Danzo knew perfectly well that Aoshi and he were never on the same path. And right now, he was not yet the future Danzo who would one day possess Shisui's Kotoamatsukami.
So, since it was inconvenient for him to make a move personally, he could only consider turning to Orochimaru for help.
But Orochimaru wasn't a fool. Though he was always immersed in his experiments, that didn't mean he was blind to what was happening in Konoha—or across the shinobi world.
Danzo wanted him to eliminate Aoshi? The malice behind such a request was obvious.
If Orochimaru really went through with it, he would have no choice but to defect from Konoha.
So he refused without hesitation. "I would never lay a hand on a comrade of the village."
Danzo's face darkened instantly. For someone as shameless as Orochimaru, to say something like that was almost laughable.
Still, he knew full well that his demand had been excessive.
If Orochimaru truly defected from Konoha, that would be no good for Danzo either. The Wood Release experiments had yet to be completed.
With a cold snort, Danzo shifted the topic to the experiments.
"The ordinary people you brought in can't withstand the power of Hashirama's cells. They're all dead. I need better test subjects."
Danzo's expression soured at the result. "Orochimaru, I expect results."
"Then you'd best hurry and prepare better experimental material for me," Orochimaru countered.
"Recently, Hiruzen seems to have noticed something. The next batch will take longer to deliver." With that, Danzo turned and left.
When he returned to Root's base, he pondered briefly, then ordered Aburame Ryoma, "Call for Yakushi Nonō."
"She's currently away, carrying out the mission you assigned in the Land of Lightning."
Danzo had not personally stepped forward during the Chunin Exams, but that didn't mean he had done nothing.
To probe whether Kumogakure had further schemes, he had sent Nonō to the Land of Lightning.
Though she lacked the cold ruthlessness Danzo desired—something that often left him displeased—he could not deny that Nonō was Root's most outstanding intelligence operative.
She even carried the title of The Wandering Nun.
"Cancel her current mission. Recall her immediately. I have a new task for her."
Since Kumogakure had already signed a peace treaty with Konoha, they wouldn't dare make another move in the short term.
Pulling Nonō back wouldn't disrupt anything. After all, Konoha still had other spies embedded deep within the Land of Lightning.
---
Hirakawa Entertainment Company—top floor.
Aoshi had specially arranged a private apartment here, a place where he could rest at night. Before, he hadn't had the means, and so he'd been forced to buy a house outside the main district.
Now that he had the ability, he naturally wanted the convenience of living close to work.
Just as he returned home, Aoshi received the intel his shadow clone had sent back.
"So it really is about the orphanage…"
He knew the moment he decided to fund Konoha's orphanage, conflict with Danzo—the so-called "Darkness of the Shinobi World"—was inevitable.
And with Danzo's current influence and authority, Aoshi couldn't move against him lightly.
But that would never be a reason to abandon the orphanage.
As the saying goes: When poor, safeguard yourself; when prosperous, aid the world.
Aoshi knew he wasn't some saint who carried the weight of the world in his heart. But at the very least, he had his own bottom line.
Without the orphanage, he might have died long ago in some forgotten corner of the ninja world.
That was why he could never stand by and watch the orphanage suffer under Danzō's oppression.
Since conflict with Danzō was inevitable, Aoshi naturally thought long and hard about how to deal with him. He also understood all too well the kind of man Danzō was.
Which meant—Danzō had to be dealt with.
The problem was that the methods Aoshi currently possessed weren't well-suited for handling him. After all, Danzō was an advisor to the Hokage, holding great authority and influence within Konoha.
Not to mention, Sarutobi Hiruzen—ever sentimental about old comrades—was exceedingly tolerant of him.
For Aoshi, risking disadvantage just to take down a single Danzō wasn't worth it.
Yes—Aoshi looked down on him completely.
If he truly wanted to kill Danzō, his current abilities would be more than enough. But in his eyes, Danzō wasn't worth paying such a heavy price to eliminate.
Therefore, he could only bide his time and plan carefully for the long run. Besides, Danzō didn't dare move openly against him for now. Time was on Aoshi's side.
"Danzō," he muttered coldly, "treasure the days you have left…"
---
A few more days slipped by.
Following orders, Nonō returned to Root.
"Lord Danzō," she greeted, kneeling on one knee.
Looking down at her, Danzō spoke slowly. "Nonō, I know you've long wished to leave Root and return to the orphanage."
Indeed, Nonō had been scouted from that very orphanage by Danzō himself. She had proven exceptionally talented in intelligence work and medical ninjutsu.
"So, in recognition of your outstanding contributions to Root, I will grant your wish and allow you to withdraw."
At those words, Nonō's head shot up, her eyes trembling with joy.
"Truly?" Seeing her reaction, Danzō gave a cold snort.
This was precisely what displeased him about her—her inability to sever emotions like the rest of his Root operatives, to become the perfect, unfeeling tool in his hand.
In Danzō's philosophy, shinobi were nothing but tools. Emotions were useless.
Were it not for her exceptional ability, he would have disposed of her long ago in secret.
Hearing his disdainful snort, Nonō realized she had overreacted. She quickly bowed her head again and apologized.
"It's fine," Danzō replied curtly. "I understand your feelings."
Suppressing his irritation, he continued.
"But you must complete one final mission before you leave Root."
"I want you to return to the orphanage and establish a close relationship with Hirakawa Aoshi."
Since they both once lived at the orphanage, Nonō naturally knew who Aoshi was. But she was a few years younger and had been taken into Root at a very young age.
Their interactions had been minimal.
Although she didn't know what Danzō was scheming, Nonō had no reason to refuse. More importantly, she had no right to refuse.
"Yes," she said firmly. "I will complete the mission."
"Good. You may return to the orphanage at once. Once the task is done, I will erase all records of your service in Root."
"Thank you, Lord Danzō!" she exclaimed.
As Nonō departed, Danzō's eyes narrowed.
Of course, he had no intention of fulfilling her wish out of goodwill. His true plan was to use her against Aoshi.
Aoshi was an orphan. He had no family that could be threatened.
As for his friends, Minato was Jiraiya's student, and Kushina was the next Nine-Tails jinchūriki. Danzō would be a fool to target them.
And Mikoto? She was now an elite jonin of the Uchiha clan. Even though Danzō had always been hostile toward the Uchiha, he had never once underestimated them.
Thus, he turned to Nonō, intending to make her Aoshi's weakness.
In the end, he planned to eliminate them both. After all, a woman who knew too many of Root's secrets could never be allowed to live.