Danzo stood on the tree trunk, looking down at the young man on the ground.
Mizukiku had a face similar to Uchiha Kagami's, and also shared Kagami's exceptional talent for the Sharingan.
Danzo said, "Mizukiku, the thing your father Kagami and I feared most has still come to pass.
Uchiha Madara is alive, plotting in the shadows to destroy Konoha.
One of your father's most important tasks during his lifetime was to guard against the Uchiha clan rebelling against the village. This idea has considerable traction within the Uchiha clan; many believe in it.
The news of Uchiha Madara being alive can no longer be hidden. I suspect that some within the Uchiha clan have developed different intentions and plan to join Uchiha Madara.
Mizukiku, during this mission to the Land of Rain, help me keep an eye on everyone to prevent anyone from defecting to Uchiha Madara and endangering the village."
Uchiha Mizukiku said with a determined gaze, "Uncle Danzo, I will definitely complete the task you have assigned me."
Danzo nodded repeatedly.
Root had suffered successive heavy blows, and the Anbu Commander position was given to Sarutobi Hiruzen's son.
Just minor setbacks.
Just as well, Danzo could completely retreat into the shadows, adopting a semi-retired posture to complete his arrangements.
As for the troubles within the village, since Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to hand them over to his son, then let him hand them over.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke, whether in terms of strength or character – not to look down on him – simply couldn't handle the many conflicts within Konoha Village.
"Mizukiku, I grant you the Root codename 'Otsu'. You are now fully entering Root."
Uchiha Mizukiku was startled, then suppressed the excitement in his heart and said, "Yes, Lord Danzo!"
In the few days before departure, Yōkō practiced the Wood Release: Iron Vine technique diligently during the day.
At night, he went to the dense forest above the Hokage Rock to practice Wood Release jutsu like Wood Locking Wall and Advent of a World of Trees.
Every day was full and intense.
If someone were to look down on Konoha Village from a high altitude, they would see a few additional red maple trees in the forest behind the Hokage Rock.
Orochimaru said he would help conceal the news and use a grand revelation to刺激 Danzo; Yōkō also didn't want to expose his Wood Release too early.
However... Yōkō reconsidered, he lacked Wood Release jutsu and couldn't place all his hopes on Orochimaru.
Orochimaru was dangerous and, from now on, could not be trusted.
Why not sell out Orochimaru? Exchange him for some benefits from Yellow Dog?
How could he do it without exposing himself, yet still gain benefits?
As the Anbu Commander, Yellow Dog had a separate office in the basement level of the Hokage Building.
These past few nights, Yellow Dog would ask: "Butterfly, has Fox still not come to see me today?"
Butterfly's tone carried heartache: "No."
Her heart ached for Yellow Dog.
Yellow Dog was already the Anbu Commander. Wasn't it just that Fox wasn't made the Deputy Commander? How could Fox be so insatiably greedy, how could he hold a grudge?
Three or four days had passed, and Fox hadn't taken the initiative to see Yellow Dog.
Butterfly said, "Lord Yellow Dog, let me notify Fox, have him come see you."
"No, not today." Yellow Dog said:
"It's normal for Fox to have some thoughts. After all, I promised him many times, and we've joked about it privately many times – once I became Commander, he would be Deputy Commander.
I wonder when Fox will see reason.
Give him one more day. The day after tomorrow, he will go to the Land of Rain with the Uchiha clan. If he hasn't figured it out and still hasn't come to see me, then it means he failed the test.
In the future, I will use continuous tasks to consume his energy, demanding his service for me in the name of Konoha's greater good.
Notify him to see me half an hour before his departure."
To say he had no feelings for Fox would be untrue, but to say he had deep feelings wasn't the case either.
Yellow Dog needed to learn to become like Danzo.
Shortly after Butterfly left the Commander's office, she saw the two Anbu at the staircase greeting someone coming up the stairs.
"Fox Squad Leader!"
Yōkō nodded, located Yellow Dog's office, and walked over.
Passing by Butterfly, he nodded to her.
Butterfly felt excited inside and quickly led Fox to the Commander's office.
Great, Fox had come to his senses, Fox had lowered his head.
Yōkō waited for Butterfly to knock and announce him, thinking to himself that for the sake of gaining more benefits, a little grievance was nothing.
Look at it this way: if he couldn't become Deputy Commander, it must be because too few Deputy Commanders had died.
As long as enough Deputy Commanders died, the position would eventually be his.
As the door opened, Yōkō saw the current Commander, Yellow Dog.
If a few Commanders died... then the Commander position would be his too...
The two of them acted as if nothing had happened, still the superior and subordinate with the best relationship.
In Yellow Dog's view, Fox had finally come to his senses, softened, and submitted.
Yōkō spoke first: "Commander Yellow Dog, this is my first time coming to your office to congratulate you on becoming Commander. My apologies for being late."
"Not late, not late at all." Yellow Dog quickly said: "Sit, Fox. You're not late."
Yōkō turned and glanced at Butterfly.
Yellow Dog promptly said to Butterfly, "Butterfly, you may leave now."
Fox must want to discuss something extremely important with him.
Yōkō walked around behind the desk and, close to Yellow Dog, said solemnly and in a low voice:
"Lord Yellow Dog, a few days ago, when I went to Orochimaru to collect the progress report on the Wood Release experiment, I saw something I shouldn't have.
Orochimaru's experiment seems to have made some remarkable progress.
I triggered a trap and was injected with a syringe of poison.
The poison made me feel terrible all over, weak for several days. That's why I couldn't come out until now."
Yellow Dog was shocked; this was unexpected.
He thought Fox was being stubborn by not coming to see him, but it turned out he had been harmed by Orochimaru?
Orochimaru, relying on the Third Hokage's favor, acted lawlessly. Dealing with Orochimaru was indeed dangerous.
The reason he sent Fox to get the experiment reports from Orochimaru in the first place was because Fox was strong, fearing others might fall victim to Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru injected you with a syringe of medicine? What kind of medicine? Is it serious?"
"I don't know what kind of medicine it was. I felt terrible for two whole days."
The fact that Orochimaru had enabled him to master Wood Release would inevitably be exposed sooner or later. If he wanted to continue gaining benefits from Yellow Dog, hiding it was a poor choice. It was better to report it mixed with truth and falsehood.
Wouldn't you know it, after being hit by Orochimaru's poison trap, he accidentally awakened Wood Release.
No matter what others think, that's how I'll explain it.
As for whether you believe it or not, now that I've mastered Wood Release, you can believe what you want.
Yōkō continued: "Lord Yellow Dog, we must guard against Orochimaru.
Orochimaru has obtained test subjects with Senju lineage, and his experiment has made a breakthrough.
But he isn't including the experimental progress in his reports. I suspect the final report I obtained is a fake.
I'm about to go to the Land of Grass. Uchiha Madara is old but vigorous.
The Land of Grass mission will demand a lot of my energy. Regarding Orochimaru, Lord Yellow Dog, you still need to keep a close eye on him."
Yōkō's few sentences made Yellow Dog believe he was still that considerate top subordinate. Yōkō thought to himself that next he could emphasize Uchiha Madara's strength and try to get a few Wood Release jutsu from Yellow Dog.
Yellow Dog's expression turned grave.
Orochimaru, relying on his great strength and having the Third Hokage as his teacher, didn't take him seriously at all.
Yellow Dog said: "Fox, be extremely careful when investigating Uchiha Madara in the Land of Rain. Also, I have one more task for you."
"What is it?"
Yōkō was just about to seize the opportunity to ask Yellow Dog for jutsu, but Yellow Dog made a request first.
"Fox, during this mission to the Land of Rain, take the opportunity to weaken the Uchiha clan. Kill or cause the death of a few Uchiha clan Jōnin or Three Tomoe ninja!"
***
->Support me with power stone
->for every 100 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter
***
Dive deeper into the story with 50+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!
(End of Chapter)