Mission Failed, but Danzo Smiled

"That civilian Genin."

Danzo stopped in his tracks, his one eye fixed on the subordinate kneeling on the ground.

"That brat called Qian Ye, was he really as strong as the intelligence reports said?"

"Yes."

The Root ninja hurriedly answered.

"According to reports from the outer sentries."

"That brat called Qian Ye did not need hand seals at all."

"With physical strength alone, he defeated Lord Jia head-on."

"He even shattered the combined Ninjutsu Lord Yi and the others cast with a single kick."

Danzo's eyelid twitched.

No hand seals needed?

He shattered a combined Ninjutsu with one kick?

Where exactly had Orochimaru dug up such a monster?

A twelve-year-old civilian Genin had slaughtered Root's elite as if they were dogs.

It filled Danzo with a powerful sense of unease.

There were more and more factors slipping beyond his control.

"Lord Danzo."

The Root ninja summoned his courage and raised his head.

"Although the assassination mission failed."

"Lord Yi strictly carried out the second plan before self-destructing."

Danzo stopped what he was doing.

"Speak."

"Lord Yi used Hatake Style Swordsmanship in front of all the escort personnel."

"And he shouted slogans about doing it for Lord White Fang."

"He completely directed the motive for the attack toward dissatisfaction with the village leadership."

Upon hearing this, the anger on Danzo's face finally faded somewhat.

He sat back down in the stone chair.

Using his cane, he nudged aside a shattered teacup by his feet.

"Good."

"Well done."

An exceedingly dark curve tugged at Danzo's lips.

It was indeed regrettable that the assassination of Pakura had failed.

But political struggles were never about the gains and losses of a single battle.

This escort team was no ordinary Genin squad.

There was a genius from the Hyuga Main House among them.

A young