The main world.
Winter, Year 21 of Konoha.
An underground black market somewhere in the Land of Fire.
The night was pitch-black, and the wind was bitterly cold. Danzo wore an inconspicuous gray cloak, his hood pulled low to hide most of his face. Behind him followed two Root Ninjas, also wearing gray cloaks, their faces likewise hidden in the shadows of their hoods.
This was one of the largest underground black markets in the Land of Fire, deep in a gorge between two hills. Outside lay a desolate snowfield, but inside was another world-brightly lit and bustling with voices. Missing-nin from various shinobi villages, rogue ninjas, information brokers, and weapons merchants traded everything that could not bear the light of day.
It was Danzo's first visit. He never personally set foot in places like this, but this time was different. What he wanted to buy was available only here.
"Lord Danzo, this way."
One Root Ninja spoke quietly, leading him through the bustling crowd to a secluded underground chamber. The chamber was small, barely more than ten square meters. Glowing minerals embedded in the walls bathed the entire space in a dim blue halo. A hunched old man sat behind the counter, wearing a white mask that exposed only a pair of cloudy eyes.
"What would you like, customer?"
The old man's voice was hoarse, like scraping sandpaper.
"Forbidden Drug: Asura's Cinders."
Danzo's voice was calm.
The old man narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Forbidden Drug: Asura's Cinders... That's good stuff. It greatly boosts all attributes, speed, and recovery for a short time, lets you ignore pain and injuries, and allows you to force forbidden techniques into use without backlash. It doesn't come cheap."
"Money is no object."
Danzo took a stack of banknotes from inside his cloak and set