Chapter 125: The Roots of an Offer
Kagenori stood before Orochimaru, the mission complete. "The Raikage's son and the Jinchuriki?" the Sannin inquired.
"Both alive," Kagenori reported. "But they will not be a factor in the Land of Hot Springs for the foreseeable future." He produced the storage scroll. "A sample from the Eight-Tails. I thought you might find it of interest."
A flicker of genuine fascination crossed Orochimaru's features as he took the scroll. "Excellent." His expression then shifted to one of business. "Kagenori, a transfer order has arrived from Konoha. You are to return immediately."
"Return?" Kagenori's brow furrowed. "Why now? The front is stable."
"Because the time is ripe," Orochimaru explained, a knowing smile on his lips. "The order was issued by Danzo, in his capacity as the Hokage's aide. Which means Danzo wishes to speak with you."
Kagenori's eyes narrowed to slits. Danzo summoning him could mean only one thing: the move against the Uchiha clan was beginning.
"Be wary of Danzo," Orochimaru cautioned, his voice a low hiss. "I was once part of Root. The man is paranoid, cautious, insidious, and ruthless. He trusts no one and tolerates no deviation from his plans. However, your value is now immense. He will likely attempt to recruit you. Given that your goal is singular—Kushina's safety—an alliance with him may be… pragmatic."
"I understand, Sensei," Kagenori replied, his mind already calculating the angles.
He found Kakashi at the base, informed him of the recall to Konoha, and set off alone.
Days later, Kagenori walked through the gates of Konoha. The atmosphere was different. Where once there had been scornful whispers, there were now stares of awe and muttered reverence. The name "Blood-Eyed Shura" was on everyone's lips, his victory over A and Killer Bee cementing his legend across the nations. Children pointed and called out, "Lord Kagenori!"
He ignored it all. Their fickle admiration was worthless. He had not fought for them.
As he moved through the crowd, an Uchiha shinobi materialized before him, bowing stiffly. "Lord Kagenori. Clan Head Masaki requests your presence at the Uchiha compound."
Kagenori's gaze was icy. "Tell Uchiha Masaki that if he wishes to speak with me, he can come here. He no longer holds the authority to summon me."
He walked past the stunned clansman without a second glance. The Uchiha's face flushed with impotent rage, but the reality was undeniable: Kagenori possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, a power that eclipsed the entire main family.
Arriving home, he found it empty. Kushina was out. He left a brief note and turned to leave, only to find a Root agent, his face obscured by a blank mask, waiting silently for him.
"Lord Kagenori. Lord Danzo awaits."
Kagenori gave a curt nod. "Lead the way."
The Root base was a tomb, its corridors steeped in a silence that stifled the soul. The shinobi they passed were hollow-eyed, their individuality scrubbed away. The agent led him to an austere office where Danzo sat, his single visible eye regarding Kagenori like a specimen.
"Lord Danzo," Kagenori offered a shallow, formal bow.
A grim approximation of a smile touched Danzo's lips. "Kagenori. You have done… well."
Kagenori assumed he referred to the battle. "I serve Konoha to the best of my ability."
Danzo, however, was not speaking of the Cloud-nin. His intelligence network had already reported Kagenori's blunt dismissal of the Uchiha messenger. "Do you hate the Uchiha?" he asked, the question a blade thrust into the heart of the matter, devoid of preamble.
Kagenori's expression did not flicker. "Personal grievances are insignificant when weighed against Konoha's interests."
"And if Konoha's interests can no longer accommodate the Uchiha?" Danzo pressed.
"Then I will do whatever Konoha requires of me," Kagenori replied, his tone flat and unwavering.
Danzo let out a short, dry laugh. "As I expected. You had already deduced Konoha's intentions toward the Uchiha. You even guessed we would seek you out."
Kagenori feigned surprise. "Lord Danzo?"
"Your composure gave you away. You showed no reaction to the notion of moving against the Uchiha, as if it were an inevitability you had long accepted."
This old fox is sharp, Kagenori thought. He adjusted his strategy. "I admit, I speculated that Konoha would eventually act. The Uchiha clan's friction is a persistent issue. But I did not guess you would seek me out. I was only unsurprised because my master, Orochimaru, informed me the transfer order came from you."
Danzo's smile was a thin, bloodless line. "Let us proceed as if you had not. Hiruzen and I have a mission for you concerning the Uchiha clan. In the conflicts to come, you will be our instrument. Your task will be to suppress the Uchiha forces placed under your command. Do you accept this mission?"
Without hesitation, Kagenori responded, "A shinobi follows orders. I will execute the Hokage's will to the fullest extent."
Danzo studied him for a long, heavy moment. "Kagenori, you are intelligent. You understand why I, the Hokage's aide, summoned you back and am meeting with you alone."
Kagenori maintained his mask of polite confusion. "My lord, apart from assigning a mission, is there another purpose?"
Danzo leaned forward slightly, his single eye boring into Kagenori's. "Since you pretend not to know, I will be plain. I wish to recruit you into Root. What is your answer?"
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