Chapter 82: A Little Surprise for Danzō
Uchiha Kazuki had a feeling this mission would take quite a while.
Before officially departing, he made sure to prepare several gifts for the "friends" who had always been so attentive to him.
Worried that Mikoto might not have enough protective charms, he prepared a few extras and delivered them to the woman whose eyes held such obvious longing.
"You're really too kind, Kazuki."
Mikoto tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her beautiful eyes sparkling with an inexplicable allure. Her tone carried an unconscious intimacy: "Even though you're about to leave on such a dangerous mission, you still think of me. Thank you so much."
"Mikoto-san, you're too generous with your praise. I'm simply doing my duty as a medical specialist."
Uchiha Kazuki chuckled modestly, speaking lightly: "Since I've delivered everything, I should be going now."
"Ah, wait, Kazuki." Mikoto caught his sleeve, her cheeks flushed as she whispered, "Please come back safely. Fugaku and I will be waiting for your return."
This atmosphere is getting way too intimate!
Uchiha Kazuki could only manage an awkward yet polite smile before making his escape.
Watching the young man's retreating figure, Mikoto laughed softly with a hint of playful reproach in her eyes, murmuring to herself: "Next time, I'll definitely make him drop the formalities and just call me Mikoto. Always so proper with me. I'm not that old, you know..."
Having too much charm is seriously becoming a problem!
Uchiha Kazuki wiped away nervous sweat. If this continued, he'd practically be Itachi's godfather by the time the kid was born.
Wait... thinking about it carefully, would that really be so bad?
Quickly suppressing that dangerous thought, Uchiha Kazuki returned to his quarters.
Sensing approaching chakra signatures, he immediately used hypnosis to immobilize the White Zetsu that had been secretly monitoring him.
"Come out, Ryōma."
At his summons, countless insects emerged from the shadows before coalescing into human form.
"Lord Kazuki, please forgive my delayed arrival."
Ryōma dropped to one knee, head bowed, not daring to look directly at his master. "After receiving your signal, I had to use some misdirection to escape Danzō's surveillance. I apologize for any inconvenience."
A crisp clinking sound rang out.
A silver-gray ring inlaid with a crimson ruby spun across the table before coming to rest.
Under the room's ambient lighting, the ruby gleamed with a mesmerizing red glow that seemed to radiate an almost hypnotic charm.
It felt as though a breathtakingly beautiful woman was performing an enchanting dance.
Even Ryōma—a hardened Root elite trained to suppress all emotions—found himself stunned. His eyes locked onto the ring as his breathing unconsciously quickened and his face flushed an unnatural red. An overwhelming desire to possess it consumed his thoughts.
He unconsciously reached out to take the ring.
However, the next instant...
Thud!
Ryōma's eyes flashed with fierce determination. Gripping a kunai, he drove it straight through his own palm, pinning his hand to the floor.
The searing pain forcefully dragged him back from his turbulent emotions.
"Huff... huff..."
Ryōma gasped for breath, his face showing lingering terror.
What a frightening object! He'd only glanced at it briefly, yet it felt as though his entire being was being controlled.
Even Ryōma, who had witnessed countless horrors within Root's dark operations, felt momentarily terrified by such a cursed artifact, swallowing hard.
But right now, he couldn't afford to worry about the pain or the fear.
Because Ryōma quickly realized his actions constituted an attempt to steal his master's possession—an act tantamount to betrayal.
Terror flooding his face, he prostrated himself completely, slamming his forehead against the floor with a resounding thud: "Lord Kazuki, please forgive my disrespect! For a moment, I actually tried to take your belonging! Please forgive this transgression!"
However, there was no response.
A suffocating silence filled the air.
An invisible pressure descended like a massive boulder crushing down on his heart.
In an instant, Uchiha Kazuki seamlessly switched to his 'Adam' persona—an indifferent, profound presence that seemed to look down upon all creation.
Silently, his Mythical Creature aura combined with his Mangekyō Sharingan, creating dual layers of pressure that filled every corner of the room.
Ignoring his pierced hand as blood stained the tatami mat crimson, Ryōma trembled violently, his forehead pressed to the ground as cold sweat poured down his body.
Even though his master hadn't uttered a single word, he felt as though invisible hands were choking his throat.
Stronger... Lord Kazuki has become even more powerful!
Ryōma felt simultaneously terrified and exhilarated, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a voice broke the silence.
"This is your last warning."
The suffocating atmosphere instantly dissipated.
Hearing those words, Ryōma breathed an enormous sigh of relief as the oppressive pressure vanished. He remained kneeling, speaking cautiously: "Lord Kazuki, please forgive my ignorance—I cannot fathom your intentions. This ring is...?"
"A little surprise."
Uchiha Kazuki shifted into a more comfortable position, tapping his index finger rhythmically against the table as he spoke calmly: "Find an appropriate opportunity and deliver it to Danzō with a suitable cover story."
Understanding the deeper implications immediately, Ryōma wasn't foolish enough to miss the point. He responded promptly: "Yes, Lord Kazuki. Rest assured, I will definitely use a 'reasonable' method to deliver the gift you've so carefully prepared for Danzō."
"You're dismissed."
Having given his instructions, Uchiha Kazuki waved him away.
Ryōma carefully used a storage scroll to seal the bewitching ring, only then allowing himself to relax slightly.
He was genuinely afraid of being ensnared by that cursed object again.
After meticulously cleaning the bloodstains from the tatami mat, he slowly departed.
"Hmm, I hope to hear good news when I return."
Uchiha Kazuki stroked his chin thoughtfully. He'd gone to considerable effort to arrange this little surprise for Danzō.
A priceless Sequence 5 Beyonder artifact—surely Danzō would appreciate such a generous gift?
This was exactly what Danzō craved. Hadn't he always desperately wanted to become stronger? With this Sequence 5 artifact, he could certainly give Hiruzen Sarutobi one hell of a headache.
"Huh?"
White Zetsu slowly emerged from the ground, scratching his head with obvious confusion: "I think I fell asleep just now. Did something happen, Kazuki-sama?"
"Nothing worth mentioning."
Uchiha Kazuki sipped his tea, speaking with complete indifference.
Noticing the steaming tea on the table, White Zetsu felt puzzled but didn't pursue the matter.
"I heard you're leaving the village on a mission, Lord Kazuki?"
Ever since being thoroughly disciplined, White Zetsu had become considerably more obedient, his tone unconsciously carrying genuine respect.
"Is there something you need?" Uchiha Kazuki glanced sideways, his gaze slightly cold.
"Uh, nothing major." White Zetsu shrank back defensively, seemingly intimidated as he burrowed a few inches deeper into the floor. He mumbled: "Lord Madara asked me to inquire about your ocular technique after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Then, seemingly worried about being misunderstood, he quickly added: "Ahem, Lord Madara said he needs to determine your next course of action based on the abilities you've awakened."
"No need to rush, White Zetsu."
Uchiha Kazuki set down his teacup with a faint smile: "Soon enough, you'll witness exactly what my Mangekyō abilities are."
[End of Chapter 82]
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