Seeing Through

Thousands of Uchiha corpses, including several elite Jonin from the Konoha Military Police Force, and the civilians Itachi had wiped out—

It was as if everything had been completely wiped off the face of the earth; everything had vanished.

Danzo glanced down at his left leg, which was tightly wrapped in bandages, with lingering fear.

That was a short time ago, when he and Orochimaru attempted to ambush Uchiha Itachi, and the injuries he sustained were caused by Itachi's Amaterasu.

Even now, recalling that terrifying black flame still sends shivers down his spine.

If I hadn't acted decisively and severed my left leg the instant the black flames appeared, I probably would have been reduced to ashes by those flames.

"Mangekyō Sharingan, Uchiha..."

Danzo those words with disgust, his voice hoarse and dry, as if he were chewing on a hard bone that he could never chew properly.

But in his eyes, besides hatred and fear, there was also an undisguised, deep longing.

The more powerful the Sharingan became, the deeper his obsession with not being able to obtain it grew.

The power of the Sharingan, the power of the Uchiha... that immense power should have been in his hands, used for the benefit of Konoha!

Thinking of this, Danzo suppressed his resentment, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

What troubled him even more at this moment was another piece of information he had learned from Itachi during their brief encounter.

Before they fought, Itachi made it clear to him that the disappearance of the Uchiha Clan corpses had nothing to do with him.

Based on my understanding of that man, I can confirm that Itachi was not lying.

There's no reason for someone who could kill even their own parents to lie to a pile of insignificant corpses.

But through Itachi's eyes, I could tell that Itachi... must have guessed something.

But the man loyal to Konoha would never tell his suspicions to himself, who had already "defected" from Konoha.

Danzo, a figure that had once filled Danzo with deep dread surfaced in his mind.

That Uchiha boy who left Konoha five years before the night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre, yet is still unforgettable to Hiruzen and the Jonin Commander team...

"Uchiha... knock."

Danzo murmured the name hoarsely, his eyes narrowing slightly:

"Could that brat be involved in this?"

Danzo pondered this question repeatedly in his mind, but unable to come up with a definite conclusion, he could only suppress it for the time being.

Just as he was about to turn and leave the viewing platform, a Root ninja Body Flicker Technique to his side.

He knelt on one knee and said in a respectful low voice:

"Danzo, Orochimaru has arrived."

Upon hearing that familiar name, Danzo stopped in his tracks, a hint of undisguised surprise flashing in his eyes.

Several weeks have passed since Orochimaru went missing in Mist Village.

During this time, he ordered his men to search every secret stronghold of Orochimaru that he knew of, but they could not find any trace of the snake.

And now, that man has actually come to our door—what could his purpose be?

Danzo remained silent for a moment, his lips beneath the bandages moving slightly.

Whatever that guy's purpose is, meeting a variable that you have absolutely no control over in this base is not a safe thing.

But now, I clearly no longer have the leverage to refuse.

He has lost Konoha, lost his roots, and lost all the rich foundation he once possessed.

Orochimaru was one of the few collaborators in the Ninja World with whom he could still make deals.

Danzo was quickly calculating in his mind, but his face, which was mostly covered by bandages, still showed no emotion.

He looked at his subordinates, pondered for a moment, and then coldly said:

"... Bring him to see me."

"No."

Before Danzo could finish speaking, a hoarse and chilling voice slowly emerged from the shadows beside Danzo:

"I... I'm here."

Orochimaru's figure slowly emerged from the shadows at the edge of the viewing platform.

His pale skin appeared even more sinister in the dim light, and a few inconspicuous dark water stains stained his plain white kimono, as if he had just come from some damp place.

Danzo frowned as he looked at the uninvited man.

Orochimaru wore his usual smile, a smile that was impossible to decipher as either polite or mocking. His golden snake-like eyes narrowed into two thin vertical lines under the light.

"What, aren't you welcoming me?"

He paused, his long tongue darting out from the corner of his mouth, gently licking his lower lip.

"Haven't you been looking for me lately?"

Danzo stared intently at the familiar old man with the enigmatic smile before him.

He remained silent for a moment, his sinister left eye repeatedly scanning Orochimaru's face.

An eerie silence seemed to have fallen over the base.

After a moment, Danzo withdrew his gaze and issued the order without hesitation:

"All Root ninja, listen to my command... surround him!"

At Danzo's command, more than a dozen Root ninjas emerged silently from every shadowy corner of the surrounding area almost simultaneously.

In less than half a breath, Orochimaru was firmly locked in place by a net woven from blades and Kunai.

The eyes of these Root ninjas were filled with killing intent; it was evident from their breathing rhythm and the way they gripped their swords.

Each of them is an elite among elites who has experienced countless battles, and some are even skilled enough to reach the level of Jonin.

Orochimaru stood still, his golden snake eyes calmly sweeping over the gleaming blades around him.

His expression remained calm, but when he shifted his gaze back to Danzo's face, the temperature in his vertical pupils had plummeted to freezing.

"Danzo, what... what do you mean by this?"

He paused, his hoarse voice now filled with undisguised killing intent:

"Is this how you treat the person who took you in, this stray dog?"

Hearing Orochimaru's merciless mockery of Danzo, the Root ninjas surrounding them frowned and tightened their grip on their sword hilts.

They stared intently at Orochimaru, awaiting Danzo's next command.

But Danzo simply stood in front of Orochimaru, his face, wrapped in layers of bandages, showing no sign of anger.

"As for a manipulated puppet, I have nothing to say."

Danzo spoke slowly in a low voice.

His left eye, which was sticking out from under the bandage, was now fixed on Orochimaru's pupils, which showed a hint of surprise.

"If you wish to see me, you may as well come in person."

Danzo's aged and hoarse voice slowly echoed in the empty base:

"Having awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and possessing the bloodline of the Uchiha Clan..."

He paused deliberately, staring intently at Orochimaru, who had been transformed into a puppet, and continued in a low voice:

"Remnants."

(I've been too busy these past few days, so I haven't been able to catch up on the missing chapter. I'll definitely do it when I have time. Sorry...)