"Click-click-" Xue Ge fiddled with the Prosthetic Limbs on his left arm, clumsily gripping a cup with them, carefully lifting it off the table, then setting it back down.
Nearly half a year had passed since Danzo brought him back to Konoha from the battlefield.
Xue Ge had done quite a few things in those six months. First, he had gained a rough understanding of where he was, along with concepts such as the Naruto, Konoha, and ninja.
Compared with his initial unease and unfamiliarity, he had gradually grown used to life in Konoha-or rather, life under Danzo. It was oppressive, but reasonably safe.
Second, he had developed chakra and received wooden Prosthetic Limbs. And all of this was thanks to... Danzo.
"How are you doing? Can you move your Prosthetic Limbs properly now?" The door opened, and a man wearing a flame-patterned mask strode over to Xue Ge.
Xue Ge rose somewhat awkwardly. "Yes, though it's still a little difficult."
Xue Ge did not know this man's real name, only that his code name was En and he served under Danzo. Over the past six months, Xue Ge had only seen Danzo two or three times. Most of the time, this man named En carried out Danzo's orders.
Rather than Danzo's adopted son, he felt more like En's adopted son now.
Yes, his adopted son.
Xue Ge had no idea what Danzo saw in him, but as soon as he woke up, others had told him that Danzo apparently intended to take him as his apprentice and adopted son.
Just what was that middle-aged man named Danzo planning...?
This abrupt decision had led the ANBU under Danzo to believe Xue Ge would eventually inherit his position, so they all called him his heir.
"In that case, come with me." En nodded and turned to leave. Xue Ge tugged on his Chakra Threads, stumbling slightly as he followed.
The Chakra Threads were difficult to control. Xue Ge could not manage fine movements, which made his body seem sluggish and contorted, though fortunately, it did not prevent him from moving normally.
Apparently, Danzo had commissioned someone to make these Prosthetic Limbs... They could be controlled with Chakra Threads and were a type of puppet. Compared with proper puppets, however, they were much easier to master.
Xue Ge recalled having seen proper puppets before... That older woman named Chiyo was apparently a Puppet Master? He wondered whether she was any good.
"This is your Training Schedule."
As he walked, En took a scroll out of his sleeve and handed it to Xue Ge. Xue Ge accepted it and unrolled it. Its contents nearly made him lose control of his Prosthetic Limbs and stumble flat onto the ground.
[2 a.m. to 11 a.m.: chakra control training.] [11 a.m. to 4 p.m.: physical conditioning.] [4 p.m. to 8 p.m.: tactical training.] [8 p.m. to midnight: Ninja Tools throwing practice.]
"Uh..." A rare note of uncertainty crept into Xue Ge's voice. "That's... two hours... to sleep?"
Was this serious? Forget recovering from training-two hours wasn't even enough for ordinary rest, was it?
Xue Ge had always maintained a healthy sleep schedule in his previous life. Only two hours of sleep a day... He dared not imagine what mental state that would leave him in.
"Yes." En nodded as though it were perfectly natural.
"What about time to eat?"
"There isn't any. Lord Danzo has arranged specially made Soldier Pills for you. You can finish eating in a minute. If you don't train hard enough, you might even gain weight."
Soldier Pills? From the name, they were meant to replace meals... Something like nutrition bars?
"What if I can't wake up?"
"With me around, that won't be a problem. There's no chance you won't wake up," En said. "And don't worry. Lord Danzo has already taken all that into account."
Taken what into account? Xue Ge was utterly bewildered.
"The physical conditioning is...?"
"Running laps around Konoha without stopping. Besides me, others among his lordship's subordinates will help supervise you. Keep running. No stopping. Whistle if you need water."
"The tactical training is...?"
"I'll set up an area full of traps, and you'll have to find a way through it. Don't worry, none of the traps will be lethal, though injuries will be hard to avoid."
"..."
Were they trying to kill me?
The corner of Xue Ge's mouth twitched. "Is this how all you ninja train?"
"Of course... not." Xue Ge could almost see the smile beneath that mask. "Your training is two or three times more intense than our regular training."
"Then why...?"
"You are his lordship's heir."
En suddenly grew serious and lowered his voice.
"I've served his lordship for a long time. Let me be frank with you. You might think he only took you in on a whim, but he has shown an unprecedented level of interest in you."
"Perhaps it's because you're the successor he chose. His lordship personally sought out a Puppet Master among the prisoners of war to make your Prosthetic Limbs. These past few days, he's also been visiting Lord Orochimaru frequently to finalize arrangements concerning you."
"Lord Orochimaru has promised Lord Danzo that he'll prepare medicine specifically for you. It will keep your body from breaking down while accelerating your recovery and flushing toxins out of your system. Oh, right. The Soldier Pills I mentioned earlier were also prepared by Lord Orochimaru."
"I've never seen Lord Danzo take such an interest in anyone."
After hearing En's earnest explanation, Xue Ge fell silent. So that was where his Prosthetic Limbs had come from?
Orochimaru... From the ANBU's descriptions, he seemed to be a leading expert in biology? If he was addressed as 'lord' just like Danzo, and Danzo had to approach him to discuss matters, he certainly wasn't an ordinary person.
Put that way... Danzo really had done quite a lot for Xue Ge.
But why?
Xue Ge did not understand. Was there something special about him? Half a year had passed, and he did not seem to have awakened any cheat ability or anything.
"There are fifteen further variations of this schedule. Once your training reaches a certain level, we'll adjust your routine. Several ANBU will be coming to help."
"The training we've planned for you will last at least four years."
"The final schedule-well, the last part of Lord Danzo's initial expectations for you-will include live combat training. As for your opponent... that will be me. I'll also be your final opponent."
"You must earn my recognition as a worthy heir, and all of this must be completed within four years. Understood?"
Xue Ge fell silent
for a moment, then sighed softly.
They said he had a choice, but in truth, he had none, nor was there any need to choose. There was only one path open to him now.
And just what had happened to me? Who was the person who saved me at the start? Who killed him? Who cut off my hands and feet?
Who exactly was Danzo? And why did he value me?
It all seemed hidden in a fog. Xue Ge wanted answers, but he currently had no means to seek them.
For a disabled child, simply staying alive was already a stroke of extraordinary luck. For now, he could only take things one step at a time.
Danzo knocked on the door of Orochimaru's Research Institute. Several ANBU followed behind him, each carrying a coffin on their back.
The door opened, and more than a dozen people entered the institute.
The ANBU silently set their coffins in the designated places, then tactfully left at once. Danzo strode into Orochimaru's Laboratory. Inside, Orochimaru was mixing a translucent blue liquid.
"I've delivered the 'materials' you wanted. The second batch."
Danzo spoke as he stood beside him.
Orochimaru gave a perfunctory response without smiling and set down the Test Tube in his hand.
"Have you finished preparing what I asked for?"
"Of course. However..." Orochimaru glanced at Danzo. "Let me make this clear first. In a sense, Hero Water is actually poison. I've only barely managed to neutralize its toxicity."
"Its original chakra-stimulating effect is gone. What remains can greatly reduce physical fatigue, but in exchange... internal injuries will steadily accumulate, and the subject will experience persistent stabbing pain."
"Unless someone devotes considerable effort to treating him, your 'apprentice' will never amount to anything more than a Jonin. And... he will inevitably die before he turns twenty."
"I'm telling you now. You'd better think it through."
"That's acceptable." Danzo nodded without hesitation.
A disposable asset with a twenty-year lifespan was sufficient. By his calculations, there were still fifteen or sixteen years left-enough time for the boy to serve as a suitable weapon. After that, Danzo would no longer need an apprentice or a trusted subordinate to consolidate his position.
Of course, if Xue Ge truly proved sufficiently valuable, Danzo would not begrudge finding a Medical Ninja for him.
"I'll supply the remaining 'materials' in five batches. We can cooperate further in the future, as long as you offer me sufficient returns..."
Danzo spoke in a low voice.
Orochimaru's lips curled. "As long as you have a need for my services..."
After a moment's silence, Orochimaru cast his serpentine eyes toward Danzo. "Is there something special about that child?"
"Specially formulated medicine, cultivating stem cells from his original cells, and even... Uchiha eyes. This hardly seems like the sort of thing you'd do for a child..."
"And after making all these preparations, you still intend to treat him as disposable. I really don't understand."
Danzo glanced at Orochimaru and snorted. "Don't ask unnecessary questions. This is merely a transaction."
"Yes, yes, yes..." Orochimaru gave a couple of cold, dry chuckles, then lowered his head and returned to his work.
Watching Orochimaru immerse himself in his research, Danzo considered for a moment before saying:
"I'll provide you with some of the First's cells later... Study their compatibility with Xue Ge's cells."
"...Heh. You want to restart the artificial Wood Release plan? Fine. Just give me the cells." Orochimaru snorted.
Once the ANBU had placed all the coffins, Danzo and his entourage left Orochimaru's Laboratory. After the ANBU departed on their respective missions, Danzo walked slowly toward the Naruto Building alone.
Danzo knew the answer to Orochimaru's question perfectly well, but he could not tell anyone.
Hiruzen's apprentices had all entered the battlefield already, and he had brought up taking an apprentice with Danzo several times. Danzo and Hiruzen belonged to the same generation, and Danzo himself came from a clan. Many of those who wished to become his apprentice were members of other major clans.
Danzo did not want to become a political bargaining chip for the major clans. Hiruzen could rely on the Senju's powerful backing; he could not.
Compared with children from clans, commoners suited Danzo's tastes better. Unfortunately, none of the commoners in the past few graduating classes had caught his eye. In that case, letting this reasonably agreeable child fill the position for now would at least silence the others.
Disabled? Disability was no problem. In Danzo's eyes, a disabled child was no different from an ordinary one. If he truly was a genius, how could mere missing hands and feet hold him back?
Besides, raising an heir like this offered plenty of advantages.
First, if the boy genuinely proved useful, Danzo could train him into a trusted subordinate. To control Root, Danzo needed his own loyal followers, and those raised from childhood were clearly more trustworthy.
Second, the boy could also serve as a test subject.
Heh... Transplanting other bloodlines' kekkei genkai was dangerous. Danzo wasn't about to take that risk himself. Orochimaru could handle compatibility research, and once compatibility was confirmed, before testing its effectiveness in actual combat... Xue Ge could receive the transplant first and give it a try.