‘Even though I nning to let you py for some more time, your as are now putting the iy of Konoha at risk. Looks like the time for us old-timers to retire is ing soon,’ Hiruzen thought, then called for an Anbu ninja.

  “Summon Danzo. Tell him I want him here within 15 minutes.”

  The Anbu ninja nodded ao call Danzo. When Danzo received the news, he was already aware that one of his ninjas had died. A seal in the brains of Root ninjas sent a signal to him when it activated. However, he didn’t yet know which of his subordinates had died, as many were out of the vilge on various missions.

  But being summoned by Hiruzen right after receiving that signal, he had a good idea of why.

  Fifteen mier, Danzo was sitting in front of Hiruzen.

  “What happened? I was sed,” Danzo said in a frustrated tone.

  “Huh! I know you’re ag, Danzo, so drop the charade,” Hiruzen said, seeing through Danzo’s expression.

  Hearing this, Danzo’s face became ral as he looked toward Hiruzen.

  “Are you getting old, my friend?” Hiruzen asked somberly.

  “Don’t beat around the bush. I don’t have time to waste,” Danzo replied.

  “I specifically told you not tet Kaida and to stop your pns against the Uchiha . But not only did you tinue, you also sent someoo spy on Kaida,” Hiruzen said.

  “That boy was meddling in my affairs. I had to check if it was iional or not,” Danzo said, his expression unged.

  “Do you think I don’t know you? Every talent you’ve spied on has either ended up in Root or died during training. More than 30% of them don’t survive your harsh methods. The ones who do are turned iioools,” Hiruzen said.

  “Don’t fet that those tools are the reason Konoha is still standing,” Danzo replied arrogantly.

  “I know, my friend. That’s why I’ve turned a blio so many of your deeds. But now, yoing too far. This is affeg Konoha internally, leaving us vulnerable to external threats,” Hiruzen said.

  “Evil deeds? Everything I did was for Konoha,” Danzo retorted.

  “How is killing vilge ninjas and using their bodies for experimentation good for Konoha?” Hiruzen shouted angrily.

  Danzo thought to himself, ‘Just that? What will you do when you find out what I did with Orochimaru tthen my Root ninjas?’

  (A.N: Even though it’s unclear exactly when Orochimaru left the vilge, by rough estimation, it was when Naruto was 3–4 years old, which is around now iory.)

  “That was a necessary sacrifice,” Danzo said as if it were nothing.

  *sigh*

  “From now on, you’re prohibited from using Root ninjas to spy on anyone in Konoha. Yht to vote in the elder meetings is also revoked for six months. If I find out you’ve done something uable again, I’ll disband Root food. This is your st warning. You leave,” Hiruzen said.

  Danzo stared at Hiruzen, anger boiling inside him, but being the crafty old man he was, he k wasn’t the right time to act.

  So, he stood up to leave, but before exiting, he added, “The Uchiha ’t be left alohey will destroy the vilge one day,” and thehe office.

  Hiruzen sighed and looked at another report on his desk. It was about anroup of children missing from slums and small vilges around Konoha.

  Hiruzen sighed again and muttered, “Looks like I ’t overlook this anymore.”

  ---

  **At Root Headquarters**

  “Call back all the ninjas who were sent to spy in the vilge,” Danzo ordered.

  “Even from the Uchiha ?” one of Danzo’s subordinates asked in shock. Sihey’d started targeting the Uchiha , more than 20 highly skilled spies had been deployed to monitor them, with reports being analyzed daily. But now, Danzo was a retreat, which fused the subordinate.

  “Yes. We o y low for a while. Hiruzen will act soon, and I don’t want his attention on us. Cut all ties with Orochimaru, remove all evidence of our cooperation, and make sure no clues link us,” Danzo instructed.

  The Root ninja quickly bowed ao carry out the orders, leaving Danzo alone in his office.

  ‘I wonder what kind of face you’ll make when you discover what your favorite student has been up to,’ Danzo thought, taking a sip of alcohol.

  ---

  Unaware of the undercurrents at py, Kaida eacefully sleeping in his room. Even if he knew about the ret events, there was little he could do to be from them. He was nowhere near Orochimaru's level, so he had no iion of interfering, even though he k was ing.

  (Event: Hiruzen and Orochimaru frontation.)

  Kaida woke up at 5:00 AM, feeling fully refreshed. After pleting his m routine, he headed to the training area—not to train, but to see if he was still being watched.

  After firming that he was safe, Kaida sighed.

  ‘Looks like I move more freely now. I finally focus on gaining real-life experieh different jutsu,’ Kaida thought, then headed bae.

  After enjoying tea and breakfast with his family, Kaida went to the hospital with Shisui. Naturally, they didn’t talk about yesterday’s events in front of Yomi and Hae.

  Outside, Shisui said, “You don’t have to worry about being spied on anymore, but stay vigint for a little while longer. If you ever feel like someone’s watg or following you, e to me immediately. If I’m not in the vilge, go to the headquarters a to the head.”

  “Even the head knows about this?” Kaida asked.

  (A.N: I hope you guys are enjoying this arc ^~^)