Deep underground—
Inside the hidden Root headquarters—
Yoru sat comfortably on his luxurious magma throne, smiling as he looked at the furious one-eyed man before him.
"Relax, I was just joking."
He waved his hand casually.
"Cooperation? Of course I'm interested. Go on."
Across from him, Danzo Shimura breathed heavily, barely suppressing his anger.
Even someone as composed as Danzo—
Had been pushed to this state.
"You and I cooperate."
Danzo finally spoke.
"You support me… and I'll let you enter Konoha's upper ranks."
Yoru tilted his head, pretending to be confused.
"Support you? Support what exactly? I don't quite understand."
Danzo's eye twitched.
This brat is pretending again…
"Let's stop playing dumb."
He forced himself to stay calm.
"First—let me introduce this place."
"This is Root."
"The foundation of Konoha."
His tone gradually rose with pride.
"I am its leader."
"I protect Konoha from the shadows."
"If the Hokage is Konoha's light—"
"Then I… am its darkness!"
He raised both arms, voice filled with passion.
"Work with me, Yoru!"
"We can create a better Konoha!"
"…Pfft."
"…HAHAHAHA!!"
Yoru burst into laughter.
He laughed so hard he almost doubled over.
"What are you laughing at?!"
Danzo's expression turned ice-cold.
"Sorry, sorry… it's just too funny."
Yoru wiped imaginary tears from his eyes.
Then looked at Danzo with pure mockery.
"A failure of an era…"
"And you've dressed it up so grandly."
"I really admire your thick skin."
"'Darkness of Konoha'?"
He smirked.
"Don't make me laugh."
"Only losers hide in the shadows… clinging to life like this."
"Honestly, this place suits you perfectly, old man."
Each word—
Hit like a slap.
Danzo's face darkened further with every sentence.
By the end—
His killing intent was practically tangible.
"Bastard! How dare you insult Lord Danzo!"
From the shadows—
Root operatives appeared one after another.
Weapons drawn.
Ready to die if ordered.
"Insult?"
Yoru didn't even glance at them.
"I'm just stating facts."
Suddenly—
A Root ninja stepped forward.
His body erupted with insects.
A dense swarm surged toward Yoru.
"Oh?"
Yoru raised an eyebrow.
"Aburame clan?"
The swarm covered him instantly—
Crawling into his body.
"He's finished!"
"Serves him right!"
But—
The Aburame user's face suddenly changed.
"…I can't feel them."
"…The insects… are gone."
"Yeah… still kind of disgusting."
Yoru casually brushed his shoulder.
Ash fell from his body.
Completely unharmed.
"What?!"
"Even Lord Ryoma's insects—?!"
Panic spread among the Root.
Even Danzo's expression changed.
Aburame Ryoma—
One of his strongest subordinates.
His insects could devour enemies in seconds.
Yet—
They had done nothing.
Gurgle… gurgle…
Yoru's magma throne melted—
Spreading across the ground.
The temperature rose sharply.
The air itself began to distort.
Then—
He stood.
"Do you want to fight me, Danzo?"
BOOM!
A terrifying killing intent erupted.
The entire Root force froze.
As if plunged into an icy abyss.
Only Danzo—
And Aburame Ryoma—
Could still move.
Danzo's heart pounded.
A dangerous instinct screamed inside him—
If he fought—
He would die.
He stayed silent.
The Root operatives didn't dare move.
"Since you attacked me…"
Yoru glanced at Ryoma.
Boom!
A pillar of magma burst from the ground—
Instantly incinerating Ryoma's right arm.
"Agh—!"
Cold sweat poured down Ryoma's face.
Too sudden.
Too fast.
He hadn't even reacted.
"Alright then, Lord Danzo."
Yoru's smile returned.
"I suppose we're done here."
"I'll take my leave."
Danzo said nothing.
His face was dark as iron.
Yoru simply turned—
And walked out.
After he left—
A Root ninja stepped forward angrily.
"Lord Danzo! Let us kill him!"
"To die for you is our duty!"
"Silence!"
Danzo roared.
"Let him go!"
He wanted nothing more than to kill Yoru right there.
But he knew—
They couldn't.
They wouldn't even touch him.
Too strange…
Danzo's expression remained grim.
Even Aburame Ryoma's insects had failed.
That bloodline… it's not simple.
And more importantly—
Danzo himself realized something:
He hadn't fought seriously in years.
He had been buried in schemes and politics.
While Yoru—
Was forged in war.
On the path of strength—
If you don't advance, you fall behind.
And now—
Danzo understood.
He was no longer Yoru's opponent.
And that—
Was why Yoru walked away so confidently.
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