Danzo walked into his secret base with practiced ease. Separate from Root, this was where he kept his deepest secrets.
Ever since the night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre, after all, those hateful remarks from Hyuga Hiashi had led to Root being kept under constant surveillance by Anbu assigned by the Third.
Sarutobi had also excluded him from the decision-making circle for a time. Though he had not stripped Danzo of his so-called position as Hokage Advisor, the title remained while his actual authority had dwindled to almost nothing.
This was B worse than being dismissed outright. Stripped of every bit of authority, yet left with nothing but a title?
How could the power-hungry Danzo possibly endure that?
Ordering his most trusted personal guards to watch the entrance, Danzo proceeded into the deepest chamber.
Strange equipment filled the room. It looked like an enormous laboratory, packed with instruments of every kind.
Danzo approached a platform, took out the Maki, and spread it open.
"A shame I can't contact Orochimaru right now. He must have realized earlier that Sarutobi was watching me. I won't be able to make use of him for a while... Otherwise, with him here, perhaps I could uncover more of the Sharingan's secrets!"
"Damn that Hyuga Hiashi. If he hadn't interfered, how could I have ended up with so few Uchiha Sharingan?"
Danzo muttered as he stared at the Maki.
"That boy Sai has a talent for sealing jutsu, but he still needs practice. He struggled so much with even this sort of Inanimate Object Sealing just now... Release."
Then he undid the Maki's seal with a simple hand seal. The intact Coffin rose out of the picture before dropping heavily onto the platform.
Thud!
The dull, heavy impact jolted the Coffin's lid slightly open.
Danzo hurried