"As for Naruto, you don't need to get involved."
Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted coldly. Seeing Danzo's uncertain expression, he explained, "I sent a message. It won't be long before Jiraiya returns to Konoha."
"I see."
Danzo Shimura nodded, feigning helplessness.
Jiraiya, one of Konoha's three legendary Sannin. Once he returned, Hiruzen would effectively have the backing of a Kage-level ninja. It was also a clear signal for Danzo to back off.
As for what Danzo was actually thinking... he was Danzo Shimura, not Biwako Sarutobi. Why should he obediently listen to Hiruzen?
Watching the Third Hokage lead the Anbu out of the base, Danzo narrowed his eyes slightly and sighed. "Still so weak in the end... Sarutobi... In your greed for more, you are destined to lose everything..."
"Then what about you, Lord Danzo?"
Someone suddenly stepped out from a dark corner, pushing up his glasses as he looked at Danzo. "Don't you also want more?"
"It's you..."
The one-eyed old man's gaze froze. He expressionlessly gripped the ninja sword at his side. "The brat who betrayed me. You dare to show your face..."
The person who had appeared was Kabuto Yakushi, from the Konoha Orphanage. Danzo would periodically select children suitable for joining the Root from the orphanage, and Kabuto had been one of them. It had to be said, Kabuto was quite skilled at carrying out espionage missions.
Later, Kabuto left the Root and joined Orochimaru's side, gaining a great deal of evidence of Danzo's collusion with the rogue Sannin. After Orochimaru's defection, this spy became a thorn in Danzo's side, one he wanted to remove as soon as possible.
"Wait!"
Kabuto quickly held up a hand to stop him and threw a scroll. "I'm here on behalf of Lord Orochimaru. This contains the information you're most concerned about!"
Danzo caught the scroll. He glanced at the text, which mentioned that Jiraiya and Team 7 had passed through the Land of Rice Fields and were heading toward Konoha.
The one-eyed old man's brow furrowed. "If Jiraiya is with Kakashi Hatake's Team 7..."
For him, this was not good news. Even with the power he had just regained from Hiruzen and with his former Root ninjas mobilized, it would be a troublesome matter to kill Kakashi and capture Naruto and Sasuke while they were under Jiraiya's protection.
Against an opponent like Jiraiya, numbers meant little for ordinary ninjas. His summoning beasts alone were enough to turn the tide of a battle. More importantly, there was no one in the entire Root who could hold Jiraiya back. Even Danzo knew he couldn't defeat Jiraiya as he was now.
"Lord Danzo," Kabuto said, lowering his head to hide a smile. "I believe you know that only a Sannin can fight a Sannin. Lord Orochimaru doesn't mind taking action, but..."
"He has conditions?"
"About our Konoha Crush plan during the Chunin Exams..."
"That is absolutely impossible!" Danzo cut him off in a cold voice, looking down at him. "My name cannot be connected to the Konoha Crush plan in any way. You should be very clear about the ultimate goal of that plan!"
Because Konoha was so heavily guarded, the joint Chunin Exams were the only large-scale event where outside ninjas could enter the village, providing the perfect opportunity for the Konoha Crush.
The ultimate goal of the plan was for Orochimaru to eliminate the Third Hokage and his allies, pushing Danzo into power. Therefore, Danzo couldn't afford to leave any evidence that could be used against him, or his claim to the Hokage title would never be recognized.
"Of course, I'm clear on that." Kabuto smiled and spread his hands. "If you cannot provide any help with the plan, then we will have to ask for another forbidden jutsu in exchange... The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique. That shouldn't be too difficult for you, should it, Lord Danzo?"
The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique was an S-rank forbidden jutsu of Konoha. It could seal everything within a radius of hundreds of meters into the user's body upon their death. No one could resist it.
As an ultimate sealing jutsu comparable to the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, Danzo was well aware of its power. It was also his greatest trump card. Because Danzo's body held many secrets—from classified intelligence to the results of human experiments—he could not allow them to be discovered. The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique was the burial jutsu he had prepared for himself.
Danzo was silent for a moment before asking, "Would that fellow Orochimaru really covet a forbidden jutsu meant to take the enemy down with you?"
"For Lord Orochimaru, every ninjutsu has its use." Kabuto smiled slightly, choosing not to explain further. Based on his understanding of Orochimaru, he could guess how the jutsu might be used. Once he obtained the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique, it would boost Orochimaru's combat power immensely.
The current Orochimaru had already developed his escape techniques to an incredible degree; he could likely find a way to overcome the jutsu's fatal drawback.
"Hmph!" Danzo snorted and turned to walk towards the depths of the base. "Come with me. I hope Orochimaru doesn't disappoint me..."
"Rest assured, Lord Danzo." Kabuto grinned and followed.
The two made a deal in the dark Root base. Kabuto obtained the scroll for the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique, and in exchange, Danzo secured Orochimaru's promise to engage Jiraiya once.
After Kabuto placed the scroll into the mouth of a small white snake, he suddenly turned his head. "Lord Danzo, when do you plan to make your move?"
"In the coming days," Danzo said in a low voice, drawing his ninja sword. "This time, I will act personally. Neither the Nine-Tails jinchuriki nor Sasuke Uchiha will escape my grasp!"
"Then I will report to Lord Orochimaru immediately." Kabuto nodded to himself, stroking the small white snake's head as it crawled into his sleeve. "Then I'll wish you success in getting what you want."
As Kabuto was about to leave, Danzo suddenly called out to him. "Kabuto, have you ever hated me? For what happened with Nonō Yakushi..."
"...Heh... a fragile life..." The silver-haired youth stopped. With his back to Danzo, he took off his glasses and gently wiped the fog from the lenses. "The matron... she was just someone who passed through my life."
"Is that so..." Danzo said to himself. "When I ascend to the position of Hokage, would you be willing to rejoin the Root and become my subordinate again?"
"That would depend..." Kabuto turned his head, his eyes glancing at Danzo's shadow. "On just how much benefit you can bring me, Lord Danzo."
"So, it's all about personal gain..." The one-eyed old man nodded by the candlelight. "After Orochimaru's defection, the Root's biological research lab is short on staff. As long as you are willing to join, the materials of the entire lab and all the funds needed for experiments will be at your disposal."
"The Root's combat ninjas can also assist you. Konoha cannot fall behind in any aspect, nor can we place our lifeline in the hands of a rogue ninja. That fellow Orochimaru is too greedy."
"Allow me to consider it carefully," Kabuto replied after a moment of silence. He put his glasses back on and slowly walked out of the dark underground base.
-----
Bonus:
Kabuto & Orochimaru Banter
Kabuto: Danzo is trying to recruit me.
Orochimaru: What did he offer you?
Kabuto: The director position at the biological research lab.
Orochimaru: That was my old position. It's quite a generous offer. What are you thinking?
Kabuto: Under you, Lord Orochimaru, at least I get to show my face. If I worked for Danzo, I'd have to wear a mask even in the afterlife.