Konoha's Forest of Death, Orochimaru's base.
Orochimaru read the message delivered by the summoned snake. Even his usually composed face twitched a few times.
[Lord Orochimaru, I've established Sound Village in the Land of Fields and secured the approval of its Feudal Lord. He's also agreed to provide one hundred million ryo in funding every year.]
[I've assigned Tayuya to search the Land of Fields for children with ninja talent to fill the village's lower ranks. The Feudal Lord will also send people to help with this.]
[However, top-tier combat strength can't be cultivated in a short time, and we lack a stockpile of ninjutsu. Both are bad for the village's development.]
[As for acquiring ninjutsu, I think you could ask Danzo for it. For certain reasons, Lord Danzo is willing to grant us anything we ask for right now. We should take advantage of the opportunity while it lasts.]
[Also, something seems off with Kirigakure. If you have time, Lord Orochimaru, you could search for some talented kekkei genkai users. Of course, there's no need to rush. In my estimation, Sound Village will need to develop quietly for several years before it's ready to show itself. For now, we're not desperately short of high-level combat strength.]
[I'll also travel around the Shinobi World in search of strong people to recruit.]
Orochimaru put away the scroll, closed his eyes, and began to think.
Half an hour later, Orochimaru slowly opened his eyes and spoke toward the shadow in the corner.
[I want to meet with Lord Danzo. Go inform him.]
[Have you made up your mind, Lord Orochimaru?]
A ninja wearing a cat mask had been standing in the corner. Hearing Orochimaru's words, he took an involuntary step forward and looked at him.
[Hmph!]
A shuriken shot from Orochimaru's hand and struck the Root ninja in the throat.
[Danzo's no good at managing his subordinates. I might as well help him clean house!]
[I'll even improve his Cursed Tongue Eradication Jutsu a little. All it needs is a back door!]
[Heh heh!]
The laboratory fell silent as the Root ninja died. Orochimaru lowered his head and chuckled.
Though Orochimaru had taken Haku as his student, he was still somewhat unstable. Nawaki had been framed and killed right before his eyes, and the Third Hokage had stood by while others framed him and robbed him of the chance to succeed to the Hokage Position.
He also hadn't begun experimenting on Konoha's ninjas because of Danzo's encouragement. He hadn't become the Orochimaru from his previous life, who was indifferent to human life.
Besides, Konoha still had plenty of talent, and its high-level combat strength was considerable.
The Sannin, Konoha White Fang, the Uchiha clan, the Hyuga clan, and others still supported Konoha. At present, Konoha was strong enough to take on all four great ninja villages at once.
Though people called Orochimaru the Cold-Blooded One, deep down he loved the village.
If Konoha remained strong, the time bomb inside him wouldn't go off.
But if Konoha began to decline, he would carry out the Konoha Crush Plan, just as Haku remembered.
Bang!
The table Danzo had smashed lay in pieces. Not one of the Root ninjas around him dared make a sound.
[Hmm?]
[What? Are you dissatisfied?]
Danzo narrowed his eyes as he looked at his subordinates.
[Ohmura, go tell Orochimaru to meet me in the Forest of Death in two days.]
Thud!
[Lord Danzo, I don't want to die yet. Could you please not send me?]
Hearing Ohmura, Danzo's one visible eye turned even colder.
[Go. You'll be fine! Take this with you. Orochimaru won't kill you outright!]
As he spoke, he tossed out a scroll.
After Ohmura reluctantly left the base, Danzo looked at the subordinates around him, growing even more displeased.
[In the end, not everyone can understand me. My Root is Konoha's support. Without Root, Konoha can't survive.]
[These people shouldn't have their own wills. Their own ideas keep them from devoting themselves wholeheartedly to the village.]
[Orochimaru, don't disappoint me.]
[Lord Orochimaru! My Lord Danzo has asked you to meet him in the Forest of Death the day after tomorrow!]
As Ohmura spoke, he handed the scroll to Orochimaru.
Seeing the Root ninja before him, Orochimaru knew Danzo had a ninjutsu that let him sense when his subordinates died.
With Ohmura watching, Orochimaru slowly opened the scroll.
[My task is done, Lord Orochimaru. I'll go report back to Lord Danzo!]
Having completed his mission, Ohmura decided he'd better leave this base, which gave him an unpleasant feeling.
[Wait! Don't rush off. You can stay and help me with a few things.]
[Don't worry! Danzo told me not to kill you outright.]
Ohmura had barely begun to breathe a sigh of relief when Orochimaru continued murmuring.
[Danzo actually wants me to improve the Cursed Tongue Eradication Jutsu and wipe out these Root ninjas' sense of self!]
[And now he's sent me a test subject!]
Before you continue