Naruto: From Shikotsumyaku to Otsutsuki

Konoha, the headquarters of the Root organization.

This place is located 300 meters underground and was created using earth-style ninjutsu.

Just like the meaning of "root," this is the deepest building in Konoha, connected by huge pipes that run in all directions, much like the roots of trees that have penetrated deep into the soil.

Darkness and oppression are the unchanging atmosphere of the organization.

"It's been five days. Have you found out who that damned brat is?" Danzo asked a group of Root members below him, suppressing his anger.

Ryoma Aburame, his right hand wrapped in bandages, quickly jumped out and said, "Lord Danzo, I have investigated all the traces of that brat over the past few days. Please take a look."

He respectfully presented a scroll, a hint of lingering fear in his eyes.

He botched the manhunt.

In the battle against Kisame Hoshigaki, he only assisted Shisui Uchiha. Apart from running out of chakra, he did not suffer any serious injuries.

The injuries on his body were inflicted by a vacuum blade attack from the enraged Danzo after he returned.

With a single blow, his right hand was completely severed.

If it weren't for the excellent medical team in Konoha, he would now be a one-armed ninja.

Danzo's "Prince Replaced by a Raccoon" scheme was originally planned to have a perfect ending, but now this secret has been discovered by an outsider.

And he, Aburame Ryoma, was the primary person responsible for the leak of intelligence, as his mission to hunt down the enemy failed.

For someone like Danzo, whose desire for control is abnormal, having his core secrets known to outsiders is like having a Damocles' sword hanging over his head.

Danzo hasn't had a good night's sleep in the past few days.

Fortunately, the information about the guy who impersonated Orochimaru's subordinate and tricked him into participating in the Hyuga coup has now been collected.

With a gloomy face, he took the scroll and scanned it.

"Kaguya Kazama, an orphan of the Kirigakure Kaguya clan after their rebellion. She encountered Orochimaru on her escape and exchanged information with him for the Ryuchi Cave summoning contract and my communication channel? Her aim was to use me to obtain the Hyuga main family's Byakugan?"

"When he came to Konoha, he brought another kid from the Kaguya clan with him. Is he currently at Nonou's orphanage?"

Danzo looked up, his expression turning even uglier.

Anyone would feel uncomfortable seeing themselves become someone else's pawn, let alone a ruthless and ambitious man like him.

His eyes were filled with murderous intent, and he slammed his cane heavily on the ground.

"Go, bring Nonou here."

"Lord Danzo, Nono is outside." Ryoma Aburame had anticipated Danzo's actions and was already prepared.

Soon, a woman draped in a white cloak and radiating a gentle maternal glow appeared in an instant.

She knelt on one knee, bowed her head, and said, "Lord Danzo, Kimimaro is just a seven-year-old child, and his mind is very immature. I have already asked him, and he knows nothing about Kaguya Kazama's plans in Konoha."

Nonou instinctively wanted to protect Kimimaro.

After spending a few days with him, she discovered that he was a child who desperately needed love.

Especially after learning that he had been imprisoned in a dungeon since childhood and had never experienced fatherly or motherly love or a childhood, her pity for him reached its peak.

However, Danzo didn't have those extraneous thoughts.

He has always been prone to making malicious assumptions about others.

He stared at Nono and said coldly, "Nono, watch your position. Once you belong to the Root, you can only belong to the Root for the rest of your life."

"I allowed you to become the director of the orphanage, not so you could unleash your ridiculous and excessive maternal love, but so you could find talent for Root. But look at what you're doing now, how long has it been since you've provided talent for Root?"

Danzo's nasolabial folds were deep and dark, and his words were filled with dissatisfaction:

"Starting next month, the orphanage's funding will be cut by another 50%. Konoha doesn't need orphans without ninja talent. The cut funds will be used for other things that are more beneficial to Konoha."

"Lord Danzo..."

Upon hearing this, Nonou became anxious and wanted to continue pleading, but Danzo's cold gaze silenced her.

Funding has been cut by another 50%, and the children at the orphanage will go hungry next month.

She knew Danzo's personality; nothing she said would make a difference at this moment unless he immediately offered up two exceptionally talented children to fill the void.

But she has persisted for so long, how can she easily give in?

She murmured, her eyes red-rimmed, looking delicate and frail, but her inner strength was as stubborn as a donkey's.

Danzo was also having a headache looking at Nonou's "motherhood makes one strong" demeanor.

The woman before him was someone he had discovered years ago; she possessed exceptional talent in medical ninjutsu.

Her compassion and maternal love were so excessive that even the ultimate trial of the Roots could not erase her love.

If it weren't for the fact that outstanding talents like Kakashi and Tenzo hadn't been poached by Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Root organization was truly short of people, he would have executed the woman in front of him long ago.

However, the thought that Nono hadn't provided a single talent for Root for two whole years made him even angrier.

"Go and bring that brat from the Kaguya clan here. The Shikotsumyaku of Kirigakure is the most powerful among taijutsu-type bloodlines. Even if he doesn't awaken his bloodline, he'll only ever be a breeding machine for Root."

What an inhumane order!

"Lord Danzo, no..." Nonou cried out in alarm.

Danzo remained expressionless, ignoring Nono, and gave Aburame Ryoma a look.

Upon receiving the order, Aburame Ryoma was about to leave in an instant, but was stopped a second before he could depart.

"Wait a moment."

Danzo thought of something.

He stared at the helpless Nono, a dark light flickering in his eyes.

"Don't touch that child for now; he has a greater purpose."

Danzo stroked his cane, countless dark thoughts popping into his mind.

He looked at Nonou and said, "You were in contact with them the whole time. What's the relationship between that child and that damn brat?"

"They have a very good relationship, Lord Danzo. When he brought Kimimaro here, the concern in his eyes was genuine," Nono said truthfully.

"Is that so...?"

Danzo's lips curled into a wicked sneer: "In that case, don't touch that child yet. Keep a close watch on him and don't let him leave the orphanage. The fact that they sent him all the way from Kirigakure shows that the bond between them is very important. He's a good pawn and we can't waste him."

After he finished speaking, he instructed the members of the organization:

"Li, go to the underground gold exchange and post a bounty of 3500 million taels. Let those bounty hunters test that guy's worth."

"Leopard, contact Orochimaru again and have him pass on the information that the child is in my hands. Also, warn him that I am very dissatisfied with his actions, and that the prices of all the medical precision instruments he needs will increase by 30% from now on."

"As for you..."

He looked at Aburame Ryoma and said, "Tell me more about that guy's abilities. Everyone else, you can leave now."

Soon, only Danzo and Ryuma Aburame remained in the Root organization.

Ryoma Aburame gave a detailed account of everything he saw while chasing Kaguya Kazama.

The focus is on how the collective killing of the Ash Bone Corpse destroyed Susanoo, which is described at length, and even includes some of the author's own speculations.

After hearing everything, Danzo's plan became even more complete. He sneered and said:

"Shikotsumyaku, Byakugan, flight, and a method to erase the upper limit of eye power and forcibly shut down the Mangekyou Sharingan—the nemesis of the Uchiha has arrived."

"Kaguya Kazama, you have grasped my core secret. You only have two paths to take."

"Either die or join us."

"That child, Kimimaro, will be the most effective bridge of communication between us."

"Bonds, haha...this is really a good thing!"

Nearby, Ryoma Aburame felt a chill run down his spine as he listened to Danzo's sinister laughter.

He was raised by Danzo from a young age, and his fear and obedience to Danzo are deeply ingrained.

He dared not blame Danzo, but touched his arm, which had only been healed a few days ago, and felt a surge of resentment in his heart:

"Damn it, why didn't you just obediently get killed? Why make me suffer like this? Humph, you just wait."