Danzo? Disciple?

Deep within Konoha Village.

In a dim underground space.

Many ninjas were coming and going, organizing various intelligence reports, each of them wearing a mask to conceal their face.

If the permanent residents of Konoha Village knew of this, they would surely be astonished!

When had such an intelligence organization appeared within their own village?

And this place!

Was the secret stronghold of the Root organization.

In the silent room.

Candlelight burned without a flicker, drops of wax sliding down the surface and pooling into clumps.

A man with one eye and a scar on his jaw sat on the main seat, his eyes closed.

Three people knelt before him; they were the very ones who had tried to bring Sosuke back to Root during the day.

"Lord Danzo, the mission failed. This subordinate is incompetent; I was unable to bring back Sosuke and even caused the leader Ape to be injured."

Another person added.

"According to my observations, that brat seems capable of releasing some strange ninjutsu. I have never seen it before; the possibility of a Kekkei Genkai cannot be ruled out!"

Upon hearing the words "Kekkei Genkai," Danzo, sitting in the main seat, suddenly opened his murky eyes, his expression remaining perfectly calm.

"I understand. You may leave. I will meet that child myself."

After hearing Danzo's words, the men slowly retreated, but their hearts were filled with shock!!

Could Lord Danzo really be planning to take that brat as a disciple!!!! He was going to meet him in person!!!!

In the room, only Danzo remained, sitting on his seat.

His face was calm, but a strange light flickered within his murky eyes.

Sosuke? An interesting child... How many surprises will you bring me...

Late at night.

At Sosuke's home.

He was currently sitting cross-legged on the floor, refining his chakra.

The battle with the four Root members during the day had made him realize the power of Kido!

Although he had hypnotized them with Kyoka Suigetsu from the very beginning, and he was confident that he could have easily finished them off with her help, he had still wanted to test his own strength.

Aside from Slash Path and Hakuda, the power of the Kido he had learned from Kyoka Suigetsu did not disappoint him.

Even using only relatively low-level Kido, he had been able to hold his own against four opponents without falling behind!

If he could chant and use high-level Hado, or even those above ninety!

How earth-shattering would the resulting power be? Just thinking about such a scene made Sosuke yearn for it!

However, a voice suddenly coming from the room shattered his fantasies.

"With your current strength, Sosuke, I'm afraid that after chanting a single level thirty Kido, half of the chakra in your body would be gone. As for Hado above ninety, that would truly be..."

The visitor's voice was delicate and alluring; it could be no one else but Kyoka Suigetsu.

She was leaning against the corner of the room, and under the shadow, her face could be seen by the pale moonlight.

She was as beautiful and moving as ever, though she wore a strange, inscrutable expression—half-smile, half-mockery—that made it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

Sosuke looked at her with a cold face, his voice somewhat frigid.

"I believe I said, do not pry into my heart again, Kyoka Suigetsu!"

Little did he know that as soon as his words fell, Kyoka Suigetsu seemed to transform, appearing by his side in the next instant!

To be precise!

She was half-lying in his arms!

Kyoka Suigetsu leaned against Sosuke, her floral kimono spread out on the floor like scattered petals. Ignoring the slender white legs and the moon-like curve of her chest slightly revealed by the loose garment, she simply looked up at Sosuke.

Her face was as cold and refined as a young girl's, and those eyes, which seemed proud to the extreme, appeared to reveal a hint of a smile only when looking at him.

"And I have told you as well, why are you unwilling to use my power? They are merely ants; it would only take a gentle wave of the hand. Why hesitate? Sosuke."

Her voice was like the tinkling of an ice spring—clear, yet tinged with a hint of sorrow.

Looking at her eyes, filled with love and confusion, Sosuke found himself at a loss for words. The reprimand he had intended to deliver changed the moment it left his lips.

"I simply wanted to test the power of Kido. The result was excellent; I am very satisfied with the power of Kido."

Upon hearing his words, Kyoka Suigetsu remained silent, which was a rare occurrence.

Her eyes seemed to be recalling something—perhaps nostalgia, perhaps melancholy. In any case, her mood seemed to dampen significantly following Sosuke's words, and she merely took one of his hands and held it gently against her chest.

It was as if only by feeling Sosuke by her side could she find peace of mind.

I have... had enough of loneliness... Finally... finally, is there someone calling out to me?

Aizen... my power... I can lend it to you.

Your desire to overthrow the Soul Society is truly audacious... I am starting to not want you to use my power.

Do you not need Bankai... do you really believe in something like the Hogyoku?

Are you still not going to use my power...

Aizen... I hate being lonely... things are fine just the way they are now.

As Kyoka Suigetsu gently took his hand and pulled it against her chest, Sosuke couldn't help but freeze.

His body slowly relaxed from its tense state. He gently adjusted his glasses, remaining silent, simply sitting there and letting Kyoka Suigetsu hold him.

What is wrong with this girl... wasn't she quite talkative just a moment ago?

Just then!

Suddenly, Kyoka Suigetsu, who had been lying on Sosuke, seemed to notice something and bolted upright. Her black eyes turned icy as she looked toward a certain direction, her petite red lips spitting out cold words.

"Sosuke! Someone is coming, be careful!"

Startled by her sudden movement, Sosuke also scrambled to his feet.

He looked toward that direction with a grave expression.

He had no choice but to trust Kyoka Suigetsu's words.

He did not know if the visitor was a friend or a foe!

Sosuke had already steeled his heart, his hand resting lightly on his blade, ready to fight at any moment!!

However, to Sosuke's surprise!

The visitor had no intention of hiding himself at all; he simply pushed the door open and walked in.

By the light of the moon, Sosuke saw the visitor's appearance clearly.

A middle-aged man of about thirty, with short hair, wearing a white kimono jacket. There was a cross-shaped scar on his chin, and his eyes were slightly narrowed, appearing murky and dull.

Someone capable of causing such a reaction from Kyoka Suigetsu could not be an ordinary person!

Staring intently at the newcomer, Sosuke asked coldly.

"Who are you!? Why have you come here?"

Upon hearing his words, the middle-aged man slowly raised his head to look at Sosuke.

Under the gaze of those eyes, Sosuke felt as if he saw darkness, as if he saw despair!

It was like falling into a bottomless abyss; pitch-black malice coalesced, dragging him down. Looking out, there was nothing!

"That's an illusion! Wake up!"

Beside him, Kyoka Suigetsu's shout jolted Sosuke awake. By now, his back was drenched in sweat!

He stared at the middle-aged man in front of him in shock!

The man before him was clearly somewhat surprised that Sosuke had been able to break free from the illusion so quickly!

However, his expression immediately returned to its composed state.

He maintained a very calm demeanor, his voice deep and low as he spoke.

"I am Shimura Danzo, and I will be your teacher from this day forward!"