NABC Page 278
Page 278
Upon hearing this, Nagato carefully examined the bruised handprint on the ninja's neck in the image, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he nodded, saying, "That's right, it's him."
Although he tried to keep his tone calm, a chilling coldness surged deep within his gaze as he stared at Danzo.
……
on the screen.
Inside the office, Danzo looked down at his kneeling subordinates, his face expressionless.
However, his mind raced.
He was extremely familiar with all the Root ninjas, and with just a glance, he recognized their identities from their tattered bird-shaped masks and voices.
“Terai?” Danzo murmured the name.
That's right, this guy is Terai, a senior member of the Root organization. Although he is usually a bit flamboyant and impetuous, he is reliable in his work and doesn't make baseless accusations.
Why is he so panicked today?
What happened? !
He did not have the complete memory of "Danzo" in his dream, so he was naturally unaware of what mission Terai was carrying out or what changes he had encountered.
This left him somewhat bewildered.
However, Danzo was always cunning and scheming, and even though doubts were churning in his heart, he remained outwardly calm.
He narrowed his single eye and, as always, asked with a calm and authoritative tone, "What's the panic? What happened?"
Hearing Danzo's calm questioning, Terai regained his composure and quickly replied in a deep voice, "My lord, I was ordered by you to contact Hatake Sakumo. However, before I even saw Sakumo in person, I was ambushed by one of his red-haired ninjas! I almost lost my life!"
As he spoke, he raised his head and pointed angrily to the bruised handprint on his neck.
"What's even more infuriating is that," Terai continued through gritted teeth, "not only did Hatake Sakumo not punish the guy who attacked his subordinate, he even said... that he'd come after you! He doesn't respect you at all!"
After saying this, Terai lowered his head unwillingly, awaiting Danzo's judgment.
Danzo did not respond immediately upon hearing this.
A glint flashed in his narrowed single eye as he quietly sized up Terai, who was kneeling before him.
The subordinate's words were clearly provocative, adding fuel to the fire and leading him to conflict with Sakumo Hatake.
However, Danzo ignored those attempts to sow discord; he was focused on something else entirely.
"A red-haired ninja?" Danzo scoffed inwardly.
Red hair is an extremely rare feature among Konoha ninjas!
Moreover, the intelligence report just mentioned the Akatsuki organization...
In an instant, several key pieces of information quickly connected in his mind.
It's hard for Danzo not to think of Nagato.
But he was a seasoned veteran, and he forcibly suppressed the shock and excitement churning in his chest. He simply asked calmly, "Are you sure the one who ambushed you was a red-haired ninja? His eyes... were there anything special about them?"
Terai was slightly shaken upon hearing this, not expecting Danzo to ask such a question.
"My lord... his eyes... are very strange! There are ripple-like patterns in his pupils!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Danzo's mind resounded again: rippled pupils?!
The image of the legendary Rinnegan immediately flashed into his mind—it really was Nagato!
Samsara Eye!
Danzo was certain that the Akatsuki organization in his dream was related to the Akatsuki he knew!
He couldn't understand why Nagato was involved with Sakumo Hatake, or even seemed to have become a member of Konoha's direct forces...
The timeline of dreams is indeed quite different from reality.
However, these doubts did not hinder Shimura Danzo's covetousness and scheming regarding the "Rinnegan"!
Regardless of why Nagato appeared here, this was an absolute godsend for him!
"It came so easily!" Danzo was overjoyed and couldn't wait to act immediately.
However, he maintained his usual gloomy expression, though a glint of excitement flashed deep in his single eye.
"I see." Danzo nodded slightly, feigning anger at Terai's words, and said in a deep voice, "Hatake Sakumo dared to disregard my orders and even protected his subordinates in attacking and killing Root members... How outrageous!"
He snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve, saying, "I know about this."
Terai paused upon hearing this, looked up at Danzo, and seemed to want to say something more.
However, faced with Danzo's cold and imposing gaze, he ultimately dared not say another word, and only respectfully accepted the order: "...Yes!"
He then gritted his teeth, unwillingly lowered his head, and retreated to the side.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the office door.
Danzo turned his head and saw a tall, slender figure push open the door and enter; it was none other than Ryoma Aburame, whom he had just summoned.
Ryoma Aburame strode into the room, knelt on one knee, and bowed: "Lord Danzo!"
Danzo nodded slightly, his gaze falling on this trusted subordinate.
Ryoma Aburame was dressed in a dark trench coat with a high collar that covered half of his lower face. He looked like a silent statue, solemn and aloof. He exuded a faint, insect-like smell, and a few tiny insect shadows seemed to flash by at the cuffs.
"You've come at the perfect time." Danzo looked at Aburame Ryoma, a glint in his eyes, and immediately ordered, "Come here, I have a few tasks for you to complete—"
As he spoke, he picked up a map and spread it on the table, pointing to the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Earth. "Terai, immediately issue an urgent mission to Hatake Sakumo in the name of the Anbu."
"The message reads: We have received a secret report that Amegakure is colluding with Tsuchigakure to plot against Konoha. Three days from now, Amegakure will dispatch a secret force to the Land of Earth to meet with the Iwagakure leadership. Sakumo Hatake is to lead his troops to ambush them en route and ensure they are wiped out!"
"Yes!" Upon hearing this, Terai's eyes flashed with a smug look.
"Understood, I will arrange it immediately!"
After saying this, Terai bowed again and then quickly left the office.
……
in the audience.
The conversation on the screen reached Kakashi's ears clearly, and he was utterly astonished: "W-What? Danzo is planning... to harm Father?!"
Kakashi could hardly believe that Danzo would so blatantly scheme against a fellow villager.
Jiraiya's eyes darkened slightly, and he slowly shook his head, saying, "His target is probably not Sakumo... but rather a diversionary tactic."
Kakashi was startled by this: "A diversionary tactic?!"
He thought quickly, and in an instant, all the clues connected in his mind—
That's right!
If the father really accepted the task arranged by Danzo.
Since we're going to ambush the Amegakure team...
Therefore, logically and emotionally, Nagato and the other two would definitely be left to guard the base and would not go into battle with them.
Thus……
A chill suddenly ran down Kakashi's back, a chill that went straight to his heart.
Sensing the anger and fear in Kakashi's tone, Jiraiya clenched his fists slightly, a flash of annoyance in his eyes: "Danzo!"
At the same time, Jiraiya couldn't help but glance at Nagato and Konan.
Nagato and Konan exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity and anger in each other's eyes.
Both men looked serious, their brows furrowed.
Clearly, they had realized the conspiracy behind Danzo's orders.
Nagato remained silent. As someone involved in the situation, how could he not understand Danzo's sinister intentions?
Is Yahiko's tragedy going to repeat itself in his dreams?!
[Ding! Nagato's emotional fluctuations have been detected! Emotional value +400!]
……
on the screen.
After Terai left, only Danzo and Ryoma Aburame remained in the large office.
The atmosphere was quiet and heavy.
The dim light shone on Danzo's face, his expression sinister, but his mind was rapidly weighing something.
A moment later, he looked up at his trusted and beloved general.
"Ryuma," Danzo said in a deep voice, his words echoing in the empty stone chamber, "among our spies in the Land of Earth, who is the most deeply embedded?"
Upon hearing this, Aburame Ryoma answered almost without hesitation: "Reporting, sir, the highest-ranking person currently lurking within the Land of Earth is... Yakushi Nonou."
"Yakushi Nonou?" Danzo was slightly taken aback, and an image of a dignified and quiet black-haired woman immediately flashed through his mind.
He knew that name all too well—
There was a time when he spent a great deal of effort to bring the retired Nonou back into the Root organization to work for him.
Unexpectedly, at this point in time, Nono was placed in the Land of Earth...
Great! This greatly increases the chances of the plan succeeding!
A fierce glint flashed in Danzo's eyes, and he decisively said, "Very good. Immediately contact Nonou through your liaison channels and have her send a 'top secret' intelligence report to the higher-ups of Iwagakure!"
"Two days later, the main combat force of the Konoha front-line base near the Tianchi Bridge will be ordered to leave, leaving the camp's defenses extremely weak."
"Yes!" Aburame Ryoma solemnly accepted the order.
But then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he hesitated for a moment and couldn't help but ask cautiously, "Sir, is this for...?"
"Just do as I say!"
Danzo's single eye flashed, his icy gaze sweeping over Aburame Ryoma like a blade.
Aburame Ryoma's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately bowed his head: "...Yes! Your subordinate understands!"
He suppressed his many questions and respectfully accepted the order.
Danzo nodded in satisfaction, his expression grim, and coldly uttered his second order: "You personally lead several Jonin to the Tenchi Bridge front-line base immediately! Capture the spy who just infiltrated the Konoha base! His identity is extremely important! Once you find an opportunity, capture him immediately!"