Joining

One day, Konoha might very well produce a second White Fang. Even if the possibility was extremely low, Danzō didn't want to miss any opportunity. His goal was to become Hokage, so he needed many talented individuals and the support of many influential people within Konoha.

He operated in the shadows as Root, unlike the verdant leaves exposed to the sun, which were dazzling. The currently renowned Sannin were all affiliated with Hiruzen's faction, and White Fang of the Hatake clan would never support him. In the short term, he had no chance of seizing the position of Hokage. His only opportunity to contend for the Hokage position would arise when Hiruzen died or abdicated.

That time would be by chance, not certainty. It might be ten years from now, or perhaps just one year. No one could predict it; they could only wait silently for the opportunity to arrive.

When that time came, he would pour all his effort into seizing the chance. To better grasp that opportunity, he needed to prepare now.

If he couldn't gain the support of those currently renowned, he would cultivate his own group of exceptionally famous individuals.

And so, he arrived.

At this moment, when the air had been completely squeezed out, bathed in the bright moonlight, he gave Ye Zi a choice.

Faced with such a choice, Ye Zi couldn't decide for a while. He was no longer as wretched as when he first arrived in this world. Now, he had the means to survive, so he didn't necessarily have to stay in Konoha. But reality was often this cruel and helpless; one was always forced to choose.

He remained silent for a long time, and Danzō was exceedingly patient. Even the killing intent in the air did not change in the slightest as time passed, remaining unhurried.

"Why should I trust you?" Ye Zi gripped the hilt of his sword and asked calmly.

Saying those words indicated his compromise. The reason was as clear as the choice Danzō had presented: death or joining Root. He had no other option, because he didn't want to die.

In any world, there were always the strong and the weak. The weak could only make choices; he was still weak. Therefore, under the moonlight, he had to make a choice. The reason for his choice was that if he refused, he would undoubtedly die here, not far from the gates of Konoha.

The other party was prepared, having long since eliminated any possibility of escape. This ambush was arranged based on his strength.

Sensing Ye Zi's compromise, the coldness on Danzō's face softened considerably. He said, "You have no choice but to trust me. The Stone ninja demanded Konoha hand you over, but they didn't specify whether you should be alive or dead. Since you are to be handed over, they will likely be satisfied with just a corpse."

The implication was: If I were to hand you over to the Stone ninja to avert a war, I might as well kill you. Why bother with so much fuss?

"Are you so confident you can keep me here?" Ye Zi asked, unwillingly, after a long silence.

"Hahaha."

Danzō, whose expression had been stiff, suddenly let out a laugh. The lines etched by time on his face twitched with the movement of his skin, appearing exceptionally eerie and jarring.

The man's gaze suddenly turned as cold as ice.

"Even you, with the beastly nature contained within you, have chosen to compromise at this moment. You know very well that the surrounding trees, stones, even the moonlight and the air, are all a net or a trap. With such an inescapable net, perhaps you might break free in the future, but you cannot break free now. I am certain of this, and you are too."

Ye Zi lowered his head in resignation and silently sheathed Raiya. There was no need to take risks. The mere fact that the opponent was waiting for him here and now meant his departure was doomed.

The only fortunate thing amidst the misfortune was that he wouldn't be handed over to Konoha, because in the eyes of certain people in Konoha, he still possessed exploitable value, or rather, his potential for growth was highly anticipated.

"I'll join."

His words were tinged with a hint of powerlessness as he walked towards the gates of Konoha, his back to the moonlight.

Danzō watched his retreating figure heading for the gates of Konoha, a faint look of admiration flashing in his eyes. He sincerely hoped Ye Zi would grow into Konoha's second White Fang, or perhaps... Raiya!

A Raiya that served only him, ferocious and merciless, capable of tearing apart anything in its path.

Swish!

A figure landed before Danzō. The newcomer wore a white cloak and a white fox mask covering his face. He knelt on one knee before Danzō and asked, "If this person becomes too powerful, he might become an unstable factor."

Danzō's gaze was indifferent, his eyes emitting a light similar to Orochimaru's. He said, "Everyone has their needs. As long as he remains in Root, I will always know what he desires. If I give him what he wants, he will stay. I don't need his loyalty; I only need something to bind him."

"As for power... heh, if I cannot always be at the forefront, what right do I have to pursue anything? Moreover, he is not Orochimaru. He is not qualified to speak to me as an equal, nor does he have the opportunity to surpass me."

The masked Root member paused and inquired, "Should we arrange for someone to monitor Ye Zi?"

Danzō thought for a moment and said, "No need."

The Root member hesitated for a moment, seemingly wanting to say something.

Danzō sensed it and looked at him coldly, saying calmly, "Speak your mind."

"Yes." Upon hearing this, the Root member no longer hesitated and said, "I don't believe this person is worth you going to such lengths, even needing to force those people to create such an environment. With such actions, it won't be long before the Third Hokage learns of it."

"Not worth it?"

Danzō looked up at the bright moon. A gentle breeze blew, rustling the leaves on both sides of the road with a soft shasha sound. He gazed at the moon in the sky, as if recalling a time when he stood at a crossroads in life, and precisely because he was weighing whether something was worth it, he missed the most crucial opportunity.

After a long while, his voice was cold: "There is no such thing as worth it or not. There is only doing or not doing."

Upon returning to his residence, Ye Zi had just taken off his shoes at the entrance when he heard faint footsteps approaching him.

Orochimaru, clad in a white home robe, looked at him coldly, saying nothing.

Ye Zi's movements paused slightly, then he continued taking off his shoes. After changing into slippers, he looked at Orochimaru and said calmly, "Someone gave me a choice, so I stayed."

Orochimaru's eyes flickered slightly, as if making a guess at that moment. He asked coldly, "Who?"

Ye Zi replied, "Root."

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, concealing a dangerous glint.

"I think you should know about Root, and you should know who that man with the scar on his chin is, but I don't," Ye Zi said, his tone calm, but his heart was far from it. He detested this feeling.

Orochimaru nodded and said, "I know. You will know in the future as well. Go rest."