Chapter 65: The Pursuers from Konoha
Inside the laboratory, Su Xiao, who had been fast asleep, suddenly opened his eyes. He sat up, took out a watch, and checked the time.
"I've been asleep for six hours. How did that village cadre discover my whereabouts? Is it because of Orochimaru?"
Shaking his head, Su Xiao nudged Bubu Wang beside him.
"Get up. Enemies have arrived."
"Woo~"
Bubu Wang's paw twitched, but he kept his eyes closed and continued sleeping.
Su Xiao took something out of his storage space, pried open Bubu Wang's mouth, and shoved it in.
Three seconds later.
"OW!!"
With a yelp of agony, Bubu Wang perked up, all drowsiness gone. His tongue hung out long, and his eyes rolled back in his head.
A small piece of chili pepper fell from Bubu Wang's mouth. It was a piece of ghost pepper, and Bubu Wang was nearly crying from the spiciness.
Bubu Wang looked at Su Xiao, his big, tear-filled eyes seeming to say: 'Master, how could you do this to your sleeping pup? This is burning me to death.'
"Enemies are here, and you're still sleeping."
Bubu Wang retracted his tongue and listened to the sounds nearby.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang barked once, meaning the enemy was approaching from the left.
"They're not here for a friendly visit."
Su Xiao walked out of the laboratory, with Bubu Wang following behind. As they walked, Bubu Wang gradually disappeared...
Bubu Wang wasn't turning invisible; he was activating his divine skill 'You Can't See Me' to camouflage himself. In any case, Su Xiao genuinely couldn't see that goofball anymore.
Su Xiao exited the underground laboratory. He really wondered why Orochimaru always liked building his labs underground.
An old man stood not far from the laboratory entrance, leaning on a wooden cane.
"A member of the Akatsuki."
Danzo always had his eyes half-closed, with an expressionless face, giving off a gloomy vibe.
"Something you need?"
Su Xiao glanced at Danzo, then looked around. At least a dozen Root members were hidden nearby.
Through the original story, Su Xiao had a basic understanding of Danzo. Although this guy's final words were quite inflammatory, his nature as a politician remained unchanged.
Danzo was like a double-edged sword. Used well, he could kill enemies; left unchecked, he would backfire, and he was extremely obsessed with power.
Only the Second and Third Hokage could keep Danzo in check. During the Third Hokage's reign, the Third handled external affairs while Danzo managed internal matters, handling all the shady business.
But the moment the Third died, Danzo, this viper lurking in the darkness, revealed his true nature. If Su Xiao were the ruler of Konoha, on the day the Third died, no matter the cost, Danzo would have to be buried with him, or there would be endless trouble.
As the Third Hokage's childhood friend and rival, Danzo could work for the Third, only occasionally causing minor trouble.
But anyone else becoming Hokage was impossible. Whoever became Hokage, Danzo would try to kill and replace them.
Although he had failed in every bid to become village cadre, it had to be said, Brother Danzo was quite persistent.
When he couldn't become the Fourth Hokage, he tried to become the Fifth. When the Fifth didn't work out, he tried for the Sixth. A viper hiding underground—this description suited Danzo perfectly.
"An Akatsuki member appearing near Konoha. I can see this as a threat."
Danzo's tone was unhurried, his half-closed single eye showing a hint of killing intent.
"Think whatever you want."
Su Xiao drew the Dragon-Slaying Flash from his waist. This matter couldn't be resolved peacefully today. He had a feeling that Danzo had set his sights on him, though the specific reason was unknown.
The Dragon-Slaying Flash left its sheath, its gleaming blade reflecting in Danzo's single eye.
"Hand over the First Hokage cells and research results you're carrying, and I'll spare your life. That belongs to Konoha."
Hearing Danzo's words, Su Xiao was momentarily stunned, then understood what was going on. His gaze shifted to Danzo's right arm.
The other party had Hashirama cells transplanted into his body. Su Xiao had previously used the original Hashirama cells for experiments, and this viper had sensed it. Given the activity of Hashirama cells, this wasn't impossible.
Su Xiao hadn't expected this at all, but it wasn't a big problem. With only a dozen Root members and Danzo, Su Xiao was indeed no match, but these people would have a hard time keeping him here.
Under the suppression of the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, Danzo couldn't make too big a move, only bringing out a dozen people.
Su Xiao stomped on the ground, feinting a charge at Danzo.
Danzo's pupils contracted. He had heard a little about Su Xiao's close-combat abilities.
Two figures stepped in front of Danzo—it was Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Torune.
Just as both of them assumed combat stances to face Su Xiao, Su Xiao, who was charging forward, suddenly stopped and raised his left arm.
Zzz~
The sound of a metal wire retracting echoed. An almost imperceptible thread was tied to a tree trunk in the distance, pulling Su Xiao back rapidly.
"Lord Danzo."
Yamanaka Fu looked at Danzo, asking if they should pursue.
Danzo hesitated for a moment, then loosened his grip on the wooden cane and pulled his right arm out from his clothing.
"Hold him off. Buy me time. We must obtain the Hashirama cells."
"Yes."
Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Torune chased after Su Xiao, along with the Root members hidden in the forest.
Danzo's right arm was wrapped in bandages. Not only that, but there were also three seals on this arm, used to suppress the activity of the First Hokage cells. The Hashirama cells Orochimaru had transplanted for Danzo were imperfect. If he used this arm for too long, Danzo would be eroded by the cells.
That was why, upon discovering that Su Xiao was carrying Hashirama cells nearby and confirming Su Xiao's location, Danzo immediately came knocking.
Danzo had had his subordinates study the Hashirama cells, but unfortunately, geniuses like Orochimaru were rare, and his men hadn't found anything useful.
Just as Danzo was about to undo the second seal, a rush of hurried footsteps was heard.
"Elder Danzo, why have you mobilized the Root forces without authorization?"
Danzo's movements had already stopped. His right arm couldn't be exposed to the light, or it would reveal many things, unless he could silence everyone.
The person arriving was clearly not someone he could silence. If he dared to silence the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, he would have no choice but to defect.
"Protecting Konoha's security is Root's responsibility. What business does the Fifth Hokage have?"
"Protecting Konoha..."
Tsunade let out a light laugh, saying nothing more.
Root was the organization Tsunade most wanted to eliminate. When Konoha was attacked, they were nowhere to be seen, but during peacetime, they came out to cause trouble.
"Where is the enemy? Which ninja village are they from?"
Tsunade's question made Danzo's expression shift slightly. He thought there might be a traitor within Root, but the thought quickly passed.
"Akatsuki member, Bai Ye."
Danzo didn't hide Su Xiao's identity. It was fine if Tsunade captured Su Xiao; his target was the Hashirama cells and research data.
"Akatsuki member!? Bai Ye!"
Tsunade's forehead veins bulged. Her amber eyes widened, and a pale yellow chakra surged outward.
"Where. Is. He!"
Tsunade spoke these words one by one, her furious expression surprising Danzo and also making him somewhat displeased. In his view, a Hokage should not show emotions so openly.
The Akatsuki had just killed Jiraiya, and Jiraiya's remains couldn't even be found, only a string of coded messages left behind.
With Jiraiya's body still warm, an Akatsuki member appearing near Konoha—Tsunade's anger was perfectly normal.
"Fifth Hokage, I've already sent people to pursue..."
Before Danzo could finish, Tsunade's furious eyes turned to him, which made Danzo inwardly angry.
"30-degree direction."
Leaving these words, Danzo turned and walked back toward Konoha. As he turned, his gaze was extremely gloomy.
As soon as Danzo left, Tsunade's furious expression vanished. Shizune trotted out from the nearby forest on her short legs, followed by several Konoha ninjas.
"Lady Tsunade, I've gathered the jonin squads not currently on missions. For now, only Kurenai Yuhi's squad has arrived. Other jonin squads will arrive within five minutes. The Anbu have already gone to pursue."