Why Haven't You Submitted Your Registration Form Yet?

Deep within the Root Organization's base.

Shimura Danzō was still busy in his office.

When Shimura Danzō saw Akihara Kagura and Kabuto Yakushi enter, his first instinct was to reprimand him. "Kou, I heard you keep driving away the people assigned to train with you."

"They waste too much time."

Akihara Kagura shook his head, his face immediately showing displeasure. "Those people are far too weak. Training with them for half a month would not be as useful as half an hour of Lord Danzō's instruction."

"Hmph..."

Shimura Danzō nodded somewhat smugly and continued, "Tomorrow, you will participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams. Do not disappoint me."

"They're starting so soon?"

Akihara Kagura pulled a sheet of paper from his clothes and asked in surprise, "I still haven't submitted this Chunin Ninja Exams registration form. Should I turn it in before the exam tomorrow?"

"Huh?"

Shimura Danzō's expression turned rather strange. He felt as though this youngster was about to make him tremble with anger. "Why haven't you handled something as trivial as submitting a registration form? It was supposed to be submitted a week before the exam! Why didn't you turn it in?"

Akihara Kagura fell silent for a moment before answering in a low voice, "Because Lord Danzō never permitted me to leave the Root base or the training grounds. I also didn't know who I was supposed to give it to..."

"..."

Shimura Danzō's anger instantly vanished.

The old man helplessly reached out and took the registration form from Akihara Kagura's hand. "Give it to me. I'll deliver it to the Chunin Ninja Exams examiners for you."

When faced with something like this...

Shimura Danzō could only pull a few strings for him.

"Oh, right..."

Akihara Kagura quickly raised another question. "I'm still unfamiliar with the village's roads. Does Lord Danzō have time to take me to the exam venue tomorrow?"

"..."

Shimura Danzō truly did not want to appear in a crowded place.

The old man, who only wished to remain hidden in the darkness, spotted Kabuto Yakushi standing nearby, and his expression immediately turned cold. "Kabuto, I have a new mission for you. Tomorrow, take Kou to the Chunin Ninja Exams venue."

"Yes."

Kabuto Yakushi lowered his head and accepted the order.

"Kabuto, why do you seem a little unwilling?"

The youngster could not help chuckling, a sinister curve rising at the corner of his lips. "I take very good care of you, you know. Don't want to accompany me? Or don't want to live?"

"Kou!"

Shimura Danzō sternly stopped Akihara Kagura's killing intent and rebuked him, "Kabuto is still useful to Root. Without my orders, you are not permitted to kill people casually."

"I understand."

Akihara Kagura agreed with a smile.

Only then did Shimura Danzō feel at ease, turning to look at Kabuto Yakushi.

The old man continued issuing orders with a cold expression. "After delivering Kou to the Chunin Ninja Exams venue tomorrow, head to the Land of Earth. Find an opportunity to infiltrate Iwagakure and await further orders!"

"Yes."

Kabuto Yakushi could only accept the command.

"Fine, get out and wait!"

Shimura Danzō waved his hand, signaling for Kabuto Yakushi to leave. Once only he and Akihara Kagura remained in the office, the old man's gaze began to wander.

"Kou."

When Shimura Danzō brought this up, his expression was vaguely gloomy. "How has your study of the Wood Dragon Technique I taught you been going? If you cannot learn it, there is no need to force yourself to master the First Hokage's ninjutsu..."

Shimura Danzō was actually a little angry.

Because the old man believed there was no way his abstract teaching method could enable Akihara Kagura to learn First Hokage Hashirama Senju's Wood Style Ninjutsu, he had made a request to Hiruzen Sarutobi, hoping to once again read the Scroll of Seals written by the previous Hokage.

However...

Hiruzen Sarutobi had rejected Shimura Danzō's request.

Shimura Danzō had reason to suspect that Hiruzen Sarutobi feared Akihara Kagura would grow even stronger, and that Root's power would threaten his position as Hokage.

That made things rather troublesome for Shimura Danzō.

If he wanted to become Hokage, he had to make Akihara Kagura stronger; if he wanted to make Akihara Kagura stronger, he had to obtain the Scroll of Seals; if he wanted to obtain the Scroll of Seals, he had to become Hokage.

This... was a dead loop!

Shimura Danzō could only temporarily give up on the Scroll of Seals and place his hopes on Akihara Kagura's talent, hoping he could develop powerful Wood Style Ninjutsu on his own through his Wood Style Kekkei Genkai!

"You can try developing your own Wood Style Ninjutsu..."

As Shimura Danzō spoke, he sounded like a patient instructor guiding his student. "I have seen your talent for learning ninjutsu. The Wood Style Ninjutsu you develop yourself may not necessarily be inferior to the First Hokage's techniques."

"Yes, Lord Danzō."

Akihara Kagura nodded. After hesitating for a moment, he explained, "However, I may have already mastered a Wood Dragon Technique. I'm just not entirely sure whether it's the one Lord Danzō taught me. Still, the technique's power is astonishing enough..."

"Oh?"

Shimura Danzō raised his brow.

Why didn't he tell me about this?

Before Shimura Danzō could ask, Akihara Kagura seemed to understand his superior's doubts and quickly added, "I mastered the Wood Dragon Technique a few days ago. I've always wanted to tell Lord Danzō!"

As he said this, Akihara Kagura looked rather unhappy. "But the people training with me refused to let me come see Lord Danzō!"

"..."

Shimura Danzō silently found himself unable to say anything.

Because those Root ninjas had been right. To avoid embarrassment, Shimura Danzō truly had not wanted to see him. Who could have expected this brat to have actually made progress in his training?

Shimura Danzō avoided the subject and took the initiative to praise him. "Forget it. There's no need to argue with them. It's enough that you mastered the ninjutsu I taught you..."

"Yes."

Akihara Kagura nodded quickly, doing his utmost to show his respect and admiration for Shimura Danzō. "As long as Lord Danzō points me in a direction, I will work hard to move toward it. No matter what kind of ninjutsu it is, I can master it..."

"Mm."

Shimura Danzō's expression immediately improved considerably.

However, after giving it some thought, the old man still decided to avoid teaching Wood Style Ninjutsu for now. "Later, when I have time to look through the Scroll of Seals left behind by the First Hokage, I will teach you new ninjutsu."

This was Shimura Danzō doing his best to save face. Clearly, he could not obtain the Scroll of Seals, yet he still tried to preserve his dignity before his subordinate.

"Yes."

Akihara Kagura would not expose his superior.

At any time, one had to leave one's superior enough room to maneuver.

Although Lord Danzō had not obtained the Scroll of Seals yet, what if he acquired it in the future? There was no need to make the humiliation come too quickly or too harshly.

If it really came to that...

If Lord Danzō could not obtain the Scroll of Seals...

Then he would think of a way to help Lord Danzō get it!

"Go get some rest."

Shimura Danzō waved his hand, indicating that Akihara Kagura could leave. He gave one final instruction. "During the Chunin Ninja Exams, you absolutely must not lose to that brat called Uchiha Itachi!"

"Can't I kill him?"

Akihara Kagura's question sounded more like an answer for Shimura Danzō.

Shimura Danzō shook his head and let out a quiet sigh. "Do not always think about killing people. Especially since some people still have their uses. That little Uchiha Itachi is still useful to me."

First update