Danzō had assumed that Orochimaru was coming to demand answers, even prepared excuses for himself.
Everything he did, after all, was "for the good of Konoha." He had acted out of necessity.
But to his surprise, Orochimaru didn't mention Nawaki's death at all. Instead, he brought unexpected good news.
Nawaki's death had changed Orochimaru, it had awakened in him a fascination with the study of life itself.
Danzō's gravelly voice trembled slightly, barely containing his excitement.
"Orochimaru, you are the most promising of all the younger generation. You have enough talent, enough willpower, enough dedication. But, your limits are bound by your body, by the blood of a commoner.
In the face of bloodline inheritance, effort means nothing. I've spent forty years mastering Wind Release, and yet, in front of true bloodline wielders, I am nothing.
You've spent years mastering Earth Release and summoning techniques, and to what end? You've never seen Lord Hashirama or Uchiha Madara on the battlefield, that is what true power looks like.
You and I share the same curse, the limits of our flesh. But giving up is not our way. The limitations of the body can be overcome.
Lord Tobirama had theories on this, ideas that were never realized. But I believe they hold great potential.
If you are willing to conduct research on ninja biology, to study and transform life itself for the sake of Konoha, then I will give you my full support.
I will deliver to you Tobirama-sensei's notes on transplants, bloodlines, and genetic traits tonight. During wartime, all enemy captives shall be yours to experiment on. When the war ends, we can even recruit volunteers from the Anbu, they are highly disciplined and ready to sacrifice for the village.
And if your research shows progress, I will even offer myself as a test subject. I have some 'materials' set aside for transplantation, what I lack is a reliable method."
Orochimaru immediately understood what Danzō truly wanted: the highest-grade material in the ninja world, powerful bloodline traits.
"I want to begin tonight," Orochimaru said.
For once, a smile touched Danzō's face.
"Then tonight, I will have the laboratory equipment prepared. All the captives in the camp will be sent to your tent. Since Ōnoki has killed the Senju heir, Konoha will inevitably retaliate. I will order the Anbu to capture Hidden Stone Village alive, every living subject will be delivered to you.
During the war, your supply of test subjects will never run dry. Don't hesitate, progress matters more than preservation. However, I wish to set the initial research direction."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's snake-yellow eyes gleamed. "What direction?"
"I want you to start with eye transplantation."
Orochimaru immediately understood.
Danzō's old teammate, Uchiha Kagami, had died under mysterious circumstances, and his body was never recovered. So that's where Kagami's Sharingan had gone. Whether it had been entrusted willingly, or stolen, only Danzō knew.
"Orochimaru, from today onward, you will be head of the Root laboratory.
Your codename: A."
Orochimaru asked, "Why Root? Why not the Anbu proper?"
"Because Hiruzen refuses to bear infamy, not even that which comes from Anbu's shadows. From now on, all of Konoha's sins will be mine to carry, and Root's.
To protect Hiruzen's honor, Root's role has changed. We now not only train Anbu recruits, but handle the missions even the Anbu cannot touch.
Don't worry, Hiruzen will be informed and will approve your inclusion soon."
Orochimaru turned and left the tent.
Outside, Danzō saw the Fox Squad standing guard.
He called out, "Fox, come in."
Fox entered. Danzō ordered him to deliver all enemy captives in the camp to Orochimaru's tent. He also informed him that Orochimaru was now a member of Root, head of its laboratory, with the authority of a division leader.
At the prisoner camp, Fox told his three subordinates to tie up the five captured Hidden Stone ninja. They were drugged and unable to use chakra, helpless.
One captive asked in terror, "Where are you taking us? Is there going to be a prisoner exchange?"
Yoru thought for a moment, then said coldly, "If I'm not mistaken, the era of prisoner exchanges is over. From today on, Konoha will never trade captives again."
"Wh–why? Why are you Konoha people so cruel?"
Yoru shook his head silently. You should have killed yourself when you had the chance.
When he arrived at Orochimaru's tent, he saw a young boy waiting outside. The tent flap opened, Orochimaru stepped out, casting a glance at the prisoners.
Through the gap, Yoru saw two large tables inside, covered with crude surgical tools, scalpels, scissors, forceps, awls.
The boy exclaimed excitedly:
"Orochimaru-sensei! Please accept my condolences! Nawaki's death is tragic, but I'll train twice as hard to make up for his loss! Please take me as your student, I'll never disappoint you!"
Orochimaru's eyes flicked over the captives with faint irritation, then turned to the boy.
"You came here on your own. Does your clan head, Lord Danzō, know?"
"No, I haven't met him. He's probably still in the village."
The boy was from the Shimura clan, unaware that Danzō himself was on the front lines.
He had been assigned to Nawaki's team and, with Nawaki now dead, thought this was his chance to shine.
Orochimaru gave a soft, chilling chuckle.
"Very well. Go inside first."
He then told Fox:
"Bring the captives inside. Don't leave, stay nearby. Tomorrow, you'll deal with the bodies."
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."
Moments later, horrible screams filled the air, and then were abruptly silenced. The night was long, filled with muffled cries and the wet sounds of suffering.
By morning, Orochimaru emerged from the tent. Pale as ever, his expression showed a strange satisfaction, whether from his experiments or from the sunlight, no one could tell.
He gestured for the Fox Squad to enter and clean up.
Inside were six corpses.
Wait, six?
There had only been five captives.
The missing one was the Shimura boy. Orochimaru had dissected him too.
Did Danzō know about this? Should it be reported?
After some thought, Yoru decided, yes, it should. Orochimaru wasn't his superior; Danzō was.
The captives' bodies were taken outside the camp and burned, but the Shimura boy's body was kept for evidence.
Yoru hurried to Danzō's tent and reported the dissection.
Danzō was momentarily silent, then said simply, "I understand."
Inwardly, he thought: To gain new eyes, some sacrifices must be made. The boy had shared his blood, and thus, was a fitting first test subject. Orochimaru wasn't out of line, but he'd have to be told not to kill too many from the Shimura clan.
Yoru was stunned by the nonchalance.
So that was it? Just "I understand"?
He left quietly.
The boy's body was burned like the others.
As Yoru watched it shrink into ash, he thought grimly:
"Danzō really is ruthless, to others, and to his own people alike. And that boy, why did he have to play the 'next Nawaki' act? He died horribly, eyes gouged out, sockets hollow."
Later, Captain Black Ape returned from medical leave, leg still thin and weak.
"Long time no see, Fox."
"Long time no see, Captain."
He had lost an arm and half a leg, yet he still commanded the squad.
"From now on, we need at least three captured Hidden Stone ninja, the stronger, the better. Fox, your team's the best. You'll take point.
I won't have you work for free, I've applied for an Earth Style jutsu scroll for you. Pick one technique you like."
Yoru's eyes lit up.
After so many missions, he could finally claim a jutsu reward.
The Anbu had no fixed standard, the rewards depended not just on missions, but also on the "Will of Fire" as judged by one's superior.
And in Black Ape's eyes, Yoru's Will of Fire was ironclad.
Yoru scanned the Earth Style scroll's index. He already knew three techniques:
Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique, Earth Substitution, and Water Release: Water Formation Wall.
He needed an offensive move. He found a familiar name: Earth Release: Earth Spear.
He had seen an Hidden Stone jōnin use it, sharp stone spikes bursting from the ground to impale enemies. It was fast, stealthy, deadly, perfect.
"Captain, I'll take this B-rank technique."
Black Ape winced.
"My leg was shattered by that exact jutsu. Good choice."
He opened the scroll and let Fox copy it.
"Tomorrow night, we move out to capture Hidden Stone ninja. Learn it quickly."
Yoru trained all night.
He chose this jutsu for its simplicity, it required only one hand seal.
One seal meant speed, and in battle, speed meant survival.
"Earth Release, Earth Spear!"
A spike shot from the ground and struck a wooden post, but shattered on impact. Too soft.
He trained again and again, adjusting chakra density. By sunrise, the spike could pierce clean through the post.
Satisfied, he nodded. A refined technique, strong and fast, ready for battle.
That night, Black Ape's unit departed on their capture mission.
Beyond the forests of the Fire Country lay the vast open plains of the Land of Grass.
Konoha shinobi were forest hunters, the wide, naked plains made them uneasy.
"Elder Mitokado Homura has negotiated well with Hidden Cloud Village," Black Ape briefed them.
"The Hidden Cloud ninja will attack the Hidden Stone Village by invading the Land of Waterfalls. The Hidden Stone forces here in Grass may retreat, so move fast before they vanish."
The Battle of Mount Niuhe had turned the tide of the war, Konoha now had the advantage.
With his Byakugan, White Ram scouted ahead.
"Four Hidden Stone ninja by the river, drawing water. Moving at two o'clock direction."
"Good," said Black Ape. "White Ram, charge the center with me. Fox and Leaf Monkey, flank them!"
Yellow Dog Division had recently evaluated Black Ape's recovery, this was his chance to prove his worth.
Fox's squad leapt from the trees.
Midair, he suddenly felt a faint sting in his nose. His enhanced body, strengthened by the Senju bloodline, was hypersensitive to toxins.
He had inhaled, something. A faint chemical tang drifting up from the water.
But the river looked normal.
Ahead, Leaf Monkey's squad was already closing in. Yoru suppressed his unease and continued the attack.
Soon, the Hidden Stone ninja noticed, surrounded from three directions! They tried to break through.
They were strong, at least chūnin level, and fast.
Yoru infused chakra into his arm and threw a kunai with full force. It flew like lightning, grazing the grass and piercing an Hidden Stone ninja's leg.
The man screamed, rolling in pain.
"Nice shot, Fox!" Black Ape shouted.
Purple Cat used Mind Transfer Technique to control the wounded ninja, while Antelope poisoned him.
The man fell limp, one live captive secured. The rest fled, covering their leader's retreat.
The chase dragged on. Capturing live prisoners was far harder than killing.
After a long pursuit, the Hidden Stone ninja captain looped back toward the river.
White Ram suddenly yelled, "No, it's an ambush!"
They had chased too far, beyond the Byakugan's range. As they neared the river, dozens of shinobi erupted from the water, their gas masks unmistakable. Hidden Rain ninja.
Somehow, the Hidden Stone Village had convinced Hanzo to ally with them!
Rain and Stone, together in the Land of Grass.
At that moment, Yoru realized what he'd smelled earlier, the faint sting in the air, the chemical smell from the river.
"Careful, it's poison!"