Shimura Danzō and Kabuto Yakushi

"You needn't interfere in Naruto's affairs anymore."

Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted coldly. Seeing the uncertainty in Shimura Danzō's eyes, he explained, "I've sent word. Before long, Jiraiya will return to Konoha."

"I understand."

Shimura Danzō nodded with apparent resignation.

As one of Konoha's Three Sannin, once Jiraiya returned to Konoha, it would mean Hiruzen Sarutobi had the support of another Kage-level ninja. It was also meant to make Danzo restrain himself.

As for what Danzo truly thought... he was Shimura Danzō, not Biwako Sarutobi. Why should he obediently listen to Hiruzen Sarutobi?

Watching the Third Hokage lead the ANBU out of the base, Shimura Danzō narrowed his eyes slightly and lowered his head with a sigh. "Still so weak... Sarutobi... If you greedily seek more, you are destined to lose everything..."

"And what about Lord Danzo..."

Someone suddenly stepped out from a pitch-black corner, adjusted his glasses, and looked at Shimura Danzō. "Do you also want more?"

"So it's you..."

The one-eyed old man's gaze sharpened as he expressionlessly tightened his grip on the ninja blade in his hand. "You little traitor, and you still dare show your face before me..."

The newcomer was Kabuto Yakushi, who had come from Konoha Orphanage.

Every year, Shimura Danzō would periodically select children suited to join Root from Konoha Orphanage. Kabuto Yakushi had been one of those chosen.

It had to be said that Kabuto Yakushi had carried out spy missions with remarkable efficiency.

Later, Kabuto Yakushi left Root and joined Orochimaru's ranks, thereby gaining much evidence of Shimura Danzō's collusion with Orochimaru.

After Orochimaru defected, this spy still lurking in Konoha became a thorn in Shimura Danzō's side. He wished nothing more than to get rid of him as quickly as possible.

"Wait!"

Kabuto Yakushi hurriedly raised a hand to stop Danzo, then tossed him a scroll. "I represent Lord Orochimaru. This contains intelligence that Lord Danzo cares about most!"

Shimura Danzō raised a hand and caught the scroll. A line of text on it mentioned that Jiraiya and Team Seven had passed through the Land of Rice Fields and were heading toward Konoha.

The one-eyed old man could not help frowning. "Jiraiya is with Team Seven, led by Kakashi Hatake..."

That was not good news for him.

Even though he had just obtained a measure of authority from Hiruzen Sarutobi and could deploy all the former Root ninja, killing Kakashi Hatake and capturing Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha under Jiraiya's protection would still be troublesome.

Against an enemy like Jiraiya, the number of ordinary ninja made little difference. His summoned beasts alone were enough to alter the battlefield.

More importantly, Root could not find anyone capable of restraining Jiraiya. Even Shimura Danzō himself did not believe he could defeat Jiraiya in his current state.

"Lord Danzo."

Kabuto Yakushi lowered his head, concealing his smile. "I believe you know that only one of the Sannin can oppose another Sannin. Lord Orochimaru does not mind taking action, but..."

"What condition does he want?"

"Regarding the Konoha Crush Plan we carried out during the Chunin Exams..."

"That is absolutely impossible!"

Shimura Danzō coldly cut Kabuto Yakushi off, lowering his gaze to look down at him. "I cannot leave behind any stain in the Konoha Crush Plan. You should know very well what the ultimate purpose of carrying out the plan during the Chunin Exams was!"

Because Konoha was heavily guarded, the joint Chunin Exams were the largest-scale opportunity for ninja from other villages to enter Konoha. That was why they had a chance to launch the Konoha Crush Plan.

And the ultimate purpose of the Konoha Crush Plan was for Orochimaru to eliminate the Third Hokage and his trusted confidants, thereby pushing Shimura Danzō into power.

Therefore, Shimura Danzō could never expose any weakness in public, lest his position as Hokage go unrecognized.

"Of course I do."

Kabuto Yakushi smiled and spread open his palm. "If Lord Danzo cannot offer any help with the plan, then we can only exchange it for another forbidden jutsu...

The Reverse Four Symbols Seal...

That should not be difficult for Lord Danzo, should it?"

The Reverse Four Symbols Seal was Konoha's S-rank Forbidden Jutsu. It could easily seal everything within several hundred meters into the caster's corpse. No one could resist this forbidden jutsu.

As an ultimate Sealing Jutsu comparable to the Reaper Death Seal, Shimura Danzō knew full well the power of this technique. It was also his greatest trump card.

Danzo's body contained countless secrets. Whether they were the hidden secrets of the ninja world he had encountered or the results of the human experiments on his body, none could be known to the outside world. The Reverse Four Symbols Seal was also the burial technique he had prepared for himself.

Shimura Danzō was silent for a while before asking, "Does Orochimaru also covet a forbidden jutsu meant to perish together with one's enemy?"

"To Lord Orochimaru, every ninjutsu has its use."

Kabuto Yakushi smiled slightly but did not explain further.

Based on Kabuto Yakushi's understanding of Orochimaru, he roughly knew how Orochimaru intended to use this forbidden jutsu. Once he obtained the Reverse Four Symbols Seal, it would multiply Orochimaru's combat strength.

The current Orochimaru had long developed his escape techniques to an inconceivable level. The many flaws of the Reverse Four Symbols Seal could be resolved with ease.

"Humph!"

Shimura Danzō snorted coldly and turned to walk deeper into the base. "Follow me! I hope Orochimaru will not disappoint me..."

"Rest assured, Lord Danzo."

Kabuto Yakushi grinned and followed after him.

The two completed their transaction in the gloomy Root base. Kabuto received the technique scroll for the Reverse Four Symbols Seal, while Shimura Danzō exchanged it for Orochimaru taking action against Jiraiya once.

After Kabuto Yakushi stuffed the scroll in his hand into the mouth of a White Snake, he suddenly turned back and asked, "Lord Danzo, when do you wish to make your move?"

"In the coming days."

Shimura Danzō drew out his ninja blade and said in a low voice, "This time, I will act personally. Neither the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki nor Sasuke Uchiha will escape from my grasp!"

"Then I shall report to Lord Orochimaru immediately."

Kabuto Yakushi nodded to himself, stroked the White Snake's head, and watched it burrow into his sleeve. In a low voice, he said, "Then allow me to wish Lord Danzo success in getting what you desire."

As Kabuto Yakushi rose to leave, Shimura Danzō suddenly called out to stop him. "Kabuto, have you ever hated me? Because of Yakushi Nonō..."

"...Heh... Fragile lives..."

The silver-haired young man stopped at once. With his back to Shimura Danzō, he removed his glasses and gently wiped the mist from their lenses. "The director... was merely a passerby in my life."

"I see..."

Shimura Danzō said to himself, "When I ascend to the position of Hokage, would you be willing to rejoin Root and serve under me once more?"

"That depends..."

Kabuto Yakushi tilted his head, glancing at Shimura Danzō's shadow from the corner of his eye. "On exactly how much benefit Lord Danzo can bring me!"

"Profit above all else..."

The one-eyed old man standing beside the candlelight nodded and continued, "After Orochimaru defected, Root's biological research lab has been short on manpower...

As long as you are willing to join, all the materials in the biological research lab and the funding required for experiments will be at your disposal. Root's combat ninja can also provide you with conveniences.

Konoha absolutely cannot fall behind others in any regard, nor can it place its lifeline in the hands of a Rogue Ninja. Orochimaru is far too greedy."

"Allow me to consider it carefully."

Kabuto Yakushi was silent for a while before replying. He put his glasses back on and slowly walked out of the dark underground base.

First update.

Kabuto Yakushi: Danzo is trying to recruit me...

Orochimaru: What conditions did he offer you...

Kabuto Yakushi: The position of director of a biological research lab...

Orochimaru: That was my old position in Konoha. The terms are quite generous. What do you think?

Kabuto Yakushi: Under Lord Orochimaru, I can still show my face in public. If I worked under Shimura Danzō, I'd have to wear a mask even after I died...