How to Deceive Sixty-Four Year Old Danzo

The dark candlelight illuminated the corridor of the Root Base.

The base appeared somewhat deserted due to the lack of personnel stationed there.

A figure wearing a straw hat walked along the corridor, casting long, narrow shadows under the candlelight, making the base seem even more eerie.

His body—

It is changing rapidly.

Even his shadow grew longer and longer.

Splash!

The door was quietly opened.

Shimura Danzo in his seat, calmly pouring a cup of tea. When he looked up and saw the person wearing a straw hat, he was not surprised at all.

"Did Orochimaru send you?"

While meeting strangers alone might be dangerous, Shimura Danzo wasn't worried about his safety because he knew that few people in the Shinobi World could threaten him, especially since he was in Konoha.

"Yes."

The person who came calmly stood still and answered.

"Is there something you need my help with?"

Shimura Danzo knew Orochimaru very well, and a look of disdain appeared on his face. "After leaving Konoha, he's been living a very comfortable life. If that guy hadn't run into trouble, he probably wouldn't have come looking for me—"

"Yes."

The newcomer's voice remained calm.

Where is Orochimaru right now?

Shimura Danzo slowly sipped his tea, still not glancing at the newcomer. "My men have been searching for him for a long time, but haven't found any trace of him—"

"Now?"

He joined a rather troublesome organization.

The visitor frowned and said softly, "Although we have established a new base in the Rice Country, we still haven't been able to get rid of the threat from that organization."

Which organization?

Shimura Danzo didn't take it seriously, even remarking, "Hmph, now that he's left Konoha's protection, even some organizations in the Shinobi World can threaten him?"

That self-proclaimed clever idiot...

Can't they even handle some minor issues in the Shinobi World?

"This organization—"

The newcomer slowly reached out and touched his bamboo hat. "You should be very familiar with them, perhaps you've even had contact with them before."

"Me and them—hmm?"

As Shimura Danzo pondered, he suddenly felt something was amiss. He instantly raised his head and stared intently at the person wearing the straw hat, because the voice sounded increasingly familiar to him!

Moreover, his tone of voice was rather arrogant. At least people who are not familiar with him would never dare to speak to him in that tone!

He slightly lifted his straw hat, revealing a pair of narrow, snake-like eyes.

Beneath those eyes was a chiseled white face, and a wicked, sinister smile curled at the corners of its mouth.

It was Shimura Danzo, a former ally of Shimura Orochimaru.

Orochimaru stretched out his long, slender fingers and placed them on his straw hat, seemingly unconcerned about revealing his true face here.

"It's you!"

Shimura Danzo's expression changed slightly.

Even Shimura Danzo hadn't expected Orochimaru to come to see him in person!

Their own guard ninjas clearly reported that the messenger was Orochimaru's, so they must have checked the messenger's identity.

Didn't they notice Orochimaru's disguise?!

This is a bit awkward because he had just said bad things about Orochimaru.

Fortunately, Shimura Danzo didn't care about such a small matter. He also knew that Orochimaru wouldn't hold it against him, so he subconsciously started drinking his tea again.

"It's been a long time, Danzo."

Orochimaru gazed at the old man with bandages wrapped around his head, a hint of nostalgia on his face, as if he had truly seen a long-lost friend.

Real-

Long time no see.

Time, like a hurricane cutting through the earth, has turned Shimura Danzo such an old man. The vigor and spirit of his youth are long gone, and the youthful arrogance of the past has been completely replaced by the dignified pride of an old man.

"Snort·-"

"You've got some nerve—"

Shimura Danzo was unaware of Orochimaru's thoughts. He was merely somewhat displeased with Orochimaru's risky actions and, taking the opportunity to defuse his own embarrassment, sternly rebuked him. "If Hiruzen finds out you've infiltrated the village—"

Orochimaru's safety is not important.

The real concern is that if the two of them meet here in secret and are discovered by Sarutobi Hiruzen, he will also be in trouble!

"He probably doesn't have time to pay attention to these things right now, does he?"

Orochimaru tilted his head slightly, seemingly missing his teacher. "After all, I just prepared a big gift for him not long ago, and besides, after today, he probably won't have time to pay attention to these trivial matters..."

"What did you do?"

Shimura Danzo narrowed his eyes.

Before asking that question...

Orochimaru spread his arms, his voice laced with a hint of accusation. "Shouldn't I ask you what you've done?"

Shimura Danzo instantly.

Of all the things I've done, which one is Orochimaru asking about?

Did I do something that harmed Orochimaru's interests?

"Akatsuki".

Orochimaru seemed to notice that Shimura Danzo was deep in thought and took the initiative to remind him, "You should remember the name of this organization—"

"Dawn-"

Shimura Danzo frowned as he quickly recalled the crisis he had faced, the one in which he nearly perished in the Rain Country!

The red-haired boy with the Rinnegan summoned a strange object with a mere wave of his hand. This object unleashed a terrifying Chakra, instantly claiming the lives of dozens, forcing the Root leader to flee in panic.

But that organization probably no longer exists!

Because I have never been able to find the whereabouts of the Akatsuki again!

Shimura Danzo's expression suddenly turned serious, and he said in a low voice, "The leader of this organization was a kid named Yahiko, who was killed by me and Hanzo. I haven't been able to find out where that organization is now—"

"Unless.""

"That redhead—"

Shimura Danzo thought of the young Nagato from years past, and his voice became hoarse. "That red-haired kid with the Rinnegan, did he rebuild the Akatsuki?"

"Good."

Orochimaru slowly nodded, his snake-like eyes gradually sharpening. "The Rinnegan possesses power surpassing even that of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!"

"Snort-"

"Innocent"

Shimura Danzo couldn't help but mock Orochimaru. He had seen users of the Rinnegan, but he didn't believe that the other party could surpass the First Hokage: "You haven't truly witnessed the First Hokage's power. Perhaps you have a misunderstanding about the First Hokage's strength. Even if it was the Sage of Sage of Six Paths' eye, it couldn't match the First Hokage's Wood Release."

"Perhaps-."

"That's not necessarily true—."

Orochimaru, without changing his expression, stated his source of information. "According to information I recently resurrected from a certain medical ninja, the true power of the Rinnegan, when unleashed, far surpasses that of Wood Release and the Sharingan."

"Intelligence."

"Medical Ninja—."

Shimura Danzo abruptly stood up, his composure gone, his hands gripping the table tightly. "You used the Impure World Reincarnation to revive Shirou Emiya!"

There's absolutely no need to speculate!

Shimura Danzo immediately guessed what Orochimaru had done: that guy must have resurrected Shirou Emiya to obtain such secret information!

This guy!

They secretly resurrected Shirou Emiya!

They only came to Konoha to tell me this news at this very moment!

That bastard!

They also want to make use of that Ancient Era medical ninja!

That's true.

Shimura Danzo knew Orochimaru's ideals, and for Orochimaru, who loved immortality, Shirou Emiya's medical knowledge would surely appeal to him!

"No one can remain unmoved by that Crystal Coffin."

Orochimaru watched as Shimura Danzo, his expression remaining calm. "Even without me..."

There will be successors.

"Hand over Shirou Emiya to me!"

Shimura Danzo's expression immediately turned serious, and he said sternly, "Orochimaru, Shirou Emiya is not someone you can manipulate; he belongs to the power of Konoha!"

Shirou Emiya's strategic significance is immense!

Even without mentioning the special abilities possessed by those ninjas in Ancient Era, and even without mentioning Shirou Emiya's ability to suppress the Nine-Tails, simply having Shirou Emiya grant the Curse Mark to the ninjas of Miyō would be enough to boost the combat power of the Miyō ninjas. This is something he wanted to do more than forty years ago!

"Only by handing over Shirou Emiya to me."

Shimura Danzo gripped his cane Ninja Blade with one hand, while unconsciously stroking his bandaged eye with the other, adding, "Only then can we maximize our gains! Such a powerful figure would never willingly submit to your will. I've also researched the Impure World Reincarnation; the caster may not be able to completely control the other's will!"

Will he obey your will?

Orochimaru glanced at the hand covering Shimura Danzo's eye socket, seemingly seeing through the secret beneath the bandage. "You think you can do this with the Kotoamatsukami Mangekyo Sharingan you stole from Shisui Uchiha?"

"How did you know!"

Shimura Danzo eye instantly narrowed, and he gripped his Ninja Blade tightly, instinctively wanting to draw it!

This is his biggest secret!

It's also a secret he's been hiding!

Even the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, didn't know!

Snap!

Shimura Danzo's large hand was suddenly pressed down!

Even the blade of that Ninja Blade was sealed off the moment it was revealed!

"Because-""

Orochimaru pressed down on Shimura Danzo 'Shimura Danzo: "I happen to know the whereabouts of the other eye, and I also know the secret of the Kotoamatsukami Mangekyo Sharingan's Dōjutsu. This strongest Genjutsu, called Kotoamatsukami, can completely alter a person's will, but it requires a cooldown period of more than ten years to use."

"If it weren't for this Dōjutsu—."

Orochimaru, looking at Shimura Danzo's increasingly grim expression, slowly continued, "I won't come to Konoha to see you in person either."

Shimura Danzo stared silently at Orochimaru.

No wonder...

This guy came to Konoha because he wanted the power of Kotoamatsukami.

No wonder this guy dared to come see me even though he knew the power of Kotoamatsukami.

Everyone here is a cunning person; there's no need to test each other's little schemes.

Shimura Danzo knew that Orochimaru was definitely not afraid of his Kotoamatsukami, because the long cooldown period of more than ten years meant that he only had one chance to use Kotoamatsukami in his life, and he had to use it at the most critical moment, not on someone like Orochimaru.

Same.

Shimura Danzo also knew that Orochimaru's desire to use Kotoamatsukami was not for himself, but definitely for someone more suitable to be controlled by him.

"You want to use my Kotoamatsukami Mangekyo Sharingan?"

Shimura Danzo slowly loosened his grip, suddenly regaining his composure. He shook his head and said, "I cannot give this eye to you, nor will I rashly use Kotoamatsukami, which can only be used once every ten years or so, for your sake."

"After it's done."

"I will return one of your Rinnegan to you."

Orochimaru very sincerely offered his price, even providing information. "Because even if your body were to have the First Hokage's cells transplanted into it, it could only support the power of one Rinnegan at most—"

"For you—"

"Even the power of a single Rinnegan is far more precious than the Dōjutsu Kotoamatsukami, which can only be used once every ten years or so. This deal is not unfair to you."

"According to some information I've obtained, the Rinnegan is a Bloodline Limit Bloodline Kekkai Mora. It allows you to master six Chakra Nature Transformation and Yin Yang Release, not to mention some of its powerful Dōjutsu and a formidable summoning object—"

Shimura Danzo did not believe Orochimaru's promise at all.

Although Shimura Danzo couldn't help but be tempted, he had personally witnessed the ugly golem that wiped out a large number of elite ninjas in an instant, and he had also personally witnessed a powerful man like Salamander Hanzo fleeing in panic in front of the golem. "I don't want to waste my time and make a wasted trip."

Orochimaru released his grip, a hint of impatience flickering across his cold face. "If you don't agree, the Hokage Building Konoha will know that you've obtained Shisui Uchiha's Kotoamatsukami Sharingan. My teacher might not want to see you possess the power to alter his will at will."

"You dare threaten me!"

Shimura Danzo's face immediately darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "That bastard Hiruzen isn't worthy, and I won't alter his will!"

That bastard!

They actually used something like this to threaten him!

Shimura Danzo wished he could kill Orochimaru on the spot!

Orochimaru glanced at Shimura Danzo and continued without any hesitation, "A person who holds Ninja Blade will always be suspected of committing crimes."

Shimura Danzo knew that Orochimaru was right.

Once Sarutobi Hiruzen's possession of the Kotoamatsukami Sharingan is exposed, his vigilance will undoubtedly be at its highest, and he will absolutely not tolerate him, just as...

Just like how she couldn't tolerate Shisui Uchiha back then.

"Alright."

"This is not a threat."

"I will always need you as an ally."

Orochimaru, seeing Shimura Danzo's face turn exceptionally grim and ugly, further increased Shimura Danzo's leverage. "Because in order to deceive Shirou Emiya, when I resurrected him using the Impure World Reincarnation, I claimed that I was Konoha ninja who feigned defection to Akatsuki under your orders. Therefore, I need your continued endorsement to help me permanently deceive Shirou Emiya into working for me."

Shimura Danzo.

Because he truly knew that Orochimaru, a rogue missing-nin, was unlikely to be accepted by Shirou Emiya. Once this evil guy revealed his true colors, he would definitely be despised by Shirou Emiya. Only he could help Orochimaru prove himself.

In fact, this could indeed be described as a fake act turning into a real one.

Furthermore, if Orochimaru continues to deceive Shirou Emiya under the guise of being Konoha ninja, it means that he himself can continue to deceive and exploit Shirou Emiya in the future.

"Pity-""

Shimura Danzo sighed and couldn't help but speak his mind, "The opportunity to use Kotoamatsukami is too precious. I want to use this Dōjutsu to control Shirou Emiya."

"How to deal with him—"

Orochimaru opened his palm, speaking the truth while simultaneously lying, "Kotoamatsukami's Dōjutsu won't work because his spiritual energy far surpasses ours."

"How do you know—you've used it?"

Shimura Danzo immediately remembered the whereabouts of the other eye. His brows furrowed suddenly, and he felt that the other party was wasting precious resources. "You've already obtained another Kotoamatsukami Mangekyo Sharingan, and you even used Kotoamatsukami on Shirou Emiya?"

"It failed."

"But I didn't do it."

"Itachi Uchiha knew about the relationship between you and me. He thought I was using Shirou Emiya, so he used Kotoamatsukami in an attempt to rewrite Shirou Emiya's will, but he failed. Fortunately, that great man forgave Itachi Uchiha and therefore trusted us more."

Orochimaru, revealing his true identity, told these lies without any difficulty, "Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to seek the Kotoamatsukami from you to deal with the user of the Rinnegan."

"!!!"

Shimura Danzo involuntarily!

Itachi Uchiha, that bastard!

As expected, he obtained another Kotoamatsukami Sharingan!

Moreover, this bastard actually did this first!

Shimura Danzo was both shocked and angry, but also felt a sense of relief.

Fortunately, Uchiha used the Kotoamatsukami Sharingan, which meant that the eye was in a long cooldown period, thus eliminating a hidden threat and giving him a lesson in advance.

This is really something!

Shimura Danzo immediately realized what was happening, and a glint flashed in his eyes as he thought of something.

If Kotoamatsukami cannot control Emiya Tsuchihara, then he and Orochimaru will still have to resort to deception to manipulate him. Therefore, he, as the one who helps Orochimaru uphold his credibility, should be of considerable importance. "So—"

Orochimaru seemed to see through Shimura Danzo's thoughts, and a smile crept onto his lips, "Our alliance is now very important, more important than ever before. I've come here because I need some funding for my experiments."

Shimura Danzo felt both satisfied and somewhat annoyed.

That bastard!

They really used every trick in the book – threats and bribes!

It seems they absolutely must obtain their own Kotoamatsukami Sharingan!

However, their fates seemed truly intertwined. He couldn't live without Orochimaru, and Orochimaru couldn't live without him. Money was easy to ask for, but his Kotoamatsukami Sharingan filled him with insecurity. "Rinnegan— "

Despite his unease, Shimura Danzo had no choice but to accept Orochimaru's coercion and enticement, and could only hope that he would eventually obtain the Rinnegan: "Are you confident enough?"

"That's enough."

Orochimaru nodded slowly and casually said, "I just happen to be a member of Akatsuki. All I need to do is find an opportunity in secret."

"I can promise to hand over Kotoamatsukami to you."

Shimura Danzo reached onto his desk and took out several glass cups Sharingan, saying softly, "However, before I obtain that Rinnegan, I still need one Sharingan— "

As long as one possesses the Sharingan, one will still have the power to use Izanagi.

Shimura Danzo great faith in the forbidden technique Izanagi because it was a forbidden technique that could reverse life and death.

He believed that this forbidden technique was just as important as the Kotoamatsukami.

"One—"

"Perhaps that's not enough?"

A dangerous glint flashed in Orochimaru's snake-like eyes as he reached out and pressed down on a glass bottle above it. "I've just mastered some new biotechnology, as well as the Curse Mark energy that Shirou Emiya possessed."

That's enough to make you willingly exchange that eye of Kotoamatsukami with me—"