Kaito lowered his head slightly. "Thanks to Lord Tobi, it took me several years to gain complete control over this body."
"It wasn't me who sought you out this time. Someone else wanted you here."
As soon as he finished speaking, Tobi's expression changed, and his voice shifted to Danzo's. "Kaito, do you still remember me?"
Kaito turned to Danzo. "Oh, it's Lord Danzo."
Although his words suggested a long-awaited reunion, Danzo noticed that Kaito's eyes remained completely unchanged.
Tobi's voice returned. "He has Kaito's memories, but he is no longer the Kaito he once was."
Danzo was amazed.
This Kaito before him had been implanted with a special spore long ago, back when Tobi and Black Zetsu were not yet separate entities. This spore was more active and had superior camouflage abilities compared to a normal White Zetsu. While ordinary White Zetsu were numerous, ones capable of completely controlling a person like this were rare and extremely valuable.
White Zetsu with a close connection to Black Zetsu could command their brethren. That was why these White Zetsu were completely subservient to Tobi. Although the White Zetsu also obeyed Obito's commands, they were ultimately puppets whose wills had been altered by Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. Therefore, their true loyalty lay with Black Zetsu.
Tobi smacked his lips. He was starting to feel hungry again. Since occupying Danzo's body, his physiological functions had become more plant-like, yet he still retained basic human sensations. Now, he could easily exist as a parasite on Danzo and experience hunger and other normal metabolic feelings. He hadn't felt these sensations in a very long time, and they had become a powerful obsession for him.
Danzo regaining consciousness had been unexpected for Tobi. The body now belonged to Danzo. If a real fight broke out, Tobi could be expelled. However, Danzo seemed to have his own agenda and was willing to coexist with Tobi. He claimed he wished to coexist peacefully and work together against Konoha.
Tobi didn't object, knowing that even so, he would eventually consume Danzo completely. Danzo's temporary lucidity was due to certain powerful obsessions. Once those issues plaguing Danzo were resolved, the process of assimilation would accelerate. This was an outcome Tobi could accept.
Besides gathering information today, he had another plan: to thoroughly enjoy this long-lost appetite. Although Tobi was nominally under Black Zetsu's control, he still retained a considerable degree of autonomy. As long as the overall plan was on the right track, Black Zetsu wouldn't interfere much.
"I am very familiar with Konoha," Danzo said to Kaito. "We can exchange information. It will allow us to better serve Lord Black Zetsu."
Seeing that Tobi didn't object, Kaito began exchanging information with Danzo. The two did not actually share a mind. Otherwise, they could have communicated telepathically instead of relaying intelligence through Danzo.
After awakening, Danzo quickly grasped his current situation. At first, he simply gathered information in silence. Only when Obito and Black Zetsu were no longer present did he begin trying to influence the White Zetsu attached to him. Danzo didn't know what White Zetsu truly was, but he found Tobi's thought processes to be very simple and easily manipulated. And so, after a brief conversation, he gained Tobi's trust and told him that he could help him make decisions.
As a result, Tobi summoned this subordinate hidden within Konoha, allowing Danzo to learn about many recent events through their conversation. Most of the Hyuga clan members had already been subjected to the Spore Technique, implemented by Kaito. The spores were minuscule substances devoid of chakra, making them nearly impossible to detect even for a Byakugan user. They only became active upon attaching to a living host and could not spread from one person to another. Once they absorbed enough chakra, they would become conspicuous and require a swift retreat to avoid detection. This explained why they had remained undiscovered for so long.
Upon learning the details of the Fifth Hokage's succession, Danzo seethed with rage. Hiruzen had actually placed so many of his own people in the Anbu behind his back. He felt as though he had been reduced to a mere pawn, all his years of effort amounting to nothing. Unless he eliminated Hiruzen Sarutobi, he would never be able to sit in the Hokage's seat!
The resentment in Danzo's heart grew more intense. When he learned that Kaito could still use the Caged Bird Curse Mark, a vengeful plan against Konoha began to form in his mind. Since Obito and Zetsu wanted to destroy Konoha, he could use them to get rid of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The moment Danzo realized he could never become Hokage, no matter what, Tobi's control over him accelerated dramatically. It seemed Danzo's greatest desire had always been to become Hokage. Now, Danzo wanted the Third Hokage dead. *Hmm, this desire can be further exploited,* Tobi thought. Danzo didn't notice that his own thoughts were slowly changing.
After finishing his intelligence exchange with Hyuga Kaito, Tobi sent him away. He then disguised himself as an ordinary tourist and went to the Uchiha food street for a big meal.
Tobi bought a bowl of spicy hot pot and sat down on the street to eat. If Danzo hadn't controlled him to pay, Tobi probably would have just grabbed the bowl and run. Of course, Tobi had no money of his own; the cash had been stolen under Danzo's instruction.
After gaining a body, Tobi's daily concerns revolved around eating and other bodily functions. Back when he didn't need to eat, he had no idea food possessed so many different flavors. The experience was incredibly novel to him.
"Hic..." Tobi let out a loud burp. His stomach was round and full, and he was quite satisfied.
"Have you thought through that plan to weaken Konoha you mentioned?"
"I still need to review some more intelligence."
Tobi smacked his lips. "Fine, you handle the arrangements." With that, Tobi fell silent. The White Zetsu's true form was like a plant, and he now seemed to be photosynthesizing.
Danzo flexed his fingers, feeling his own strength. *Once I deal with the thing inside my body, I'll be able to claim its power.* He turned, his gaze falling coldly on the distant Hokage Rock. *Hiruzen, I will not let you get away with this.*
Meanwhile, in Konoha.
Jiraiya had no way to confirm if "Number One" was Minato. The man called Shingo Ikeda had taken Team 7 out on a mission. Jiraiya's plans to test him had all come to nothing, and he had no choice but to shelve the matter for now.
However, he had managed to rescue Nagato and Konan, which suddenly gave him an idea. He decided to write a new book while waiting for news from Nagato and for Shingo Ikeda to return. But there was no news from Nagato.
Instead, information about the Hokage selection process reached his ears. And this information had been "unintentionally" leaked by one of Orochimaru's subordinates. Jiraiya went out to investigate and finally learned the full story.
He was completely stunned. Although he knew the Third Hokage had his flaws, he never imagined the problem was this severe. He began to wonder if everyone had been hiding things from him. Was it because of the Third Hokage?
Jiraiya couldn't sit still any longer. He even stopped writing his book. He needed more information.