Danzo looked straight into the head researcher's eyes and said calmly, "How long until I recover?"
"...Um, your body has been strengthened with First Hokage cells, and it has changed a lot. We can't look at it with past experience."
The head researcher reacted quickly and immediately gave a passable reason.
Danzo withdrew his gaze and said slowly, "You are good at arguing."
In fact, he didn't have a wife or children, so he didn't care about becoming what he was now. Being able to trade his appearance for real power was a very good deal.
However, what Danzo needed to consider was what impact this current appearance would have on Konoha.
Of course, he could gain sympathy as a victim and put all the blame on Kabuto, but if Orochimaru saw something and accused him of secretly conducting First Hokage cells transplant experiments, it would also be a troublesome matter.
Hearing the disbelief in Danzo's words, the head researcher said anxiously, "Lord Danzo, I'm telling the truth this time."
For Danzo's surgery to succeed, he had almost put everything he had into it. He wouldn't regret it if it failed, but now that it had succeeded, he had to start planning for the future.
Danzo's research funding not only couldn't be cut off, but he had to increase his investment.
The head researcher didn't care whether Danzo was listening or understood, and took advantage of Danzo's good mood to start complaining, focusing on how much effort he had put in to make this surgery, which should have failed, a success.
"...Lord Danzo, before the transplant surgery, your body was old and your Chakra was not strong enough, so I used... blah blah... You know, the reason why your whole body has changed so much is because you have achieved a perfect fusion at the cellular level. This is a technological breakthrough that even Orochimaru has not been able to achieve..."
"Alright."
Danzo interrupted the head researcher's endless talking, "Since you say it's possible, then prepare a schedule for recuperation."
"...But Lord Danzo, the laboratory materials and funds are not enough now."
The head researcher lowered his eyes and said carefully, "Too many precious materials were used for the success of the surgery. To make nutritious fluids for conditioning the body..."
"You don't have to worry about money."
Danzo acted like a rich and powerful person.
Although Root was destroyed by Kabuto, the external funding chain was not. And soon after, he could use this as a reason to get another sum from the Third Hokage.
"Thank you, Lord Danzo." The head researcher lowered his head and smiled slightly.
...
The sky was bright, and the red sun rose high.
After several days of travel, Orochimaru and his group returned to Konoha Village after ending their talks with Kumogakure.
The trees flew by behind them, and as the village gate got closer and closer, almost everyone couldn't help but smile.
This trip was safe and easy. They completed an S-rank mission easily, adding to their experience and getting a reward for nothing. It was a really pleasant thing.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
After a few sounds of rushing wind, Orochimaru led the Konoha team to the Konoha gate.
As before, Orochimaru left the trivial matters of submitting the mission and organizing the action logs to Hizashi, and headed straight for the laboratory.
But before he could go too far, he was stopped by a figure.
Orochimaru stopped on a tree branch and said with a smile,
"Jiraiya, you're not at the gate, but instead, you're waiting for me here on purpose. What's the matter?"
"A few days ago, Kabuto betrayed the village." Jiraiya's expression was serious, his eyes sharp, staring straight at Orochimaru. "Did you know about this?"
"I know."
A strange light flashed in Orochimaru's eyes, and he nodded slightly, "I will deal with this matter later."
"This is no longer just your business."
Jiraiya shook his head, "Before Kabuto betrayed the village, he attacked Root and almost destroyed it completely. Danzo found out about your schedule long ago and is now in the Hokage's office, forcing the old man to judge you."
"Put other things aside for now. You need to quickly think of what to say to deal with Danzo's questioning."
Jiraiya wasn't sure whether Orochimaru had instructed Kabuto to attack Root, but for personal and moral reasons, he couldn't watch Orochimaru be forced too much by Danzo, or even reach the point of betraying the village.
"You came here just to tell me this?"
Orochimaru smiled, "Don't worry, I already thought of what to say after I found out about this."
Seeing Orochimaru's calm expression, as if nothing had happened, Jiraiya felt relieved. "Then come with me."
Besides reminding Orochimaru, he also had the task of bringing him to the Hokage's office. An average person couldn't do this; Orochimaru might not give them the time of day.
While rushing to the Hokage's office, Jiraiya couldn't help but ask the question in his heart,
"Kabuto's matter, it really wasn't you who ordered it."
Orochimaru glanced at him and directly asked back, "Why would I do that? Just to destroy Danzo's Root?"
Jiraiya was stunned for a moment, somewhat at a loss for words.
He and the old man had discussed the reason for this for several days, but they couldn't figure it out. If Orochimaru was dissatisfied with Danzo and Root, there were plenty of ways to deal with it.
At worst, he could cooperate with the old man. Why choose this "harm the enemy a thousand, hurt yourself eight hundred" strategy? It was really unwise.
No matter how he thought about it, it wasn't beneficial to Orochimaru.
But to have the Third Hokage and Jiraiya admit that Orochimaru had indeed overlooked the fact that his subordinate had betrayed him without his knowledge, they were somewhat unwilling to accept it in their hearts.
Heavy-hearted and full of doubts, Jiraiya followed Orochimaru and soon arrived at the center of Konoha Village – the Hokage Building.
After entering the Hokage's office, a serious and heavy atmosphere rushed over them. Led by the old man, the three Hokage advisors, the Jonin squad leader Nara Shikaku, and several major ninja clans... almost everyone was present.
Orochimaru looked around and couldn't help but sneer in his heart. What a big show.
It was obvious that this wasn't the Third Hokage's doing. From his point of view, he was probably thinking of turning big problems into small problems and small problems into nothing, suppressing the matter.
But Root was half destroyed, almost removed from Konoha, such a big thing. How could Danzo let the Third Hokage do as he pleased?
And with such a big fuss, it was clear that Danzo wanted to give him a fatal blow. At the very least, he wanted to completely destroy his reputation and become a marginalized figure.
But... that's fine, he also had this intention.
Orochimaru glanced at Danzo, whose aura was a little off, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.
After the last two people came in and sat down, the meeting officially began.
The first to speak was not Danzo, but Utatane Koharu, one of the Hokage advisors. She frowned and said sternly,
"Orochimaru, a few days ago, your subordinate Yakushi Kabuto betrayed the village and turned Danzo's Root upside down. What do you have to say about this?"
The situation was serious, so Utatane Koharu's attitude softened a bit, not daring to force him too harshly.
Orochimaru said slowly, "Since he betrayed the village, then send people to hunt him down. What's there to say?"
---
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