"You certainly know how to joke, sir."
Haruma chuckled. "I have Mitsudomoe, but a Mangekyō... I can't manage that just yet. If I get a chance to obtain one, I'll contact you first thing."
"As for your saying you don't need a Two Tomoe Sharingan..."
At that moment, Haruma's tone shifted away from its initial goofy flippancy.
Its temperature plunged straight into winter. "When you do business with me!"
"It's not about what you want! It's about what I have!!"
Danzo: "..."
"In short, if you want to buy a Mitsudomoe Sharingan, you have to buy a Two Tomoe as well."
"These two models of eyeballs come as a set. Leave one out... and there's no sale!"
What fucking bundled sale?
Was he really selling eyes like light bulbs?!
Haruma's brazen tone seemed to enrage the Root guards surrounding Danzo.
They all whipped out various ninja tools and pointed them at Haruma.
Haruma, meanwhile, picked at his ear without a care, occasionally looking up to continue admiring the cherry blossoms at night.
Danzo raised his small hand slightly, and the guards around him swiftly put away their weapons, silently standing guard.
His mouth twitching slightly, Danzo considered it for a moment and found no better option for now.
He could only ask, "When is the next transaction?"
Admiring the flowers, Haruma answered lazily, "Two days from now, same time, same place. Barring any surprises, we'll trade every two days from now on."
Intending to compromise for the moment, Danzo said, "Fine! We'll do as you say and buy them as a set."
At this, a cold glint flashed through Danzo's eyes. "But for the transaction the day after tomorrow! And every transaction after that, you must bring at least one Mitsudomoe Sharingan each time."
"Otherwise, I'll show you that taking advantage of me isn't so easy!"
Haruma paid no mind whatsoever to the old fellow's warning.
Seeing him agree to the terms, Haruma instantly became respectful. "Wise Lord Danzo, rest assured."
"For the transaction the day after tomorrow, I'll be sure to pick out the finest-quality, brightest Mitsudomoe for you."
"Ryoma, pay him."
Having reached an agreement, Danzo wasted no words and directly ordered his subordinate to complete their first transaction.
"Thank you, boss~"
Even Haruma's voice brimmed with excitement as he put away the banknotes.
With the deal done, Haruma was just preparing to leave when Root ninja surrounded him.
Haruma stopped and turned to Danzo, his tone chilling. "Old man, what are you playing at now?"
Hearing this, Danzo's mouth began twitching uncontrollably again.
Fuck! This rat's life is mine!
Even the Six Paths couldn't stop me! I said it!
The coldness in Danzo's eyes deepened. "I'm merely curious about what you just said, 'Obito.' Those Mangekyō eyes... you can't manage them yet."
"I assume you weren't referring to Uchiha Fugaku."
"After all, he's known as 'Fugaku of the Wicked Eye.' Not only is he strong enough, but he's also your clan leader. Surely you aren't eyeing your own clan leader's eyes?"
Danzo asked partly to fish for information about this sneaky bastard's identity, and partly because he was genuinely interested in the Mangekyō he had mentioned.
"Oh! So that's what you wanted to ask, Boss Dan?"
"That almost turned into a huge misunderstanding!"
Disguised as Obito, Haruma nodded as though it had suddenly dawned on him. "With so many people surrounding me all at once, I thought you were so petty, Boss Dan, that you'd double-cross me over a single Two Tomoe Sharingan."
"As for the Mangekyō... of course I wasn't talking about Clan Leader Fugaku."
The wooden mask Haruma wore likewise left one eye exposed, neatly complementing Danzo's.
His deep gaze pierced the night as he looked Danzo up and down.
After a moment, Haruma said leisurely, "A simple hint: I have information on a Mangekyō! But only one!"
Danzo's pupil contracted at these words.
Once again, he scrutinized Haruma's clone from head to toe with a stern gaze.
The two one-eyed men seemed to be gazing lovingly at each other in the darkness.
"All right, if you have no further instructions, Boss Dan, may I leave now?"
Haruma laughed it off. "It's the middle of the night. I'm dead tired. I really envy how little sleep you old folks need. Young people like us just can't keep up anymore~"
"By three or four in the morning, we're unbearably sleepy."
Even Aburame Ryoma, who was usually expressionless and knew only to carry out his missions, couldn't stop rolling his eyes at that.
Envying how little sleep old people needed...
Somehow, everything this guy said sounded like he was cursing people out.
Danzo was still thinking about that hint and paid no attention to his teasing.
He merely waved a hand, and the subordinates surrounding Haruma immediately dispersed to clear a path.
Haruma headed toward the Uchiha Clan's gate without looking back. Halfway there, he even politely raised one hand and waved goodbye.
Having watched Haruma's retreating back the entire way, Danzo finally withdrew his gaze.
On the way back to the Root Base, he ordered his subordinates, "Investigate!!"
"This man requires a thorough investigation!"
Danzo turned to Ryoma. "You recorded the earlier conversation, I assume."
After seeing Ryoma nod, Danzo continued, "We can set aside surveillance of the Uchiha Clan for now. The Anbu are still there anyway."
"Since we can obtain Sharingan with money, there's no need to rush into dealing with the Uchiha Clan."
"Keeping them around for now will also occupy Hiruzen's attention, making things easier for Orochimaru's human experimentation."
"The mysterious organization 'Akatsuki,' and the leader in Amegakure who possesses the Rinnegan."
"Verify all of this information for me!"
Earlier, Danzo hadn't taken Haruma's endless prattle to heart.
After all, verifying information that was half true and half false would truly waste far too much energy and manpower.
But after that fellow gave his hint, Danzo began taking all that information seriously again.
Killing intent flashed through Danzo's eyes as he told Ryoma coldly, "Also! Gather every Root member who took part in the ambush on Shisui Uchiha back then."
"Check their Cursed Tongue Eradication Seals for any problems."
At this, Danzo stopped in his tracks and abruptly corrected himself in a cold voice. "No! Check every member of Root, new and old alike."
Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal: after joining Root, everyone except a few special ninja with powerful backing would have this seal inscribed on their tongue.
Those branded with the seal could never speak of any secrets concerning Danzo or Root.
If someone used mind-reading Ninjutsu to probe their memories directly... the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal would destroy the subject's brain the instant the probe reached anything concerning Danzo or Root.
Although he was being told to inspect comrades he spent every day with, Aburame Ryoma accepted the order without hesitation and did not even find it strange.
As Danzo turned and stepped into the depths of Root, darkness slowly enveloped his entire body, obscuring his expression.
He merely continued muttering that simple hint Haruma had given.
"Information on one Mangekyō..."