Chapter 66: Indirectly Killing Teammates
Inside the laboratory, Su Xiao, who had been sound asleep, suddenly opened his eyes. Sitting up, he took out a watch to check the time.
"Already slept for six hours. How did that village cadre find my trail? Was it Orochimaru's doing?"
Shaking his head, Su Xiao pushed Bubu Wang beside him.
"Get up. Enemies are here."
"Ooh~"
Bubu Wang's paws twitched, but he kept his eyes closed and continued sleeping.
Su Xiao took something from his storage space, pried open Bubu Wang's mouth, and shoved it in.
Three seconds later.
"Oww!!"
With a yelp, Bubu Wang perked up, all drowsiness gone. His tongue hung out long, and his eyes rolled back.
A small piece of chili fell from Bubu Wang's mouth. It was a piece of ghost pepper, and Bubu Wang was almost crying from the spiciness.
Bubu Wang looked at Su Xiao, his tear-filled big eyes seeming to say: 'Master, how could you do this to me while I was sleeping? It's so spicy it's killing me.'
"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.
"Not 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 disguise himself. In any case, Su Xiao really couldn't see that goofball anymore.
Su Xiao walked out of the underground laboratory. He really didn't understand why Orochimaru always liked building his labs underground.
An old man stood not far from the laboratory entrance, leaning on a wooden cane.
"Member of the Akatsuki."
Danzo always had his eyes half-closed, expressionless, giving off a gloomy vibe.
"Something?"
Su Xiao glanced at Danzo, then looked around. At least a dozen Root members were hidden nearby.
Through the original work, Su Xiao had a basic understanding of Danzo. Although this guy's final words were quite stirring, his nature as a politician couldn't be changed.
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 suppress Danzo. During the Third Hokage's reign, the Third handled external affairs while Danzo handled internal matters, taking care of things that couldn't see the light.
But once the Third died, Danzo, this venomous snake 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 making small moves.
No one else becoming Hokage would have that possibility. Whoever became Hokage, Danzo would try to kill them and take their place.
Although he kept failing in his campaigns for village cadre, it had to be said, Brother Danzo was still quite steady.
When he couldn't become the Fourth Hokage, he found a way to become the Fifth. When the Fifth didn't work, he found a way to become the Sixth. A venomous snake hiding underground—this description fit Danzo perfectly.
"An Akatsuki member appearing near Konoha—I can see this as a threat."
Danzo's tone was unhurried, a hint of killing intent in his half-closed single eye.
"Think whatever you want."
Su Xiao drew the Dragon-Slaying Flash from his waist. Today's matter couldn't be resolved peacefully. He had a feeling Danzo had targeted him, though the specific reason was unknown.
The Dragon-Slaying Flash left its sheath, the bright blade light reflecting in Danzo's single eye.
"Hand over the First Hokage cells and research results on you, and I'll spare your life. These belong to Konoha."
Hearing Danzo's words, Su Xiao was stunned for a moment, then understood what was happening. He looked at Danzo's right arm.
The other party had Hashirama Cells transplanted into his body. Su Xiao had been using the original Hashirama Cells for experiments, and this venomous snake had sensed it. Given the activity of Hashirama Cells, this wasn't impossible.
This was something Su Xiao had never expected. Still, it wasn't a big problem. Only a dozen Root members had been deployed, plus Danzo. Su Xiao was indeed no match for them, but it would be very difficult for these people to keep Su Xiao here.
Under the suppression of the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, Danzo didn't dare make too big a move, only bringing out a dozen people.
Su Xiao stomped the ground beneath him, making a move to charge at Danzo.
Danzo's pupils contracted. He had heard a little about Su Xiao's close combat abilities.
Two figures blocked Danzo's path—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.
Zzzz~
The sound of a metal wire retracting rang out. A barely noticeable thread was tied to a tree trunk in the distance, pulling Su Xiao back rapidly.
"Lord Danzo."
Yamanaka Fu looked at Danzo, asking whether to pursue.
Danzo hesitated for a moment, then released the wooden cane and took 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, and the Root members hidden in the forest also joined the pursuit.
Danzo's right arm was wrapped in bandages. Not only that, but there were also three shackles on this arm, used to suppress the activity of the First Hokage cells. The Hashirama Cells Orochimaru had transplanted for Danzo were not perfect. If he used this arm for a long time, Danzo would be eroded by the Hashirama Cells.
That was why, upon discovering that Su Xiao was carrying Hashirama Cells nearby, after confirming Su Xiao's location, Danzo immediately came knocking.
Danzo had his subordinates research the Hashirama Cells, but unfortunately, geniuses like Orochimaru were rare. His subordinates hadn't found anything.
Just as Danzo was unsealing the second seal, a series of hurried footsteps came.
"Elder Danzo, why did you deploy the Root forces without authorization?"
Danzo's movements had already stopped. His right arm couldn't be exposed to light, or it would reveal many things, unless he could silence the witness.
The newcomer was clearly someone he couldn't silence. If he dared to silence the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, he would have to defect.
"Protecting Konoha's safety is Root's responsibility. What business does the Fifth Hokage have?"
"Protecting Konoha..."
Tsunade chuckled lightly and didn't say much more.
Root was the organization Tsunade most wanted to eliminate. They were never seen when Konoha was attacked, but they came out to cause trouble during peacetime.
"Where is the enemy? Which ninja village are they from?"
Tsunade's question made Danzo's expression change slightly. He thought there might be a traitor within Root, but the thought passed quickly.
"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 pale yellow chakra surged outward.
"Where, is, he!"
Tsunade said this word by word, her extremely furious expression surprising Danzo a little, and also making him somewhat dissatisfied. In his view, a Hokage should not show emotions on their face.
The Akatsuki had just killed Jiraiya. Jiraiya's remains couldn't even be found, only a string of coded messages left behind.
Jiraiya's body was still warm, and an Akatsuki member appeared 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, making Danzo slightly angry inside.
"30-degree direction."
Leaving these words, Danzo turned and walked toward Konoha. As he turned his head, Danzo's gaze was extremely gloomy.
As soon as Danzo left, Tsunade's furious expression disappeared. Shizune trotted out from the forest beside her, followed by several Konoha ninjas.
"Lady Tsunade, I've gathered the jonin squads not currently on missions. For now, I've only found Kurenai Yuhi's squad. Other jonin squads will arrive within five minutes. The Anbu have already gone to pursue."