It's been years since we last met.
Orochimaru sensed a subtle change in Akihara Kagura.
This former experiment has grown up and become increasingly domineering. No wonder Kabuto hasn't dared to stay in Konoha Village for long over the years.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, looking at Akihara Kagura like a venomous snake ready to strike, though his mouth curved into a dangerous smile.
"Only willing to give us thirty percent?"
"The thirty percent is for your medical treatment."
Akihara Kagura raised his finger, with an electric light spreading at his fingertip. This flash of lightning suddenly pierced through the long snake coiling over Caddo's corpse.
Akihara Kagura looked at a still unperturbed Orochimaru and proactively suggested, "If you're not happy with that, we can also discuss funeral costs."
"..."
This was a bit too much.
Orochimaru's palm slightly clenched, ready at any moment to perform hand seals.
This little brat, Akihara Kagura, clearly wants to suppress me. Does he think I've been idle these years?
In order to get Akihara Kagura's body, Orochimaru has been quite busy robbing graves and digging tombs, with many reanimators at his disposal!
If not for having substantial advantages, why would I have been able to evade the Akatsuki Organization's pursuit all these years while dragging Shimura Danzo and a group of nuisances along?
"Enough."
Shimura Danzo sensed the tense atmosphere between Orochimaru and Akihara Kagura, lightly tapping the ground with his cane, coldly saying, "Now's not the time to haggle over such trivial matters. We're gathered here to discuss how to handle the monkey's plans…"
Shimura Danzo is the oldest.
Formerly the supervisor of both Orochimaru and Akihara Kagura, now their ally; both Akihara Kagura and Orochimaru must show Shimura Danzo some respect.
After all…
The old man won't live much longer.
"Since Lord Danzo said so…"
Akihara Kagura stood up, cooperating with Shimura Danzo's words: "Let's first draft the plan to collapse Konoha. Your initial plan is okay, but the later stages have slight flaws which could lead to complete failure…"
"Do you have any ideas?"
Shimura Danzo looked at Akihara Kagura.
"Of course."
Akihara Kagura looked at them, chuckling softly: "According to your preliminary plan, Lord Orochimaru will disguise as Fourth Kazekage Rasa, while Lord Danzo will disguise as the former elder of The Hidden Mist Village. However, it requires a little adjustment…"
"First, Lord Danzo will appear and lead the Hidden Mist Village's rebellion. The ninja in the village will instinctively attack the enemies to protect the village and our Hokage."
"But…"
"When Lord Danzo exposes the true face of Third Hokage, the ninja in the village will panic, losing trust in the village's Hokage."
"At that moment…"
Akihara Kagura paused and glanced at Orochimaru beside him: "When Lord Orochimaru leads Sand Village's ninja into action, will anyone still protect the Third Hokage?"
"..."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed.
It must be said, Akihara Kagura's planned sequence of events is quite effective.
If both he and Shimura Danzo act simultaneously, Konoha ninja will inevitably unite against them, forcing both sides to fight to the death;
However, once Shimura Danzo takes the initiative to act first, demoralizing Konoha ninja, acting while they're disoriented will yield twice the result with half the effort!
"Wait…"
Shimura Danzo frowned, coldly staring at Akihara Kagura: "Kagura, are you suggesting using me as a sacrifice?"
The plan sounds good.
Shimura Danzo wasn't satisfied in his heart.
Because before defecting from Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen treated me as a sacrifice; after defecting, wandering outside for years, I thought I could return to Konoha only to be used by Akihara Kagura as a sacrifice against Sarutobi Hiruzen!
No matter what…
Always being used as a sacrifice?
"Of course not."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, smiling and comforting his old supervisor: "I'll take action at the crucial moment, bringing people to escort Lord Danzo back to the Root Base."
"In doing so…"
Akihara Kagura glanced at Orochimaru, continuing: "I can conveniently avoid battling Lord Orochimaru, allowing him and the Third Hokage to reminisce as pupil and master."
"..."
The plan covers everything well!
Shimura Danzo nodded slightly, acknowledging Akihara Kagura's arrangement as flawless; escorting him back to the Root Base would ensure his safety.
"..."
Orochimaru pondered for a while, ultimately agreeing with Akihara Kagura's idea, suddenly laughing: "Kagura, I have just one question…"
Orochimaru raised the issue of profit distribution in the Konoha collapse plan: "After all our effort kills my teacher, you come out as the one benefiting…"
"Lord Orochimaru, look at the bigger picture…"
Akihara Kagura shook his head, sighing as he urged his supervisor not to be short-sighted: "Once the collapse of Konoha succeeds, once Lord Danzo regains power in Konoha, and once I become Hokage, you'll get our full support…"
"In the future, you can conduct whatever experiments you desire…"
With a broad gesture, Akihara Kagura seemed skillful at painting grand visions: "You can freely access all Konoha's kinjutsu and resources—except becoming a Konoha ninja—anything you wish for can be delivered to your hands…"