Shimura Danzo?
His head was wrapped up like a mummy, leaving only his eyes and mouth exposed. Dressed in a patient's gown yet wearing a samurai helmet, his entire being radiated such a thick aura of resentment that it felt almost tangible...
It had to be Shimura Danzo!
Yamanaka Shinno's eyes flashed with surprise, momentarily hesitating as if he couldn't recognize him.
He honestly hadn't expected that in just a single day, the black curse had turned Danzo into such a miserable sight.
But then, when he noticed the ANBU who had been tailing him now standing behind Danzo, he couldn't help but feel that the black curse's effect was still lacking a little.
Damn it!
Why didn't the beam at the Jounin standby post just come crashing down and finish off this old bastard?
That guy just now—he was a Root ninja!
And Danzo, that scheming old thief, had his subordinates dress exactly like ANBU and go around throwing out phrases like "Under the Hokage's orders."
What, you know that without Sarutobi Hiruzen's backing, no one would give a damn about you?
"Shinno, Elder Danzo just brought intelligence regarding a recent conflict between Sunagakure and Kirigakure in the southern region of the Land of Tea. The casualties on both sides are increasing, and there are signs of the conflict escalating. To obtain accurate information, I need you to go on this mission."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, pipe in his mouth, casually tossed a scroll toward Yamanaka Shinno.
"A solo mission?"
Shinno glanced sideways at Danzo, who was seated on the couch, before lowering his head to examine the scroll.
Sarutobi's words made it clear.
This intelligence came from Danzo, and it was also Danzo who proposed that he be the one to carry out the mission.
As Hokage, Sarutobi had judged the mission's authenticity and importance and determined that Shinno, as a former member of the Analysis Squad from the Yamanaka clan, was indeed the most suitable candidate before summoning him.
But...
Pakura?
The Scorch Release user, Pakura?
Shinno's eyes twitched slightly as he read the name on the intelligence scroll.
Pakura of the Scorch Release had emerged in the past two years as one of the rising stars of Sunagakure. Her Bloodline Limit technique had completely dominated Kirigakure's forces, earning her widespread fame.
Even if Shinno hadn't read the original story, any ninja frequently assigned to missions outside the village would have heard her name.
If this were truly a solo mission...
He had to seriously consider whether the Third Hokage and Danzo were plotting to get rid of him.
After all, ever since he joined the Analysis Squad, he had been deliberately holding back, only displaying slightly superior strength compared to civilian Jounin with no solid foundation.
Facing a ninja of Pakura's caliber head-on was practically a death sentence.
"The opponent's reputation isn't small. It would be too dangerous for you to go alone, so I've arranged a partner for you."
The moment Hiruzen finished speaking, there was a knock on the office door.
After receiving permission to enter, Namikaze Minato pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Upon seeing Shinno standing in the office, the stern look on Minato's face softened into a smile.
"Minato, huh? Now that's a reassuring teammate."
Shinno smiled as well, and his previous doubts and suspicions toward Sarutobi Hiruzen faded considerably.
Minato's strength was undeniable.
Having mastered the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique, his mobility was among the best in the entire ninja world.
Forget just Pakura—even if they encountered an entire Sunagakure unit, they could still retreat without issue.
"Shinno, looks like we'll be fighting side by side again."
Minato's expression held a hint of nostalgia, as if recalling their past missions together.
The two had grown up together, entered the academy together, and graduated to become shinobi at the same time.
Though they hadn't been assigned to the same team after graduation, they had formed a squad for countless missions before Shinno joined the Analysis Squad. Their teamwork was second nature.
"If you want to reminisce, you can do it on the way. Minato, Shinno will brief you on the mission details. Time is tight—prepare quickly and set out immediately."
Sarutobi Hiruzen urged them on.
After both men accepted the mission and left the Hokage's office, Hiruzen turned toward Danzo, who had been sitting silently on the couch.
"I've already told you before—Shinno is a child I watched grow up. He's always been measured in his actions. There's no way he's the one who attacked you."
"Even if it wasn't him, his interactions with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki are too close. The power of the Nine-Tails shouldn't be influenced or controlled by a ninja clan."
Danzo pressed his fingers against the chakra-sensing seal in his palm, his usually sinister gaze becoming even more intense.
The seal was a forbidden technique developed by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. Its sensitivity in detecting chakra residue even exceeded the most advanced medical instruments.
Just now, the seal had no reaction to Shinno at all.
This confirmed that there were no traces of Shinno's chakra on him, meaning he could be eliminated as a suspect.
While that should have helped Danzo narrow down the possibilities, he actually felt disappointed.
He had really hoped that Shinno was the one behind his suffering.
Given Shinno's connections with the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans and his ambiguous relationship with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he had immense value to Root!
Sarutobi Hiruzen, unaware of Danzo's inner thoughts, assumed he was genuinely concerned about the Jinchuriki situation.
After a moment of contemplation, weighing the pros and cons, and considering the potential consequences if Kushina married into the Yamanaka clan, he spoke again.
"Danzo, relationships aren't something you can force—just like with you and Koharu… Ahem, what I mean is, Kushina will have to marry and have children eventually. Decades from now, Konoha will still need a next-generation Jinchuriki."
"Hmph! A female Jinchuriki giving birth severely weakens the seal's strength, putting the village at risk. Even though Uzushiogakure was destroyed, there are still other Uzumaki bloodline members in the ninja world."
"Kushina is a Konoha ninja, not a Root ninja. And as for the Jinchuriki issue, Lady Mito already made it very clear. You should know better than anyone what happens when a Jinchuriki suffers psychological distress."
"Hmph! That's because you… Ah—!"
Danzo was about to retort but was suddenly struck by another sharp pain in his skull.
"Calm down a little. We can discuss things rationally."
Watching Danzo groan in agony, nearly sending himself into another fit, Hiruzen let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Honestly, he was just grateful that he wasn't the one being targeted.
Not only had Danzo suffered six head injuries in a single day, but even just arguing a little made his brain feel like it was about to explode. Who could endure that?
"...Call the next person in!"
Danzo gripped his helmet, taking deep breaths to ease the pain.
His hatred for the one who had attacked him had reached its peak. He no longer cared about the Jinchuriki issue—he just wanted to find out who had done this to him!
However, just as he finished speaking, a faint cracking sound came from somewhere nearby.
After experiencing so many accidents, Danzo was already on edge.
The moment he heard the noise, he leapt from the couch and performed a Body Flicker Technique, dashing out the Hokage's office window.
"Caw—"
"Argh!"
A loud, painful screech followed by a human scream rang out.
Hiruzen looked out the window at Danzo, who was clutching his head in pain, and the unfortunate crow he had just headbutted to death.
For a moment, he didn't know which one deserved more sympathy.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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