Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: Barrier Inspection and Root Schemes
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Following the Third Hokage's command, ninjas throughout the Hidden Leaf Village mobilized to inspect the village's protective barrier.
The Barrier Team bore an even heavier burden.
This was already the second time within three years that a mysterious ninja had silently breached the barrier and slipped into the village unnoticed, rendering the Barrier Team utterly useless and infuriating the Third Hokage.
Three years ago, during the Nine-Tails rampage, ordinary villagers and ninjas alike believed it was simply the beast gone berserk.
But only Konoha's upper echelons knew it had been a meticulously orchestrated attack.
It had claimed the lives of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, the Third Hokage's spouse Biwako, and a medical kunoichi assisting with the delivery.
And now, another mysterious ninja had infiltrated, slain the Hidden Cloud envoy, and attempted to ignite a war between the two nations.
The Hyuga Clan—Konoha's premier noble house—had intervened to stop the intruder. The clan leader's two brothers sustained one serious injury and one minor one. Even if the Hidden Cloud harbored suspicions, Konoha's leadership remained steadfast.
They insisted without wavering that it was the mysterious ninja who had killed the envoy.
This resolute stance ultimately thwarted the Hidden Cloud's scheme.
On the other side.
In the shadowy depths of the Root Organization's base, Danzo listened to his subordinate Aburame Ryoma's report and let out a light snort.
"Things seem pretty lively out there, don't they, Lord Danzo?" Orochimaru pushed open the door to Danzo's office.
On his way from the secret laboratory to the Root base, he'd spotted numerous Konoha ninjas on the move—even Anbu. Such a large-scale operation piqued the curiosity of even this lab-obsessed mad scientist.
Danzo remained seated in his chair and didn't respond directly to Orochimaru. Instead, he gestured for Aburame Ryoma to explain.
Aburame Ryoma took the cue and addressed Orochimaru.
"Last night, a mysterious ninja infiltrated the village, killed the Hidden Cloud envoy, and dumped the body in the Hyuga clan grounds..."
The Hyuga clan leader's brothers were injured, yet this ninja escaped unscathed from pursuit by numerous Hyuga jonin and Root operatives—and even managed a counterattack?
A glint of interest flickered in Orochimaru's golden eyes as his long tongue flicked out to lick his lips.
The world outside is still full of wonders. Orochimaru had once fought side by side with the Hyuga brothers and knew their prowess well—even against a village Kage, they could withdraw with composure.
"Enough of that. I'm here hoping Lord Danzo can provide more test subjects." Orochimaru spread his right hand, boldly demanding more research funds and materials from Danzo.
Danzo's lone eye narrowed in a frown.
"You burned through the last batch of test subjects that quickly?" Danzo was displeased with Orochimaru's rapid consumption of experimental resources.
"Progress has been made, after all. Ordinary test subjects no longer suffice for my needs." Orochimaru brushed back a lock of his long hair, growing ever more confident in his research direction.
Though Danzo had snatched that serendipitous Wood Release test subject, its very existence validated Orochimaru's approach.
As a result, Orochimaru grew dissatisfied with using civilians as guinea pigs and kept pressing Danzo for more ninjas as subjects.
"I'll have some sent over, but don't push it too far." Danzo warned darkly.
The prisoners in Konoha Prison were running thin after all these years of attrition, forcing Danzo to abduct plenty of civilian ninjas as well.
In Danzo's eyes, any sacrifice was justified to restore Konoha's greatness!
As long as it wasn't his own.
"Heh heh. Then I'll await the good news."
Orochimaru chuckled twice with a meaningful snicker before vanishing into the shadows.
Land of Hot Water, capital city.