"Difficult to learn—proof of its power, right?"
Itachi's clone in Orochimaru form smiled and said.
"You have a point."
Danzo nodded.
"I can barely replicate the Rasengan with the Sharingan, but the Flying Thunder God Technique is still just shy of mastery."
The Sharingan grants powerful observation, copying, hypnosis, and more. Its wielder gains extraordinary perception: they can trace chakra flow, use and dispel genjutsu, and replicate taijutsu and non–Kekkei Genkai ninjutsu.
An A–rank jutsu like Rasengan is already the pinnacle of what the Sharingan can copy.
But the S–rank space–time ninjutsu Flying Thunder God—Danzo can only scratch the surface.
That was during his time as Tobirama's disciple—he had opportunities to learn it, but eventually gave up when he couldn't fully master it.
Now training anew through the Sharingan, Danzo still can't perform it as instantly as Minato—which frustrates him.
On the training field, Danzo's Shadow Clones were practicing Flying Thunder God fiercely—it worked, but had long activation time and short teleport distance; it's basically no faster than Body Flicker Technique.
That delay is enough for an enemy to spot an opening and defeat him instantly.
"It's fine."
Orochimaru patted Danzo's shoulder encouragingly.
"It's meant as a finishing blow, not for the start of a fight. Use it at the critical moment. If the old man's caught off guard, a single Flying Thunder God followed by a Rasengan can one-shot him."
"Yes, that's right." Danzo nodded.
Back when Uchiha Izuna—renowned for "rarely showing flaws"—was struck down by Tobirama's Flying Thunder God, Danzo could probably do the same to Hiruzen if well executed.
"By the way, the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki is still with Hiruzen. What if he gets desperate..." Danzo worried.
"Isn't that controlled by your Root?" Orochimaru frowned.
"No—when I send someone to check, it's only temporary. Usually, ANBU handle it. And Hiruzen doesn't allow me near the jinchūriki." Danzo explained.
"I see." Orochimaru stroked his chin.
"Only the Nine–Tails can restrain the Nine–Tails. Don't worry."
"Oh? Please explain." Danzo politely asked.
"I have a friend who can control the Nine-Tails."
Orochimaru stated plainly.
"Who?" Danzo's pupils narrowed.
"The very perpetrator of the Nine–Tails' attack!" Orochimaru continued without pause.
"What?" Danzo was shocked.
"No need to be surprised." Orochimaru said.
"Back when the Nine–Tails attacked, our organization intended to frame the Uchiha clan, and eliminate the Fourth and his wife—so you'd become Hokage."
"But we never expected the old man to shamelessly return as Hokage. That wasn't in our plan."
Danzo was speechless.
"Are you really that kind?" Danzo questioned skeptically.
"Of course."
Danzo was silent again.
(He didn't believe it for a second.)
"Honestly, even if you hadn't exterminated the Uchiha, our organization still intended to eliminate them—it's just a matter of timing." Orochimaru said.
"Oh? Do tell."
"You don't understand? Obviously we have a grudge against the Uchiha—and we're after their Sharingan."
Orochimaru looked at Danzo with a mocking expression.
Danzo remained silent.
(Son of a—makes sense, I can't argue this.)
"So tell me—what are your organization's demands?"
Danzo took a deep breath.
He wanted to end the plan and then eliminate Orochimaru afterward—never imagined Orochimaru had joined a secret organization.
That meant he might be the traitor now.
"Conditions: first, you must become Hokage—otherwise, it's all talk.
Secondly, if tonight's plan succeeds, we want half the Nine–Tails.
As for the Sharingan—we already have an agreement. But our 80/20 split isn't satisfactory—we want a 50/50."
"I have no problem with splitting the Sharingan half-and-half. But what do you mean you want half the Nine–Tails? You know I would never give you the jinchūriki." Danzo said sternly.
"We didn't ask for the jinchūriki—we want half the chakra that's sealed in Minato." Orochimaru replied.
"Half of what Minato holds?" Danzo frowned.
"Back then Minato sealed half the Nine–Tails' chakra—yin chakra—with theReaper Death Seal, and the other half—yang chakra—with the Eight Trigrams Seal inside Naruto. So… you understand?" Orochimaru explained.
"You mean you're confident you can take that half?"
"If you can take it back, why tell me?" Danzo pressed.
"Danzo-sama, although I've defected, Konoha is still my homeland. I want the old man dead, but I don't want Konoha destroyed. You get what I mean?" Orochimaru said.
Danzo stared deeply at Orochimaru; after a while he said, "I understand."
"But how do you plan to extract that chakra from Minato?"
"That's not something you need to worry about." Orochimaru said.
"If so, then we'll need to adjust the plan." Danzo stroked his chin.
We'll claim the Nine–Tails was released by Hiruzen to destroy the Uchiha.
When the Uchiha find out, they'll be furious and desperate to kill him.
Then the Uchiha will revolt—and that'll give me justification to strike the Uchiha.
At least I'll have a legitimate reason, instead of slaughtering them rashly.
Once Hiruzen is dead and the Uchiha destroyed, I can say that the Uchiha plotted to control the Nine–Tails to rebel—causing Hiruzen's death.
This way both deaths are untraceable, the matter closes cleanly,
I get credit for suppressing the uprising—and the Hokage position becomes mine.
What do you think of this win-win plan?", Danzo suggested with a smile.
Orochimaru was taken aback—for a moment stunned.
Danzo was truly cunning—this plan both pressures the Uchiha into killing Hiruzen and gives Danzo justification to annihilate the Uchiha. Truly a double-win!
Orochimaru had planned to impersonate Danzo to make Hiruzen release the Nine–Tails and frame him—but since Danzo proposed it openly, there's no reason to refuse.
He might as well roll with it.
"Alright." Orochimaru agreed.
"Then it's decided—pleasantly so."
Danzo smiled.
At that moment, a Root ninja at the door burst in, panicked:
"Danzo-sama! Bad news!"
"What is it, barging in like that—what's with this attitude?" Danzo opened the training room door, annoyed.
The ninja, gasping, said:
"Outside there are many villagers and shinobi—they say we killed an old man.
They claim your right eye is Sharingan. They accuse you of being the initiator of the Nine–Tails' attack!"
Danzo was stunned.
"I already said this morning: I didn't do it—don't talk nonsense!
Can't you clear this up for me?"
Danzo shouted angrily at Root.
Then he glared furiously at Orochimaru inside the room.
This whole incident was orchestrated by Orochimaru's group—why was his own name being slandered?
Orochimaru awkwardly rubbed his nose and turned away.
"But they won't listen! They insist you come out to testify and clear your name—or they'll storm inside." The ninja forced a wry smile.
"Hah—storm in? Do they even dare?" Danzo snorted.
"Even if my right eye is Sharingan—why blame me?
Even if my right arm has Hashirama's cells—why say it was me who did the human experiments?"
Danzo was enraged beyond words.
The ninja at the door was speechless.
(With both of those pieces of evidence against you, and you claim innocence? Who'd believe that!)
"If you dare, step outside—see if the villagers and shinobi will beat you to a pulp!"
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin