After returning to the Land of Fire, Danzo panted heavily, his face as dark as still water.
"This is the first time an undercover agent personally trained by this old man has betrayed me."
"And it cost me so many subordinates in one stroke."
Danzo did not particularly care about human lives.
The key problem was that Root shinobi were not easy to recruit.
"Because of Hiruzen's suppression, Root's numbers have always been kept at a relatively small scale. Once losses occur, they must be replenished—but replenishing manpower is no simple matter."
"I don't even know how long it will take to recover from this loss."
"And the operation failed."
"I didn't obtain a single piece of useful intelligence."
"I couldn't even kill any Suna shinobi. All we managed to do was destroy one mechanical sand ship."
Danzo looked toward the Land of Wind across from him.
"Originally, I had a spy who would absolutely never betray me—Kabuto Yakushi. But because of Hiruzen's arrangements, that spy returned to Nonō Yakushi's hands."
"Even Nonō Yakushi slipped out of my control."
"Otherwise, this operation would never have failed."
"It is all Hiruzen's fault!"
Danzo did not return directly to Konoha.
Instead, he went to the front line.
"Danzo-senpai?"
Orochimaru looked at Danzo, who had suddenly appeared, with some surprise and suspicion.
Danzo saw through what Orochimaru was thinking at a glance and explained directly, "I came out this time because Hiruzen begged me to. Otherwise, how could I appear here openly?"
"Sarutobi-sensei begged you?"
Orochimaru thought for a moment.
"Sarutobi-sensei wanted you to investigate intelligence on the Sun Disk?"
"Correct."
Danzo nodded.
"No one expected that the Sun Disk Sunagakure secretly constructed would turn out to be such a thing—a pure war machine capable of unleashing such powerful attacks."
"One Sun Disk is fully comparable to an entire shinobi army."
"As long as a Sun Disk blocks our path, there is no way we can break through."
"Only by obtaining the blueprints for the Sun Disk and allowing Konoha to possess Sun Disks as well can we oppose Sunagakure."
"Or alternatively, we must find a way to destroy the Sun Disk."
Orochimaru asked, "Then, Danzo-senpai, have you already obtained the Sun Disk's blueprints?"
Danzo's expression stiffened.
"Not yet. But I am close."
After a pause, Danzo lowered his voice.
"I came here to discuss a more important matter with you, Orochimaru."
"What matter?"
"Orochimaru, the village's current situation is very poor. Hiruzen's circumstances are even worse. That Raikage's interview can be called a fatal blow to Hiruzen."
Danzo said, "It is only because we are currently in wartime. If this were an ordinary period, many voices demanding Hiruzen's resignation might already have risen throughout the Land of Fire."
"Even now, within the Land of Fire and inside Konoha, many people already believe Hiruzen is no longer worthy of continuing as Hokage."
"Especially the members of the Hyuga branch family."
"The main family oppresses and exploits them."
"Hiruzen, as Hokage, deceived and humiliated them as well."
"Their dissatisfaction and anger have already accumulated to the breaking point. They need an outlet."
"We can push things from the shadows and have the Hyuga branch family assassinate Hiruzen."
Orochimaru hesitated slightly.
"That won't be easy. First, how do we persuade them? Assassinating the Hokage is a grave crime. Second, can those Hyuga branch members even succeed in assassinating the Hokage? Sarutobi-sensei may be old, but he still has strength."
Danzo looked at Orochimaru.
"That is precisely why I came to find you, Orochimaru."
"We do not need to incite every member of the Hyuga branch family. A few will be enough. And they do not need to possess the strength to kill Hiruzen."
"As long as they make their move, and as long as Hiruzen dies, our matter will be accomplished."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Danzo-senpai means… you want me to hide among the Hyuga branch members and strike at Sarutobi-sensei?"
Danzo nodded.
"Exactly."
Orochimaru thought for a moment.
"Even so, I have no confidence. Sarutobi-sensei is not weak. During this period, his vigilance must be even higher. If I fail to kill him in a short time, the one who suffers will be me."
Danzo frowned.
"Even you have no confidence? That cannot be."
"I truly do not. Sarutobi-sensei is not weak. And over these years, I have spent most of my time on research. My personal strength has not improved much."
Watching Danzo leave, Orochimaru's eyes flickered faintly.
"Danzo, oh Danzo. Your true goal is not to make the Hyuga branch family the murderers who killed Sarutobi-sensei on the surface."
"It is to make me the murderer who killed Sarutobi-sensei on the surface, isn't it?"
"I am not quite the same as you."
"Even if Sarutobi-sensei dislikes me, I can wait."
"Sarutobi-sensei will not live much longer."
"And I can live for a very, very long time."
"With the village's situation having become what it is now, once the day Sarutobi-sensei dies arrives, the Hokage position can only fall into my hands. Then I will be able to use the resources of the entire village for my research."
When he had competed with Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru had needed to cooperate with Danzo. He had needed Danzo's support.
But now, the situation was already completely different.
Orochimaru no longer had competitors. There was only Hiruzen Sarutobi, barely clinging to the Hokage's seat.
And with the dramatic changes in Konoha's situation, Danzo had also changed—from someone who wanted his supported candidate to obtain the Hokage position, into someone who wanted to seize the Hokage position for himself.
Konoha's situation was changing.
So were the thoughts of both men.
Danzo left in disappointment and returned to Konoha, preparing to recruit more manpower and act again.
Because Hiruzen Sarutobi was already overwhelmed by the Fourth Raikage's interview, he did not even care that Danzo had returned to the village without immediately coming to the Hokage Building to report the operation's results.
Danzo naturally did not want others to know that his operation had failed. Since Hiruzen Sarutobi did not take the initiative to demand an explanation, Danzo certainly would not report it voluntarily.
Instead, he focused all his strength on recruiting new members for Root.
He was not merely replenishing the manpower he had lost before. Danzo wanted to use this opportunity to expand Root once again.
Danzo knew very well that opportunities like this would not come often.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was already extremely wary and guarded against him.
"Once I recruit enough manpower, I will make another trip to the Land of Wind."
"I refuse to believe that the spies I arrange this time will betray me again."
Just then—
A figure rushed in hurriedly.
"Danzo-sama, something terrible has happened!"
Danzo frowned.
"What is it?"
"Danzo-sama, please look at this! Sunagakure has published your last operation in full in this issue of Ninja World Weekly—and it is the headline!"
Danzo was shocked.
"What?"
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