While Obito was on the verge of a mental breakdown, at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, Hidezawa and Kabuto had quietly arrived.
A month's time was enough for them to prepare many things, especially with that old bastard Danzo urging them like a grim reaper.
With no other choice, Hidezawa calculated the time and decisively chose to set off.
"Speaking of which, what are your plans for later?"
Looking at the seemingly endless yellow sand before them, with layers of sand waves stirred up by the howling cold wind, Kabuto turned his head and asked.
"You said you wanted Sunagakure to hate Danzo, and while it seems you've achieved that so far, how will you handle this negotiation now?"
"Of course, we will negotiate according to Danzo-sama's ideas."
Hidezawa couldn't help but laugh when he thought of it. He tightened the windproof scarf around his neck and whispered.
"Negotiation is very important. If it goes well, it's good for everyone. If it doesn't, then it's terrible."
"You can't possibly not understand this point. In fact, what we need to do is very simple: just strictly follow the highest standards given by Danzo-sama."
When Kabuto heard this, cold sweat immediately broke out.
Negotiations naturally have standards: an ideal price and one's own bottom line, with the middle part used for bargaining.
Hidezawa's opening statement was to proceed according to Danzo's ideal price, which meant they were aiming for the negotiation to break down.
"Hey, don't be crazy!"
Kabuto couldn't hold back and immediately spoke in an urgent voice.
"If you want to leave me here, you can just say so. There's no need to do it this way, right?"
"You can escape with Flying Thunder God, but I can't. Sunagakure's anger will all be vented on me then, please!"
"I'm not crazy, and you won't die."
Hidezawa rolled his eyes. He felt that Kabuto was too sensitive.
"We are all just workers. We are working for Danzo. Every injustice has its source, and every debt has its owner. They will look for Danzo."
"And since I dare to come and dare to do this, there must be a reason. I can tell you in advance that I have intel they want."
"And the intel is real; they have no choice but to take it. We can even increase the price…"
"You mean…"
Kabuto was very smart. In an instant, he understood Hidezawa's meaning. This guy had something even more important in his hands.
"Increasing the price like this will indeed make them angry but unable to act. Do we still need to continue 'fanning the flames'?"
"What do you mean 'fanning the flames'? We are clearly singing the praises of Danzo-sama's greatness and achievements!"
Hidezawa glared at Kabuto. He felt this guy didn't know how to speak at all.
"Didn't I say? We are Danzo-sama's workers. Any problems or matters are naturally requested by Danzo-sama. What does it have to do with us?"
"..."
Kabuto subconsciously pushed up his glasses. He felt he couldn't be that shameless.
What singing praises? This was clearly fanning the flames and stirring up trouble. Why make it sound so grand?
"Also, when you are in Sunagakure, learn a bit. When doing bad things, it's best to leave traces, and the traces…"
Hidezawa wasn't finished. He continued to elaborate on his theory, and Kabuto couldn't hold back.
"Alright, alright, I get it. I'll try my best to subtly leave Danzo's traces. But what if you're wrong?"
"Even if I'm wrong, don't you want to gain power yourself to do things for the orphanage and people like the director?"
Danzo thought he had Hidezawa's lifeline, and with years of brainwashing combined with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, he trusted him physically.
But what he didn't know was that Hidezawa had other plans for Kabuto.
Kabuto wasn't deeply brainwashed, as he was sent to infiltrate other villages very early on.
He didn't know much about Danzo and had to remain in other villages, so he naturally didn't have a cursed seal in his mouth as it might expose him. And Hidezawa knew this guy's personality and some of his thoughts too well.
Of course, it was also because of Kabuto's personality, potential, and the fact that he hadn't been brainwashed or cursed, that Hidezawa was willing to look for him.
"You left the village early, so you don't know Danzo deeply. But I know his character very well. He will definitely do it"
"You are really confident…"
Kabuto shook his head helplessly, but at this moment, he suddenly saw Hidezawa hand him a kunai.
"What is this?"
"Although I don't know when it will happen, it's better to be prepared."
Hidezawa smiled and spoke.
"When you are close to completing the mission, I worry that Danzo will arrange for you and the dean to meet, or for you to encounter each other in some other mission."
"Either you go to assassinate her, or she comes to kill you. Although these are all guesses, it's never wrong to prepare in advance and be careful."
"You are such a dark person."
Kabuto complained verbally, but he honestly took the kunai. Soon, he started joking.
"Am I the first boy to get your kunai? You weren't like this in the orphanage."
"You talk too much."
Hidezawa rolled his eyes. For a moment, he really wanted to snatch the kunai back, but Kabuto suddenly spoke again.
"One question, Konoha is so far from Iwagakure, can you make it?"
"Even if you make it, would you still have any combat ability?"
"That's the problem we need to solve tonight."
Hidezawa looked into the distance. This distance was already enough for him.
"Are you ready?"
"What?"
Kabuto was a bit confused, but the next moment Hidezawa threw a kunai on the ground, and at the same time, placed a hand on his shoulder.
Buzz—!
Accompanying a roar of chakra, Kabuto immediately felt dizzy and disoriented, and everything in front of him seemed to reverse.
When his vision returned, and that dizzying sensation was still intense, he suddenly found himself inside a tall tower.
"This… this is…"
Forcing down the urge to vomit, Kabuto turned his head to look at Hidezawa, only to find that guy was chugging soldier pills.
"This is Rōran."
Hidezawa said, chewing on the soldier pills and slightly out of breath.
"I don't think I need to introduce you to the history and past of this place, do I?"
"I know this place."
Kabuto rose with some difficulty. He scanned his surroundings and was immediately drawn to the kunai stuck in the ground.
"The shape of this kunai, this is…"
"Yes, it's Fourth Hokage's special kunai. He once came here and sealed something within."
Hidezawa nodded. He slowly walked over, waiting for the military rations pill to take effect while his own chakra rapidly recovered, and spoke while looking at the kunai on the ground.
"I've heard of this mission, and I've secretly perused many books and scrolls to find an answer."
"An answer?"
Kabuto murmured. He already knew what Hidezawa was going to do.
"Yes, buried here is a massive chakra source that is somewhat attributed to Rōran, but is essentially ownerless!"
Hidezawa revealed a smile. He turned to Kabuto and slowly spoke.
"Sunagakure has always coveted it, wanting to use its power to become stronger."
"But what do you think? Is an ally without any actual threats but too much ambition better, or an ambitious ally who might gain power to stab you in the back at any moment better?"
"So, for Konoha, I think it's better to cut off their means to fulfill their ambition."
"…"
Kabuto really couldn't hold back. He had seen shameless people, after all, he was one himself.
But this kind of special shamelessness from Hidezawa was truly a first for him.
If you're going to steal, just steal. Why make it sound so grand?
*****
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✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
✓ Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer
✓ Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle
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✓ To Love-Ru: Spoiler Route [R-18]
✓ Naruto: The Accidental Incubus [R-18]