My Only True Confidant, Danzo!

The air in the hall was so stifling it was hard to breathe.

More than a dozen Root shinobi wearing animal masks surrounded Qian Ye.

They had not drawn their swords.

Yet the killing intent of those who had crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood bore down solidly upon Qian Ye.

An ordinary twelve-year-old Genin would probably have been unable to remain standing by now.

Danzo sat in a broad wooden chair.

His cane rested before him.

The lone eye exposed beyond his bandages held scrutiny and an aloof, oppressive authority.

He waited.

He waited for this brat who had recently stolen the spotlight at Kikyo Pass to show fear.

He waited for Qian Ye's legs to go weak and for him to kneel.

In Root's strict, sunless environment, he had never seen a young person withstand such pressure.

Not even Orochimaru's disciple.

After all, he was merely a twelve-year-old commoner.

Yet Qian Ye stood where he was.

His hands were tucked into his pockets.

He even looked around the torches on the walls with considerable interest.

"Cough."

Danzo tapped his cane against the floor.

The dull impact echoed through the underground hall.

The Root shinobi around him stepped closer in unison.

Their killing intent grew heavier.

Qian Ye withdrew his gaze.

He looked at Danzo directly ahead.

The expression on his face suddenly changed.

There was no arrogance.

No vigilance.

And certainly no fear.

Instead, he wore an expression of such excitement that he seemed on the verge of tears.

Qian Ye suddenly took a large step forward.

The Root shinobi beside him placed their hands on their sword hilts.

Yet Qian Ye completely ignored those blades.

He looked at Danzo, his booming voice buzzing throughout the entire hall.

"Lord Danzo!"

"My admiration for you