Chapter 873: Danzo's Despair
Danzo sat on the muddy bed of his cell, hunched over, his face withered, his single eye vacant.
His head full of white hair had already become bald. His aged face was covered in wrinkles like bark, and his body exuded an aura of death and decay!
Since coming here, every quiet night, Danzo's ambitions, Danzo's hatred, Danzo's dreams, were like maggots gnawing at his flesh, devouring his soul!
That feeling, unbearable pain, is worse than death!
In just a few years of prison life, the once powerful Danzo was tortured beyond recognition!
“Long time no see, Danzo.” Orochimaru stood outside the cell, staring at the old man through the iron bars with a smirk that was neither a smile nor a grin.
Danzo looked up, his single eye dull as he gazed at the armless figure outside.
“Who… are you?” Danzo spoke, his voice hoarse, low, and weak.
‘I am still the same young man from before, while you have decayed, half-stepped into the Pure Land…’ Orochimaru emitted his characteristic eerie and cold laughter.
This laughter was like that of an owl in the night, chilling and piercing, giving people goosebumps.The prisoners in the nearby cells even cursed and shouted at Orochimaru, pointing fingers at him in anger!
Orochimaru was unfazed, continuing to laugh by himself.
“Oro… chi… maru…” Danzo finally remembered the unsettling laughter, his single eye revealing complex emotions of hatred, killing intent, and relief, “You've come to kill me, haven't you?”
“I I did have that thought before coming here, but seeing you like this, I'd rather you live, the longer the better.” Orochimaru grinned, looking at him with anticipation and said, “I really want to see how you will end up living like this.”
“As you wish, I will live, I will live like an ant, persisting… persisting… until the day you come in too!!!” Danzo gritted his teeth, his single eye emitting intense hatred.
“Very good, your gaze finally resembles that of the old days.”
Orochimaru chuckled meaningfully, “Only then do you have the qualifications to negotiate with me.”
‘Negotiate?’
Danzo lowered his gaze, his mind racing, after a few breaths, he understood, ‘So he's asking for my help…’
“I need Shodaime’s cells.” Orochimaru stated directly.
“Weren't all the cells stolen by you?” Danzo replied emotionlessly.
Orochimaru snorted lightly, not bothering to explain past events, and said: “I need more and more Shodaime’s cells, Danzo, with your cautious nature, you should still have some inventory left, right?”
‘But I really don't have any left…’ Danzo’s one single eye slowly revealed a hint of admiration: “As expected of you. You've even discovered this.”
But Danzo's admiration did not please Orochimaru, instead, his face quickly darkened.
“Danzo, you’re only a few years away from the center of the whirlpool, yet you've aged so much.” Orochimaru said emotionlessly.
“What do you mean?” Danzo's heart was pounding, completely out of control…!
“Your heartbeat betrays you, you're lying.” Orochimaru’s gaze sharpened, “You don’t have Shodaime’s cells in your hands anymore!”
Danzo's breath was erratic, and he said frustratedly: “Orochimaru, since you're here, it means you can't find Shodaime’s cells anymore. You can only rely on me. Let me out, let me out, let me out…”
Danzo had had enough of this damn place!
He wants to go out!
He wants to make a comeback!
He wants to rebuild his foundation!
He wants to reorganize Root!
He wants to fulfill his ambition to become the Godaime Hokage!
He wanted to kill off all those bastards like Namikaze Minato and Gekko Kanpū!
“Orochimaru, let me out!!!” Danzo roared, his veins bulging.
Watching the raging Danzo, Orochimaru suddenly smiled, then casually said: “Danzo, I'll come see you again when I have the chance. Don't disappoint me then. Your expression is truly delightful.”
“Oro! chi!!! maru!!!” Danzo stumbled to the iron bars, pressing his forehead against them, his single murky eye staring at him, “Kill me, kill me, kill me!!”
“Hehehehe…” Orochimaru chuckled darkly as he turned and left.
…
After the sun set, information about Shinno’s portrait and Hayate’s disappearance reached Minato’s hands.
“Eagle, what’s the situation now?” Minato looked expressionlessly at Anbu Commander, Eagle and Military Police Force’s Captain, Kakashi, who brought the information.
Eagle lowered his head: “Sorry, we haven’t found Hayate or the spy Shinobi yet.”
He is also in a very bad mood.
Kanpū has only been missing for more than half a year, and now even his brother has been captured by a spy Shinobi, and it also happened within the village. This is unacceptable no matter what!
“Hokage-sama, the Military Police Force has joined forces with the Anbu to seal off the village. I believe Hayate and that spy are still in the village.” Kakashi said solemnly.
He had just been to the scene of the incident and sent out Pakkun and other Ninken for tracking, but unfortunately, the other party was very cautious. Whether it was footprints, scent, or aura, everything was wiped out!
“Kakashi, rescue Hayate as soon as possible!”
Minato coldly said, “Also, Eagle, I want to know the identity of this spy!”
‘No matter who is behind this spy, I will make them pay…’ Minato was filled with boundless rage.
“Yes!” Eagle and Kakashi replied in unison.
……
Gekko Mansion.
After Karin came back, she hurriedly found Gekko Hoshino, and told him that Hayate was taken away by a spy.
Hoshino's expression changed drastically after hearing the news.
Half a year ago, it was his son who went missing, and now even his nephew has been captured, ‘My Gekko Clan… damn it, what sins have these two bastards committed!!’
Gritting his teeth, Hoshino lowered his head and lightly touched Karin’s head, then said softly: “Karin, you have to trust the Anbu and the Military Police Force. They will rescue Hayate soon. So, please, don't tell Keiko about this news. Don't let her worry, understand?”
“Can they really rescue second brother soon?” Karin asked nervously.
After so many years together, she had already integrated into this family. Although Hayate was as annoying as Kanpū, he was still her brother!
“Of course it is true!” Hoshino said confidently.
Karin bit her lip and nodded vigorously: “I understand. I will keep it a secret!”
…
Leaving Konoha Prison, Orochimaru pondered for a moment and decided to go to the Anbu’s Headquarters to check the situation. He wanted to confirm the whereabouts of the Hashirama’s remains.
However, when he arrived at the Konoha’s Gate, he found many figures from the Anbu and Military Police Force at the gate.
‘Have I been discovered?’
Orochimaru frowned lightly, then immediately shook his head.
At Konoha Prison, those Konoha’s Shinobi are under his Sharingan’s Genjutsu, and it would take a long time before they can recover. And even if someone wakes them up early and sends back the information, Konoha’s Anbu’s subject of investigation should also be placed on the Uchiha Clan. So how could it be possible for them to cooperate with the Military Police Force?
‘So it wasn't me who alarmed the Konoha’s Anbu…’ A thought then flashed through Orochimaru’s mind, ‘Could it be Shinno?’