"Traitor!"
Danzo spat out the word coldly. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable chill.
"Traitor?"
Yakushi Kabuto repeated the word with a faint smile. "Lord Danzo, I'm afraid that's not a title that suits me."
He had severed ties with Root twice already.
The first time, when Danzo manipulated him and his benefactor, Nonou Yakushi, into killing each other.
The second time, when he infiltrated Root again—as a spy.
Neither time had he truly been a traitor.
If anything, it was Danzo who had broken his promises from the beginning. That was the real betrayal.
Kabuto looked at Danzo calmly, a small smile on his lips. But behind the lenses of his glasses, his eyes were cold and empty.
Hate?
Maybe.
But long before hatred could take root, a numbing emptiness had already filled his heart.
Nonou Yakushi was dead—killed by his own hands. There was nothing left to protect.
"You dare talk back?"
Danzo's eyes flashed with cold fury.
He had long forgotten about the old matter of Nonou Yakushi.
He assumed Orochimaru had disposed of the boy, and now simply saw Kabuto as a spy planted by Orochimaru—one who had leaked Root's secrets.
The boy's defiant attitude only fueled Danzo's anger.
The wind howled.
Danzo struck again.
But this time, Kabuto didn't stand still.
He dodged, stepping back nimbly, then calmly began to unbutton his shirt.
Danzo, even angrier at being evaded, froze when his gaze fell on Kabuto's exposed chest.
—Wrapped around Kabuto's torso were layers of explosive tags.
More importantly, dark sealing marks crawled across his skin—Orochimaru's work.
Danzo's expression turned grim.
The explosive tags alone wouldn't threaten him—he could avoid the blast easily.
But the seals were another matter.
They were designed to trigger instantly if Kabuto decided to self-destruct.
Saving him would be impossible.
Danzo clenched his fists.
He hadn't come here just to eliminate Kabuto.
His true goal was to secure the experimental data from Orochimaru's first-generation cell research.
Killing Kabuto would only cut off the last lead.
Orochimaru… that bastard… he was thorough.
Danzo's face darkened.
Earlier, the Root team had already reported: no valuable documents were found in the medical room.
Now, the only way to obtain the information was through the boy standing before him.
And Orochimaru had completely sealed off that route.
Danzo gritted his teeth.
He had never truly believed Orochimaru would hand over the data—even though the Third Hokage and the two elder advisors were nominally supporting him.
This mission had been intended as a swift, quiet grab: take the information under the guise of an official investigation, then leave the political mess between Orochimaru and the Hokage's advisors for others to clean up.
But now...
That plan had completely fallen apart.
The chances of obtaining the experimental data were growing slimmer. Danzo frowned, and murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
This boy was useless now. It would be better to kill him, pin the blame for the attack on the Hokage advisors on him, and then continue pressuring Orochimaru.
Yakushi Kabuto was sharp—he could read the killing intent from Danzo's expression. Though the oppressive aura made him instinctively take a step back, the smile on his face only grew wider.
He pulled out a scroll from his robes, smiling.
"Master Danzo, no need to worry. I have a copy of the surgical data you want."
Danzo was about to snatch it when he noticed the curse markings engraved on the scroll. His face darkened once again.
Orochimaru, you damn snake... always laying traps.
"What do you want?" Danzo asked, frowning.
Kabuto simply pushed up his glasses and smiled silently.
---
"Asshole!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Uchiha Shinsuke watched Kabuto leave under the watch of Danzo and the Root operatives. Rage and fear twisted in his chest, the three tomoe in his Sharingan spinning violently.
His hands flew through hand signs.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire!"
A volley of small fireballs shot out in rapid succession, forcing the Root ninja to retreat to the outskirts of the fight.
Taking advantage of the opening, Shinsuke pulled a signal flare from his vest and launched it into the sky.
The Root squad leader's expression hardened.
He recognized the flare—a special emergency signal used by the Uchiha police force.
Even in broad daylight, it wouldn't take long for Uchiha reinforcements to arrive.
This was about to get complicated.
The two Root captains exchanged a look, and without a word, ordered their teams to attack with deadly intent, abandoning their earlier cautious tactics.
"You insects finally stopped hiding, huh?"
A fierce light flashed in Shinsuke's eyes.
He didn't retreat—instead, he charged straight at the two Root squads.
---
Hokage Building – Conference Room
After entering the room, Yakushi Kabuto bowed respectfully.
"Lord Hokage. Honorable Elders."
Sarutobi Hiruzen studied the white-haired boy, a glint of intrigue in his gaze.
For once, it seemed Danzo had not moved without permission.
"Where is Orochimaru?!"
Koharu Utatane barked sharply, clearly displeased with Kabuto's casual attitude.
"You've already been exposed for unauthorized human experimentation using the First Hokage's cells. You'd best answer truthfully."
Homura Mitokado added coolly,
"If you have any of Orochimaru's experimental data, hand it over. Depending on your cooperation, your punishment might be reduced."
The two advisors—one harsh, one soft—were clearly trying to coerce his obedience.
"Honored Elders, you misunderstand."
Kabuto gave a helpless smile.
"Regarding the surgeries and experiments... Lord Orochimaru has already abandoned them."
"What?!"
The unexpected answer stunned the two advisors.
"You're lying!" Koharu snapped. "There's no way Orochimaru would—"
Kabuto silently placed a scroll covered in black curse patterns onto the table, cutting her off mid-sentence.
"This contains the surgical data and Lord Orochimaru's notes on the failed enhancement project."
He adjusted his glasses and sighed.
"The First Hokage's cells are far too volatile. Lord Orochimaru had hoped to create a technique to enhance an ordinary ninja's physical abilities. But... the risks were too great. Especially for clans like the Uchiha, the side effects could be catastrophic."
"If we tested it on ordinary ninja... we don't know how many would have died.
In the end, Lord Orochimaru was forced to give up."
The two advisors exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand, and a messenger quickly retrieved the scroll to verify its authenticity.
Danzo's gaze followed the messenger for a moment, before coldly shifting away.
The conference room fell into an uncomfortable silence.
Finally, Sarutobi asked,
"Do you know where Orochimaru has gone?"
"Ryuuchi Cave," Kabuto answered obediently.
"Master Orochimaru went to fulfill a contract with the snakes, as part of a reward for assisting during the Battle of Kumogakure. He only left behind one emergency contact method."
Before Sarutobi could continue questioning, Koharu interjected impatiently,
"Then contact him immediately!"
Meeting the Third Hokage's eyes and receiving a slight nod, Kabuto said softly,
"Very well."
He walked up to the long table, quickly forming hand seals.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a puff of smoke, a small white snake appeared on the table, flicking its tongue as it coiled lazily.
______________
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