Anger simmered inside Danzo as he wrote back and forth across the scroll. Halfway through, he seemed unable to contain it any longer.
"Damn it..." he cursed, slamming his brush down on the table. "Damn it, I can't swallow this humiliation."
Feeling the agitation within him, he took several deep breaths and slowly calmed himself.
Stay calm. Stay calm! he kept reminding himself. After a long while, his emotions settled, and reason returned.
"Murakami!" he shouted toward the door.
The moment his voice faded, a trembling figure entered.
Murakami was the black-robed Root ninja who had left earlier!
He knelt respectfully before Danzo and lowered his head. "Lord Danzo..."
"Is there something else you need me to do?"
"Wait a moment!" Danzo nodded and resumed writing on the scroll. A few minutes later, he handed the completed scroll to the man before him.
"Murakami, take this scroll back to Konoha and deliver it to Sarutobi. Then take my deployment order and send every Root ninja who isn't on a mission here to me."
"Well..." Fear stirred in Murakami's heart. Ninjas now surrounded the Land of Whirlpools, and the only way out was underwater. But he feared the ninjas on the surface would spot him.
There were also ferocious beasts in the sea. Making it back to Konoha would probably cost him dearly.
Despite these thoughts, no hesitation showed on his face as he respectfully accepted the mission. Lord Danzo had given him his second chance at life. Even if it was dangerous, he had to secure an advantage for him.
"Mm! Very good!" Danzo nodded with a smile, some of his earlier displeasure fading. He was still satisfied with the ninjas he had trained.
"All right, you may go!" Danzo waved Murakami away. Sitting on the bed, he found his