Chapter 30: A Deal with the Devil
Shimura Danzō sat imposingly in the seat of honor. The moment Aizen stepped into the room, his cold, authoritative eyes locked onto the boy.
His gaze was filled with a natural, oppressive majesty. Danzō's sharp eyes fixed on Aizen, as if trying to pierce through to his very soul.
Aizen remained indifferent, utterly unflinching under Danzō's penetrating stare. He followed the two black-clad operatives at a measured pace, gradually approaching Danzō.
"So, you have finally arrived." Danzō's voice was vigorous and powerful, amplified by his dense chakra, making it sound like rumbling thunder.
"You two, leave us. He alone is sufficient." Danzō waved a hand dismissively. The two Root members bowed respectfully and withdrew without a word. From start to finish, their gazes toward Danzō were filled with unwavering reverence, like fearless soldiers ready for death.
Once they were gone, only Aizen and Danzō remained in the spacious room. The atmosphere grew heavy, filled with a silent confrontation between the two.
"Now, you may not know me. I am Shimura Danzō, a veteran elder of Konoha." Though Danzō's face was deeply lined with wrinkles, his eyes shone with a sharp, penetrating light, possessing both the vigor of youth and the steadiness borne of decades of experience.
A Konoha elder? No wonder he feels so dangerous, Aizen thought, his face a mask of calm while his mind remained highly alert. The pressure Danzō exerted was immense, far greater than what he felt from Kurenai. He didn't know that Danzō was from the same era as the Third Hokage, both students of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Though advanced in age, his power placed him among the top tier in Konoha.
"Heh. To remain so composed under my pressure... you are indeed a prodigy." Danzō cast an appreciative glance at Aizen. While he might not care for Aizen's demeanor, the fact that a rookie Genin could maintain his composure in his presence was notable.
"Might I ask why you have gone to such trouble to seek me out?" Aizen stood calmly before Danzō. He knew he couldn't act too audaciously, nor could he show fear. Facing a ruthless man like Danzō, showing the slightest weakness would lead to a tragic end.
"As expected of a genius. I enjoy speaking with intelligent people. Though you have only been in Konoha for half a month, I am well aware of your performance during this time." Danzō stood up, his majestic gaze fixed on Aizen as he declared, "A prodigy in ninjutsu, a prodigy in genjutsu, and an astonishingly fast rate of chakra cultivation. To be honest, even I envy your unparalleled talent."
Aizen's brow furrowed slightly. He hadn't expected Danzō, operating from the shadows, to have been gathering intelligence on him all along.
"To be frank, not only Sarutobi Hiruzen, but even I had doubts about your origins. However, no matter how many resources I mobilized, I could not uncover the slightest piece of information about your past." Danzō had taken notice of Aizen the day he joined Konoha. But Aizen's performance had been flawless, without any holes. Coupled with Root's inability to uncover any background on him, Danzō had come to believe Aizen was merely an ordinary civilian with no history.
Suddenly, Danzō's eyes turned razor-sharp. He glared at Aizen and demanded, "If you are not a spy from an enemy nation, all is well. Otherwise, do not blame me for being merciless."
A vast wave of chakra erupted from Danzō, forming an invisible pressure. To his surprise, Aizen did not flinch in the slightest, meeting it with unshaken calm.
"Hmph. It seems you are not a spy after all. Otherwise, with my extensive intelligence network, it would be impossible to find no trace of you." Danzō snorted, unwilling to dwell on the topic. He paused for a moment before continuing, "I assume you are aware that the Chunin Exams will be held in one month."
"Yes, Kurenai-sensei has already registered me. But what does that have to do with our meeting?" Aizen asked, feigning confusion.
"The Chunin Exams have always been an opportunity to enhance a nation's prestige. In the past, our Konoha shinobi, blessed with geniuses, often shone brightly at the conference. However, this year, a prodigy has emerged from the Sand Village—Gaara!" Danzō's brow furrowed, a strong killing intent flashing in his eyes. He sought to eradicate any genius who posed a threat to Konoha.
"My reason for seeking you out is simple. I have taken a liking to your talent. I want you to stop Gaara at the Chunin Exams and defeat him." Danzō stated his purpose plainly; he did not want Gaara to steal the spotlight.
"Lord Danzō, you are not the only one. Even Kurenai-sensei believes Gaara is the strongest newcomer. With my current strength, how could I possibly defeat him?" Aizen shook his head, a sorrowful expression on his face.
"I have naturally considered that. If you agree to join the Root organization, I will grant you this scroll." Danzō produced a ninjutsu scroll. "It contains many of Konoha's ninjutsu. I believe with your talent, you can master them quickly." Danzō extended an olive branch to Aizen. The condition for this transaction was Aizen's allegiance to Root.
"Join the Root organization? But... I am only at the Genin level," Aizen sighed, expressing his concern.
"Hmph. Those so-called restrictions are just useless measures concocted by that stubborn fool, Hiruzen. There are no such restrictions in my Root organization. The only requirement is absolute loyalty." Danzō knew Aizen was referring to the Konoha rule that one must be at least a Chunin to join the Anbu.
Hearing Danzō's confirmation, Aizen let out a soft chuckle. "Since I have joined Konoha, I am a member of this village. I will naturally do my utmost to stop Gaara. I agree to join the Root organization. However, I have one condition: during this month, you must cease all surveillance on me and allow me to focus entirely on my training."
"Agreed. As long as you remain loyal to Konoha, both conditions are acceptable." Danzō's eyes were calm as he gave his simple reply. "You may leave now. If you are gone for too long, it will arouse Hiruzen's suspicion."
"Very well. I take my leave. Do not worry, Lord Danzō, I will train diligently." Aizen offered a slight smile and turned to leave the compound.
The moment Aizen stepped outside, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a bone-deep killing intent. In that instant, he felt a powerful urge to eliminate Danzō. The man was too dangerous, an unpredictable variable.
Just as quickly, Aizen regained his composure. He returned to his residence in the northern part of the village, a sense of anticipation rising within him at the prospect of the ninjutsu scroll. He was confident that with the scroll's aid, he would grow significantly stronger before the Chunin Exams in one month.
When that time comes, he thought coldly, it will be the day of Danzō's demise.