Danzo Shimura stared intently at the calligraphy scroll reading "Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain," as if trying to decipher some hidden meaning within the brushstrokes.
"You do not have the right to refuse. Your destiny does not lie in your own hands, but in mine."
Byakuya knew he was speaking the truth.
Even though he had managed to escape from Pakura—who possessed strength comparable to a Kage—and walked away from the giant black snake unscathed, he was still under someone else's control.
Ultimately, he lacked the power to break his chains. If he could fight Pakura to a draw, or tame that giant snake as a summon, he would have the leverage to negotiate with Danzo.
Unfortunately, he didn't have that kind of power yet. But soon, he would. He just needed to be patient and lay low. Time was on his side.
"The Hyuga branch family has the Caged Bird seal carved into their foreheads. The village ninja obey their superiors. Even the Five Kage are bound by rules," Danzo lectured.
"You hid your talents well in the past. If Vice-Principal Hiroya hadn't been so desperate to fulfill Root's quota that he tried to pass off a dud, you wouldn't have been selected. But you still would have ended up as cannon fodder on the battlefield.
"This is a chain that binds everyone. I cannot break free from it, Hiruzen Sarutobi cannot break free from it, and neither can you."
"I understand," Byakuya replied.
"Do you truly understand? Or are you just saying what I want to hear?"
"Since I was born in the Leaf, I have a responsibility."
Danzo nodded, accepting the answer. He shifted the topic back to the jutsu. "Lord Second's Water Style: Water Severing Wave is what you have earned. The Flying Thunder God is a resource I am choosing to invest in you. As for the money Hiroya mentioned—one hundred thousand ryo. No more."
"If you want more money, the Bounty Station has a hit out on the Hidden Stone's 'Tougarashi'. The reward is three million ryo. Feel free to take it."
Byakuya kept his cool. "I know my limits. I am definitely not strong enough to take on a Jonin."
"Heh. I'm surprised you know that. I thought you might get greedy and try to bring back Pakura's head for the bounty."
The old fox was really twisting the truth there.
Greedy? Are you kidding? Byakuya thought. It was Pakura who wanted my head!
But arguing wasn't smart. Byakuya simply lowered his head. "I know my place."
"You are smart, Shuten-doji . You didn't try to hide anything. Pakura has already reported your encounter to the Sand Village high command; I only found out recently myself."
"However, the fact that you possess a Kekkei Genkai exceeded my expectations. It seems you used Storm Release to counter Pakura's Scorch Release, which is the only reason you made it back to the Leaf alive."
"You are wise, Lord Danzo."
"Save the flattery. You have proven your worth. Wait here; I will retrieve the scrolls for Water Severing Wave and the Flying Thunder God."
Danzo slowly walked out of the room, leaving Byakuya alone.
Byakuya mulled over their conversation. The old fox definitely knew his real name, yet he insisted on using the codename "Shuten-doji ." It was a little strange.
Also, Danzo was Tobirama Senju's student, yet he didn't call him "Teacher" or "Sensei," but rather the more formal and distant "Lord."
It seemed Danzo still held a grudge over Tobirama passing the title of Hokage to Hiruzen.
Just as different ninja villages had their conflicts, the Leaf had its own internal, unresolvable contradictions. They only united because they were forced to by external pressure.
Byakuya realized he could exploit this friction to buy himself more time and space to grow.
Danzo returned quickly and handed him the two secret scrolls containing the S-Rank jutsu.
"From now on, you don't need to be so cautious in front of me. You are still a child, after all; you should have some youthful spirit."
"I wouldn't dare."
The old fox was testing him again.
Danzo gave a cold smile. "Go on then. I have plenty of patience to wait for you to grow. I won't be assigning you any missions in the near future."
"Excuse me, then." Byakuya bowed, backed out of the room, and gently closed the door.
Nono Yakushi walked out from the inner chamber. "Lord Danzo, that child is skilled at disguise and plans every step carefully. Without a Cursed Seal to bind him, he will be difficult to control."
Danzo replied thoughtfully, "Tobirama Senju took me, Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura as students. Hiruzen has his own students—Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade. And Minato Namikaze, who is currently making a name for himself on the battlefield, is Jiraiya's student."
"I have worked for the Leaf my entire life, purely out of public service. I have never taken a disciple. But the work of the Root must be inherited by someone."
Nono was shocked. "You think that highly of him?"
"He isn't from a noble clan, his background is extremely clean, his parents died for the village, and his talent is decent. He understands how to read the situation at a young age. You could search the entire village and perhaps only find one Shuten-doji ."
"Have you already decided on him as your successor?"
Danzo scoffed. "His two missions have merely shown me his value, but he hasn't yet shown the necessary caliber."
"Especially during the second mission in the Land of Rivers. He was too soft-hearted. He didn't kill all of Sanshan's subordinates and instead left the mess for the village to clean up. That was a grave mistake!"
"But the boy is at least honest with you," Nono argued gently. "And he has the means to make Hiroya work for him willingly. He is far beyond his peers."
"Nono, I know you are tired of the life of a spy. I had intended to let you go after your next mission, to let you do what you love..."
Hearing this, Nono's expression shifted several times.
"But that is no longer possible." Danzo closed his eyes. "I hear many people have given you the nickname 'The Wandering Shrine Maiden.' It shows how much they fear your abilities. But I hope you will not just be a Shrine Maiden walking the ninja world, but also the priestess who assists the next generation of Root."
Nono lowered her head in sadness. "Are you going to vie for that position?"
"As Hokage, Hiruzen has made frequent errors in judgment, causing the Leaf to be besieged by the other great nations. He won't be sitting in that seat for much longer."
"But what about Minato Namikaze..."
"He is too young. Even with his distinguished war record, he would be the Fifth Hokage, not the Fourth."
"What about Jiraiya, Orochimaru, or Tsunade?"
"Jiraiya is a lecher with no interest in power. Tsunade is a gambler with a phobia of blood. As for Orochimaru... humph. Not only does Hiruzen disapprove, but the rest of the village wouldn't accept him either. He lacks the most important quality required to be Hokage. Besides them, who else is there but me?"
Nono understood now. Danzo was considering taking the boy as a student because once Danzo became Hokage, he wouldn't trust anyone else with the Root.
Only a disciple he had personally groomed—a commoner with a clean slate—would be easy to control.
"And if his caliber doesn't meet your expectations?"
Danzo spoke as if discussing something trivial, like the weather. "Then I will order him to die."
"He knows too much. Someone with that much ambition, who is also skilled at hiding his true strength, is too dangerous for me—and for the Leaf."
These words were also a warning to Nono Yakushi.