Danzo's Plan

Land of Fire, Hidden Leaf Village.

Deep within the Root Base, the light was dim and the air stagnant.

Shimura Danzō sat in the seat of honor, his only remaining left eye glinting with an obscure light in the shadows.

He listened to the low-voiced report from a Root ninja before him.

The report concerned the latest battlefield updates from the Land of Rain front and B-7 Camp.

Casualty figures, as well as... the movements of certain special personnel.

When he heard, "The Seventh Reconnaissance Squad has been confirmed wiped out, with the sole exception of Hyuga Tianyi, a genin from the Hyuga Branch House."

Danzo's brow twitched almost imperceptibly, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the armrest.

"The entire squad was wiped out... and he alone survived?" Danzo's voice was low and even, devoid of emotion.

"I recall that squad had one of our people. B-2."

"Yes." The reporting Root ninja lowered his head even further.

"B-2's final intelligence confirmed that they encountered an ambush by a superior force.

The estimated chance of survival was extremely low. Hyuga Tianyi's survival... is questionable.

He was previously subjected to a preliminary review and placed on the Class A observation list."

Danzo fell silent for a moment. There were always lucky survivors on the battlefield, but too many coincidences ceased to be coincidences.

"What is his current situation?" he asked directly.

"He has displayed no unusual behavior for the time being, but Tsunade exceptionally assigned him to the frontline emergency medical core team.

He is under her direct command. According to subsequent observations and internal reports from the Medical Corps,

he appears to have demonstrated... an unusual talent for medicine."

The Root ninja paused before adding,

"Especially his ability to carry out emergency medical treatment without using traditional advanced Medical Ninjutsu.

It is said his first-aid results have been remarkable."

"Medical talent?" Danzo's left eye narrowed slightly.

"A genin from the Hyuga Branch House suddenly standing out in the medical field? Have you determined the reason?"

"There is nothing abnormal. His learning process appears normal, but the speed at which he masters things... far exceeds that of ordinary people.

He is currently being taught the basics by Chunin such as Mitarai Aoi. Lady Tsunade has temporarily left camp and has not yet met him personally."

"A medical ninja..." Danzo repeated the term between his teeth, deep in thought.

A piece with a sensitive identity, suspicious experiences, and suddenly revealed unique value... this was interesting.

"I will handle this matter." Danzo waved a hand, signaling for the reporter to withdraw.

In the shadows, he was left alone with his thoughts.

A moment later, he rose to his feet and left the Root Base with steady steps.

He headed toward the sunniest place in Leaf Village—the Hokage Building.

Inside the Hokage Office, smoke hung in the air.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was reading a frontline victory report, a gratified smile on his face.

The door opened, and Danzo appeared in the doorway.

"Hiruzen." Danzo's voice broke the room's silence.

"Danzo, you came at the right time." Hiruzen looked up with a smile and raised the report in his hand.

"Take a look at the battle report from the Land of Rain. Orochimaru and the others did well.

They used feints and baited the enemy, dealing a harsh blow to Hidden Rain Village's forces. Even that old fellow Hanzo suffered a little."

Danzo walked to the desk, glanced at the report, and said blandly,

"Yes, the tactics were executed fairly decisively. They sacrificed some squads to draw the enemy's main force.

They created an opportunity for encirclement and annihilation... Though the cost was considerable, the results were significant.

Your three disciples have indeed grown capable of standing on their own."

It was rare for Danzo to praise anyone.

"Hahaha!" Hiruzen laughed heartily, even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out.

"Yes. Watching them grow from mischievous brats into pillars capable of holding up a piece of the village's sky—

I am happy, but I also feel that time has passed so quickly.

Still, they need more tempering."

Danzo neither agreed nor disagreed, but quietly shifted the topic. "The fighting at the front is intense, and casualties are unavoidable.

I heard... Nawaki has also gone to the front?"

At the mention of the Senju Clan's eldest direct grandson, Hiruzen's smile faded somewhat, and his eyes became more complicated.

"Yes, he is there, following his teacher, Orochimaru."

"After all, he is the First Hokage's grandson, with the bloodline of the Senju Clan flowing through him.

He is one of only two prospects currently capable of awakening Wood Release." Danzo's voice held little emotion.

"The fighting at the front will only grow fiercer. Shouldn't we... consider transferring him back to the village?

After all, his safety concerns Leaf Village's future."

Hiruzen silently took a pull from his pipe, slowly exhaled smoke, and shook his head.

"Jade must be carved to become useful. Nawaki has his own ideals and path. The battlefield is dangerous,

but it is also the place where one grows fastest. With Orochimaru watching over him, I... believe in them."

Danzo seemed to have expected that answer. He did not press the matter further.

Instead, he seemingly casually brought up another matter.

"Speaking of the front... I happened to notice a promising prospect.

He is somewhat unusual in the medical field."

"Oh?" Hiruzen was intrigued. It was rare for Danzo to mention a prospect personally.

"Who is it?"

"A genin from the Hyuga Branch House, named Hyuga Tianyi."

Danzo pushed a brief intelligence scroll across the desk to Hiruzen.

"This is his situation. His original reconnaissance squad was nearly wiped out, and he was the only survivor.

But afterward, he displayed rare, unconventional emergency treatment abilities in the Medical Corps.

His learning speed is also unusual. Tsunade has already noticed him and assigned him to the core medical team."

Hiruzen picked up the scroll and quickly read through it.

When he saw Hyuga Branch House, his brow creased slightly.

When he read the description of Tianyi's medical abilities, surprise flashed through his eyes.

But in the end, he still sighed softly and set the scroll down.

"Hyuga Tianyi... I remember him. He is a dependable child. What a pity he is from the Branch House."

There was a trace of regret in Hiruzen's tone.

The main-and-branch-family system was an internal Hyuga matter. Even as Hokage, he could not interfere too much.

"A Branch House member is still a Branch House member, but his abilities may hold unique value."

Danzo said slowly. "Especially his efficient methods for treating severe injuries.

The battlefield changes in an instant. One more medical ninja like him

might save several more outstanding fighters."

He paused, then added as though casually,

"I suggest considering assigning him and Nawaki to the same squad.

Or at least arranging their missions so they are connected.

Nawaki's identity is special and his potential immense, but his battlefield experience remains shallow.

With a teammate skilled in emergency treatment at his side,

at critical moments... he may serve an unexpected purpose."

Hiruzen held his pipe and pondered in silence.

Danzo's suggestion sounded reasonable. It considered Nawaki's safety,

while also giving this boy from the Hyuga Branch House a chance to demonstrate his value.

At the same time, it would be an opportunity for further observation.

Besides, Hiruzen seemed to recall that Nawaki and Hyuga Tianyi had graduated from the same class.

After taking several puffs from his pipe and weighing the matter for a moment, Hiruzen nodded.

"Mm... you have a point. Let the young ones look after one another and grow together.

Very well. I will arrange this personally."

"That would be best." Danzo gave a slight nod, his face still expressionless.

Yet the corner of his mouth seemed to twitch almost imperceptibly.

With the main matter settled, Danzo did not linger and took his leave of the Hokage Office.

Descending the steps of the Hokage Building, Danzo once more stepped into the village's shadows.

He returned directly to the Root Base.

Inside a secret chamber, the lights were dim.

Danzo sat in a chair and issued a deep command toward an empty patch of shadow.

"B-3!"

A blurred figure seemed to seep out from the wall, dropping to one knee without a sound.

"Take a squad to the Land of Rain front." Danzo's voice was exceptionally cold.

"Your mission is to observe the target, Hyuga Tianyi, at close range... and any other secrets he may possess."

"Remember, the moment an opportunity arises..." Danzo's gaze was as sharp as a blade.

"Do it discreetly!"

"Yes." The Root ninja codenamed B-3 accepted the order in a low voice, then melted back into the shadows and vanished.

Danzo sat alone in the darkness, his fingers lightly tapping against the tabletop.

A chess piece marked with a unique pattern had, seemingly by accident,

been gently pushed onto a delicate position on the board.

What sort of chain reaction would this move trigger?

He closed his eyes and quietly awaited the situation's development.