Adjusting One's Mindset

A single sentence from Shimura Danzō made Orochimaru halt in his tracks, then turn to face him.

After saying that, Shimura Danzō stared confidently at Orochimaru, waiting for him to compromise. Unfortunately, even now, Shimura Danzō had never truly understood Orochimaru's nature. Orochimaru had never been someone who could be manipulated by others. Even the Third Hokage, Orochimaru's own teacher, had been unable to completely control him, much less Shimura Danzō.

Thus, when Shimura Danzō began negotiating terms with Orochimaru, Orochimaru agreed with a cold expression. However, Shimura Danzō failed to notice the killing intent that had already surfaced in Orochimaru's eyes as he departed. Clearly, even with his weakness in Shimura Danzō's grasp, Orochimaru felt no fear whatsoever. He agreed to Shimura Danzō's conditions only because he was waiting for an opportunity.

An opportunity to kill Shimura Danzō.

Dancing on a steel wire was often a suicidal act—just like Shimura Danzō.

He always sought to control others through unconventional means, yet never considered strengthening himself. Whether in his struggle for the position of Hokage or in his methods of controlling others, Shimura Danzō had strayed down the wrong path. The most ridiculous part was that he still had not realized how laughable his way of handling matters truly was.

By the day Shimura Danzō realized it, perhaps it would already be too late for regret!

At the same time, after Shimura Danzō finished speaking with Hyuga Hiashi and Orochimaru, Uchiha Yue, far away at the border of the Land of Water, had no idea so many things had happened in Konoha. Right now, Uchiha Yue was simply extremely irritated—not only by the matter of treating the injured Uchiha Clan elite, but also by Uchiha Fugaku constantly pacing back and forth around him.

Every time he saw Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha