"Sure, sure."
Watching the livid expression on Danzo's face on the screen, Yuto curled his lips into a smirk. "Hanzo has truly mastered the art of being shameless. I can only imagine how much this '10% discount' is tormenting Danzo."
"Wasn't that all learned from you?" Kushina, sitting beside him, peeled a piece of mandarin and stuffed it into his mouth. "He used to be such an honest old guy. And now, after just a few days with you, he's been corrupted into this."
"Was Hanzo ever been honest?" Yuto's lips twitched, barely suppressing his disbelief.
"At least he wasn't as much of a shameless jerk as he is now," Kushina shrugged. "Just listening to the things he says makes me want to punch him!"
"That just proves Hanzo has a natural talent for it. What's that got to do with me?"Yuto mumbled through a mouthful of mandarin. "Can't pin this on me, right?"
"Putting aside everything else, your skill at dodging blame is something others would need few decades to learn!" Kushina rolled her eyes. "One 'natural talent' excuse, and you've washed your hands clean of it!"
"Birds of a feather flock together. The subordinates reflect their leader."
Mikoto speared a slice of pear with a fork and brought it to Yuto's lips. "Don't deny your influence, Yuto. Not just Hanzo—your sensei yakushi, Rina-san, and even Kushina have all been affected by you to some degree."
"Hey, you sly woman, why aren't you including yourself?" Kushina shot her best friend a teasing look. "Think you're still some innocent little flower? You've already bloomed into a camellia, darling!"
"Shut up, you man eating flower!" Mikoto flushed with embarrassment.
"Pfft—man-eating flower? I'll take that!" Kushina burst into laughter, completely unbothered. She then turned a sultry gaze toward the young man beside her. "Little rascal, do you wanna be devoured by this man-eating flower?"
Of course he did—but right now, he was in no position to make it happen!
Yuto forced an awkward chuckle and deliberately shifted his attention to the monitor in front of him. "Seems our earlier hypothesis was correct. Tailed Beast chakra and Hollow tainted energy need further purification to achieve the next stage of effect.
In the monitor, Shisui's body floated inside a cultivation tank, the bone-like mask on his face already half-dissolved.
This didn't mean his Hollowfication had weakened—on the contrary, all his metrics had grown stronger. Though still short of the perfect Arrancar transformation Yuto envisioned, the gap was closing fast!
"It won't be long before both of you can have new bodies," Yuto said with a faint smile. "How does that sound?"
"Sounds like you're the one getting the real bargain." Kushina fluttered her lashes, voice dripping with playful venom. "Big sisters' bodies, completely at your disposal. Salivating yet?"
'Alright, that's it.'
Enough was enough! This was bullying!
Yuto took a deep breath, his eye twitching.
'Just you wait.'
One day, he'd make this mischievous mother figure learn the true meaning of cruelty!
Later that day dusk bled into the sky like spilled ink, staining the horizon crimson. (Poetic right)
Seated in the main hall of his estate, Danzo—his head and arm once again wrapped in bandages—wore a face darker than the gathering night.
"My apologies, Lord Danzo," Lady Grey Feather said solemnly, standing before him. "If only we were stronger, you wouldn't have—"
"This isn't your fault," Danzo cut her off coldly. "I underestimated that damned old bastard Hanzo."
Just mentioning the name made his teeth grind.
The man was utterly shameless!
Not only had Hanzo's strength not weakened in the slightest, he'd grown even more shameless. Smiling and calling him "old friend Danzo" one moment, stabbing deeper than anyone else the next.
'No honor. No decency. Just pure, scum!'
"Should we plan a counterattack, Lord Danzo?" Yuto asked respectfully.
"Not now." Danzo's expression flickered, and he quickly waved a hand to dismiss the idea. "I have other priorities. Let that old wretch enjoy his freedom a while longer."
'Counterattack?'
'What is this kid thinking? With what army?'
Just recalling those two days in that pitch-black prison cell made Danzo's chest tighten with phantom pain.
"Pfft—he's totally scared!" Kushina's voice chimed in.
"Well, can you blame him?" Mikoto covered her mouth, eyes crinkling with amusement. "After being forced to deliver piglets, who'd want a repeat of that experience?"
Of course, Danzo couldn't hear the two women's commentary. He maintained his composed facade as he continued, "Since the Umbrella Corporation route is a dead end, I've decided to approach Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru?"
"Is that wise?"
Grey Feather and Yuto exchanged uncertain glances.
"I know for a fact that the Super Shinobi Serum still has room for evolution!" Danzo's lips curled into a cold smirk. "And I'm certain Orochimaru knows it too. He'll have no choice but to cooperate with me… for mutual benefit!"
"And if he refuses?" Grey Feather pressed.
"Hmph. I'll admit, for now, I'm no match for Hanzo, the founder of the Super Shinobi Project." Danzo snorted derisively. "But Orochimaru? What gives him the right to defy me?"
Grey Feather and Yuto fell silent. Before either could respond, a detached voice called from outside.
"Lord Danzo, the Hokage summons you."
[Choose.]
A prompt flickered across Yuto's vision.
[1. Equip Lord Danzo with a Bunny Girl outfit, letting him shine at his next social gathering!]
[2. Cast the moral expansion Jutsu on Lord Danzo, giving his friends a real eye-opener!]
"Eye-opener"? More like eye-searer!
Yuto glanced at the options, then at Danzo. Taking a deep breath, he stepped to the elder's side.
Transformation Jutsu: Bunny Girl Edition!
*POOF.*
A cloud of smoke erupted, revealing a brand-new Danzo
Grey Feather froze.
The former Root operative stood there, dumbstruck, eyes wide and jaw slack.
Yet Danzo himself remained oblivious to his drastic wardrobe change. With unwavering confidence, he strode out of the room.
[Congratulations! You've obtained: Zanpakutō Forging Technique.]
'Nice. Even Zanpakutō forging tech as a reward.'
'Totally worth it.'
After all, the one suffering wasn't him, it was the irredeemable Danzo! Squeezing loot out of that old schemer was a win in every sense!
"Th-this…" Grey Feather pointed weakly at Danzo's retreating figure, but no words came out.
"HAHAHA! Brilliant!" Kushina was the first to recover, clapping excitedly. "Quick, follow him! I wanna see the looks on those old geezers' faces when they see Danzo like this!"
"Remember to record it," Mikoto added, slightly more reserved but no less eager.
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