Kimimaro remained in Konoha for two days before departing.
However, not long after he left the village, he was ambushed once again—by Root.
"Danzo Shimura, are you looking to die?"
Even a patient man had his limits. If Danzo dared to strike again, Kimimaro would not hold back. He would kill if necessary.
He no longer feared Danzo.
That man's strength was vastly overstated. The Hashirama cells grafted onto his right arm constantly threatened to destabilize him, and he was never able to control them fully.
And the Sharingan embedded in that same arm? Nearly all had already been used for Izanagi, leaving him with only a handful of usable ones—if any.
The true threat was Kotoamatsukami, the ultimate Genjutsu cast from Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan. But Kimimaro was certain: Danzo would never waste such a precious technique on someone he merely viewed as a rising talent.
To Danzo, Kimimaro was promising—but ultimately just another pawn to be molded or discarded.
Luckily, the old war hawk had no idea what Kimimaro was truly capable of.
"Young man, there's no need for hostility," Danzo said, stepping forward. "I came to propose a deal."
"A deal?" Kimimaro narrowed his eyes. "You ambush me with Root operatives, and now you want to talk about deals?"
"You govern a small nation. You should understand—people like us move according to profit."
Kimimaro's expression remained cold. "Then let's hear this so-called deal."
"I want to know how you've achieved stable control over Wood Release."
"And in return?"
"In return, the Land of Vegetables will be left alone. As long as you do not attempt to expand eastward, Konoha will not interfere. Furthermore…" Danzo's lone visible eye glinted. "If you are willing to align yourself with Konoha, I'll support your candidacy for future Hokage. With your pedigree as Jiraiya's registered disciple, and my backing, the seat would not be far out of reach."
Kimimaro chuckled dryly.
"You don't believe me?"
"I don't believe a word that comes out of your mouth. And besides—I have no desire to become Hokage."
He stepped forward, voice low. "And let me make something clear, old man—if you make any moves against the Hyūga Clan or anyone I care about, I'll do more than just threaten you."
Danzo's eye narrowed. "You speak boldly. But do you really think you can kill me?"
"There's no need for direct confrontation," Kimimaro said coolly, glancing at Danzo's right arm. "There are some secrets you'd rather the rest of Konoha never learn."
Danzo said nothing as Kimimaro turned and walked away.
One Root operative stepped forward. "Lord Danzo, should we pursue?"
Danzo raised a hand. "No."
He narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. How did he know about the arm? Orochimaru… did you tell him?
Kimimaro had no intention of exposing Danzo publicly. Doing so would only prompt Konoha's council to unify in response, and a unified Konoha wasn't in Kimimaro's best interests.
Danzo was a useful destabilizing factor—a threat from within that could be leveraged later.
Soon, Kimimaro reached the rendezvous point and met up with Suigetsu, Fubo, and Ranmaru.
"How's the situation at the Fire Temple?" he asked.
Fubo tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "We only scouted the outskirts, didn't engage. There's a monk there—Chiriku. He's strong, probably a former Twelve Guardian Ninja. As for Kazuma's son, Sora—he doesn't know his father's alive. The monks don't seem to like him much. But the boy's talented—probably Chūnin to low-Jōnin level."
"Good. Taking him later shouldn't be a problem."
Fubo smiled. "Honestly, I don't think we'll even need you to step in. The three of us can handle it."
"Let's decide when the time comes. First, we head to the Land of Water."
The four traveled toward the coast, entering open sea.
Kimimaro summoned a massive ship with his Wood Release—a jutsu refined from Hashirama's techniques.
Seeing it again, Fubo's body instinctively tensed. That ship brought back memories—specifically, the time Kimimaro had tricked her into thinking she was seasick when it was just chakra exhaustion.
That night, Kimimaro added Crystal Release barriers to his room—soundproofed.
Instead of heading directly to the Land of Water, they stopped at an island between the Land of Waves and the mainland—Daikokuten Zen's domain.
"You three get some rest," Kimimaro said. "I'm going to check on the locals and see if they're behaving."
Daikokuten Zen had maintained a cooperative stance with Kimimaro, keeping in regular contact through messengers.
Recently, he'd even sent word that something had changed in the Land of Water—instability within the Mist Village, perhaps.
A ripple in the waters of Kirigakure was always an opportunity.
Therefore, Kimimaro decided to investigate the situation personally. If the group proved competent, he would officially bring them under his command.
He aimed to establish a foothold in the eastern sea region—a strategic move to secure territory without immediately attracting the attention of the major hidden villages. The Land of Waves was a prime candidate: relatively isolated, politically unstable, and surrounded by scattered islands, making it easier for an independent force to entrench itself without direct confrontation from the Great Nations.
Without alerting anyone, Kimimaro infiltrated Daikokuten Zen's stronghold under cover of darkness.
"Big brother, you have to decide soon. Ever since the Fourth Mizukage died, the Hidden Mist has slowly stabilized under the Elder Council. The Land of Water is extending its reach again. If we don't reestablish ties soon, the Daimyō will forget we even existed. We'll lose everything."
Kimimaro had just reached the door to Daikokuten Zen's office when he overheard the heated exchange.
"Just wait a little longer. Lord Kimimaro promised to support us through this transition."
"You really trust that kid? Sure, he took over the Land of Vegetables, and yeah, he's strong. But that place is far from here. How can he possibly manage affairs on this side of the sea?"
"When you've pledged your loyalty, you don't break your word just because things get tough. Lord Kimimaro spared us and gave us a path forward—we owe him."
"It's not betrayal. We're just going back to our roots, to the Land of Water. There's stability there."
"And once we return, you think they'll let us keep our independence? You think they'll let us walk away again?"
Inside the room, Daikokuten Zen's face remained impassive, but Kimimaro knew what he was thinking. The man was weighing loyalty against survival—and leverage. Loyalty alone rarely lasted, but loyalty backed by power could endure.
"You've given quite a performance, Daikokuten Zen," Kimimaro said, stepping through the door with quiet authority. "I see now who stands where."
Zen's eyes lit up with relief—and calculation. "Lord Kimimaro, you truly came."
"I had to. If I'd delayed any longer, I suspect you'd have let yourself be pulled back into the Mizukage's shadow."
"I wouldn't have gone," Zen insisted quickly.
"No need for excuses," Kimimaro cut in calmly. "I don't care what you considered. I care about the result. From now on, only keep those who are loyal."
Daikokuten Zen's jaw tightened. Without hesitation, he turned, unsheathed his blade, and slashed the throat of the subordinate who had questioned him moments ago. Blood sprayed, and the man collapsed.
Zen stepped outside to give further orders. This wasn't a sudden decision. He had already drawn the lines—Kimimaro's appearance merely finalized his choice.
If Kimimaro delivered what he promised, Zen would serve him without question. But if Kimimaro had delayed much longer, Zen likely would've bent the knee to the Land of Water's Daimyō and returned to his old chains.
Later, with his forces reorganized and the loyalists remaining, Zen led Kimimaro to a quiet chamber.
"Report. What's the situation in the Land of Water?" Kimimaro asked.
"Yes, my lord," Zen said respectfully. "After the Fourth Mizukage—Yagura—died, chaos erupted. The Hidden Mist fell under the control of the Elder Council. They've managed to stabilize things to some extent and are now deliberating over a new Mizukage. There are whispers that Mei Terumī, one of the Council's rising figures, might be their choice. If she takes power, the village will shift toward reform."
Kimimaro nodded, processing the information. The window for influence was narrow. But it still existed.
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