Everyone stared at the sheet of paper in front of them.
Mitsuro began to explain. "This is the structure of the Root training ground. They've trained at least hundreds of shinobi over the years."
"Hundreds?!"
Shibuki jumped up. Thirty people was a lot in itself, but now Mitsuro had given them a terrifying piece of news.
Mitsuro shot him a glare. "I said hundreds over the years. Root spends a lot of money on this, but Danzō has a strange belief. He'd rather have one emotionless, living elite ninja than ten average ninjas who can think and feel! As a result, he constantly sends his ninjas to different parts of the world to carry out operations, and almost 70% of them never return! This is even for those who passed their final exam; a final exam in which ninjas prove they can become a functional ninja in Danzō's eyes by killing their training partner!"
"All of this has led to two things: first, the total number of Root ninjas is never very high, and second, the number of ninjas at the base at any one time is probably no more than thirty."
He traced a hand over a map on the ground, indicating a large area.
"This is the training area for Root's new students. Those who don't have missions or whose missions aren't very important. They're not skilled yet and don't have the fighting ability. This area is removed from our search, because Danzō would never put his scrolls and secret information here."
The others agreed.
"This is probably the resting area for Root ninjas,"
Mitsuro raised a finger and pointed to another spot near a forest. "Our red dot. We have to be aware of it, but we shouldn't go there."
Then he showed a map. "Based on my guess, this is the Root headquarters. At least three stories underground."
"Underground?"
Mitsuro nodded in response to Hiruko's question.
"The structure of the Root base is unimaginable. He's built a labyrinth for himself, and he definitely stays in the center of it."
"So, how is this our target?"
"Danzō sees himself as the main fortress; a man who trusts no one but himself. The slightest doubt makes this man either hide everything or completely destroy it. So we have to be very careful."
"Well, all this means we don't know where the scrolls are."
"We don't need to know!"
"Why not?"
"Because Danzō is going to tell us where they are himself!"
"He won't do that!"
"Just wait and see!"
"How?"
"This is where I need the help of every single one of you."
Hiruko patted his chest. "Just tell us what we have to do."
Mitsuro looked at everyone. "First, I have to say something that's very important. It's information that, if it gets out of this door, could lead to a lot of things."
Everyone's full attention was on him.
"This isn't a possibility, it's a certainty. The exam that's going to be held in Konoha is not going to end well."
Shibuki was shocked. "What?!"
"Sunagakure has been poor for years and has had less income every year. This year, they finally want to gain a great reputation for themselves by making a big wound on Konoha."
Guren, surprised, asked, "Because they're poor, they dared to bite the throat of someone bigger than them?"
"No... because a big snake offered to bite Konoha's throat for them, and they just have to tie Konoha's hands."
Hiruko said, "You mean…"
"Yes, Orochimaru is going to attack Konoha during the Chūnin Exams."
"And you want to use this time? The time when Danzō and Root go out to defend Konoha against the Sand ninjas and Orochimaru?"
Mitsuro shook his head.
"Danzō most likely knows about this attack... and on the contrary, he has no intention of defending Konoha... you know, Danzō thinks he's extremely clever. No one has ever been able to corner him. But that's just his own thought. To me, he's more like a louse! When lice feel heat, they quickly come out of their hiding place and suck their victim's blood, and when the heat disappears, they hide again in the smallest cracks. He's waiting for Konoha to be completely defeated and then take control of the half-destroyed Konoha. As a result, he will definitely stay at the Root base during the attack on Konoha."
Guren said, "What a traitor!"
Hiruko asked, "Are you sure this is going to happen? Where did you get this information?"
Mitsuro looked into Hiruko's eyes. "I'm completely sure. The information is credible, and I can't say how I know, but you have to trust me."
Hiruko finally got an answer to one of his questions:
"So that's how you're sure Konoha won't have a chance to help Root."
"Yes."
Hiruko thought for a moment and said, "Now everything changes. We no longer need to worry about Konoha helping or how we'll get out. All that's left is how to deal with the Root members and get the scroll."
"Exactly."
"Okay, so what do we have to do?"
Mitsuro said, "First, I need a crystal. The last one is almost gone. Hiruko and Guren, you have to make me another one."
Hiruko replied,
"It's not hard, but I need a safe place to purify it and one more person to inject chakra."
Mitsuro agreed. "No problem."
He turned to Shibuki. "You'll help Hiruko and Guren with the chakra injection process for making the crystal."
Shibuki didn't know what they were talking about. "What's a crystal?"
Mitsuro didn't have the patience to explain. "You'll find out... don't worry, it's not dangerous."
Guren playfully corrected Mitsuro. "Probably, anyway."
Shibuki sighed in frustration and said, "Okay, no problem."
Mitsuro turned to Senta.
"Senta, secretly take Hiruko and Guren to the orphanage. When the preparations for making it are ready, guide Shibuki there too."
Senta was scratching his foot. Without lifting his head, he replied, "Okay."
Hiruko asked, "What then?"
Mitsuro said,
"We wait for Orochimaru's attack... just as you guessed, we'll use his attack."
He looked at each of them.
"We will infiltrate Root in Sunagakure uniforms and attack the central building."