Evening before the day Sora made the deal with Orochimaru.
Root Underground Base.
Danzo stood quietly before the massive 'Root' symbol with his eyes closed, like a cold stone statue.
Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps shattered the dead silence.
Danzo slowly opened his eyes, looking towards the entrance.
A short figure could be seen leaning against the wall, struggling to walk in.
It was Yamato.
"Tenzō?" Danzo's voice was low and hoarse, betraying no emotion. "Is the mission complete? Where are the others?"
Yamato stopped before Danzo, his body swaying, forcing himself to kneel on one knee. His voice carried an uncontrollable fear and tremble:
"Da... Danzo-sama... The mission... the mission is complete... But the Captain... the Captain and the two seniors... they... they..."
Danzo's brow instantly furrowed, an intangible pressure spreading:
"Explain clearly! What happened!"
Stimulated by this pressure, Yamato trembled even more, haltingly recounting the experience of being ambushed.
From the ambush in the valley, to the Captain being instantly killed, to the other two Chunin seniors being cut down like weeds, to himself desperately using Wood Release yet still being easily severely wounded, and that enemy inexplicably leaving...
He did his best to describe the enemy's characteristics, especially that arm covered with blue scales that transformed into a fearsome dragon claw, and that terrifying speed and power.
"...He... he was too strong... The Captain before him... couldn't even block a single move... My Wood Release... was completely useless..."
Yamato's voice was filled with lingering fear and a sense of powerlessness.
"Dragon claw... blue scales..."
Danzo repeated these two key phrases in a low voice, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
A carefully cultivated Root Jonin, two veteran Chunin, almost completely wiped out in the heart of the Land of Fire by an unknown enemy with a dragon transformation ability!
This wasn't just a loss of personnel, it was a provocation against 'Root'! A provocation against him, Shimura Danzo!
Furthermore, why did the other party specifically spare Tenzō?
Was it because Tenzō was the weakest, not worth killing? Or... was there another purpose?
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Danzo's mind. The suspects included other major nations, rogue ninja organizations, and even certain potential opponents within the village itself.
But no matter how he thought, an enemy with such characteristics and strength seemed to have appeared out of thin air, leaving no clues.
"Incompetent!"
Danzo suddenly swung his sleeve, a powerful chakra airflow sending the kneeling Yamato tumbling.
"You can't even figure out the enemy's origin and purpose! Was all the 'Root' training for nothing!"
Yamato fell to the ground, the wound on his shoulder reopening, blood flowing faster. But he gritted his teeth, not daring to utter the slightest sound of pain. He just climbed back up and lowered his head deeply:
"This subordinate is incompetent! Please punish me, Danzo-sama!"
Danzo coldly watched him, no warmth in his eyes.
The loss had already occurred. Punishing a surviving test subject was meaningless.
Tenzō was currently the only surviving and stably usable Wood Release specimen, his value far exceeding that of the three dead subordinates.
The top priority was to clarify the identity and purpose of that mysterious enemy.
Danzo pondered for a moment, having already made a decision in his heart.
Although he controlled 'Root' and held great authority in the shadows, investigating something like this relying solely on 'Root's' own power would be too inefficient.
So sometimes, borrowing the power of the 'light' could achieve the goal faster.
He understood the principle that 'the crying child gets the milk'.
...
Hokage's Office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was puffing on his pipe, reviewing documents on the desk, his brow slightly furrowed. Clearly, the stalemate of the war and various village affairs were taking a toll.
Just then, the office door was pushed open directly. Danzo walked in expressionlessly.
The two Anbu members guarding the door seemed to want to stop him, but seeing it was Danzo, they hesitated and stopped moving.
"Danzo?" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. "What is it?"
He was long accustomed to Danzo's behavior of barging in without announcement.
Danzo did not beat around the bush, directly coming to the point, selectively recounting the situation reported by Yamato.
"...One Jonin, two Chunin, killed instantly! Hiruzen, this is no small matter!" Danzo's tone carried a hint of accusation. "The other party acting so recklessly in the heart of the Land of Fire is a provocation against Konoha's authority! They must be found quickly!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen listened to Danzo's account, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.
Dragon transformation ability? Instantly killing a Root Jonin?
Such an enemy was indeed dangerous and troublesome.
He took a drag from his pipe, slowly exhaling smoke, and said solemnly:
"Is the information accurate? Is it possible the survivor's description is exaggerated?"
Danzo said coldly:
"Tenzō, though young, has undergone 'Root' training. His judgment will not be wrong."
"Moreover, the injuries on his body are real, Hiruzen. This is not a random incident. It must be taken seriously!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent for a moment.
He certainly knew Danzo's words were bound to have omissions, but regardless, an unknown enemy with such strength operating within the Land of Fire was indeed a huge threat to Konoha.
For both public and private reasons, it had to be investigated.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, his expression grave:
"I understand. I will send people to investigate this matter."
"Give the specific location of the incident and more detailed information to the Anbu."
Seeing his objective achieved, Danzo did not persist further. He knew that once Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed, he would definitely act.
"I hope your Anbu can find clues faster than my 'Root'."
Leaving this bland remark, Danzo turned and left the Hokage's office.
Watching Danzo's departing back, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, his eyes profound.
Danzo's rush to come here was partly due to the significant loss, but on the other hand, he probably also wanted to borrow his hand to investigate this mysterious enemy.
"Dragon claw... blue scales..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen searched his mind for related information. But whether it was the bloodline clans of major nations or well-known rogue ninjas, none seemed to match these characteristics.
Could it be a newly emerged Kekkei Genkai? Or a contractor of some unknown summon?
Finding no answer from his thoughts, he did not hesitate further and lightly tapped the desk.
A masked Anbu figure instantly appeared in the center of the office, kneeling on one knee.
"Hokage-sama."
Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a solemn order:
"Pass down the order..."
"Have Squad C Two proceed immediately to this coordinate area..."
"Search the scene carefully, looking for any possible clues, including battle traces, bloodstains, hair, clothing fibers... No abnormality is to be overlooked! Pay special attention to any... non-human claw marks or scale residue."
"Yes!"
The Anbu member took the order scroll, and with a flicker, disappeared.
...
Konoha Village, near the Anbu changing room.
Night Owl, having just finished a round of rest and preparing to receive new mission assignments, heard the Captain announce a temporary order.
"Emergency mission. All members of Squad C Two, proceed immediately to the designated coordinate area outside the village for a top-level scene investigation!"
Night Owl's heart tightened. Top-level investigation? It seemed something big had happened.
She did not dare delay, quickly checking her equipment, while subconsciously touching the diamond-shaped contract mark with the White Tiger on her arm.
With Baihu by her side, she felt much more at ease.
Soon, the four members of Squad C Two assembled. Under the Captain's lead, like several black lightning bolts, they swiftly left Konoha Village, speeding towards the direction specified by the mission.
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