In the tunnels under Konoha, the Root was slowly but steadily trying to gain its lost ground. Even though the arrangements made by Hiruzen to keep an eye on Root remained strict, Danzo wasn't a nobody.
He had a vast experience spanning over several decades of scheming in the dark and manipulating the entire ninja world. He found ways to operate and slowly increase his forces without letting Hiruzen know.
Of course, the progress was extremely slow and Danzo couldn't do anything inside Konoha. To make matters worse, despite being unaware of the details, Hiruzen suspected his old comrade of doing what he did, restricting Danzo further.
Tsunade threatened to derail his attempts by blaming the Iwa incident on him in private, but Danzo managed to stave her off for the time being. However, it increased the pressure on Danzo even further. Whatever little room he had to play was restricted further.
With him not getting any younger, Danzo was getting more than a bit desperate. He understood that if he didn't get a breakthrough soon, it would be impossible for him to make a political comeback, let alone achieve his long cherished dream of becoming the Hokage. Fortunately for Danzo, he would get this opportunity on one particular day!
A Root ninja, wearing a wolf mask, entered Danzo's office, handed Danzo a scroll and reported, "Danzo-sama! We just decoded the report from Shirabe. He has found traces of a Lightning crystal mine in the Land of Fire!"
Danzo's left eye widened. He quickly opened the scroll and began reading.
——
A few hours ago, two Root operatives silently moved through the thick woods of the northern Land of Fire. They had successfully completed another one of Danzo's secret missions without leaving any loose ends or witnesses. Suddenly, one of them, Shirabe, paused his step.
The sudden change surprised his teammate Higure, who asked in a low voice, "Did you sense someone?"
Since the Root missions had to be kept a secret from Hiruzen and Tsunade, the two had to be very careful to not be spotted by other Konoha ninjas. Needless to say, they were disguised as normal Anbu ninjas, decreasing the chances of any Konoha ninja troubling them needlessly. However, it never hurt to be more careful.
Shirabe didn't answer at first. His fingers were already pressing against the ground, eyes narrowing as he focused. Chakra spread subtly around him with minimal output and no detectable trace.
Finally, Shirabe muttered, "There's residue chakra in the air…"
Higure frowned and asked, "Is there someone nearby? Or, was there a huge battle nearby recently?"
Shirabe shook his head, "This doesn't look to be from a person. It's static and extremely sparse, but at the same time it also feels dense and powerful…"
Higure wondered, 'Hmm, nature energy? What did he sense?'
Continuing sensing, Shirabe began walking towards the source of the chakra while saying, "I have had such a feeling before…"
The two Root ninjas reached a rocky slope partially hidden behind overgrown brush. From a distance, it looked like just another hill, but now that Shirabe pointed it out, there was something off. Birds didn't fly too close. The plants were slightly singed near the base. A crackling sensation could be felt faintly in the air if one paid close enough attention.
Higure's eyes slowly widened as Shirabe said, "It's coming from underground. A high concentration… of Lightning-natured energy. I have had this feeling once on a mission 3 years ago in the Land of Iron when I got a chance to see their Lightning crystal mine…"
Higure quickly calmed himself. He crouched by a scorched patch of moss, inspecting it with a practiced eye. "You're suggesting a crystal vein? However, this doesn't make sense. Why didn't anyone discover such a vein inside our country? Especially when it was this obv… Wait! Could it be due to that?"
Shirabe agreed, "I suspect the same. Three days ago, a massive earthquake rocked the Northern parts of Land of Fire along with the Southern parts of the Land of Fang and the Land of Waterfall. The earthquake should have caused this hidden vein to surface. We were lucky to come across it first!"
Higure's excitement grew. On their mission, they both had experienced the earthquake and understood its magnitude better than anyone else. He impatiently said, "Quick, let's inspect the vein and see if your analysis is accurate!"
However, Shirabe shook his head, "No, that would be no different than suicide. The energy in any crystal vein is more than enough to kill a ninja. Entering it without following proper procedure and techniques will expose us to its wild energy. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of the procedure and the guidelines."
Higure said, "That's a shame. Regardless, we need to inform Lord Danzo right away. This may be the opportunity he needs to break the shackles and rebuild Root once again."
Shirabe nodded, "You're correct. Send an encrypted message. I'll use seals to suppress the energy that is leaking out. Until Root secures this vein, no one should learn of its existence!"
——
In the Root headquarters, Danzo read the scroll multiple times. The remaining Root ninjas were shocked as well. Fu muttered, "A Lightning crystal vein in our country! If Shirabe is correct, this will be huge…"
Torune asked, "Is it true, Danzo-sama?"
Danzo put the scroll down and answered, "Shirabe is confident, but we still need to inspect it to understand more about it. Only then can we say whether the vein truly exists and how many Lightning Crystals could be mined from it."
Fu immediately said, "Let me go, Danzo-sama. I have studied the mines in the Land of Iron. I can easily inspect it with my sensory skills."
Torune added, "My bugs could also inspect it further, Danzo-sama. I'd like to go with Fu and secure it."
To their surprise, Danzo didn't immediately say yes. Instead, he walked up and said, "This matter is far too important. Yoru, Nezumi, you two stay here and guard our headquarters. Fu, assemble everyone else. The entire Root will move today!"
Danzo's words surprised his subordinates. None of them expected Danzo to make a move himself! Fu thoughtfully said, "Danzo-sama, if only me and Torune leave, we can take control of the vein secretly. However, if you come too, the village will suspect something and we won't be able to keep the vein a secret."
Danzo shook his head, "Something of this scale can't be kept a secret. Even if it could, Root no longer has sufficient manpower to look over such a massive undertaking. If this is a proper vein as Shirabe suspects, Root can't hog it all. Instead, we'll control it and use it to make our comeback!"
Even though his words were strong, Danzo couldn't help but sigh internally, 'To think I have fallen to this state… What a pity… Had it been earlier, I would have monopolized the vein and used it to strengthen my Root. Now, I have no choice but to share it so that I can return to the council and revive my Root.
No matter. I'll squeeze every benefit I can from this vein, irrespective of how good or bad it is. Root shall reclaim its former glory and I'll finally have some room to play. Hiruzen, Tsunade, let me see whether you will try to suppress me this time.'
Another Root ninja chipped in, breaking Danzo out of his thoughts, "Danzo-sama, if we let the village know about the vein, wouldn't the remaining villages eventually learn of it too? The existence of such a vein could cause the remaining four great villages to target us, especially the vein!"
Danzo replied, "That would have been a worry under normal circumstances. Fortunately, the circumstances are in our favor. Sunagakure and Kirigakure are devastated from wars. Neither is in a step to start or join a new war. The very survival of their village will be under threat if the war goes wrong.
Iwagakure has the manpower, but they haven't dealt with the previous issue. If they arrogantly send their army and face heavy loss, they may never get replacements from their next generation. Until they dispel the rumors completely, they can't go to war.
And, Kumogakure has been neutered by whatever scheme Hiruzen pulled to kill so many of their elite ninjas. They have steadily kept losing more of their ninjas following that incident, be it in the land of Rice, their frequent clashes with Akuro or their clash with Orochimaru. As of now, they aren't a threat either.
So, none of them will attack openly. Even if they decide to, Hiruzen can ally with Suna and Kiri by giving them some benefits. So, now is the perfect time to act."
Danzo looked around to see every Root ninja in the headquarters being present in his office!