Danzo, You Old Bastard, You've Already Set Your Sights on Me

Three years passed in a flash, and just like that, Gojo Satoru was shoved into the ANBU.

Every time Danzo saw him, he looked at him like a cockroach that refused to die.

He wanted nothing more than to kick him out of Konoha and never see him again.

Kakashi tilted his head and stared at him for a long while, looking as though he had a toothache.

"Doesn't wearing it like that bother you?"

"You're really keeping that blindfold on?"

A blindfold over a mask-what kind of mind came up with a combination like that?

"The blindfold is my true form."

"Taking it off would be unthinkable."

Gojo Satoru slapped the mask onto his face, laughter in his voice.

How could he give up such a stylish look?

Kakashi's face, mostly hidden beneath his face covering, twitched. He was utterly speechless.

He had spent a fair amount of time with Gojo Satoru by now, but he still couldn't figure out what made him tick.

"All right, hurry up. Lord Hokage wants to see us."

He urged him along.

Gojo Satoru tossed his white hair back. "Don't tell me we're being dragged into another meeting."

What a waste of this lovely sunshine. It was perfect for catching up on sleep.

The two stepped through the door of the Hokage's Office.

Only when the Third Hokage heard their footsteps did he slowly raise his head.

"You're here."

The lines on his face tightened as he went straight to the matter at hand.

"Orochimaru concealed quite a few secret laboratories within our country's borders."

"You're aware of that, aren't you?"

"Yes."

Kakashi answered without hesitation.

Gojo Satoru said nothing, merely giving a casual nod.

He could already more or less guess what the Third Hokage would say next.

Honestly, if they had really wanted to clean up this mess, they shouldn't have gone easy on him in the first place.

Always waiting until the damage was done before scrambling to patch things up-he had no respect for that approach.

Beneath his blindfold, his azure eyes deepened, as though fragments of starlight flowed through them, as though they could see straight through a person's fate.

The Third Hokage paused for breath, then continued.

"He destroyed some before defecting, but left the rest untouched. There are also things we know absolutely nothing about."

Kakashi nodded. "That seems to be the case."

They had pursued him relentlessly back then. Orochimaru really hadn't had time to clear them out one by one.

The Third Hokage's gaze drifted into the distance, and he let out a heavy breath.

"A little while ago, a squad happened upon a facility whose purpose they couldn't determine."

"According to their report, it appears to be one of the research sites Orochimaru abandoned."

"It's been three years since Orochimaru defected, yet the things he left behind are still causing trouble for the village."

"I'll have to ask you to make the trip. Thank you for your efforts."

What had Orochimaru been tinkering with over those years?

Perhaps I shouldn't have, back then...

Hopefully, they could get to the bottom of it this time.

The two accepted the Third Hokage's instructions without further discussion.

Over at the Root Base, a few candles lit the corridor, their flames swaying erratically.

Danzo stood at the far end of the corridor, menace seeping from his entire body.

Bandages covered half his head, keeping one eye tightly concealed.

He slowly turned around and looked down at the two Root members kneeling on one knee before him.

"The dojutsu in this eye has been exhausted."

"Go find me some fresh stock."

He pulled away the bandages, revealing a blood-red Sharingan embedded in his face.

In his hands, a Sharingan was no different from a disposable item, discarded once used up.

Even a true Uchiha expended some dojutsu with every use, eventually ending up blind.

The one he had stolen was even worse. It wouldn't last long.

He needed a fresh Sharingan, one that still brimmed with life.

One of the kneeling Root members glanced up at Danzo, then immediately bowed his head again.

The other didn't move a muscle.

"We'll need to plan carefully if we're going after the Uchiha."

That one spoke.

Danzo shook his head. "It doesn't necessarily have to be an Uchiha."

There was already a ripe target waiting for them.

"There's someone with no parents and no teacher left, who has a Sharingan in his possession. He even killed his own friend."

Kakashi Hatate?

A flicker of surprise crossed the kneeling man's face.

Danzo continued, "Oh, and if it's convenient, pluck out the eyes of that brat beside him, the one called Uchiha Satoru, and bring them to me too."

Uchiha Satoru!

Heh. This was the first time anyone had dared get in my face and act so wildly.

I've already claimed those eyes of yours!

Consider them interest on your arrogance.

The instant he recalled Gojo Satoru calling him one of the rotten higher-ups, the fire in Danzo's chest burned so fiercely that his teeth ached.

Youthful arrogance was no virtue. It came at a price.