Hidden among the treetops nearby, Zou Hyuga watched Danzo coaxing a child into his service.
When it came to tricking children into risking their lives for him, Orochimaru was undisputedly the best in the shinobi world. Through personal charisma alone, he had attracted countless devoted followers and single-handedly established Otogakure.
While he was alive, Kimimaro had willingly offered his body to become his vessel.
Even after his death, loyal subordinates like Kabuto Yakushi had worked tirelessly to prepare for his resurrection, going so far as to instigate the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Danzo, on the other hand, recruited subordinates by invoking the will of the root, an offshoot of the will of fire.
Although he had some utterly loyal subordinates, far more Root Ninja had decidedly complicated feelings toward him.
Zou Hyuga preferred to let others choose for themselves. People stubbornly believed their own choices were right, even when they were wrong, which ensured a considerable degree of loyalty.
As Fū hesitantly reached out her hand, Danzo revealed an almost imperceptible smile.
With a devastating weapon like a jinchūriki in his hands, he would have greater confidence when facing Hiruzen, the Uchiha, and the Akatsuki.
Just then, Zou Hyuga frowned slightly nearby. He sensed a familiar fluctuation.
Then, a vortex slowly twisted into existence behind Fū. Amid the ripples in space, a hand reached for her collar.
Danzo's gaze sharpened, and he hurled a shuriken infused with wind nature at the hand.
Seemingly sensing the shuriken's sharpness, the hand turned intangible and avoided being sliced. The shuriken cut through several large trees before finally coming to a stop, embedded in a trunk.
"Masked Man Madara, you dare show yourself before me!"
Recognizing Obito's outfit, Danzo frowned. The Root Ninja around him shifted positions, surrounding Obito.
Before Obito could say anything,