Danzo quickly returned to his base.
"Bring me all the files on the Uchiha. Every single one," Danzo commanded as he sank into his office chair, his voice heavy.
A Root shinobi promptly responded, "Yes, Danzo-sama."
Though he had been heavily restricted by Hiruzen over the past few years, he hadn't truly been wasting his time. Hiruzen, whether intentionally or otherwise, had permitted his "investigation" of the Uchiha clan. Consequently, Danzo possessed a vast amount of information regarding them.
Soon, squads of Root shinobi were placing stack after stack of Uchiha dossiers on Danzo's desk. Danzo began to pore over them. From morning until night, he didn't even stop for a meal.
"Uchiha Shisui..." Danzo looked at Shisui's intelligence file, then looked up and asked, "Is there anything more detailed?"
"The Anbu might have more. Should I attempt to retrieve it?" the Root shinobi asked after a moment of thought.
"Go and see," Danzo ordered.
About ten minutes later, the Root shinobi returned and handed Danzo a file obtained from the Anbu.
Danzo examined it, lost in thought. "Something still isn't right. Shisui is a prodigy of the clan who participated in the Third Ninja World War; his fame was nearly as great as Minato's Yellow Flash. I find it hard to believe that such a man has not awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Perhaps he is simply unwilling to disclose it? After all, that is vital intelligence," the Root shinobi suggested. He was clearly one of Danzo's trusted confidants.
Danzo remained silent, seemingly weighing a problem.
After a while, the shinobi spoke again: "Danzo-sama... isn't Shisui Uchiha 'one of us'? Why are we investigating him so thoroughly?"
"One of us?" Danzo glanced at the shinobi. "Ryoma, the man's name is Uchiha. How could he ever truly be one of us? Besides, since when did Hiruzen and his lot become 'one of us'?"
However, after saying this, Danzo reconsidered and nodded. "Though, if you consider that I too am part of the Hokage's lineage, then specifically regarding the Uchiha matter, Hiruzen and I could be considered on the same side."
Aburame Ryoma was Danzo's deputy in Root and his most trusted man. Ryoma usually had no other missions; his primary duty was to remain by Danzo's side, handle errands, and ensure Danzo's safety. He was the second-in-command of Root.
Once, there was another individual who held a similar status: Orochimaru. Back when Danzo traveled abroad, Orochimaru and Ryoma were his two personal bodyguards. One could imagine how high Ryoma's status was within Root, especially after Orochimaru left; now, no one could threaten his position.
While other Root shinobi were merely tools to be used for missions, Ryoma was a "staff officer" with whom Danzo could discuss actual affairs and plans.
"So, Danzo-sama, what is your intent?" Ryoma asked.
"A spy who cannot be fully trusted is extremely dangerous. Once we move against the Uchiha, who can guarantee Shisui will stand with us? If... if he is a double agent, our entire plan could be exposed. Therefore, we must eliminate him before we act!" Danzo said coldly.
Ryoma thought for a moment. "Understood, Danzo-sama."
"But do not be in a hurry. It is not yet time," Danzo added. He paused, his expression showing a hint of hesitation as he looked at Ryoma.
Ryoma was surprised. "Danzo-sama?"
"I have thought much over these years, and I have realized certain things. Ryoma, given our current way of doing things, do you think I have a chance to become Hokage?" Danzo suddenly asked.
Ryoma was stunned. He looked at Danzo in shock. In his memory, Danzo had never asked such a question. What was happening? Behind this question was a clear sense of "self-doubt and self-denial." Usually, when this occurred, it meant a person's ideology was shifting.
Despite his shock, Ryoma said without hesitation: "I believe Danzo-sama is the most suitable candidate for Hokage."
Danzo's face didn't show a smile; instead, he said with some emotion, "Konoha might not be willing to accept a Hokage steeped in darkness."
"Danzo-sama?" Ryoma gasped. Was he giving up?
"Hiruzen wants to dump all this darkness onto me. I've been thinking... why shouldn't I hand this darkness over to someone else?" Danzo laughed. He reached into his robes and pulled out a card.
It was the business card of the Yorozuya. Looking at the script on it, Danzo clicked his tongue. "Perhaps I can use this blade..."
…
Land of Rain, Amegakure.
The door to Orochimaru's laboratory opened, and he stepped out. He happened to see Jūzō walking down the hallway with the Executioner's Blade on his back.
"Jūzō," Orochimaru called out.
Jūzō turned and smiled. "Oh, Orochimaru. Out for lunch?"
"No. I received some news. Are you coming from Diarmuid's side?" Orochimaru asked.
"Yeah," Jūzō nodded.
"Is he awake?" Orochimaru inquired further.
Jūzō shook his head. "No. When I went, I saw Ameri-sama feeding Diarmuid-sama, so I left."
Jūzō was a strange one; his loyalty to Diarmuid was something even Orochimaru found incredible. As long as he wasn't on a mission with Kakuzu, he would go to pay his respects to Diarmuid every single day. Even though Diarmuid's soul was currently in the Pure Land and he only woke up once every few weeks, Jūzō still visited daily. He would sit by Diarmuid's empty shell and ramble on about everything and nothing.
It made Diarmuid look like a comatose patient, while Jūzō was the tireless "family member" trying to wake him up with "talk therapy."
"Is that so?" Orochimaru nodded. "I am going to wake him."
"Really? Please, let me see this," Jūzō said excitedly. He knew Diarmuid's soul went to the Pure Land and occasionally returned, but he had never actually witnessed the process and wanted to see it for himself.
"Fine." Orochimaru didn't refuse and led Jūzō to Diarmuid.
As Jūzō followed, he asked, "Why the sudden need to wake him? Did something happen?"
Orochimaru didn't hide it. After all, Jūzō was a formal member of the Yorozuya, on the same level as himself, and he possessed Diarmuid's trust. "Yes. Diarmuid instructed us to keep an eye on the Uchiha in Konoha. Danzo just sent a message via a Summoning Jutsu. He wants to hire us to help 'resolve' the Uchiha clan. This news might be very important to Diarmuid, so I need to wake him and let him decide."
"I see. The Uchiha?" A spark of excitement lit up Jūzō's eyes. "If we're heading out, let me go! I've wanted to test myself against the experts of the Uchiha for a long time. You guys are always researching the Sharingan. I'm curious to see how strong they actually are."
"I'm not sure how it will play out. Diarmuid might not intervene directly; he seems to have other plans," Orochimaru mused. Then he smiled. "But regardless, we must obtain enough Sharingan from Konoha this time. Otherwise, our experiments cannot proceed. In fact... I'm considering whether to switch to an Uchiha vessel myself."
The two soon reached Diarmuid's room. Before they could open it, the door opened from the inside, and Shiramu Ameri stepped out with a tray, looking surprised to see them.
Even though Orochimaru didn't care much for Ameri, whom he viewed as a "showpiece," he had to admit this former oiran was exceptionally beautiful.
"Orochimaru-sama, Jūzō-sama," Ameri said softly.
Orochimaru nodded, while Jūzō quickly said, "Ameri-sama, we're here to see Diarmuid-sama. We need to wake him."
Ameri had the good habit of not meddling in things that didn't concern her, so she nodded obediently and left.
Inside, they saw Diarmuid's body sitting cross-legged on a cushion, eyes closed. His lips were slightly damp, as if they had just been wiped.
Orochimaru wasted no time. He immediately began weaving hand signs, performing the sequence for the Reanimation Jutsu, and pressed his palm against Diarmuid's shoulder.
As before, the matter that made up the Reanimation began to appear, attempting to envelop Diarmuid, but they quickly failed to take hold and vanished.
Once finished, Orochimaru stepped back. Jūzō watched with intense curiosity. "That's it?"
"How complicated did you think it would be? It's just a signal; he'll wake up on his own," Orochimaru said calmly.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Jūzō felt a massive, intimidating pressure. It was a sensation that made his body tremble instinctively, as if he were facing something terrifying.
Then, he saw Diarmuid's body open its eyes.
The moment those eyes opened, a piercing light seemed to shoot out, striking Orochimaru and Jūzō. Jūzō instinctively took a step back, as if dodging an attack.
Orochimaru was slightly surprised. "Just the natural release of your soul's aura is enough to put pressure on me... Just how many Spirit Particles did you absorb in the Pure Land?"
"Hahahaha!" Diarmuid laughed loudly, and the aura vanished instantly, as if the previous moment had been an illusion.
But if one looked closely, they could see a solid, eerie light flickering in his eyes, the halo of a soul.
"What is it? Waking me at this hour... has something happened?" Diarmuid asked.