I Was a Spy-I Became a Spy

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

Akashi began sorting through Shinnō's "assets."

He'd seized two and a half million ryo in cash, a large stack of Medical Ninjutsu manuscripts, and the Body Regeneration Secret Technique. At the same time, the copies and some of the books he'd taken from the library were worth a great deal, too.

Some of them were even unknown to Orochimaru.

Thinking of that, Akashi couldn't help feeling pleased. His steps grew lighter as he walked.

But a figure suddenly appeared and interrupted his good mood. It was a masked ninja with a short blade strapped to his back, radiating a fearsome air like a sword drawn from its scabbard.

An Anbu Ninja!

Akashi warily stepped back half a pace. "Who are you?"

The other ninja didn't answer, keeping it brief. "Lord Hokage requests your presence."

"Understood. I'll be right there," Akashi said with a fake smile. But the moment the Anbu Ninja left, his brows furrowed slightly.

He'd only reported in yesterday. There shouldn't have been any reason to summon him today.

What did the old man want now?

Puzzled, Akashi hurried to the Hokage's office. When he entered, he found two stern faces waiting for him. Not only was the Third Hokage there, but Danzo was there as well, accompanied by an Anbu Ninja.

This was a first.

Akashi greeted them as usual, then stood respectfully, waiting for his two superiors to speak.

The Third Hokage considered his words, waved the Anbu Ninja away, and slowly began. "I called you here on short notice because I want to confirm something. I hope you'll be honest with me. You know I've always trusted you."

His tone was gentle, but his expression wasn't.

Akashi grew cautious. "I'll tell you everything I know."

Danzo tossed a stack of documents to the floor and looked down at him. "Good. Then explain why you've been going in and out of the research institute and meeting with Orochimaru several times over the past two months."

Seeing the investigation records, Akashi understood.

Most likely, that old dog Danzo had spotted him while visiting Orochimaru and was feeling guilty.

His prejudice against the Uchiha was deeply ingrained. And yet, he desperately craved the power of the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan—so much so that he'd even gone as far as modifying his own body.

How ridiculous.

Fortunately, Akashi had prepared for this. He met Danzo's gaze and said unhurriedly, "I used to serve under Lord Orochimaru. There's nothing wrong with catching up, is there?"

"Catching up?" Danzo's gaze sharpened. "At the research institute?"

Clearly, the explanation hadn't convinced him.

The Third Hokage took a drag on his pipe to ease his fatigue, and the image of his prized student rose in his mind.

Once the talented student he'd valued and relied upon most, he'd later drifted away for reasons the Third Hokage never understood. He'd even joined Danzo's Root for a time, before eventually immersing himself in the research institute, quietly tinkering with things no one could make sense of.

Was it because he hadn't been chosen as Hokage?

Or because he couldn't let go of Nawaki's death?

The Third Hokage felt he needed to talk to Orochimaru. As for Akashi, his behavior really was a little strange.

An Uchiha going to catch up with Orochimaru sounded bizarre.

Frowning slightly, the Third Hokage looked at him, puzzled.

When both men turned their gaze on him, Akashi offered a second explanation. "All right, I admit there was another reason besides catching up."

"Speak," Danzo demanded.

"I was a spy. I became a spy."

Akashi shrugged, looking helpless.

They were both very familiar with the word "spy." The Third Hokage abruptly turned to Danzo, who just as suddenly looked back at him.

Their eyes met as each searched the other's for a secret: Was it you?

The two men knew each other too well. They quickly read the denial in each other's eyes.

Then they turned back to Akashi.

"What do you mean?"

"Many Uchiha bodies on the battlefield either went missing or had their eyes gouged out. The clan head suspected the enemy was targeting the Sharingan. After the recovery team investigated, they began to suspect Orochimaru. Since I used to serve under Lord Orochimaru, I was sent to spy on him."

Akashi suddenly turned to Danzo. "What do you think?"

Danzo's heart skipped a beat. "I... don't know."

He knew better than anyone who was gouging out those Sharingan. The person who coveted their power most wasn't Orochimaru—it was him!

Akashi knew that, too. That was why he'd deliberately raised the question.

He'd turned the tables on Danzo.

Danzo stopped pressing him. His face darkened, but he said nothing.

The Third Hokage thought for a long while, then said, "Akashi, Orochimaru wouldn't do something like that. You should have reported the Uchiha Clan's suspicions to me first. I would have handled things properly. In truth, I wasn't suspecting you. I was just puzzled and wanted to ask a few questions, so you wouldn't go down the wrong path."

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Hokage."

Akashi sneered inwardly. One was playing the good cop, the other the bad.

The Third Hokage nodded and offered a few more words of reassurance before personally getting up to see Akashi out.

Click. The door shut firmly.

"Danzo, you've made another mistake."

"Hmph. The Uchiha can't be trusted, Sarutobi. Hand the boy over to me!" Danzo felt a deep sense of unease. He planted a hand on the desk, a glint of malice in his fish-like eye.

"Impossible. I've already promised him he can join the Anbu in two years."

"Have you forgotten that Root is also called the Anbu training division? Let me train the boy first, so I can correct any flaws in his thinking. You don't want a blade that might turn either way, do you?"

"I..." The Third Hokage hesitated.

After all, Akashi was a member of the Uchiha Clan. Could he really be trusted completely?

Perhaps the best way to control him was to let Danzo reach him first. Only by learning about the darkness at Konoha's Root could he understand how precious the Konoha beneath the sunlight was—and stand more firmly on my side.

Just like Kakashi back then.

"One year. You must return him to me in a year. That's my bottom line."

In the end, the Third Hokage gave in.

"That depends on what he wants," Danzo sneered coldly.

"Don't use any despicable methods," the Third Hokage warned. "He's still a member of the Uchiha Clan. If you cause a serious mess, I might not be able to protect you."

My old friend, indeed. You've already found a way to distance yourself from this.

Danzo gave a cold snort and agreed, silently steeling himself. Return him to you? Only if he was still alive in a year...

After leaving the Hokage Building, Akashi let out a long breath.

It was only a matter of time before his dealings with Orochimaru were discovered. He'd expected this and rehearsed what he'd say several times, so there shouldn't be a problem.

After all, Orochimaru was still one of the Sannin. Akashi had served under him openly.

But Danzo...

Just as Akashi was hesitating, a figure appeared in the narrow alley. This one wore a mask, too, but with a different pattern: several flames were etched across half the mask, coiling together like serpents.

Before Akashi could speak, the man said, "Lord Danzo requests that you come with me."