The bark-skinned man casually tossed Danzō's severed head.
It traced a clean arc through the air—
—and landed squarely toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Almost instinctively, Hiruzen caught it.
It was cold.
The lone eye still held frozen shock and unwillingness. A surge of grief, rage, and disbelief rushed to Hiruzen's head.
"You… why did you kill him?!" Hiruzen roared hoarsely.
Veins bulged along the arm holding Danzō's head. His other hand clenched the Adamantine Staff so tightly it trembled. Chakra leaked uncontrollably into the cavern air.
"Why kill him?" The man sounded amused.
"He was an obstructive, filthy-hearted, self-righteous ant. I killed him. Must there be a reason?"
The utter contempt in his tone—treating life as meaningless—made every Konoha shinobi pale with fury.
"Old man," Orochimaru interjected smoothly, licking his lips, golden eyes gleaming with mockery, "Danzō was officially declared a missing-nin by Konoha itself. This gentleman has merely… assisted you in cleaning house. Shouldn't you be grateful?"
"Or is it that, in your heart, Danzō's life outweighs Konoha's laws?"
The words struck at the core.
Hiruzen's breath hitched. His chest churned violently.
Grateful?
Grateful that a stranger had slaughtered his longtime comrade—however fallen he had become?
Orochimaru had twisted the blade expertly, invoking "law" and "justice."
Hiruzen's teeth ground together until his gums nearly bled. His bloodshot eyes locked onto the bark-skinned man, killing intent almost tangible.
Danzō had been corrupt. Extreme. Branded a traitor.
But he had been there since the Second Hokage's era.
One of the last survivors of that generation.
Hiruzen could accept Tsunade declaring him a missing-nin. Could accept ANBU hunting him.
But not this.
Not this casual execution. Not being handed his severed head like discarded trash.
"You…" Hiruzen rasped, unable to refute Orochimaru's twisted logic without contradicting Konoha's own decree.
The bark-skinned man, however, seemed entirely uninterested in Hiruzen's fury.
His gaze had already shifted.
Upward.
Toward the small figure perched atop the Eight-Headed Serpent statue.
He began walking forward.
Each bark-covered step landed with a dull wooden thud against the bloodstained stone.
Konoha shinobi instinctively moved to block him—
—but the inhuman aura around him stilled their bodies. And without Hiruzen's command, they hesitated.
A path opened.
Under countless stunned, wary gazes, he stopped below the statue and looked up.
His tone shifted—respectful.
"Lady Karin. If it were anything else, something you fancied, by all means—take it and play."
His voice remained rough.
"But the Devil Fruit… is important. It cannot be handed so casually to those who are… unsuitable."
Silence fell like a blade.
Karin's cheerful smile slowly faded.
Her eyes dropped to him.
She tilted her head slightly.
"You…" she drew out the word, then smiled brightly—a smile that chilled the spine. "Are you trying to take it from me?"
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with schadenfreude.
He knew Karin's temperament well.
The demon child might appear playful—but she loathed being contradicted. Especially when someone interfered with her "toys."
This man had just done exactly that.
"She's about to throw a tantrum…" Orochimaru thought, tongue flicking against his lips in anticipation.
Yet—
Unexpectedly—
The bark-skinned man shook his head slowly.
"I would not dare."
Two calm words.
No fear. Merely a statement.
Then, before everyone's astonished eyes, he bowed slightly—performing a strange, almost archaic gesture.
His bark-covered palm rested against his chest.
"My introduction," he declared steadily, "I am a loyal servant beneath the Demon God. One of the Seven Warlords under the King."
He lifted his hooded face toward Karin.
"You may call me… 'Tree.'"
Seven Warlords under the King.
The unfamiliar title struck like thunder.
Hiruzen's rage froze, replaced by cold vigilance.
The air grew heavier.
A servant of a "Demon God." One of seven.
That sounded no less terrifying than the so-called demon child herself.
Karin's dangerous smile vanished.
In its place—pure curiosity.
Her eyes sparkled.
"You serve the Demon God too?" She leaned forward eagerly from the serpent statue. "Have you met the Demon God?"
Tree bowed lower.
"We are but servants. We do not deserve such honor."
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"We are unworthy even to hear the Demon God's voice."
A ripple of shock passed through the cavern.
Not even worthy to hear his voice?
What kind of existence was that?
Tree raised his head slightly, hood shadow directed toward Karin.
"Perhaps… only one such as you, Lady Karin—a chosen inheritor—may one day have the fortune to behold the Demon God's true form."
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789