Deep within a dense forest, hidden from sight, lay a dark, dank, and cold underground base in Konoha.
Few knew of its existence; even the ninja of Konoha Village were largely unaware of it.
Danzo, a grim-faced elder, sat beneath a dim light, a confidential letter clutched tightly in his hand.
A cold sneer played at the corner of his mouth as he spoke in a low, chilling voice: "Hiruzen, Hiruzen, you've truly done a wonderful job raising such a fine disciple."
As he spoke, the chakra within him began to surge violently. With a casual wave of his hand, several razor-sharp wind blades instantly sliced through the air, shredding the letter that carried such vital information into countless pieces.
A deep yearning for power gleamed in Danzo's eyes.
He had already learned that Orochimaru was about to make his move during the Chunin Exams, with his target set on the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
This news was quite favorable to him.
"Hiruzen, you've sat in that seat for far too long, basking in its glory for too many years. Now, it's time to step aside and let me lead Konoha to a new era of brilliance."
A trace of barely perceptible sorrow laced Danzo's words. After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi had once been his old partner; they had weathered countless storms together.
But in this game of power, sentiment was often the cheapest sacrifice.
Danzo mused to himself that his alliance with Orochimaru, though born of necessity, was a crucial step in seizing the position of Hokage.
If he could successfully ascend to that supreme seat, he was confident he could restore Konoha's former glory and revitalize the village.
"Besides, this attack by Orochimaru will undoubtedly plunge Konoha into immense turmoil. Amidst the chaos, casualties, disappearances, and even the loss of certain valuable resources are perfectly normal occurrences."
A flicker of cruelty passed through Danzo's eyes. "This is the perfect opportunity for me to expand my power and solidify my position."
He already had a meticulous plan.
While Konoha was consumed by chaos, he would secretly abduct several children from the Hyuga clan to serve as test subjects and future assets.
Furthermore, he had found the perfect scapegoat for his own past, unspeakable crimes: Orochimaru.
He could shift all the blame onto Orochimaru, emerging unscathed and even seizing the chance to cultivate an image of justice.
Pleased with his thoughts, Danzo nodded in satisfaction, a smile curling his lips.
In his mind, he was already a victor about to claim the throne.
Konoha Village was on the verge of entering a brand new era—an era dominated by Danzo.
But suddenly, an inexplicable chill ran down Danzo's spine. It felt as though some unknown presence was silently watching him, making him profoundly uneasy.
He quickly scanned his entire body but found no trace of anything unusual, no discernible presence.
"Could it be just my imagination?" he wondered. Perhaps it was simply his age; his senses were no longer as sharp and reliable as they once were.
Meanwhile, in a completely different scene, Roy appeared leisurely at a hot spring.
He relaxed comfortably in the warm water, letting the soothing currents gently caress his skin.
Yet, even in such a moment of repose, his mind was not fully immersed in tranquility.
With one arm resting on the stone edge of the spring, he used his other hand to study the Water Breathing manual.
Breathing techniques, a unique power system originating from Tanjiro's world, were specifically created to allow humans to challenge demons.
The core principle involved using specific breathing rhythms and techniques to dramatically enhance cardiopulmonary function, enabling the blood to absorb far more oxygen than normal in an extremely short time.
This allowed the user to unleash explosive physical capabilities in an instant, granting them physical prowess and speed comparable to demons—a powerful force in their fight against them.
Up to this point, Tanjiro had only mastered the Water Breathing style, which he had exchanged with Roy for the Six Powers.
Among the many breathing styles, Water Breathing was known for being gentle and easy to learn, allowing even beginners to grasp its fundamentals relatively quickly.
A skilled Water Breathing user could make it seem as if water flowed around their blade when they swung it, releasing fluid and powerful slashes.
However, for Roy, the power of what that world called "demons" was, well, unremarkable.
His interest lay more in curiosity and a desire to explore this breathing technique.
The system and rules of power were completely different. He wondered if this breathing method from another world could be utilized by him, and to what extent it could enhance his strength.
Roy began to try simulating the rhythm of Water Breathing in the quiet of the hot spring, letting each inhalation and exhalation resonate with the sound of the flowing water, as if he himself were becoming a part of the spring's circulation.
He closed his eyes, allowing his mind to sink deeper. Gradually, he felt an unprecedented sense of harmony and balance.
Roy lightly tapped his fingers on the stone slab at the edge of the spring, revealing an indescribable sense of rhythm.
With the flick of his fingertips, the surface of the hot spring suddenly stirred, as if drawn by an invisible force. A slender column of water rose silently from the surface.
This column of water was not only condensed as if solid but also shimmered with a faint blue light.
Next, Roy traced an arc through the air with his fingers.
Following the movement of his hand, the water column transformed into several slender, razor-sharp streams of water-like sword energy, swirling and interweaving above the hot spring.
However, this was a peaceful hot spring location, with no other soul around besides the babbling water and the occasional birdsong.
Thus, Roy's remarkable feat went unwitnessed.
Roy didn't mind whether anyone was watching; he was immersed in his own world of cultivation.
But soon, he realized that for someone like him, who already possessed immense strength, the enhancement effect seemed less significant than expected.
While those streams of water sword energy were fluid and sharp, their power was limited within his existing power system, unlikely to become a decisive factor in his battles.
"Perhaps other breathing styles could offer me a different kind of surprise?"
Roy pondered to himself.
"Or, maybe I could try to improve upon Water Breathing itself?"
Although these breathing techniques offered limited enhancement to his personal strength, they could prove to be incredibly valuable assets for growing ninjas like Sasuke.
"If the chance arises, I could just let the two of them trade amongst themselves."
Roy thought to himself as he continued soaking in the hot spring.
The Chunin Exams were set to begin in a day or two.
The real show was about to start!