Shimura Danzō?
The guy was wrapped like a mummy, with only his eyes and mouth exposed.
He wore hospital robes but had a samurai helmet on, practically radiating resentment so thick it felt physical...
It must really be Shimura Danzō!
Kei Yamanaka wore an expression of shock—he almost couldn't believe what he saw.
Honestly, he never expected that within just a single day, this Black Skill would reduce Danzō to such a condition.
But when he noticed the Anbu ninja who had been monitoring him all the way here now standing behind Danzō, he felt like this Black Skill still needed improvement.
What the hell?! Why didn't that crossbeam in the Jonin Dispatch Office just drop down and crush this old geezer already!
So that mutt earlier was actually one of Root's guys, huh!
And as for you, old man Danzō—Root's Root, sure, but why dress your subordinates exactly like Anbu?
Always shouting, "This is the Hokage's order!"
You've gotta know that without Hiruzen Sarutobi, nobody even cares about your sorry hide anymore, huh?
"Kei, Elder Danzō just brought us some intel. Sunagakure and Kirigakure have recently seen increasing conflict along their southern borders in Tea Country, with rising casualties and signs pointing toward escalation. To gather accurate intel, I'd like you to take this mission."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat with a pipe in his mouth, tossing a scroll in Kei Yamanaka's direction.
"A solo mission?"
Kei shot a sideways glance at the seated Shimura Danzō before lowering his gaze to examine the intelligence report.
Sarutobi's explanation was clear enough.
This intelligence report was brought by Shimura Danzō, and it was also Danzō who proposed sending Kei to handle it.
Hiruzen, as Hokage, judged both its authenticity and importance, and determined that someone from the Yamanaka clan—who previously served in the Analysis Team—was indeed the best candidate for the job. Hence, he had summoned him.
Still…
Pakura?
Scorch Release user Pakura?
As Kei read the name on the intelligence scroll, his eye twitched slightly.
Scorch Release Pakura was one of the standout young warriors who had risen in prominence over the past two years in Sunagakure.
Her Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai had left many Kiri ninja powerless, earning her a fearsome reputation.
Now, if this were a solo mission…
Then Kei would begin to suspect that the Third and Danzō were plotting against him.
After all, ever since joining the Analysis Team, he'd deliberately toned down his abilities.
His publicly displayed strength barely exceeded that of civilian background Jonin.
Taking on Pakura head-on would be suicidal.
"She has quite a reputation. Going alone could be dangerous, so I've assigned you a partner."
Before Hiruzen had even finished speaking, someone knocked again at the office door.
Upon receiving permission, Minato Namikaze walked in.
Seeing Kei Yamanaka already present, Minato, usually so serious, couldn't suppress a faint smile.
"Minato, huh? Now *that's* a reassuring teammate."
Kei smiled back in return.
His earlier suspicions and mistrust of Hiruzen Sarutobi had largely faded away.
Minato Namikaze's strength was unquestionable.
Having mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique of The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, he was among the most mobile ninjas in the world.
Even a single Pakura wouldn't pose a threat, much less an entire Sunagakure force.
The two of them could retreat without difficulty.
"Kei Yamanaka, it seems we'll be fighting side by side once more," Minato said, nostalgia evident in his expression as memories of their past missions surfaced.
They had grown up together since childhood, entered the Ninja Academy together, and graduated to become ninjas together.
Though not placed on the same squad after graduation, they'd carried out countless missions together before Kei Yamanaka joined the Analysis Team, forging a deep mutual understanding.
"You two can catch up on your way out. Minato, Kei Yamanaka will brief you on the mission details. We're short on time, so get ready and depart immediately."
Hiruzen Sarutobi urged them.
After the two left the Hokage's office with their orders, he turned to Danzo Shimura, who had remained silent sitting on the couch.
"As I told you earlier, Kei Yamanaka is someone I've watched grow up. He always exercises great discretion. He would never dare attack you behind your back."
"Even if it wasn't him, his connection with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is far too close. The power of the Nine-Tails shouldn't be influenced or controlled by any ninja clan."
Danzo Shimura lightly pressed the chakra-sensing cursed seal on his palm—a forbidden technique created by The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
Its sensitivity surpassed even the most advanced modern medical instruments.
Earlier, the cursed seal had shown no reaction at all toward Kei Yamanaka.
This proved there was no trace of Kei Yamanaka's chakra left on him.
While this directly eliminated one suspect and narrowed his focus, a part of him secretly hoped Kei Yamanaka was behind the attack.
Considering Kei Yamanaka's relationship with the heads of the Ino–Shika–Cho clans and his ambiguous attitude toward the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki,
he represented immense value that Root could exploit!
Hiruzen couldn't read Danzo's thoughts and simply believed he truly cared about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki matter.
After a moment of thought, weighing the pros and cons,
and also evaluating the potential impact of Kushina marrying into the Yamanaka clan,
he spoke again, trying to console his old friend.
"Danzo, feelings are something that cannot be forced. Just like back then between you and Koharu... Err, what I mean is, Kushina will eventually marry and have children. Konoha will need a new jinchuriki in the decades ahead."
"A female jinchuriki giving birth significantly weakens the seal, posing a major risk to the village. Although Uzu no Kuni has fallen, many Uzumaki descendants still remain across the ninja world."
"Kushina is a Konoha ninja, not a Root ninja. Moreover, regarding the issue of jinchuriki, Lady Mito made her stance clear long ago. You know full well the consequences that arise when a jinchuriki suffers from psychological distress."
"Hmph!"
"That... you..." *hissed*.
Danzo Shimura gave a cold, sharp snort, his temper flaring as he prepared to snap back angrily, when searing pain lanced through his skull.
"Let's discuss this calmly," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, watching Danzo puffing like an angry bull. His rising blood pressure suddenly dropped.
Privately, he was relieved it hadn't been him caught in the trap.
Never mind surviving six blows to the head every day.
Even a brief argument gave him unbearable headaches—who could endure that?
"Call in the next person!"
Danzo pressed one hand against the helmet on his head, repeatedly taking deep breaths to soothe the agony in his skull.
At this moment, his hatred toward whoever had ambushed him reached its peak.
He didn't even have time to think about the Jinchuriki anymore—his only thought was to quickly uncover who had done this to him!
Just as his words died away, a faint creak from a floorboard echoed from somewhere unseen.
After experiencing so many incidents in succession, Danzo had already become jumpy as a cat.
The instant the sound rang out, he bolted up from the sofa and dashed through the open window using the Shifting Body Technique.
"Gaaah!"
"Ah!"
A scream laced with anguish and rage came from beyond the window.
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