Enemies Meet on a Narrow Road: Running into Danzo!

Even his own rest time had to be constantly squeezed and reduced. There was no point in it. Others might need disciples to maintain their status, but did Hikaru?

"What a rare guest~~~~"

Hikaru and Danzo stood in the corridor outside the Hokage's Office. Hikaru had not expected to run into that old bastard Danzo here. Ever since being struck with a stick, Danzo had kept a low profile and rarely appeared in public, especially over the past two years.

Hikaru had been heading to the Hokage's Office and, for once, had not climbed through the window. He had not expected to run into Danzo just as Danzo was coming out of the office.

Compared to two years ago, the cold, sinister aura around Danzo had grown much heavier. Hikaru could clearly sense an additional presence within him, one that did not belong to Danzo. That aura belonged to Hashirama Senju. Since Hikaru had fused with Hashirama's cells, he was especially sensitive to such things.

Orochimaru had told Hikaru two years ago that Danzo was preparing to transplant Hashirama's cells. He had been making preparations for the procedure. Hikaru had not expected Danzo to not only go through with it, but actually succeed. Still, the right half of his body was probably neither human nor ghostly now.

Not everyone could completely absorb Hashirama's cells like Hikaru. Madara Uchiha and the others were all much the same. Aside from Madara Uchiha, who was somewhat better off, anyone else who dared try it ended up turning themselves into neither human nor ghost.

Hikaru narrowed his eyes and looked over Danzo's right shoulder and the right side of his body. Curious, he asked, "Lord Danzo, your aura has changed quite a bit. Did you do something?"

"Hmph!! Could it possibly compare to you,