Konoha, Root Division Headquarters.
"Lord Danzo, why did you let that kid we captured earlier go?"
After Yun Xi left, the two Root Chunin who had brought him there appeared before Danzo again.
Looking after Yun Xi as he walked away, then at Danzo, who said nothing, the two ninjas were confused.
Since joining Root, they hadn't seen an outsider walk into the organization and leave unharmed...
And he was just a civilian, too.
"Get out!"
Danzo had no intention of explaining. He shot the two men at the foot of the steps a dead-eyed look, then vanished into the shadows...
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
Sensing the killing intent emanating from Danzo, the two Root Chunin didn't dare linger.
In an instant, they vanished...
It was a long while before two figures appeared in Root again.
One was someone other than Danzo, who had left earlier.
That was...
Orochimaru!
One of the Konoha Sannin, Orochimaru!
"How are the experimental subjects coming along?"
Orochimaru, his expression cold, glanced at Danzo, who seemed displeased, and spoke first.
Then, pacing slowly, he said in a casual tone, "The Sharingan transplant is no longer a problem. But the experiments with Hashirama Cells still need a lot of subjects..."
"Stop nagging. I'll send people over when the time comes."
A shadow crossed Danzo's face. He murmured, "I had an exceptionally promising subject lined up for today, but he turned me down..."
"Who?"
Curiosity flickered in Orochimaru's brown eyes. He teased, "I'd like to know who in Konoha would dare refuse you, Lord Danzo..."
"A Konoha civilian. Terrible talent."
Since Orochimaru, his temporary ally, had asked, Danzo didn't hide Yun Xi's identity.
Truthfully, Danzo hadn't paid Yun Xi any attention at first.
Though Danzo badly needed subjects for his experiments, it wasn't as if he couldn't find any...
Yun Xi's talent was abysmal, and he was practically invisible.
At first, Danzo hadn't noticed him at all.
Then, a few days ago, Danzo received a report from one of his subordinates.
It said Yun Xi had an exceptionally powerful healing ability and might be well suited for experiments with First Hokage Cells.
That was why Danzo had set his sights on him...
What Danzo hadn't expected was that Yun Xi would reject him outright...
Rather than put Yun Xi on his guard, Danzo had simply sent him home for the time being.
He would look for another opportunity later...
"Yun Xi..."
After hearing Danzo out, Orochimaru murmured Yun Xi's name and gazed into the distance.
A glimmer flashed in his gray-brown eyes...
Only after a long while did he speak to Danzo again. "Give me his file. I'll look into him..."
Orochimaru didn't know just how powerful this so-called healing ability was.
But anyone who had caught Danzo's attention had to be exceptional!
Orochimaru was intrigued by this unusual Yun Xi as well...
"I'll give you his file, but don't make a move in Konoha."
Danzo and Orochimaru had been working together for a long time.
As soon as Orochimaru spoke, Danzo knew what he was thinking.
After handing him Yun Xi's basic information, Danzo couldn't help warning him.
Danzo was one of Konoha's most powerful leaders.
But Orochimaru had already defected. If the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi found out he'd made a move in Konoha, even Danzo, a Konoha High Command advisor, wouldn't get off lightly!
"Heh, don't worry..."
Orochimaru wasn't particularly concerned by Danzo's warning.
He gave a cold laugh, then left Root first...
A shadow of uncertain meaning crossed Danzo's face as he stood there.
Was it because Yun Xi had rejected him?
Or...
Because of Orochimaru's attitude...
Danzo didn't stay long, either. After Orochimaru left, he vanished from the spot...
Meanwhile.
Inside the Hokage Office Building in Konoha.
The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk, intently watching the Crystal Ball before him.
The images displayed inside showed Root Base...
"Shiranui Genma, has Danzo made any moves recently?"
After a long silence, the Third Hokage finally asked Shiranui Genma, who stood behind him.
"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo hasn't done anything unusual recently. He did, however, summon a civilian named Yun Xi."
Shiranui Genma was a Special Jōnin of Konohagakure in the Land of Fire and had once served as one of the Fourth Hokage's guards.
After the Fourth Hokage died, he began serving the Third Hokage.
His main duties were relaying intelligence and conveying the Third Hokage's orders.
After telling the Third Hokage what had happened at Root, Shiranui Genma slowly took a file from his ninja tool pouch.
He handed it to the Third Hokage, then said, "Lord Hokage, this is Yun Xi's full file."
"Yun Xi..."
After reading the file, the Third Hokage repeated Yun Xi's name.
Clearly, the name rang a bell.
As the student who had spent the longest time at the Ninja Academy in all of Konoha, Yun Xi had piqued the Third Hokage's curiosity. Why had Danzo summoned such a hopeless dead last?
After thinking it over, the Third Hokage couldn't come up with a convincing reason.
So he said, "Shiranui Genma, keep an eye on this child named Yun Xi for a while. Report anything unusual to me."
"Yes!"
After receiving his order, Shiranui Genma didn't linger. He leaped straight out the window!
The Third Hokage slowly stood and gazed at the sunset that had just appeared, lost in thought...
Yun Xi had no idea that so many powerful figures in Konoha were watching him!
He was still taking his time making dinner...
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Just as Yun Xi finished making dinner, a series of loud knocks came from the door, which had only recently gone quiet!
"Who is it? Coming, coming!"
At the sound of the knocking, impatience was plain on Yun Xi's face.
He'd finally gotten some peace and quiet, and now someone was disturbing him.
But when he opened the door...
Yun Xi froze!
He hadn't expected the person standing outside to be...
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