Danzo's Poisonous Scheme

Inside the Hokage's office, smoke hung thick in the air.

Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned back in his broad chair, puffing away at his pipe.

The weight that had been pressing on his heart these past few days was finally shattered by this red-string battle report.

The rumors surrounding White Fang had left Hidden Leaf's upper ranks overwhelmed, and the conflict between civilian ninja and clan ninja had nearly been brought into the open.

Meanwhile, the front lines faced Sunagakure's frenzied counterattack. He had even prepared himself to abandon the outer defenses of Kikyo Pass.

Yet Orochimaru had not only held the line, but also turned the situation around in spectacular fashion.

He had captured Pakura, Sunagakure's ace, alive.

This was a genuine strategic bargaining chip. As long as Pakura remained in Hidden Leaf's hands, Chiyo and Rasa would never dare act rashly. The situation in the Land of Wind was now completely stabilized.

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped the ash from his pipe, his gaze falling once more on the name "Qian Ye" in the battle report.

Twelve years old.

A civilian Genin.

He had single-handedly killed twenty-three Sunagakure ninja, escaped unscathed from Pakura's rampage, and even assisted Orochimaru in the incredible feat of capturing the enemy commander alive.

The corners of Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth kept rising, wrinkling his face into a smile.

Hidden Leaf truly was brimming with talent.

The older generation was supported by old bones like them, while the middle generation had the Three Ninja—Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. Further down, Minato Namikaze had recently achieved repeated victories on the Hidden Stone battlefield, and the name Yellow Flash had already begun to resound.

And now, Orochimaru had unearthed another Qian Ye on the Sunagakure battlefield.

Most importantly, this Qian Ye came from a civilian background.

He had no clan ties and a background as clean as a blank sheet of paper. With a little guidance, such a promising seedling would undoubtedly be the best candidate to inherit the Will of Fire.

"Orochimaru usually acts so cold and looks down on everyone, yet this time he actually broke precedent and accepted a civilian as his personal disciple." Hiruzen Sarutobi refilled his pipe, lit it, and took a puff. "It seems he really cares."

He pulled open a drawer, took out a blank scroll, and began writing his reply.

Since Orochimaru wanted the boy to escort Pakura back to the village and report in, the village had to give him proper recognition.

Merit had to be rewarded if they wanted more civilian ninja to devote themselves wholeheartedly to Hidden Leaf.

In stark contrast to the celebratory atmosphere in the Hokage's office—

The pressure in Root's underground base beneath Hidden Leaf was terrifyingly oppressive.

Danzo stood in the center of the dim stone chamber, leaning on his cane. His lone remaining eye fixed itself on the Root ninja kneeling before him, while the muscles in his face twitched uncontrollably.

"Say that again." Danzo's voice squeezed through clenched teeth.

The Root ninja kneeling on the ground lowered his head even further.

"Lord Orochimaru read your secret letter and burned it on the spot."

"He left no message, nor did he falsify the battle losses as you ordered. Instead, he sent the true battle report directly to the Hokage Building."

Bang!

Danzo's cane slammed heavily into the stone floor, leaving a dent.

He froze.

He could not understand it at all.

He had already offered Orochimaru the absolute limit. As long as Orochimaru cooperated in tampering with the battle report and pinned the blame for the strained front lines entirely on Sakumo Hatake, he would use all of Root's power to push Orochimaru into the position of Fourth Hokage.

The position of Hokage!

It was the pinnacle countless Hidden Leaf ninja dreamed of reaching.

Orochimaru had actually refused? He had not even left room for negotiation and simply burned the letter!

"Fool!" Danzo paced back and forth through the stone chamber in a rage. "What exactly is he thinking? Does he believe that he can smoothly succeed to the position just by relying on that soft-hearted old man Hiruzen?"

At that moment, another Root ninja hurried into the stone chamber and dropped to one knee.

"Lord Danzo, the latest intelligence has arrived from the Hokage Building."

"Read it." Danzo stopped walking.

"A great victory at Kikyo Pass. The Sand Assault Force has been completely annihilated, and the enemy commander Pakura has been captured alive. Lord Orochimaru has already sent people to escort Pakura back to the village."

Bang!

In the dim underground stone chamber, Danzo's solid wooden cane crashed heavily onto the bluestone floor, splitting it with a clearly visible crack.

His lone remaining eye widened roundly, and the muscles in his face twitched uncontrollably.

"The Sand Assault Force was completely annihilated?"

"Pakura, wielder of Scorch Release, was captured alive?"

Danzo whirled around and stared fixedly at the Root ninja kneeling on the ground, his voice seeming to squeeze through his teeth.

"Orochimaru sent this battle report directly to Hiruzen?"

The Root ninja buried his head between his legs, utterly daring not to look up at Danzo's face.

"Yes, Lord Danzo. Word has already spread through the Hokage Building. The Third Hokage is extremely pleased. It is said that he smoked three bowls of tobacco in a row and even drafted a commendation order on the spot."

Danzo's teeth itched with rage.

What was this supposed to be?

He had painstakingly written Orochimaru a secret letter and promised him the position of Hokage, intending for Orochimaru to cooperate in doctoring the battle report and place the blame for the strained front lines squarely on Sakumo Hatake.

Yet Orochimaru had not only burned the letter, but also handed Hiruzen an enormous political asset!

The capture of the enemy commander alive!

This was a strategic bargaining chip capable of directly changing the course of the war between two nations!

As long as Pakura was escorted alive back to Hidden Leaf, Hiruzen could rightfully sit at the negotiating table and force Sunagakure to cede territory and pay reparations.

Then Hiruzen would become the great Hokage who had turned the tide and forged peace.

What would Danzo be? He could only continue hiding underground like a rat, choking on dust!

"Foolish!"

Danzo flung his sleeve and paced furiously through the stone chamber.

"That weak old fool Hiruzen does not understand how to make use of such an advantage at all! He only knows compromise, only knows how to use the slogan of peace to conceal Hidden Leaf's weakness!"

"Such an unprecedented achievement can only yield its greatest value under my leadership!"

Danzo stopped walking, his lone eye filled with twisted obsession.

He would never allow Hiruzen to use this great victory to solidify his position as Hokage.

Hidden Leaf was beset by troubles both within and without. This was precisely the time for iron-fisted rule. Only if he, Danzo, became Hokage could he lead the village to its true peak.

Since Orochimaru did not know how to appreciate his favor, then he could not blame Danzo for being ruthless.

"Bring Jia and Yi to me." Danzo gave the order coldly.

Less than half a minute later, two Root ninja wearing blank masks appeared soundlessly in the center of the stone chamber and knelt on one knee.

Danzo looked at the two sharpest blades under his command, his tone exceptionally cold.

"Orochimaru has dispatched a squad to escort Pakura back to the village."

"Take Root's First Squad and intercept them midway."

Jia raised his head. The voice behind his mask showed no fluctuation.

"Lord Danzo, is the objective to seize Pakura?"

"Seize her?" Danzo sneered. "What use would I have for a Sunagakure prisoner who could go berserk at any moment?"

"Kill them all."

Danzo made a slicing gesture across his throat.

"The Hidden Leaf ninja in the escort unit, along with Pakura—leave no survivors."

Yi paused, but years of indoctrination prevented him from raising any objection. He merely lowered his head and awaited orders.

Leaning on his cane, Danzo continued refining his plan.

"If Pakura dies during the escort, Sunagakure's upper ranks will certainly go completely mad. To quell the anger within their village, Chiyo and Rasa will definitely attack Kikyo Pass even more fiercely, at any cost."

"The more chaotic the front lines become and the greater the casualties, the more miserably Hiruzen's prestige will fall."

Danzo walked over to Jia and lowered his voice.

"When you act, doctor the scene. Leave behind some traces of Hatake Clan swordsmanship."

"Muddy the waters."

"Say that White Fang's former subordinates are dissatisfied with the village and deliberately destroyed the bargaining chip for peace talks, intending to provoke an even greater war."

"I will make that worthless Sakumo Hatake unable to remain at home reflecting on his mistakes! I will have him drowned in the spit of all Hidden Leaf!"

Jia and Yi accepted the order in unison.

"Yes!"

The two figures vanished from the stone chamber in an instant.

Danzo looked at the empty stone chamber, and an exceedingly sinister curve formed at the corner of his mouth.

For Hidden Leaf's future, sacrificing a tiny escort unit and a Sunagakure prisoner was far too worthwhile.