Putting Shimura Danzō in his place was enough. If the killing continued, even a cornered dog would bite.
All the more so with this calculating, ruthless leader of Root.
Otsutsuki Toneri had not come looking for a fight with him.
"Then, my young friend, what brings you to Root today?" Watching the enormous firebird vanish in an instant, Shimura Danzō's eyes flickered before he turned to Otsutsuki Toneri and asked evenly.
Fire Release Ninjutsu like that was definitely S-rank. Most importantly, he had not even seen Otsutsuki Toneri form hand seals!
S-rank ninjutsu without hand seals? Wasn't that fucking cheating?
If that old bastard Hiruzen Sarutobi really won over a little monster like this, would his Root have any footing left in Konoha?
Fortunately, this little fellow seemed to have schemes of his own. He certainly had not come to him with good intentions.
Perhaps he could try winning him over instead. With support like this, his chances of toppling Hiruzen Sarutobi would increase dramatically!
As for inviting a wolf into his home? He did not care. People came and went, all in pursuit of profit!
As long as he could get a handle on what this child wanted, the boy could absolutely become his loyal partner!
As for Kotoamatsukami, that was something he had reserved for realizing his dream. Unless absolutely necessary, he would not use it ahead of time.
Otherwise, the cooldown was far too long. He was already over sixty and could not afford to wait!
"I came to see you today, Lord Danzo, because there is something I would like to ask you for," Otsutsuki Toneri said with a smile, as though he had not noticed the shifting look in Shimura Danzō's eyes.
"Oh? What might you want, my young friend?" Danzo tilted his head and asked evenly.
Although he intended to cooperate with Otsutsuki Toneri, he naturally would not show it first. He needed to establish why Otsutsuki Toneri had come.
"I'm sure you've noticed, Lord Danzo, that I was born blind. What do you think I need?" Otsutsuki Toneri's lips curved into a pure smile, making him look utterly innocent.
But Danzo certainly did not see him that way!
"You want eyes? You want to get Sharingan from me?" Shimura Danzō immediately understood what Otsutsuki Toneri meant, then narrowed his eyes slightly and asked calmly.
He had quite a few Sharingan from the Uchiha Clan in his possession, so he assumed Otsutsuki Toneri had come to request some.
After all, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan was far more famous than the Hyuga's Byakugan, enhancing all aspects of its user's abilities.
And it could even evolve!
Happy New Year's Eve, everyone~ I'm asking for all your support, darlings!
Let's not beat around the bush. Hand over your flowers! Otherwise, I, Shi Ritian, am coming for a night raid! I really am!
Chapter 31: How About I Help You Kill Hiruzen Sarutobi? First update
It was common knowledge throughout the Naruto world that the Sharingan, the Kekkei Genkai of Konoha's Uchiha Clan, was an extremely rare bloodline that could grow and evolve.
Compared to the Byakugan, which was quite powerful but limited in function, the Sharingan was clearly stronger!
So Danzo naturally deduced that Otsutsuki Toneri had come to ask him for Sharingan.
"No, no, no. The Sharingan may be precious, but what I want is the Byakugan." Otsutsuki Toneri shook his head, rejecting Shimura Danzō's words with a soft laugh.
He had no intention of concealing his thoughts, even though this might make Danzo suspicious of his purpose.
But Otsutsuki Toneri did not care. After all, his strength was his greatest assurance.
Danzo's own strength, at most, only placed him among the ordinary at Kage Level.
Even with Izanagi supporting him, he was only at that level.
"The Byakugan? Compared to the Sharingan, the Byakugan is rather more troublesome." Shimura Danzō frowned slightly. Indeed, as far as he was concerned,
the Sharingan was far easier to obtain than the Byakugan. After all, he already had Sharingan on hand, but the Byakugan was not so easily acquired.
The Hyuga Clan guarded the Byakugan far too carefully.
And why did this child want the Byakugan instead of the Sharingan? That really was rather strange.
Could the Byakugan be hiding some secret? Otherwise, this child should never have come specifically to ask him for it.
With his strength, he should not think much of the Byakugan, either!
"But I imagine that isn't particularly difficult for you, Lord Danzo, is it?" Otsutsuki Toneri smiled faintly, then spoke as though it were a trivial matter.
Danzo, the Root hidden beneath Konoha's shadows, really would not find this sort of dirty work difficult.
He had done countless dirty deeds. In terms of experience alone, he was beyond comparison with ordinary people.
"You think far too highly of me, my young friend. And surely you don't expect me to lend you a hand for nothing? Since you've come to me for help, you should understand that I, Danzo, am no saint."
Danzo spoke evenly, not swayed in the slightest by Otsutsuki Toneri's flattery. He understood that Otsutsuki Toneri's words were not merely praise.
And like Otsutsuki Toneri, Danzo did not conceal his thoughts, openly putting his demand for compensation on the table.
You want my help? Fine. Show me what you have to offer in exchange!
"Of course. Since you're being so direct, Lord Danzo, I won't stand on ceremony either. How about I help you kill Hiruzen Sarutobi?" Otsutsuki Toneri's lips curved into a smile, one that looked somewhat vicious.
Yet his tone remained exceedingly gentle-so gentle that even someone as ruthless and cold as Danzo felt a little unnerved.
This brat was simply terrifying from the bottom of one's heart!
"You must be joking, my young friend. Hiruzen is an old friend of mine. Why would I want to kill him?" Shimura Danzō pondered briefly, then offered another probing remark.
Although Otsutsuki Toneri's words greatly tempted him, this boy really did strike him as somewhat dangerous.
And his disposition and cunning were so profound that he hardly seemed like a seven-year-old child!
Danzo was a seasoned schemer. He was also a little worried that this might be a trap Otsutsuki Toneri and Hiruzen Sarutobi had laid together, waiting for him to take the bait!
"You're the one joking, Lord Danzo. As far as I know, you've already made an attempt once, haven't you? On this friend of yours?" At those words, the smile on Otsutsuki Toneri's lips turned mocking, and he tilted his head slightly as he teased him.
You make it sound so nice, calling Hiruzen Sarutobi your old friend.
But when you sent ANBU to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi back then, why don't I recall you remembering that he was your old friend?
What a scheming old bastard. You really won't commit until you see something to gain!
"You had best refrain from making wild accusations, my young friend. I have never done such a thing." Danzo's expression slowly darkened, his lone eye fixed intently on Otsutsuki Toneri.
Only a handful of people knew about this. Had Hiruzen Sarutobi told him?
Or was it Kakashi?
He had indeed sent ANBU to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi, but the attempt had fallen apart because Kakashi switched sides at the crucial moment.
It had even made Hiruzen Sarutobi realize how dangerous he was and become more wary of him.
He really had suffered a double loss!
"Ah~ Yes, you never did it~ So, Lord Danzo, are we going to discuss this deal or not?" Otsutsuki Toneri's smile deepened before he asked casually.
It did not matter. If he wanted to deny it to the bitter end, so be it. Otsutsuki Toneri did not care.
In any case, he believed that as long as Danzo had not abandoned his ambitions, he would definitely make a deal with him!
At those words, uncertainty and various other emotions flickered through Danzo's eye, but his face slowly regained its composure.
"Yes!" After a long silence, Danzo coldly uttered the word. He felt deeply stifled at that moment.
Throughout this conversation, Otsutsuki Toneri had led him around by the nose. After all, as he saw it, Otsutsuki Toneri would lose nothing even if he did not cooperate with him.
He could still go to Hiruzen Sarutobi. It could be said that Otsutsuki Toneri had held the initiative throughout their conversation!
That naturally made the negotiation extremely uncomfortable for Danzo!
(Happy New Year~ A new month~ I'm asking for all your support~)
Chapter 32: My Young Friend, Don't Push Your Luck! Second update!
Otsutsuki Toneri smiled at his answer. Wouldn't things have been much easier if he had agreed sooner?
"I admire your directness, Lord Danzo. Now then, Lord Danzo, I'd like to know how soon you can give me the Byakugan," Otsutsuki Toneri asked with a gentle smile.
Given Danzo's ability to strike from the shadows in Konoha, even the Hyuga Clan should be unable to guard against him. After all, they would never expect
someone to target their clan within Konoha!
After all, following the Uchiha Clan Massacre, their Hyuga Clan was truly Konoha's foremost clan.
Moreover, Danzo was patient and cautious by nature. Even if he targeted the Hyuga, he would never go after an important member of their clan.
Otherwise, no matter how cleanly Root handled the matter, someone would surely follow the clues back to him!
"One day at the earliest. The Hyuga Clan is the foremost clan now, after all. Finding a target and an opportunity both take time." Shimura Danzō gave Otsutsuki Toneri an indifferent glance and spoke calmly.
Root was extremely capable when it came to murder and arson, having been trained to serve as Danzo's executioners in the first place.
But even one day was the limit. After all, what Otsutsuki Toneri needed was naturally an extremely pure Byakugan.
Danzo could hardly use an ordinary Byakugan to fool Otsutsuki Toneri, either. That would be extremely detrimental to their cooperation.
"One day is quite good indeed. If you can, Lord Danzo, could you bring me another two pairs?" Otsutsuki Toneri pondered briefly at his answer, then spoke in an exceedingly casual tone.
As though he were asking for cabbages rather than Byakugan.
Shimura Danzō's expression darkened somewhat at those words, and his gaze grew gloomy.
"My young friend, you had best not push your luck!" Danzo warned in a rather low voice. Another two pairs?
Everyone knew how highly the Hyuga Clan valued the Byakugan. If he really did that, Hyuga Hiashi would never let the matter rest.
Sooner or later, suspicion would fall on him, and extricating himself would not be so easy!
"Oh my~ There's no need to be angry, Lord Danzo. I was merely making a suggestion. Still, I feel that if the Third's life is worth only one pair of Byakugan, that seems a little too cheap. What do you think?"
Noticing the shift in Danzo's emotions, Otsutsuki Toneri waved a hand and gently soothed him.
This old bastard really is fucking stingy. But then again, the Hyuga Clan is now Konoha's foremost prestigious clan.
If several members of the Main Family disappeared, it really would be no laughing matter.
Before you continue