Following the silent Anbu operative, Ling passed through Konoha's seemingly ordinary streets and eventually entered a concealed underground entrance. The farther down he went, the colder and damper the air became, and the dimmer the light grew. Only widely spaced oil lamps on the walls provided a faint glow-a stark contrast to the sunlit Konoha above, bustling with reconstruction.
This was Root's base, a dark corner beyond the reach of Konoha's sunlight.
After several stringent security checks, some even involving genjutsu and Sealing Jutsu formulas, they finally arrived before a heavy iron door. The Anbu operative silently withdrew into the shadows and vanished. The door slowly opened on its own, revealing an even darker room beyond.
In the center of the room, Shimura Danzō sat upright in a chair. His only exposed eye, the left one, gleamed in the gloom with a hawk's sharp, cold gaze. His right hand rested on a cane, and his entire right arm and right eye were tightly wrapped in bandages. He exuded a brooding, dangerous air.
"Ling Hatake... Special Jōnin." Danzo's voice was low and hoarse, carrying the oppressive weight of someone long accustomed to authority. "Congratulations on receiving the Fifth's commendation. To become a Special Jōnin at such a young age-truly, the younger generation is formidable."
"Lord Danzo." Ling inclined his head, neither servile nor arrogant. He could sense multiple presences lurking in the shadows around the room. Cold killing intent and the sensation of being watched spread like a spiderweb. [A typical pressure tactic.] Tobirama gave a cold scoff.
"No need for formalities. Sit." Danzo pointed his cane toward a chair opposite him.
Ling sat as instructed, keeping his body relaxed but his mind keenly focused. The pure water chakra within him circulated quietly, sensing every minute fluctuation of energy and shift