Missing?

"Kinoe has gone missing?"

Anyone could hear the fury in Shimura Danzō's tone.

Yamanaka Fu, kneeling on one knee to report, felt it most acutely.

The Root operative codenamed Kinoe was the only remaining Wood Release ninja, and although his ninjutsu lacked the overwhelming power of Hashirama Senju, it was Wood Release, after all.

Yet, he had vanished from within the Root training base.

It was no wonder Shimura Danzō was so furious and astonished.

One had to realize that the location of the training base was known to only a few, and the seal on the main gate could not be undone without the corresponding technique.

There were only two possibilities: either there was a traitor within Root, or Hiruzen and his people had made a move.

But every member of Root had been branded with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal; logically, they should be incapable of betraying me.

Furthermore, if Hiruzen and the others knew that Kinoe was a Wood Release user, they would certainly have confronted me directly rather than resorting to theft.

So, who could it be?

Just as Shimura Danzō was deep in thought, Yamanaka Fu spoke up: "Lord Danzō, I suspect it might be Orochimaru."

"Although he possesses detailed records of human experiments involving Wood Release, Kinoe is the only test subject to have survived out of so many failures."

"If it is for the power of Wood Release, I believe Orochimaru is the most likely culprit."

Shimura Danzō was jolted by Yamanaka Fu's words.

It seemed the prime suspect was indeed Orochimaru.

It must be you!

Do you really think this old man dares not touch you?

Shimura Danzō was now convinced that Orochimaru was responsible, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

"Gather the men; we are going to find Orochimaru!" The words were spat out through gritted teeth, one by one.

"Yes."

Yamanaka Fu immediately rose to assemble the team.

"Orochimaru, if it truly was you, I will personally..."

A glint of malice flashed in Shimura Danzō's single eye.

Orochimaru's laboratory.

Orochimaru, who was in the middle of an experiment, inexplicably sneezed.

"Strange, something like a sneeze shouldn't happen to me."

Orochimaru felt puzzled; ever since he had altered parts of his body's tissues, he hadn't experienced such symptoms in a long time.

Could it be...

"I have a feeling something bad is about to happen."

Just as Orochimaru was murmuring to himself, "Bang!" the laboratory door was violently blasted open by ninjutsu.

The door was blown clean off its hinges.

Following the explosion came a loud shout: "Orochimaru!"

Orochimaru, unaware of the situation, did not act rashly, but his body was ready for combat at any moment. After all, if the experiments he was conducting were discovered, he would certainly have to flee.

However, upon hearing that familiar voice, he breathed a sigh of relief. What kind of madness was Danzō up to? Could it be about that matter?

"Did you do it?" Shimura Danzō demanded bluntly.

Hearing the tone Shimura Danzō was using, Orochimaru stopped being polite as well and replied directly: "Which matter is Lord Danzō referring to?"

Seeing Orochimaru's brazen, unbothered attitude, the fury in Shimura Danzō's heart surged even higher.

"Did you abduct Kinoe!?" Shimura Danzō roared.

Hearing the name Kinoe, Orochimaru understood everything in his heart.

No wonder Masaki Uchiha had brought people to ask him about the location of the Root training base a few days ago.

So that was how it was.

Heh, interesting.

Realizing what was going on, a smile curled onto Orochimaru's lips involuntarily.

But this was caught by Shimura Danzō, who became even more convinced that it was Orochimaru's doing.

"It wasn't me, Lord Danzō. You should look elsewhere; I don't have the person you're looking for here."

Orochimaru knew exactly who had done it, but he maintained an indifferent expression on his face.

Shimura Danzō, however, didn't care about that; he was incensed that Orochimaru would dare to quibble right in front of him.

This was truly intolerable.

I shall deal with you myself...

Seeing Shimura Danzō preparing to make a move, Orochimaru spoke without a hint of politeness: "Does Lord Danzō intend to fight me?"

"If so, then news of the Wood Release experiments might just spread throughout Konoha today."

"The relevant experimental data might even end up inside the Hokage Office or on Masaki Uchiha's desk."

Hearing Orochimaru speak of threats with such a flippant tone, Shimura Danzō was overcome with rage.

That wretched snake had indeed kept a contingency plan from the start.

He actually dared to threaten me.

He realized that if the villagers learned of the Wood Release experiments, it would effectively kill his dream of becoming Hokage.

He certainly couldn't let Masaki Uchiha or Minato Namikaze get their hands on the relevant experimental data.

Otherwise, they would use this opportunity to attack him.

Any unstable factor that threatened his path to becoming Hokage had to be nipped in the bud.

I cannot afford a falling out with Orochimaru right now. Endure!

Shimura Danzō pondered for a long time, remaining silent for a while.

"Very well, Orochimaru. You've learned to threaten me, have you?"

Shimura Danzō's cold voice rang out, "But you cannot handle a person like Kinoe; it would be best to hand him over to me."

Orochimaru chuckled, his eyes turning somewhat impatient: "I said, it wasn't me."

"Besides, I have no interest in Kinoe's Wood Release power."

"What I want is the Wood Release of Hashirama Senju."

"As for whether you believe me or not, that is up to you."

Having said that, he ignored Shimura Danzō and lowered his head to continue the experiment that had just been interrupted.

Seeing Orochimaru's impatient demeanor, the seeds of doubt in Shimura Danzō's heart began to waver.

Could it really not be him?

Then who could it be?

Could it have been Masaki Uchiha?

But how would he know where the Root training base was, and how could he enter smoothly without damaging the entrance gate?

It made no sense.

The more Shimura Danzō thought about it, the more agitated he became; the top priority now was to find the person first.

Since Orochimaru claimed it wasn't him, he would temporarily rule him out.

"Hmph, I hope you are telling the truth. If I find out you are deceiving me, I will not show you any mercy."

After Shimura Danzō finished speaking, he turned and left, not caring about Orochimaru's reaction.

Orochimaru looked up at Shimura Danzō and said with a mocking smile: "Lord Danzō had better hurry and find the person quickly."

"If you are one step behind others, the consequences will be unpredictable."

Shimura Danzō could clearly hear the mockery in Orochimaru's words; he paused for a moment, then let out a cold snort.

"Hmph, retreat."

Watching Danzō and his men, who had arrived aggressively to interrogate him, slink away in defeat, Orochimaru showed a look of disdain: "Looking after the head but forgetting the tail—a dead end."

However, thinking of the interesting things that were about to happen, Orochimaru couldn't help but lick his face with his tongue.

How long will this wind stirred up by Masaki-kun blow, I wonder? I truly look forward to it.