"Danzo's order? Take Nonō to 'Root'?"
Satoru frowned. "You have to be joking, right?"
"Root does not joke... We only complete our missions. Yakushi Nonō, come with us."
"Horse" wore a mask with orange markings. His tone was flat, as if he regarded the two children before him as ordinary kids with no ability to resist.
"Danzo's order... Has that old bastard lost his mind? Doesn't he know about the Third Hokage's order?!"
Satoru shielded the bewildered Nonō behind him. She clearly still had no idea what "Root" meant.
"The Third Hokage's order was for you to conduct research with Orochimaru, Mitokado Satoru."
"Ram's" mask bore brown markings. He calmly added, "The order did not mention requiring Yakushi Nonō's cooperation."
"Lord Danzo's important research requires the cooperation of outstanding Medical Ninja. Yakushi Nonō possesses exceptional Medical Talent. She should serve Root!"
"Nonō is already assisting with our research! Besides, she is Lady Tsunade's disciple. Did you ask Lady Tsunade before doing this?!"
Satoru remained calm. Danzo knew perfectly well what he was doing and was merely pretending otherwise. This was a dangerous test—but did he really think Tsunade would not hunt him down when she went mad?
Or did he believe Sarutobi Hiruzen favored him alone and would smooth this over, just as he had done with so many things before?!
"Even if we took the research project he was in charge of, why didn't he go to the Third Hokage? And when all was said and done... it was because his people were too incompetent!"
Satoru looked mockingly at the two Root ninja. "What, Nonō is supposed to cooperate this time, and next time, will Teacher Orochimaru and I be expected to cooperate too?"
"Then he can gradually claim all our research results for himself—Danzo's dreaming far too beautifully!"