On the outskirts of Konohagakure, in a wide stretch of farmland, three massive warehouse-like buildings stood side by side. Surrounding them were fields planted with various vegetables and fruits.
"I never expected that you, once known as the 'Walking Shrine Maiden,' would end up as a nanny for a group of children. Nono, it's been a long time."
At a stone table beneath a large tree, the Darkness of the Shinobi World, Shimura Danzō, sat facing the orphanage director Yakushi Nono.
Behind Danzō stood two cloaked figures whose faces were hidden in shadow, while behind Nono stood the orphanage's other two caretakers—Aken and Huika.
"I abandoned that name long ago," Yakushi Nono replied, meeting Danzō's gloomy gaze while suppressing the unease in her heart.
"We haven't applied to the village for funding anymore. Why have you come again?"
If possible, Yakushi Nono wanted nothing to do with Shimura Danzō—she would rather never see him again for the rest of her life.
As a former Root intelligence agent, she knew better than anyone how low Danzō's moral bottom line could sink.
Wherever Danzō appeared, trouble inevitably followed.
"Heh. So now that you have the Uchiha Clan's financial support, you feel fearless?" Danzō slowly looked around the area before speaking calmly.
"The Uchiha really are wealthy. The scale of this orphanage has more than doubled compared to before. And there are many more children now."
Hearing this, Nono frowned. Unable to hold back, she rebuked him:
"Danzō, don't even think about it! They're all still children!"
"I know."
Danzō stopped beating around the bush and revealed his true intention.
"But Root is currently short on manpower. I need you to return and help me."
"Major changes have occurred recently in Amegakure. I need you to infiltrate the upper ranks of the village and investigate everything they are doing."
Nono's eyes flickered. She lowered her head slightly, turning her gaze away as she spoke.
"You've come to the wrong person. I'm no longer—"
"Why must the director take on such a dangerous mission?!"
Before she could finish, Huika burst out angrily.
"Does Root not have anyone left?!"
Danzō glanced at her indifferently.
"The only one capable of handling such a long-term infiltration mission is the 'Walking Shrine Maiden.' There is currently no spy in Root more skilled than her."
"Ordinary people would eventually suffer a mental collapse or defect mid-mission. But she will never betray Konoha."
After a brief pause, Danzō looked back at Nono and spoke coldly.
"Nono. If you refuse, your orphanage will never receive funding again."
"You don't get to decide that!" Huika snapped angrily.
"The ones funding us are the Uchiha Clan, not Konoha!"
Danzō ignored her completely. His gaze remained fixed on Nono as he waited for her answer.
At that moment, the cloaked figure standing to Danzō's left spoke up.
"Your orphanage has developed quite well… but its security seems nonexistent."
"I suggest hiring a few more guards. Otherwise the money here might be stolen by thieves."
The cloaked figure on Danzō's right licked his lips with a long tongue and added with a grin:
"And just a reminder—be careful that the children don't get stolen either."
"After all, children with unknown identities can still be… useful."
The threat could not have been more obvious.
They intended to use the orphanage children to force Yakushi Nono into submission.
"You're despicable!" Aken shouted angrily.
"Can people like you even call yourselves shinobi? Using such filthy methods!"
"The ones who fail to understand the situation are you," Danzō replied without the slightest trace of shame.
"For the sake of Konoha's interests, such a price is insignificant."
Aken and Huika were so enraged by Danzō's shamelessness that they found themselves unable to argue back.
After all, when someone had already stooped this low, what more could be said?
A look of struggle flashed through Yakushi Nono's eyes.
Danzō had truly struck at her greatest weakness.
Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap…
At that moment, a round of applause suddenly echoed through the air, breaking the oppressive silence.
"Ren!"
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Standing several meters away was Uchiha Ren, who had appeared at some unknown moment.
Aken and Huika were overjoyed, and Yakushi Nono finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Uchiha Ren…"
Danzō narrowed his lone eye, his gaze dark and sinister.
Meanwhile, the cloaked figure standing to Danzō's right studied Ren with clear interest.
"Looks like I returned at just the right time," Ren said casually.
"Otherwise I would've missed such a wonderful performance."
He walked over calmly and sat beside Yakushi Nono, his gaze sharp as a blade as it fixed on Danzō.
"Uchiha Ren…"
Danzō clearly disliked this sudden intruder interfering in his affairs.
"What exactly do you want?"
"That's the question I should be asking you," Ren replied without backing down.
"I happen to be the Honorary Director of this orphanage. Elder Danzō, what exactly are you planning to do to my orphanage?"
"Honorary director?"
Danzō frowned slightly and glanced at the cloaked figure behind him on the left.
After thinking for a moment, the man hesitantly nodded.
Back when Uchiha Ren had negotiated with Yakushi Nono about sponsoring the orphanage, she had indeed granted him the title of Honorary Director as a gesture of gratitude.
Although it had originally been nothing more than a polite expression of thanks, the title still technically made him part of the orphanage leadership.
And that gave Ren every right to intervene.
Ren snorted coldly and continued:
"I think I just heard someone say they were going to steal money from this orphanage… and even steal the children."
"That's not something the Konoha Military Police Force can pretend it didn't hear."
"So I'll ask just one question."
"Elder Danzō… were you serious about what you just said?"
As his words fell, Ren revealed his three-tomoe Sharingan, glowing crimson.
At the same time, a terrifying aura erupted from him like a blazing sun. The overwhelming pressure surged forward like a tidal wave toward Danzō and the two cloaked figures, draining all color from the world around them.
Sharingan — Conqueror's Aura.
Danzō's pupils shrank, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The cloaked figure on Danzō's right barely managed to remain standing, but the one on the left collapsed directly onto the ground.
What a terrifying pressure!
Danzō was deeply shocked.
He could clearly sense the killing intent directed at him from Uchiha Ren.
It felt as though the moment he admitted to those threats—
Ren would kill him without hesitation.
Is this lunatic insane?!
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