"'Kinoe' has gone missing?"
Anyone could hear the anger in Shimura Danzo's voice.
Yamanaka Fu, who was kneeling on one knee as he reported, felt it most keenly.
The Root operative codenamed Kinoe was the only Wood Release user still alive. His ninjutsu was nowhere near as powerful as Hashirama Senju's, of course.
But no matter how you looked at it, it was still Wood Release.
And now he had gone missing from Root's training base.
No wonder Shimura Danzo was so angry and shocked.
After all, only a handful of people knew where the training base was, and its entrance seal couldn't be undone without the right technique.
That left only two possibilities: either there was a traitor in Root, or Hiruzen and the others were behind it.
But Root's members had all been branded with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. In theory, they couldn't betray me.
And if Hiruzen and the others knew Kinoe was a Wood Release user, they would definitely confront me face-to-face. They wouldn't just take him without telling me.
So who was it?
Just as Shimura Danzo was racking his brains,
Yamanaka Fu spoke up. "Lord Danzo, I think Orochimaru may have done it."
"Although he has detailed records of his Wood Release human experiments, Kinoe was the only test subject to survive out of all those failed experiments."
"If he wanted Wood Release's power, I think Orochimaru is the most likely culprit."
Yamanaka Fu's words gave Shimura Danzo a lead.
It looked like Orochimaru was the suspect.
It has to be you!
You really think I wouldn't dare touch you?
Shimura Danzo was already convinced Orochimaru was responsible, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he got.
"Get some men together. We're going to find Orochimaru!" The words came out one by one through gritted teeth.
"Yes, sir."
Yamanaka Fu immediately got up to gather the men.
"Orochimaru, if you really did this, I'll personally..."
A vicious glint flashed in Shimura Danzo's one eye.
......
Orochimaru's laboratory
Orochimaru, who was in the middle of an experiment, suddenly sneezed for no apparent reason.
"How strange. Sneezing shouldn't happen to me."
Orochimaru was a little puzzled.
Ever since he'd altered some of his body's tissues, he hadn't had symptoms like this in a long time.
Could it be...
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Just as Orochimaru was muttering to himself,
"Boom!"
Someone blasted the laboratory door open with ninjutsu.
The door went flying.
A shout followed close behind.
"Orochimaru!"
Orochimaru didn't know what was going on yet, so he didn't make a move. But his body was already prepared to act at a moment's notice.
After all, if anyone discovered the experiments he'd been conducting, he'd have to run.
But when he heard that familiar voice, he relaxed a little.
What's Danzo going berserk about?
Could it be that matter?
"Did you do it?" Shimura Danzo demanded without any courtesy.
Hearing the way Shimura Danzo spoke,
Orochimaru didn't bother being polite, either. "Which matter are you referring to, Lord Danzo?"
Seeing Orochimaru act like he didn't have a care in the world, Shimura Danzo's anger flared even hotter.
"Did you kidnap Kinoe?" Shimura Danzo roared.
At the mention of Kinoe, Orochimaru understood.
No wonder Masaki Uchiha came by with people a few days ago, asking me where Root's training base was.
So that's what happened.
Heh. Interesting.
Now that he understood what was going on, a smile crept onto Orochimaru's lips.
Shimura Danzo noticed it, and became even more certain that Orochimaru was responsible.
"I didn't do it, Lord Danzo. You should look somewhere else. The person you're looking for isn't here."
Orochimaru knew who was responsible, but still kept up an innocent appearance.
Shimura Danzo didn't care. Orochimaru was actually trying to deny it to his face.
This is too much to tolerate.
I'll personally...
Seeing that Shimura Danzo was about to attack, Orochimaru said, "Are you going to fight me, Lord Danzo?"
"If you do, news of the Wood Release experiments might spread throughout Konoha today."
"Some of the related experimental records might even turn up in the Hokage Office or on Masaki Uchiha's desk."
Hearing Orochimaru casually threaten him, Shimura Danzo was furious.
That bastard snake really did keep something up his sleeve.
He actually dares to threaten me.
If the villagers learned about the Wood Release experiments, his dream of becoming Hokage would be over.
He couldn't let Masaki Uchiha or Minato Namikaze learn about the related experimental records, either.
Otherwise, they'd take the opportunity to attack him.
Anything that threatens my becoming Hokage has to be eliminated before it can take root.
I can't fall out with Orochimaru right now. Stay calm!
Shimura Danzo mulled it over for a long while, then fell silent for a moment.
"Very well, Orochimaru. You've learned to threaten me."
Shimura Danzo's voice was icy. "But Kinoe is beyond your control. You'd be better off handing him over to me."
Orochimaru chuckled, his gaze turning impatient. "I told you, I didn't do it."
"And I have no interest in Kinoe's Wood Release power."
"What I want is Hashirama Senju's Wood Release."
"Believe me or not. It's up to you."
He didn't bother paying Shimura Danzo any more attention. He lowered his head and returned to the experiment that had been interrupted.
Seeing Orochimaru's impatient manner, Shimura Danzo began to doubt his suspicions.
Could it really not have been him?
Then who was it?
Could Masaki Uchiha have done it?
But how would he know where Root's training base was? And how could he get in without damaging the entrance?
It doesn't make sense.
The more Shimura Danzo thought about it, the more agitated he became. Finding Kinoe was the priority.
Since Orochimaru said he hadn't done it, Danzo would set him aside for now.
"Hmph. I hope you're telling the truth. If I find out you've been deceiving me, I won't go easy on you."
After saying that, Shimura Danzo turned and left without waiting for Orochimaru's reaction.
Orochimaru looked up at Shimura Danzo and said with a fake smile, "You'd better hurry and find him, Lord Danzo."
"If someone else gets to him first, the consequences will be hard to predict."
Shimura Danzo could hear the mockery in Orochimaru's words. He paused, then snorted.
"Hmph. Withdraw!"
Watching Danzo arrive with his men in a show of force to confront him, only to leave in disgrace,
Orochimaru sneered. "He watches his head and forgets his backside. He's doomed."
Then he thought of the interesting events to come, and couldn't help but run his tongue over his face.
How long will Masaki's wind keep blowing, I wonder? I can hardly wait.