Ripples

Danzo's expression was calm, but anger smoldered in his eyes. A year had taught him to hide himself better.

"If Konoha suffers heavy losses in the Land of Rain this time, the senior officials will realize how vulnerable they are without me.

"Where there is light, there must be darkness. Konoha welcomes only the sunlight now. Without Root hidden in the dark to draw nourishment from the soil for it, the village will only grow weaker.

"When that happens, the senior officials will remember what I can do. The Elders Council thinks it can keep me locked up? What a delusion.

"Konoha's safety matters more to Hiruzen than his own life. Once he understands that, he'll personally persuade the Elders Council to release me."

Orochimaru wore a faint smile throughout, saying nothing. He held no particular grudge against Danzo, but he had a poor opinion of the Elders Council.

He would rather see Danzo released and the Elders Council destroyed. As for Konoha's own intelligence officers in the Land of Wind, he and Danzo had already cut them off from information.

"I'll keep an eye on everything my teacher and the Elders Council do," Orochimaru said.

Danzo nodded. "Don't worry. Once I'm released, I'll do what I promised."

Orochimaru's smile remained knowing, as though everything was under his control. His dream was to master every Ninjutsu in the world.

Danzo had led Root for more than a decade. He held records on countless Ninjutsu and forbidden techniques and had conducted all manner of bizarre experiments. Those records were what interested Orochimaru.

Helping Danzo this time was a transaction, but it also gave Orochimaru an excuse to act.

Even without the deal, he could have found another way to get the records.

Fugaku quietly listened to their conversation. If Konoha suffered