"The idea for Kindergarten—how did you come up with it, Fugaku? If the Ninja Academy weren't meant to train Ninja, it would be even less useful than Kindergarten.
"Many civilian families in Konoha didn't send their children to the Ninja Academy, yet they sent their younger children to Kindergarten." Orochimaru voiced his curiosity.
"You know about the plan the Uchiha have been carrying out recently. At first, I just wanted to bring all the children together and establish something like the Ninja Academy.
"We refined the idea bit by bit, and Kindergarten gradually took shape. Are you interested in such things too?"
"Some of Konoha's ideals need to be passed down. Kindergarten could play a major part in that."
"If you don't mind my asking, did your trip to Ryūchi Cave go smoothly?"
Orochimaru nodded but said nothing more.
Fugaku had a fair idea of what had happened. Orochimaru had probably signed a contract with Manda, but he had not learned Sage Mode.
They talked until the afternoon before parting ways. Fugaku returned to his patrol with the Security Force.
That evening, Orochimaru quietly appeared in the living room of Danzo's residence. Danzo was already waiting for him.
"Orochimaru, I've been waiting a long time. How did your talk with Fugaku Uchiha go?"
"You had good reason to lose to him. You see things differently. Fugaku looks further ahead and sees more, while you've let immediate gains and power blind you.
"I hadn't seen him in over a year, and now I can no longer gauge his strength. He's becoming more and more unfathomable. The Sharingan truly is a Kekkei Genkai that's hard to fathom."
Danzo nodded. "I want you to investigate Root for me. Fugaku knows it inside out, so he must have planted a Spy there.
"He may