"Danzo-sama, why lower yourself so much? The Akatsuki are only slightly better off than we are. They don't even dare show themselves before Kaede!"
At Danzo's side, his Root loyalist Yamanaka Kazuma voiced his irritation. They had never been treated this way before, no matter where they went.
"Enough. Don't forget why we came here. We seek their aid—our attitude must reflect that. The Akatsuki may be no different from us in spirit, but their strength is greater, and they hold something we need.
"If we can ally with them, we might strike a blow against Kaede. Then the traitors who abandoned Konoha will learn what betrayal truly costs."
Danzo silenced his subordinate, though his own face remained tense, never relaxing for a moment. His words were measured, but his heart burned with resentment at having to bow and scrape.
"Yes!" the Root and ANBU members fell back, no longer speaking.
Half an hour later, Obito arrived with Uchiha Itachi and Pain's Deva Path.
"Well, if it isn't Konoha's old warhawk Danzo. What business brings you here?" Obito sneered.
Pain's eyes were colder still. Nagato had never forgotten. Years ago, Hanzō of the Salamander had captured Konan and forced Pain to offer up his life to save her. Though he had obeyed then, the truth later came out: Danzo had been the one who orchestrated the whole affair behind the scenes.
When Nagato's power grew, he killed Hanzō himself. But the hatred he held for Danzo only deepened. Even now, standing in the puppet body of the Deva Path, his fists clenched tight. If not for Obito's insistence and Itachi's watchful presence, he would have torn Danzo apart on the spot.
Obito, too, had no love for Danzo. After Kaede had saved him and Zetsu had revealed the truth of the past, Obito had learned just how deeply Danzo's schemes ran. Akatsuki and Danzo were sworn enemies—this "alliance" was only temporary, a partnership of convenience. When Kaede was dead, they would be enemies again.
"Obito, don't play dumb," Danzo said curtly. "You know why I've come. I need the cells of Hashirama Senju—the power of Wood Release!"
He said it without hesitation, though inside, bitterness churned. Once, he had believed Akatsuki's true leader was Madara himself. Facing Madara, he could at least justify bowing—Madara was the Shura of the shinobi world, rival of the God of Shinobi, Hashirama.
But Obito? Obito was the boy he had once manipulated, a pawn he thought beneath him. And yet now Obito stood taller than him, stronger than him, more feared than him. It grated bitterly. He even recalled with regret how he had once coveted Kakashi's Sharingan. If only he had taken it then… maybe he'd hold a weapon to use against Obito now.
"Oh? Wood Release cells? How amusing. Those belong to Konoha. If they're yours by right, why come crawling to me?" Obito's smile was sharp and mocking.
"Enough games. You know why. Konoha is gone, destroyed by Kaede. He's even founded his so-called Nation of Gods. If you waste time clinging to grudges and refuse me, then we can all sit and watch as he sweeps us away!"
Danzo's voice rose in urgency, betraying his desperation.
The air grew heavy. Root operatives shifted, hands on kunai, ready for bloodshed.
Itachi stood silently, arms folded, unreadable. Konoha had already fallen: Hiruzen dead by his own hand, Tsunade allied with Kaede, even Minato by Kaede's side. What was left to protect? If Obito and Danzo came to blows, Danzo would surely die. And Pain, far from helping, might strike him down himself. Itachi knew well he would not interfere.
A bead of sweat slid down Kazuma's chin as they all braced for violence.
"Come with me," Obito said at last, turning his back.
The Root operatives tensed, but Danzo quickly exhaled and signaled for restraint. Reluctantly, they followed.
They entered the deepest part of the Rain Village—a place forbidden to most.
There, Obito wove hand seals. The earth rumbled and split apart, revealing a massive pit. Light flared as they descended, until even deep underground, the chamber shone like day.
This was Akatsuki's hidden laboratory. Few within the organization even knew it existed. Not even Itachi had ever learned of this place.
Once, it had been Orochimaru's lair, before his betrayal. Now it belonged to Obito.
(End of Chapter)
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