After Xia Yu left, Hiruzen led Danzo back to the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen set his cane aside and sat on the sofa.
"Hiruzen, you're too soft. Why waste your breath on Xia Yu? And Sasuke's still lying unconscious in the hospital because of that genjutsu. Just kill them both!"
The Third took a deep drag of smoke.
"Danzo! What are you saying? Sasuke's life was Itachi's condition for serving as a spy. How could we lay a hand on him? Besides, some village gossipmongers spread the news that Xia Yu was still alive to everyone this morning. Killing him now would arouse the public's suspicions!"
Danzo said, "I'll take the blame for you. What are you afraid of? I'll do what you don't dare to! The massacre plan succeeded. We achieved our goal. What does it matter if we kill Sasuke now? Itachi's all alone. If he dares come back to make trouble, that's exactly what I want... I'll make sure the Uchiha blood in this world goes completely cold!"
The Third shook his head decisively, his stance unusually firm.
"No! In any case, you are not to touch Xia Yu or Sasuke! This is a sensitive time. There are already some rumors circulating in the village about the truth behind the massacre. Stop making more trouble for me!"
Seeing that Hiruzen would not budge, Danzo rose with a sulky look like a petulant wife and walked straight out the door.
The Third said, "Look at you, doing it again! Every time we argue, you turn around and leave. Can't we talk things through a little more? Stay and keep me company a while longer."
Danzo said, "I really don't understand why the Second recommended you for Hokage. I was the only one who inherited his tough stance, yet he made me your dutiful wife. Hmph! Without me, Konoha would be finished sooner or later! To be honest, your spineless decision to sacrifice someone from the Hyuga Branch Family after Hinata was abducted by Kumogakure three years ago infuriated me!"
The Third shook his head helplessly.
"Sigh... I did it for Konoha, too. Peace is hard-won. Sacrificing one member of the Hyuga Branch Family in exchange for peaceful coexistence with Kumogakure was better than plunging all of Konoha into misery."
Danzo said, "Peaceful coexistence? Hah... Hiruzen, indulging them like this will only make Kumogakure even more brazen in the future! They were the ones who came to steal our Konoha's Byakugan, yet we ended up apologizing. I'm speechless..."
The Third sidled over to Danzo, gently patted his shoulder, and soothed him in a soft voice.
"All right, all right. Let's not dredge up old history. Getting angry is bad for your health. By the way, how did you deal with the Uchiha corpses?"
Danzo said, "You don't need to worry about that. In life, they belonged to Konoha; in death, their ghosts belong to Konoha! Even as corpses, I'll make them serve Konoha forever..."
In the remote wilderness, at Orochimaru's secret base.
"Uchiha Pao, one pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
"Uchiha Hui, one pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
"Uchiha Paohui, one Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
"Uchiha Huipao, half a Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
"Uchiha..."
Holding a list in one hand, Kabuto Yakushi inspected the bottles and jars piled across the table with the other as he complained.
"Lord Orochimaru, these are all fresh Sharingan that old fox Danzo had delivered. There certainly are plenty of them, but isn't the quality a little too poor? They're all eyes from a bunch of cannon fodder. What an insincere gesture!"
Orochimaru leaned elegantly against the lab bench, coquettishly tucking his hair behind his ear and toying with his earring. "Tsk, tsk, tsk... No matter. My favorite has already appeared at my side. That's enough. The others don't interest me..."
At Orochimaru's words, Kabuto Yakushi's fair cheeks instantly flushed, and he replied excitedly, "Your favorite? I-is that me? Lord Orochimaru, you... You're really making me a little embarrassed..."
"Kabuto, don't get the wrong idea." Orochimaru fiddled with the ring marked "Void" on his finger, then turned and threw cold water on Kabuto's enthusiasm. "When I was at the Akatsuki base last night, a newcomer joined the organization. Do you know who he is?"
Kabuto Yakushi furrowed his brow and shook his head.
Orochimaru stuck out his long tongue, greed showing on his face. "Tsk, tsk... My favorite, Uchiha Itachi."
"Uchiha... Itachi!" Kabuto Yakushi's pupils contracted. "The one who massacred his clan last night? He actually joined the Akatsuki?"
"Yes. I never expected him to become my colleague after massacring his clan. He came by boat with the probationary member, Tobi. Just as I thought... Itachi is the same kind of person as me, a ninja who sees ties like village, clan, and comrades as burdens. How could I not love the eyes of someone like that..."
Kabuto Yakushi said, "..."
Orochimaru walked to the wardrobe, picked up his Akatsuki uniform, and draped it over himself. "I'm heading back to report in at the Akatsuki now. I'll leave the rest to you. By the way, how is your research on that boy Shin's body coming along?"
Kabuto Yakushi said, "Shin has a very unusual constitution. No matter what cells or organs I transplant into him, he never shows any rejection. He's absolutely ideal material for cloning experiments."
Orochimaru nodded in satisfaction. "Good. If you have time, try transplanting these Sharingan Danzo brought into Shin. If it succeeds, it will be a major breakthrough for my cloning research."
Kabuto Yakushi said, "Transplant all of them? Lord Orochimaru, you... Aren't you keeping a pair?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Kabuto. I'm Orochimaru. Why would I use cannon fodder's eyes? My only target is Uchiha Itachi! Now that he's right by my side, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me!"
With that, Orochimaru turned and left.
Watching Orochimaru's figure recede into the distance, Kabuto Yakushi sighed forlornly. "Sigh. Every night, all that's left in the base is me and piles of test subjects. Lord Orochimaru, when will you understand... my loneliness..."
Late at night, outside the Warm Spring Bathhouse in Konoha.
This was a place Uchiha Xia Yu had often frequented in the past.
The moment Xia Yu stepped through the door, he heard an extremely seductive voice.
"Oh, if it isn't little Xia Yu. You finally remembered to come see me~"
"Hehe... Boss lady, you look pretty good in that outfit today."
The proprietress leaned close to Xia Yu, brimming with warmth.
"Stay here with me tonight. You must have been terrified by what happened to the Uchiha Clan..."
Xia Yu gave a wicked smile. "Sure, but I'm afraid a whole day won't work. I've got an important mission now. There's little time and a lot to do, so I can only keep you company for a while."
Xia Yu's plan officially began that day.
All of Konoha was his target.
"Konoha, just you wait! You wiped out my clan, didn't you? Then I'll wipe you out at the root!"
"From now on, every new sprout in Konoha will be an Uchiha!"
Before you continue