Chapter 182: Cooperation
A dark, underground passage.
A one-eyed man leaning on a cane walked slowly forward. Tap, tap. Two ninja guards flanked him, keeping pace. After walking for about ten minutes, they finally reached the end of the tunnel.
It was a massive hall. Various items hung upon the surrounding walls: biological specimens, picture frames, pieces of technology... Scattered candles flickered, their flames casting a dim light across the entire room.
"Heh heh heh... You've finally arrived, Danzo."
An icy voice rang out through the hall as the footsteps approached. Danzo and his two guards scanned the area for traps before stepping fully into the room.
Hearing the greeting, Danzo spoke: "How unexpected. To think Orochimaru would invite an old man like me. If I recall correctly, we haven't been in contact for quite a few years, have we?"
"Aren't you afraid I brought members of the Anbu to wipe out your nest?"
He walked slowly toward a sofa in the center of the hall and sat down, facing Orochimaru. As he spoke, the candlelight in the room flickered violently.
Orochimaru licked his lips. "Heh heh heh... I've sought you out for a collaboration. I don't think you'll refuse, because I am currently the only one who possesses the ability to suppress the Sharingan and the Hashirama cells."
"Hmph. Speak. What do you want this time? You know the Foundation (Root) has been disbanded. I currently hold no official power in Konoha; I may not be able to help you with much," Danzo snorted coldly.
"You're too modest. For someone like you, the power within Konoha isn't restricted by a mere title," Orochimaru said politely. "Otherwise, you wouldn't still control the strength of the 'Root.'"
"I'm not asking you to do anything difficult. I simply need you to help move one person out of the village during next year's Chunin Exams. That should be quite simple for you."
"In exchange, I will provide you with the technology to suppress the Sharingan and the Hashirama cells. I believe that is exactly what you desire right now."
Orochimaru was highly confident. Danzo was the type of man who could not refuse such a bargain.
Danzo looked at him with a deep, meaningful gaze. "Send one person away during the Chunin Exams... Who?"
"Tonbo Tobitake."
"Him? What are you planning?"
"I intend to kill that old man—the Hokage—right in front of everyone during the exams. I imagine you wouldn't mind seeing that happen. After all, he used the Uchiha incident to strip you of your position, abandoning you, his former teammate."
Danzo didn't respond to the bait. Instead, he calculated the feasibility of Orochimaru's plan. Moving Tonbo Tobitake wasn't a difficult task; he was more concerned with Orochimaru's ultimate goal.
"Well? It isn't that hard, is it?" Orochimaru prompted.
Aside from Jiraiya and Tsunade, only Tonbo Tobitake made him feel uneasy. His plan required all three of them to be absent from Konoha. Since Jiraiya and Tsunade were gone most of the year anyway, that left only Tonbo. For Danzo, this was an easy move. Assigning a high-priority mission was enough to keep Tonbo busy for months.
"I will consider it. Leave your contact information. If I decide to proceed, I will notify you. If I don't..."
"Then you'll have me arrested and dragged back, right? Heh heh." Orochimaru knew his temperament well. He wasn't worried about whether Danzo would agree.
Tap, tap! Danzo left with his two guards.
"Won't you stay for a meal, Danzo? And your two friends as well?" Orochimaru called out suddenly.
Danzo paused for a split second, then continued walking out. "I have no time to waste eating with you."
Watching Danzo's departing back, Orochimaru's eyes filled with a sinister smile. He turned his thoughts to next year's plan.
"Jiraiya... instead of searching for some 'Child of Prophecy,' it is better to create one oneself. In the end, one must hold everything in their own hands!"
He licked his lips. It was a grand plan. He would never allow himself to die.
Walking along the path back to Konoha.
"Lord Danzo, is Orochimaru trustworthy?" a man in a cat-faced mask asked.
Danzo replied: "That is not your concern. I will handle it." He looked at the sunlight ahead, his mind unreadable as he moved forward.
Konoha Streets.
Naruto was walking down the road while Konohamaru followed him sneakily. Every time Naruto looked back, Konohamaru would duck behind a "Cloak of Invisibility" and lean against a wall.
After Naruto took a few more steps, Konohamaru would follow closely again.
This guy used a move that defeated the Hokage! If I learn it, I can definitely beat Tianyu and the others. Konohamaru's mind raced with ambition. Just today, he had gone to see his grandfather and witnessed Naruto using a certain "technique" that laid the old man flat. It completely shattered his worldview—there was a jutsu that could defeat Grandpa!
"Hey! Can you stop using such clumsy tracking techniques?" Naruto suddenly turned around, looking exasperatedly at Konohamaru's feet sticking out from under the cloth. Even a "dead-last" like Naruto didn't use it that poorly.
"Hmph! Since you found me, I guess I'll just recognize you as my 'Big Brother'!" Seeing he was caught, Konohamaru dropped the cloth and crossed his arms. He acted as if it were a great honor for Naruto.
"Make me your Big Brother? No thanks."
"Hey! I'm the grandson of the Third Hokage! I command you to take me as your underling!" Konohamaru pointed at him.
Naruto laughed and pointed at himself. "I'm the son of the Fourth Hokage! You're a generation below me; you can't command me."
"Eh? The Fourth's son? Impossible! The Fourth Hokage is dead. How could you be his son?" Konohamaru said suspiciously. Ebisu-sensei had said the Fourth sacrificed himself to save the village.
"You idiot! Can't a guy have a son before he dies? You jerk!" Naruto was furious. He had received confirmation from Grandpa Third. The Fourth really was his father.
Today, Naruto walked with a literal spring in his step. Even if his "old man" was dead, he was a hero. And he was watching over him every day. Naruto looked up at the Hokage Rock, a happy smile on his face. He wasn't a monster; he was the son of the Fourth.
"I don't care! From today on, you're my Big Brother!" Konohamaru didn't care about lineage; he just wanted to beat Tianyu and Maki.
"Hmph. Fine. Since I'm in a good mood today, I'll reluctantly accept you as my little brother." Naruto held his head high. He liked the idea of being a senior, and he was genuinely happy today. The Third had given his approval; since Naruto had mastered the Shadow Clone, he was being allowed to become a Genin by exception.
Tomorrow, he would receive his reward at the Academy. According to Grandpa Third, besides the headband, there was a "mysterious reward" that would make him even stronger. He was ecstatic.
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