In a secluded spot outside Konoha.
Five figures had gathered there.
A white-haired boy looked at the other four, his face expressionless.
"Has Sasuke responded?"
"We've received his reply!"
"He said security was tight during the Hokage succession!"
"He'll come find us once the inauguration ceremony is over."
Satisfaction appeared in the white-haired boy's eyes, and he instructed the others:
"Stay on high alert. Once Sasuke arrives, we'll head back!"
The other four shinobi nodded in unison, fear and admiration in their eyes:
"Yes, Captain Kimimaro!"
If Zhou Cheng had been there, he would certainly have recognized all five of them.
They were the Sound Four, along with their captain, Kimimaro.
Orochimaru had sent them to persuade Sasuke to leave Konoha.
They were absolutely confident that Sasuke would choose Orochimaru.
Once, they too had been nobodies who amounted to nothing.
Only after meeting Lord Orochimaru had they become who they were today, more than ten times as strong as before.
In such a cruel world, no one could resist the temptation of power.
On the other side of Konoha, deep in a dense forest.
Two figures leaped along the branches, one behind the other.
One was wrapped in bandages, his eyes like those of a lone wolf.
He was Danzo.
After Zhou Cheng left Root, Danzo had also left Konoha.
But he had not defected. He had left the village to meet someone-someone who could kill Zhou Cheng.
"What was your leader's answer?"
Danzo called to the shinobi a short distance ahead of him.
The man wore a black cloak patterned with red clouds.
A spiral-shaped mask covered his face, leaving only his right eye exposed.
"Our leader has agreed to your request!"
"But we require an advance payment of ten million ryo!"
"We've investigated the person you want killed!"