and defense like that—who in their right mind would want to get anywhere near him?"

"Balancing offense and defense like that?"

That phrase sounded strangely familiar coming from his best friend.

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