Root, Breached!

Whoosh!

Hidden Leaf Village.

Shinji and Orochimaru appeared silently atop Hokage Rock.

"Ah... it's been so long since I looked down over Konoha like this. How nostalgic!" Orochimaru stood with one hand on his hip, gazing at the village below the cliff.

He seemed nostalgic.

But his eyes were full of coldness.

"To think you actually took care of Shimura Danzō. How sad."

Shinji narrowed his eyes. "Surely you won't hold it against your current partner over an old one, Orochimaru?"

"Oh... of course not."

Orochimaru rubbed his chin. "I'm just curious. Why didn't you kill him outright, Shinji?"

"I'm waiting for you."

Shinji smiled. "Once you've dealt with Hiruzen Sarutobi, how about taking care of that old bastard Danzo for me too?"

"?!"

Orochimaru jolted.

He turned toward Shinji Uchiha, who was watching him with a smile.

A chill ran through him.

This guy...

Can he read minds?

"Well! No time to waste, Orochimaru. Shall we get down to business?"

Orochimaru shook his head. "I have the equipment... but Hikari alone isn't enough. I need freshly extracted, pure, original Hashirama Cells..."

"And I saw a peculiar life-form in the Land of Rain. If you could get me some for experiments, that would be ideal."

Shinji thought for a moment. "You mean White Zetsu?"

"Oh? You know about them?"

"Mm... they're peculiar life-forms that can be mass-produced."

Orochimaru froze. "Mass-produced?!"

"That's right."

Shinji looked toward Root. "I'll show you that thing someday. I'm sure you'll be interested. For now... let's get to work!"

"Who goes there?!"

At the entrance to the Root Base.

Two guards saw a pair of figures striding toward them without a care.

They instantly went on alert and shouted, "Stop!"

Orochimaru stopped, looking perfectly at ease. "How will you handle this, Shinji?"

Bzz—

Three Tomoe