Danzō'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 sole remaining left eye glinting with an obscure light from within the shadows.

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

The report concerned the battle reports from the Land of Rain front and the latest situation at B-7 Camp.

Casualty statistics, as well as... the movements of certain special individuals.

When he heard, "The Seventh Reconnaissance Squad, aside from Hyuga Branch House Genin Hinata Tianyi, has been confirmed entirely wiped out,"

Danzō's brow twitched almost imperceptibly, and his fingers unconsciously tapped against the armrest.

"Everyone died... and only he survived?" Danzō's voice was low and flat, betraying no emotion.

"I recall there was one of ours in that squad. B-2!"

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

"B-2's last transmitted intelligence confirmed that they encountered an ambush by superior enemy forces.

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

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

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

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

"He has displayed no unusual behavior for now, but Tsunade made an exception and assigned him to the core frontline emergency medical team.

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

he appears to have demonstrated... an extraordinary talent for medical treatment."

The Root ninja paused before adding,

"Especially his ability to carry out emergency medical treatment without using conventional advanced medical ninjutsu.

His first-aid results are reportedly remarkable."

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

"A Hyuga Branch House Genin suddenly making a name for himself in medicine? Have you determined the reason?"

"Nothing abnormal. His learning process appears normal, but his rate of mastery... far exceeds that of ordinary people.

He is currently receiving basic instruction from Chunin such as Mitarai Aoi. Lady Tsunade has temporarily left the camp and has yet to personally meet him."

"A medical ninja..." Danzō repeated the phrase between his teeth, thoughtful.

A pawn with a sensitive identity, suspicious experiences, yet suddenly displaying unique value... How interesting.

"I will handle this matter." Danzō waved his hand, signaling the reporter to withdraw.

Only he remained in the shadows, deep in thought.

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's office, smoke swirled through the air.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was reading a favorable report from the front, a pleased smile on his face.

The door was pushed open, and Danzō appeared in the doorway.

"Hiruzen." Danzō's voice shattered the room's quiet.

"Danzō, you've come at just the right time." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up and smiled as he raised the report in his hand.

"Look at the battle report from the Land of Rain. Orochimaru and the others did well.

They used feints and lures to deal a heavy blow to Hidden Rain Village's fighting force. Even that old fellow Hanzo suffered a bit."

Danzō walked to the desk, glanced at the report, and replied in an even tone,

"Mm. Their tactical execution was fairly decisive. They sacrificed several squads to draw in the enemy's main force.

That created an opportunity to encircle and annihilate them... Though the cost was not small, the results were significant.

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

It was rare for Danzō to praise anyone.

"Hahaha!" Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed heartily, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes easing.

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

I feel both happy and that time has passed so quickly.

Still, they need more tempering."

Danzō neither agreed nor disagreed, but quietly changed the subject. "The situation at the front is intense. Casualties are inevitable.

I heard... Nawaki has gone to the front as well?"

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

"Yes, he has. He is with his teacher, Orochimaru."

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

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

"The fighting at the front will only grow fiercer. Should we... consider transferring him back to the village?

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

Hiruzen Sarutobi silently drew on his pipe, slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke, and shook his head.

"Unpolished jade cannot become a fine vessel. Nawaki has his own dreams and path. The battlefield is dangerous,

but it is also the place where he can grow the fastest. With Orochimaru watching over him, I... trust them."

Danzō seemed to have anticipated that answer and did not continue pressing the matter.

Instead, he casually brought up something else.

"Speaking of the front... I noticed a promising prospect on my end.

He is somewhat unusual in the field of medicine."

"Oh?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was intrigued. There were not many prospects whom Danzō would mention personally.

"Who is it?"

"A Hyuga Branch House Genin named Hinata Tianyi."

Danzō pushed a brief intelligence scroll before Hiruzen Sarutobi.

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

But afterward, he displayed rare, unconventional emergency treatment abilities within the medical unit.

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

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the scroll and quickly read through it.

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

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

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

"Hinata Tianyi... I remember him. He is a steady child. What a pity he belongs to the Branch House."

There was a trace of regret in Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice.

The clan-main house system was an internal affair of the Hyuga Clan. Even as Hokage, he could not interfere too deeply.

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

Danzō spoke slowly. "Especially his efficient methods of treating severe injuries.

The situation at the front changes in an instant. One more medical ninja like him

might mean saving several more outstanding fighters."

He paused, then seemed to add casually,

"I suggest considering placing him and Nawaki in the same squad.

Or at least arranging for their missions to be connected.

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

With a teammate skilled in emergency treatment at his side,

at a critical moment... he may prove unexpectedly useful."

Holding his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered in silence.

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

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

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

Moreover, he seemed to recall that Nawaki and Hinata Tianyi had graduated from the same class.

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

"Mm... you have a point. Letting the young ones look after each other and grow together

would be good. I will arrange it personally."

"Excellent." Danzō gave a slight nod, his expression remaining unchanged.

Yet the corner of his mouth seemed to twitch ever so faintly.

With the main matter settled, Danzō did not linger and took his leave from the Hokage's office.

Descending the steps of the Hokage Building, Danzō once again entered the village's shadows.

He returned directly to the Root base.

Inside a secret chamber, the lights were dim.

Danzō sat in a chair and issued a low command toward the empty shadows.

"B-3!"

A blurred figure seemed to seep out from the wall, dropping silently to one knee.

"Take a squad to the Land of Rain front." Danzō's voice was icy.

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

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

"Make it discreet!"

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

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

A chess piece bearing a unique pattern had, seemingly without intent,

been gently pushed into a delicate position on the board.

What chain reaction would this move ultimately trigger?

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