Getting Used to Things

There were spies within the Uchiha Clan. That wasn't hard to understand.

Given the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan, it would've been stranger if they didn't have a couple of spies.

Did they really think the Uchiha Clan was a monolith?

Did they really think that before and after the clan's massacre, only two double agents had been running around?

How could that be?

There were plenty of turncoats like Shisui in the Uchiha Clan. Otherwise, how had Shisui been corrupted, and why had Madara been driven out of the clan?

A big forest had all kinds of birds, and people had all kinds of ideas. The Uchiha Clan was also prone to extremes and stubbornly clung to its convictions. Once they settled on something, they'd never change their minds for the rest of their lives. That meant Obito was a lost cause.

"Suifeng, things haven't reached that point between the village and the clan!"

Fugaku could hear the anger and frustration in Suifeng's voice. Anyone would've been upset in this situation.

He hadn't done anything, yet the other side kept coming after him, again and again, each time going too far. Did Danzo really think the Uchiha Clan was made of clay?

"I don't care about the clan's affairs, but the news that I awakened the Three-Tomoe can't be sent back through ordinary channels!"

"All right, I'll handle it carefully. Suifeng, about your transfer orders...!"

Before he could finish, Suifeng turned into a gust of wind and vanished, leaving Uchiha Fugaku looking stunned.

Border of the Land of Rain

Danzo sat atop Taiseki, watching Orochimaru emerge from the ground. "You didn't kill Uchiha Suifeng? Instead, you transferred him to the Sunagakure front?!"

"Hehehe..." Orochimaru's long tongue curled around his mouth as he laughed, his voice carrying an indescribable quality. "Lord Danzo, you're very well-informed!"

"Why? Why didn't you kill him? Orochimaru, I remember the deal we made...!"

"Our deal was that you'd give me accurate information and I'd kill Suifeng. But your information was wrong, so I couldn't kill him."

"That's impossible! How could you fail to kill him? He's only a Chunin!" Danzo sprang to his feet, his face furious, as if he were asking Orochimaru, "Are you messing with me?"

Orochimaru was one of the Sannin, a master of all kinds of ninjutsu and forbidden techniques, with countless tricks up his sleeve. He was unquestionably a Kage Level fighter. Killing someone should've been as easy as crushing a chicken.

And yet he was telling Danzo to his face that he couldn't kill Suifeng.

How old was Suifeng? Nine? No, he was only eight. An eight-year-old at Kage Level? Did Orochimaru think Madara Uchiha had jumped out of his coffin?

"His speed was far greater than what your intelligence suggested. His Sensory Ninjutsu is also powerful," Orochimaru said. "Your information was completely wrong. I couldn't keep up with him or catch him, so how could I kill him?"

"Sensory Ninjutsu? Impossible. His sensory skills are only average. Last time, he was completely at a loss against Kirigakure's Silent Killing Technique..."

"He developed a new Sensory Ninjutsu specifically to counter Kirigakure's Silent Killing Technique. Its range is limited, but once you enter his detection range, no amount of hiding will help you. Lord Danzo, didn't you know?"

"He developed a new Sensory Ninjutsu to counter the Silent Killing Technique?"

"That's right, Lord Danzo. It seems your intelligence isn't reaching you quickly enough. Didn't your spy in the Uchiha Clan tell you?"

"I see. That explains it!" Remembering Suifeng's bizarre, unnatural speed, Danzo realized that combined with his Sensory Ninjutsu, even Orochimaru would have trouble catching him.

"So you transferred him to the Sunagakure front to look for another opportunity?"

"No, no, Danzo. My attempt against him has failed, so I won't make another move. I transferred him here because I value his strength. He'll be far more useful on the Sunagakure battlefield than wasting away over at Kirigakure."

"This isn't what we agreed on," Danzo said, narrowing his one eye.

"Your inaccurate information caused the operation to fail. That wasn't my fault, so our deal is done. As for what happens next, now that Suifeng is on the Sunagakure front, whether you get another chance depends on your own methods."

"Orochimaru...!"

"Lord Danzo!" Orochimaru interrupted him again. "You're the leader of Root, not the Hokage. I'm the commander-in-chief of the Sunagakure front. You're here to assist me, not the other way around. Tomorrow, I want to see the items we agreed on in my lab. Otherwise, hehehehehe...!"

With a strange cackle, Orochimaru vanished.

"Bastard!"

Anger flashed in Danzo's one eye. Something was wrong. Something had to be off. He keenly sensed that Orochimaru's attitude toward him had changed. The shift was subtle, but it was clearly different from before, and it filled him with a terrible premonition.

Among the Sannin, Orochimaru had the best relationship with Danzo. Of course, that didn't mean they were close personally; it was their working relationship that was good. Orochimaru had always been secretly studying all kinds of forbidden techniques and conducting all sorts of inhumane experiments. Danzo knew about it, and Orochimaru often needed Root's help. They'd worked together smoothly for a long time.

As for their personal dynamic, Danzo was the Third Hokage's friend and had always acted as Orochimaru's senior. Naturally, Orochimaru showed him the basic respect a junior owed a senior. So whenever Danzo had a request, whether out of courtesy or habit, Orochimaru would help him out and let him get a little advantage, as long as it wasn't too unreasonable. It seemed only natural. Neither Danzo nor Orochimaru had realized it; they'd both taken that arrangement for granted.

Habit became second nature. That was why habits could be so frightening.

But Suifeng's words to Orochimaru had brought him to his senses.

Damn, that's right! Why should I help Danzo so much? He's not the Hokage, and he's nobody to me. I'm not a kid anymore. I'm one of Konoha's famous Sannin, a Kage Level fighter, and a candidate for the future Hokage. Why should I be Danzo's lapdog? Why do I always come out on the losing end of our deals? Why do I keep accepting all those unreasonable demands of his?

What gives him the right?!

Orochimaru was a proud man. Realizing he'd unknowingly fallen under Danzo's spell and been played by him naturally left a bad taste in his mouth. And when he thought about how Danzo had often used his experiments to threaten him, he'd never felt much about it before—but now, resentment sprang up like weeds.

Damn it, I am conducting human experiments, but aren't you? I don't know all the details, but judging from our cooperation, your subordinates have plenty of experience with this stuff. You old dog, you've been secretly conducting these inhumane experiments too. We've both got shit on our asses, so what gives you the right to threaten me? Is your shit supposed to smell sweeter than mine?

That was the real reason for Orochimaru's sudden change in attitude today.

In truth, Danzo had grown used to their old dynamic too. Orochimaru's change made him very uncomfortable—and not only that, it infuriated him.