Uchiha Ren truly had every intention of attacking the moment Shimura Danzō admitted what he had just said.
It wasn't a spur-of-the-moment impulse.
The last time, Danzō had managed to escape purely because of Uchiha Obito's sudden interference. Ren had regretted letting that opportunity slip away for quite some time.
This time, if Danzō admitted those threats, then as a member of the Konoha Military Police Force, Ren would have legitimate grounds to act.
The justification might be somewhat forced—but once Danzō was dead, his political value would diminish significantly.
Afterward, Ren could simply pay some price and take a strong stance. At that point, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others would have little choice but to compromise.
After all, how much courage did Hiruzen—who was desperate to maintain Konoha's stability—really have to risk splitting the village and reigniting war just to stand up for a dead man?
As for why Ren hadn't attacked immediately…
Shimura Danzō and the Root shinobi he brought with him were manageable.
But the cloaked figure standing behind Danzō's right shoulder—the one who had casually suggested abducting children—was none other than one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru.
Ren had no confidence he could keep Orochimaru from escaping.
With such a witness present, attacking without cause was impossible.
"Heh. I didn't say anything at all," Danzō said slowly after exhaling a long breath.
"I was merely offering a friendly reminder."
Ren inwardly lamented the missed opportunity, but his aura did not weaken in the slightest. If anything, it grew heavier.
"In that case," Ren said coldly, "let me also offer Elder Danzō a friendly reminder."
"As the director of this orphanage, it's my responsibility to protect every child here."
"If anyone dares to harm them, then don't blame me for showing no mercy."
"Unless those rats hiding in the sewers plan to stay inside the village forever—"
"If even one child disappears from this orphanage, I'll kill ten rats."
"If two children disappear, I'll kill a hundred rats."
"And if three children disappear…"
"I'll dig out every one of their rat nests outside the village and wipe them out completely."
"And don't doubt my ability to find those rats."
"I'm sure you're well aware of Nono's capabilities."
Yakushi Nono had once been Root's finest intelligence agent. Few people understood Root's internal structure better than she did.
Moreover, she had not been idle recently.
She had been gathering intelligence for Ren.
In fact, the information about Danzō leading Root operatives to the Land of Rain earlier had come directly from Nono.
"You're quite impressive," Danzō said darkly, his expression as gloomy as still water. His single eye locked onto Ren.
"So you're the 'Red Sun' of the Uchiha Clan… It seems I underestimated you before."
"When people grow old, their eyesight does tend to deteriorate," Ren replied calmly as he withdrew his overwhelming aura.
"So I'd advise you, Elder Danzō, to stop wandering around outside when there's nothing important to do."
"This time you only lost an arm and an eye."
"But next time…"
"That may not be the case."
"You—!"
Danzō abruptly stood up in shock, staring at Ren in disbelief.
Ren's words were clearly loaded with deeper meaning.
But that wasn't what truly alarmed him.
The fact that he had lost an arm was obvious to anyone who looked at him.
But the loss of one of his eyes was something very few people knew.
Even Hanzo of the Salamander, who had inflicted the injury, might not have realized it.
After all, the Sharingan hidden beneath Danzō's bandages had never been revealed. By the time he used Izanagi, the eye had already been sacrificed.
So how could Uchiha Ren possibly know about it?
Danzō looked at Ren… then slowly shifted his gaze toward Yakushi Nono.
After returning to Root, he had ordered a medical-nin to remove the ruined eye and implant another Sharingan as a replacement.
Had Nono somehow obtained that information through hidden channels?
For the first time in a long while, Danzō felt extremely uneasy.
It was like sitting on needles… like having thorns pressed against his back.
This sensation—of being completely seen through—made someone who had spent his entire life lurking in darkness feel profoundly uncomfortable.
Once he returned, he would thoroughly investigate Root.
Since he had already stood up, Danzō no longer had any intention of staying.
After letting out a cold snort in response to Ren's faint smile, he turned and walked away.
Orochimaru shrugged slightly, lifting the Root shinobi who had collapsed earlier and preparing to leave as well.
"Orochimaru-sama, please wait a moment."
At that moment, Uchiha Ren suddenly called out.
"Oh?" Orochimaru stopped walking and turned back with visible curiosity.
"Ren-kun, do you need something?"
Ren smiled.
"I was wondering if Orochimaru-sama might have time for a short conversation."
"I promise you won't be disappointed."
Ren's attitude had undergone a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree shift compared to how he had treated Danzō.
The difference was like heaven and earth.
After all, Ren had always held great respect for scientists like Orochimaru.
"Of course I have time," Orochimaru replied without hesitation.
"I'm quite interested in you as well, Ren-kun."
He casually tossed the unconscious Root shinobi back toward Danzō before walking over and sitting down across from Ren.
Danzō caught the ninja awkwardly, staring at the two of them with confusion written all over his face.
"Elder Danzō," Orochimaru said with a casual wave, "I have other matters to attend to, so I won't be accompanying you any further."
In truth, Orochimaru had not come to the orphanage to support Danzō in the first place.
He had come because he had taken an interest in one of the children at the orphanage—and wanted to see if there was an opportunity to quietly take the child away.
That's right.
Orochimaru had come exactly for the reason he mentioned earlier.
He was simply here to abduct a child.
So whether Danzō succeeded or failed here had absolutely nothing to do with him.
"Hmph. Useless."
Danzō snorted coldly.
With no face left to remain here, he turned and walked away into the distance.
"Nono, go bring some tea," Ren said with a smile, patting Yakushi Nono on the shoulder.
"We can't treat such a distinguished guest so rudely."
Nono nodded gently without asking any questions.
She stood up and led Aken and Huika away.
"Ren-kun," Orochimaru said with interest, his snake-like tongue briefly licking the corner of his lips.
"I never expected that you would manage to win over the 'Walking Shrine Maiden.'"
"There's no such thing as winning someone over," Ren replied, shaking his head.
"It's simply mutual benefit—helping each other and supporting one another."
"If anything…"
"She and I are companions."
"You could even say we are comrades."
"Comrades?" Orochimaru repeated thoughtfully.
"So… people who share the same ideals?"
He quickly grasped the meaning of the word, a strange light flashing in his eyes.
"That's right," Ren said with a smile.
"To be honest, Orochimaru-sama, I've admired you for a long time."
"I had even planned to visit you personally someday."
"But meeting you here today couldn't be better."
As he spoke, Ren pulled a storage scroll from his robes and slid it toward Orochimaru.
"Consider this a small gift for our first meeting."
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