Chapter 64: A Proposal from the Shadows
The night was lonely, the wind brisk under a high, dark sky. A hazy moonlight filtered through a thin mist, casting a soft, ethereal glow upon the ground.
Taking advantage of the darkness, three figures swiftly vanished from the small path.
Within Konoha Village, inside a hidden, fortified residence. The place was opulent and spacious. Though its location was remote, it exuded an air of imposing authority, fitting for the clandestine headquarters of the Root organization.
This was only Aizen's second time here, yet he could still feel the heavy, dark atmosphere that permeated the air, a perfect reflection of the organization that operated from the shadows.
Seated in the position of authority was Shimura Danzō, an old man who appeared frail but radiated a dense, potent energy. As a high-ranking elder of Konoha, this ruthless old man operated with a dragon's ambition, secretly orchestrating the dark underbelly of the village.
His purpose for summoning Aizen this time was a matter of grave importance.
Assassination.
The moment Aizen stepped into the room, Danzō's single visible eye fixed upon him.
"Aizen Sōsuke. You have finally come." Danzō's voice was low and resonant, carrying an authority bred from long years of command.
"Yes. What is your purpose in summoning me?" Aizen stood tall, his posture calm and unyielding.
Hearing Aizen's tone, the Root operatives flanking the room frowned. He had not used an honorific for Danzō, nor did his demeanor show a shred of deference. This behavior was a direct challenge to Lord Danzō's authority.
For Aizen, however, this was his greatest concession.
Had he wished it, a mere release of his terrifying spiritual pressure would have forced every Root member in the room to their knees. Even the inscrutable Danzō held no fear for him; Aizen had already deduced the secret hidden beneath the bandages on the old man's arm.
Danzō's brow furrowed slightly, then smoothed. He was, after all, a seasoned player in the game of power, with a mind broad enough to not be bogged down by minor slights. He understood that a genius like Aizen was naturally audacious. However, if that spirit proved too sharp, he wouldn't mind strangling it in its cradle.
"Heh. Truly, a newborn calf has no fear of the tiger," Danzō mused, a meaningful smile on his lips, though a tyrannical killing intent lay hidden deep in his pupil. "To remain so composed under my presence... you are indeed the genius I judged you to be."
"You succeeded in reaching the finals. You have not disappointed my expectations," Danzō continued. "The reason I have called you here is that there is an important task that requires your... cooperation."
His single eye bore into Aizen, sharp as a lightning bolt, enough to make any ordinary person tremble.
"An important task? What task?" Aizen asked, feigning curiosity.
Danzō nodded, satisfied. One reason he favored Aizen was his directness.
"The task is simple. You need only act as bait."
Danzō's tone was deceptively calm. During the preliminaries, while he had not been present, one of the proctors had been a Root operative. That man had recorded every participant's information and secretly reported it to Danzō. Thus, even from the shadows, Danzō knew everything that had transpired.
Gaara's overwhelming performance, especially his brutal defeat of Rock Lee, had made Danzō increasingly wary. To remove this thorn in his side, Danzō had decided to kill the Sand genius before he could fully blossom.
"Bait?" Aizen frowned slightly, playing his part.
"According to the intelligence I received," Danzō explained, "during the preliminaries, Gaara's gaze was fixed upon you for the majority of the time. Though he tried to conceal it, the killing intent in his eyes could not escape our notice."
A faint, cold smile touched Danzō's lips, wrinkling his aged face like a withered chrysanthemum. "Therefore, I surmise that you must have had an... entanglement with him in the Forest of Death. One that has made him determined to kill you."
"That is correct. So what of it? I am not his match," Aizen replied, shaking his head with a contrived sigh.
"You do not need to be," Danzō stated. "Your task is simple: lure him outside the walls of Konoha. We will handle the rest."
A brutal, cold killing intent radiated from the old man. If this plan was executed perfectly, Gaara would be eliminated in his cradle. A genius only possessed potential, not realized power. Once dead, he would become nothing but a memory.
If Gaara died outside Konoha, and all evidence was destroyed, the Land of Wind would have no concrete proof to pin the blame on Konoha, making a full-scale war unlikely.
"It's that simple?" Aizen asked, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "And what do I gain for risking my life?"
"You!" Danzō's frown returned, but he quickly suppressed his irritation. "If Gaara is successfully eliminated," he said coldly, "I will grant you access to certain... forbidden techniques."
For a long time, Danzō had been secretly colluding with Orochimaru, engaging in the research of occult and forbidden jutsu. The First Hokage's cells implanted in his body were a result of Orochimaru's experiments. Consequently, Danzō possessed knowledge of several powerful forbidden techniques.
"Then it would be my honor to obey," Aizen nodded, finally agreeing.
But deep within his pupils, a strange, calculating light shimmered, making his true thoughts utterly inscrutable.