Given Danzo's personality, there was no way he would simply swallow this insult. Sure enough, he cursed as he whipped Yamanaka Fū, who knelt before him.
Although Danzo knew how to control his strength, the blows did little damage but were deeply humiliating, and Fū was beginning to find them hard to bear.
I, Yamanaka Fū, have spent all these years in Root. What haven't I been through? Charging into battle, killing, arson... I've been wounded and shed blood, yet now Lord Danzo is whipping me like this. I know he's only venting this way because he's upset. It's all Meihui Uzumaki's fault.
Besides, although Lord Danzo appears to be whipping me, it's because I failed to complete the mission he assigned. I was the one at fault. He's pushing me to improve, encouraging me to keep moving forward. And as the captain, I bear the greatest responsibility for the mission's failure. I deserve punishment. Lord Danzo is also doing this to set an example for the others. I've earned this. Sob, sob... Lord Danzo really is too good to me.
Danzo noticed the change in Fū, too. He had gone from terrified to suddenly accepting it, and now... he looked like he was enjoying himself?
Even his hand stopped moving as he stared at Fū in disbelief.
Fū was still hopelessly immersed in his own fantasies. When the blows stopped, he looked up at Danzo with gratitude written all over his face.
The sight left Danzo sweating coldly, and he hurriedly dismissed Fū. What had gotten into the brat? He was downright creepy.
"Torune Aburame, come here. Go investigate whether Meihui Uzumaki has anyone protecting him."
"Yes, sir."
"Wait. Reapply Yamanaka Fū's Root Cursed Seal."
"Yes, sir."
Just remembering the look in Fū's eyes made Danzo's skin crawl. Who