There are two kinds of things in Konoha that people find especially unbearable.
One is stink bugs.
The other is Danzo Shimura.
Most villagers are familiar with stink bugs—after all, Konoha's environment is excellent, and those creatures (also known as nine-spice bugs) have a habit of appearing when you least expect them.
But far fewer people truly know Danzo Shimura.
Only the upper echelons of the ninja clans have ever really heard of him.
To many clans, this man is nothing short of Konoha's living stink bug.
In the village, Danzo has always hidden in the shadows, acting as Konoha's "dark side."
Yet because of Hiruzen Sarutobi's existence, his power and influence quietly permeate nearly every corner of the village.
It's just that this kind of power—
Only clan leaders and high-ranking figures are aware of it.
For the major clans, Danzo's habit of forcibly requisitioning talented children from their families has long bred resentment and anger. To them, his actions were a blatant violation of clan autonomy.
But faced with Danzo's endless dirty tricks and ruthless methods, most clans could only swallow their rage.
As things stood now, Root had absorbed elite talents from nearly every clan in Konoha—
Except the Hyūga and the Uchiha.
Every other clan had, to varying degrees, lost promising heirs to Danzo. Some had even lost their backbone figures because of him.
And because the Hyūga and Uchiha refused to bow their heads, they instead became targets of his suppression.
On Konoha's streets, rumors spread endlessly—
Especially rumors about the Uchiha.
Did people really know nothing?
Of course they knew.
They simply chose not to care.
No one wanted to stand up for the Hyūga or the Uchiha.
No one wanted to invite trouble, or risk losing the fragile stability they currently enjoyed.
Under such circumstances, the Hyūga and the Uchiha felt increasingly isolated.
"Lord Danzo."
Uchiha Ran's voice echoed once more within Root.
He had been here far too often lately. Even he felt that his visits were becoming excessive. He genuinely couldn't understand why Danzo liked summoning him so much.
"Ran-san, you're here. Sit."
Danzo personally guided him to the desk and even pulled out a chair for him.
"Lord Danzo, you're being far too polite," Ran said lightly, not refusing the invitation in the slightest.
Once Ran sat down, Danzo nodded in satisfaction and casually introduced the woman standing nearby.
"This is Yakushi Nono. She will soon take up the position of orphanage director. This is also proof of Root's contribution to Konoha's development."
The familiar tone—
Wrapping himself in the banner of 'for the good of the village.'
"Oh?" Ran smiled faintly. "So Nono-senpai was from Root as well. Before coming here, I was wondering why her style didn't quite match Root's. Turns out she's about to retire."
Danzo froze for a split second, then burst into laughter.
"Indeed. Nono will be retiring soon. Though she hasn't worked for me very long."
He then waved his hand, signaling for Yakushi Nono to leave. He clearly wanted to speak privately with Ran.
Once she was gone, Ran was the one who spoke first.
He said that he had long heard about Root from Orochimaru—how it was a place you entered alive and left dead. He had never imagined that someone could actually leave Root alive.
Danzo waved it off as a misunderstanding.
Root was merely a formal branch of Anbu training, he claimed. There were simply tasks that Anbu couldn't handle openly, so Root took over.
As a legitimate organization, Root wasn't a place only the dead could leave—
Retirement was just… difficult.
At that moment, Danzo noticed Ran's gaze lingering on the direction Nono had left, growing increasingly sharp.
He asked curiously, "Ran-kun, what's wrong? Do you like that type?"
Danzo still harbored his Hokage ambitions, and his tone was unusually gentle—clearly trying to leave a good impression on Ran.
"No, Lord Danzo," Ran replied calmly. "I'm thinking about something else."
"Oh?"
"Have you ever considered killing Yakushi Nono?"
The words were explosive.
Even Danzo hadn't expected Ran to suggest killing someone they had just met.
Of course, Danzo already planned to have Root assassinate Nono eventually—but he was genuinely curious why Ran would propose such a thing.
"Care to explain, Ran-kun?"
"What kind of people do you think Root shinobi are, Lord Danzo?"
"They are nameless heroes who serve Konoha in the darkness," Danzo said, pride seeping into his voice.
"You can fool others," Ran replied flatly, "but don't fool yourself."
"Root shinobi are executioners—people who will do anything to complete a mission. And these executioners hold far too many secrets about Root itself."
"Why would you let such people live?"
Danzo stared at Ran in astonishment.
Why does this sound like he's helping me think through this?
"Lord Danzo," Ran continued, unwavering, "have you ever considered why someone who has carried out countless dark missions would still harbor 'light' in their heart?"
"In my opinion, Yakushi Nono definitely has her own agenda in taking over an orphanage."
Danzo gestured for him to continue.
"She's using the orphanage to build her own power base. Given enough time, talented children will emerge. Once that happens, she'll have her own ninja system—completely independent."
Ran raised a hand slightly and concluded coldly:
"I suggest eliminating her now. It preserves your secrets and removes a future threat. One move, double profit."
For someone as suspicious and jealous as Danzo, Ran's words hit precisely where they hurt.
Yakushi Nono—the ace spy.
Hundreds had died directly or indirectly because of her.
How could such a person truly care about children?
Still…
Danzo thought further.
An orphanage was an excellent source of Root recruits. And as an elite spy, Nono was perfectly suited to play the role of director.
Danzo's expression hardened.
"You're too extreme, Ran. Yakushi Nono still has important work to do. Root will also increase its investment into the orphanage."
"Don't speak words that damage unity again."
The decision was made.
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