Haruma wore a smiling, harmless expression.
Having shed his disguise and returned to his original appearance, he walked from outside the compound toward the recuperation area.
As he passed the compound's main gate, a cherry tree nearby caught his eye.
A corner of a banknote peeked out from the dark soil beneath the tree.
Haruma could sniff out these tiny details that ordinary people would never notice.
"Master Kun, heading into the village for another drink?"
The old drunk famous throughout the compound's recuperation area shuffled over, his back hunched. "Oh, little Haruma."
"With something this big happening to the clan, even the tavern I always visit has closed."
"My craving kicked in, so I was about to head into the village to satisfy it."
Haruma stepped forward to support Master Kun and walked him toward the cherry tree. "You'd better be careful, then. The village hasn't been peaceful lately, either."
"I heard that ever since the police force changed hands, several taverns in the village have stopped playing by the rules."
"Outrageously priced drink menus, pretty women luring customers into buying drinks-they're pulling every trick."
"At your age, you really mustn't fall for them."
Master Kun chuckled and patted Haruma's arm. "Relax. There's no trick this old man hasn't seen."
When they reached the tree, Haruma planted his foot over the exposed corner of the banknote. Still a little concerned, he warned, "Master Kun, be especially careful of those young ladies."
"Don't let one girl ruin your lifelong reputation."
At that, Master Kun merely waved and sauntered off toward the village taverns.
Judging by his direction, he seemed to be heading straight for the shady establishment with the most pretty drink shills.
Seiten scooped up the banknote beneath his foot faster than anyone could react.
"Ah."
Watching Master Kun's cheerful figure recede into the distance, Haruma sighed softly. "Good advice can't save someone bent on dying."
"Hopefully, I'll still get to see Master Kun in the recuperation area again."
Night.
The dogs had yet to stir, and the roosters had yet to crow.
At three in the morning, Haruma changed clothes and slipped past the guards at the gate.
He walked over to the cherry tree.
The banknote Haruma had picked up beneath the tree that day was the signal he and Root had agreed on for a meeting.
"Go on, then. What do you want me for?" Haruma asked the empty tree softly.
As his words fell,
the previously flat ground beside the tree slowly rose. An earth substitute wrapped in soil revealed itself.
The newcomer was Yamanaka Fū of the Yamanaka Clan, one of Danzo's trusted subordinates.
He had long, reddish-orange hair and a classic tough-guy face, though the orange ponytail behind his head rather spoiled the effect.
"Lord Danzo has agreed to work with you."
"Work with me?"
Haruma scoffed. "Before, he played the silent, mysterious type, and now that he's in prison, he suddenly remembers cooperation?"
Looking at the silent Yamanaka Fū, Haruma continued, "You're not expecting me to help you break him out of prison, are you?"
Yamanaka Fū said awkwardly, "There are plenty of Anbu outside the prison, and most of Root's personnel are under house arrest now."
"If you have a way, Lord Danzo will certainly be grateful once he gets out."
Haruma waved a hand, his tone cold. "I want tangible benefits. What damn good is gratitude?"
"Lord Danzo said that if you can help, he'll give you an additional district of Konoha's territory afterward."
Dressed entirely in black, with the upper half of his face covered, Aburame Torune emerged from behind the tree and spoke slowly.
Haruma pretended to consider it. After a moment's silence, he looked up with a smile. "I do have a way, but I have another condition."
Yamanaka Fū frowned. "Let's hear it."
Haruma paced as he spoke softly. "Our previous terms remain unchanged. I help him become Hokage, and I get a quarter of Konoha's administrative territory!"
"As for that additional district you mentioned, I don't want it."
"I can help, but cash comes first! How much effort I put in depends on how much you pay!"
Haruma grinned. "Well? That's a reasonable condition, isn't it?"
"He won't even have to give me another district. It's only a hundred million little worldly possessions."
Yamanaka Fū and Torune exchanged a glance, then nodded.
Taking a stack of banknotes from inside his clothes, Yamanaka Fū said gravely, "This is all we have for now. Once Lord Danzo is out, there will be another generous reward."
Haruma took the notes and began counting them with practiced ease. "Only fifty million?"
Yamanaka Fū explained, "The circumstances were unusual. We didn't have time to get any money when we escaped."
"This fifty million was the money set aside to buy Sharingan from you. I've been carrying it with me all along."
Haruma nodded. He knew what those "unusual circumstances" meant without asking.
It was nothing more than Danzo getting beaten to a pulp in his own base.
Still, even without this fifty million, Haruma had intended to stir up some trouble. He still needed Danzo to take some blame over in the Land of Fire.
"To be honest, fifty million is still a little low."
After saying that, Haruma took the bottom sheet from the stack of documents inside his clothes and handed it to Yamanaka Fū.
"Since you actually have a way to contact Danzo in prison, have him sign this document."
"Name, date, thumbprint."
"Give me back the signed note, and Danzo can get out anytime."
Yamanaka Fū looked at the five-hundred-million IOU in his hand, his expression troubled.
It wasn't that he thought it was too much. If they could really get Danzo out, even adding another zero would be no problem.
After all, based on Yamanaka Fū's understanding of Danzo, the chances of repayment were basically nonexistent.
"Torune's insects can't get a sheet of paper inside under that many people's watch."
"At most, we can carve words onto an insect's wings to pass on simple messages."
"Oh?"
Haruma looked up at the silent man dressed entirely in black. He had almost forgotten that this fellow was an expert with insects.
"How about this..."
After a moment's silence, Haruma said, "Tell Danzo about it. If he agrees, you two can sign on his behalf."
After hearing that, Yamanaka Fū immediately said, "There's no need to report it. We can decide on this amount ourselves."
"Lord Danzo certainly won't default afterward."
"Oh?"
Haruma gazed at the pair, his tone drifting. "You can decide?"
For some reason, hearing the tone of the man before them and seeing the faint green glimmers in his single eye made goosebumps rise on Yamanaka Fū and Torune.
Still, both nodded resolutely.
Haruma said no more and had the two get straight to the formalities.
"Besides your names, add Danzo's too. You said he'd agree anyway."
Neither gave it much thought. After all, they both figured this money probably wouldn't be repaid in the end.
With a sweep of the pen, they added their boss's name as well.
Haruma carefully put away the IOU and strode forward. "Let's go!"
Yamanaka Fū frowned. "Where?"
Was this guy planning to run off after scamming them out of an IOU?
Haruma rolled his eye. "To break him out of prison! Where else?"
The two froze. "Now???"
"What's the actual plan? What about personnel assignments?"
Was he really this efficient...?
Haruma sounded impatient. "The night is perfect. If we don't break him out now, when?"
With that, he strode ahead, paying the two no further attention.
Take the money, do the job—Haruma still had that much integrity.
Besides, Danzo could already count as half a brother now!
Only one thumbprint stood between him and being a true brother!
How could he stand by while a brother was in trouble!