"Due to certain circumstances, one of the clans within the village has fallen into discord with the leadership. Iwagakure has caught wind of this and seems prepared to launch a large-scale assault."
"Whether the information is genuine or not is unclear, which is why we need you to verify it."
Aburame Ryōma, standing behind Danzō, spoke in his usual calm tone. Across from them, Nonō clenched her fists.
After a pause, she answered firmly:"You've come to the wrong person. I'm nothing more than the head of this orphanage now."
Danzō's brows furrowed ever so slightly."You should already know the reason why the orphanage's funding has yet to be approved."
Ryōma's voice followed from behind, as detached as ever:"The money will come eventually. After all, it was promised by the Fourth Hokage himself. But this place is remote… Tell me, will you hire shinobi to guard the funds? To prevent thieves—or to protect the children?"
Orochimaru's lips curved into a snake-like smile as he added in a whisper:"Children of unknown origin always hold… potential value. I could make very good use of them."
He didn't need to finish the sentence. Nonō understood all too well what he meant.
She had no choice but to comply.
The money, perhaps she could find another way to secure it. But the children…
As a former Root operative, Nonō knew exactly how Root treated orphans.No, "treated" wasn't the word—used was more accurate.
They were brainwashed into mindless weapons of war. Or subjected to human experimentation.Either path led straight to hell.
"…I understand."
The words slipped out the moment her weakness was touched, submission forced upon her.
Danzō's eyes gleamed faintly, while Orochimaru let out a low, satisfied chuckle.
"This mission has already cost me one subordinate. So, I'll be taking one child from you as compensation—"
"Absolutely not!"
Before he could finish, Nonō shot to her feet, her voice ringing with defiance.
The children of this orphanage were her greatest weakness… but they were also her anchor, the light that had pulled her away from the darkness. She would never let anyone touch them.
Outside the building, Kabuto's fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His heart pounded as though he were about to make a reckless decision.
Smack!
A sudden hand on his shoulder nearly made him jump out of his skin. He spun around—only to see the red-haired older brother who had treated him to barbecue a few days ago.
"You…" Kabuto muttered.
Uchiha Shion smiled faintly."Thinking about rushing in there to take her place? Do you even know what they mean by 'Root'?"
Kabuto shook his head."I just don't want the director to suffer. As for me… it doesn't matter."
Shion's gaze shifted toward the building. Inside, shadows stirred, swelling like a looming storm.
"Wait here for me."
He pushed Kabuto aside, drew his blade, and slashed in one clean arc.
Boom!!
The wooden door exploded into splinters as a serpent-like hand shot forth from the darkness. With a single sweep, Shion severed it mid-strike.
The power was… harder to control than he'd expected.
Sheathing his blade, Shion frowned. His body felt alive with surging vitality, strength, speed, chakra—all vastly superior to before. Yet, the control he had once mastered had plummeted.
Damn… I didn't crush Kabuto's shoulder when I shoved him, did I?
From within, Orochimaru's serpentine tongue slithered out to lick his lips, scarlet eyes narrowing with delight."Red hair… A survivor of the Uzumaki clan, perhaps? You're no shinobi of Konoha. My laboratory could use a specimen like you."
"You're seriously disgusting."
Shion's hands blurred, pulling eight kunai from his pouch. He hurled them wide—two straight at the enemy, six scattering into distant corners.
Orochimaru scoffed."Such poor aim. It reminds me of a certain silver-haired fool and his ninjutsu."
He casually prepared to parry. But the moment his gaze landed on the glowing seals etched into the blades, his pupils constricted sharply.
"Flying Thunder God!?"
In a flash, a kunai pierced straight through his heart.
Splurt!
"You guessed right, Orochimaru."
Shion's voice whispered directly into his ear. But the next instant, Orochimaru's head twisted unnaturally, his neck stretching like a snake to bite back from behind.
Shing!
The Kusanagi sword burst from his mouth, stabbing clean into Shion's neck before slicing sideways—
Poof!
—only for the image to vanish in smoke. A shadow clone.
"As one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru… you were never my target."
In a blink, Shion appeared behind Danzō, kunai raised for the strike.
Clang!
A longsword intercepted the blade. Shion's eyes shifted to see Aburame Ryōma standing before him.
"You never once focused on me," Shion said with a thin smile. "Your eyes were locked on Danzō the entire time. Loyal to the very end."
Expressionless, Ryōma replied,"Root's duty is to protect Lord Danzō. The Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God may be fast—but speed alone is meaningless."
Bzzzzz…
A cloud of black insects poured from his body, swarming toward Shion like a living storm.
Shion flickered away in an instant, chuckling."No… you don't understand the true terror of the Flying Thunder God."
Fwoosh!
One of his marked kunai erupted in flames. Shion hurled it at Danzō.
Clang!
The first flaming blade was deflected. The second was already upon them. Then the third.
Shion flickered again—this time materializing right behind Ryōma. His kunai slashed down mercilessly.
Splurt!
Ryōma's body split in two—only for a cloud of black insects to scatter upward, revealing it had been an insect clone.
"Uzumaki boy," Ryōma's voice echoed coldly, "what made you think one Flying Thunder God would be enough to deal with me?"
From the shadows, Orochimaru unleashed a torrent of serpents, their fanged jaws snapping as they lunged toward Shion.
Shion flickered once more, reappearing behind Ryōma's true body this time. His blade came down without hesitation.
Shhk!
An arm flew through the air, blood spraying across the ground. Shion frowned.
That strike had been… deliberate. A forced contact.
"Kh…!"
Sweat beaded on Ryōma's brow, but his expression didn't falter.
"To trade an arm for you… I'd say that's a fair deal."
His tone was calm, unflinching."Space-time ninjutsu is powerful, no one denies it. But the only reason you dared strike at us is because you can retreat whenever you please, isn't it? You've marked locations elsewhere. The moment things turn against you, you'll vanish."
Shion hesitated, feeling a strange, crawling sensation within his body.
This was—
Ryōma's gaze never wavered."The kikaichū have already begun devouring your chakra. Soon, they will multiply… until—"
He didn't bother finishing the sentence. The reputation of the Aburame clan's secret arts spoke for itself. Few in Konoha truly understood the terror their techniques could unleash.