Stepping out of the command center, Umino Yoru stared at his promotion papers. By all rights, he should've been thrilled—but right now, he just wanted to curse his ancestors.
Being promoted to Special Jonin wasn't the issue.
The problem was his new assignment: taking over as frontline mobile patrol captain from Akimichi Torifu.
Danzo's "kindness" had backfired spectacularly.
Umino had returned to Shinno City specifically to request a transfer—something far from the frontlines, where Ebizō's vengeance couldn't reach him.
But now?
Thanks to Danzo's orders, he was stuck in the hottest combat zone.
Before, as a border sentry, his job was simple: spot enemies, sound the alarm, flee if outmatched.
Now? He had to hold the line.
Any Sand infiltration squad breaking through would be his responsibility to stop.
Of course, Danzo hadn't done this out of appreciation for Umino's skills.
No—this was about reallocating resources.
Having two elite fighters like Maruboshi Kosuke and Akimichi Torifu babysitting Sarutobi Shinnosuke was a waste of combat power in Danzo's eyes.
So, naturally, he'd reassigned them to "more impactful" roles—and tossed Umino into the vacancy like a sacrificial pawn.
On paper, leading 10 patrol squads as a Special Jonin was a rare opportunity for a civilian-born shinobi like him.
Most such positions went to clan members with connections.
Danzo had fast-tracked him solely because his "Will of Fire" met the old schemer's standards.
Normally, this would've been a blessing.
But Umino had killed Ebizō's prized student.
Now, this "promotion" was a death sentence in disguise.
And the worst part?
He had to act grateful.
So he'd played along—vowing loyalty, promising to strive for full jonin rank, and even pledging to "vote for Danzo in the next Hokage election" as repayment for this "honor."
"Truly, this is Danzo's doing."
Umino glanced back at the shadowy command center, his respect for Danzo's unique talents renewed.
The man had a gift.
Even when trying to help, he somehow made things worse.
If this was his "kindness," Umino shuddered to imagine what actual malice looked like.
Before, he'd thought Danzo was just ambitious but incompetent.
Now?
It was clear—when it came to ruining lives, Shimura Danzo was a genius.
A master of misery, worthy of his title: "The Darkness of the Shinobi World."
Folding the papers away, Umino finally exited—only to find Tekudō and his team waiting anxiously outside.
"Captain! You're alive?!"
Relief washed over them as they swarmed him.
"Here."
Umino handed Tekudō a document.
"Your Chunin Promotion Certificate."
Tekudō's eyes bulged.
"I—I'm a chunin now?! WOOOO!"
He whooped, pumping his fists as Inuzuka Ryō and Kosugi congratulated him—Ryō with envy, Kosugi with pure joy.
But Umino's smile was frosty.
**"By the way… Danzo-sama personally approved this. Happy?"**
"…Eh?"
Tekudō's celebration died instantly.
"C-Captain… save me! I don't wanna join ROOT!"
Clearly, Umino's "education" had paid off—Tekudō was no longer a naive rookie.
As a Shigure clan descendant, he understood politics far better than the average grunt.
"Relax. With your skills? Danzo wouldn't waste the resources."
Umino clapped his shoulder.
ROOT prioritized efficiency. Recruiting them would be bad math.
Meanwhile, inside the command office…
A dog-masked ROOT agent knelt before Danzo.
"Lord Danzo, if you value Umino Yoru's Will of Fire… why not recruit him?"
Danzo didn't glance up from his scrolls.
"His combat style relies too heavily on tools. ROOT's budget cannot sustain such waste."
"Understood."
The agent bowed.
Morale was cheap.Funding wasn't.
"Next order." Danzo's voice turned icy. "Throw Sarutobi Shinnosuke back to Konoha. The frontline has no room for glory-seeking leeches."
"Yes, sir!"
**"And interrogate Sarutobi Eijirō. Use Yamanaka Fū's Mind Reading Jutsu—dig out every memory. I want every rat gnawing at Konoha's roots exposed."**
The agent hesitated.
"But… the Third Hokage—"
"The Third?" Danzo's grip crushed the scroll. "His nephew colluded with Mitokado Hagi to pillage village resources! If anyone owes an explanation, it's him!"
Regret burned in Danzo's chest.
If only he'd spoken faster that day.
If only he had been the one to volunteer as decoy against Kinkaku…
Then he—not the soft-hearted Hiruzen—would be Hokage.
And Konoha wouldn't be rotting from within.
"Next!"
Danzo snarled, scanning another damning report.
Somewhere in the room, a mouse hiding in the walls shivered.
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