Twice I left, yet there was no betrayal.

"Traitor!" Danzo uttered the word, his voice not loud yet chillingly cold.

"Traitor?" Kabuto mulled it over, a smile appearing on his face. "Lord Danzo, I don't think that term suits me."

He had left the Root twice. The first time, Danzo had orchestrated a situation where he and his benefactor, Lady Nonoyu, were forced into a deadly conflict. The second time, he had infiltrated Root as a spy from the very beginning. Neither departure truly merited the label of traitor. On the contrary, it was Danzo’s betrayal of his own promises that had wounded Kabuto most deeply.

Kabuto looked at Danzo, his lips stretched into a smile, but beneath the rim of his glasses, his eyes remained calm and indifferent. Did he hate him? Perhaps, but before hatred, his mind had long since been filled with emptiness. Lady Nonoyu, after all, was dead—killed by his own hand.

"And you still have the nerve to speak?" Danzo’s eyes flashed coldly.

The past with Lady Nonoyu had long been forgotten by Danzo, and he assumed the small boy from back then had been disposed of by Orochimaru. Now, he regarded Kabuto as nothing more than Orochimaru’s spy sent to Root, suspecting that the Wood Release experiment’s secret had been leaked by him. Seeing Kabuto’s attitude only fueled Danzo’s rage.

The wind howled, and another slap came down.

This time, Kabuto did not let himself be humiliated. He stepped back to avoid Danzo’s hand, and calmly began to unbutton his shirt.

Danzo, already more furious at Kabuto’s evasion, paused mid-step, his gaze falling upon Kabuto’s chest and abdomen.

—Layers upon layers of explosive tags were wrapped around him.

And seeing the exposed black sealing marks, Danzo’s expression grew even darker.

Explosive tags needed time to detonate; for him, they posed little threat. But Orochimaru had clearly set up additional sealing jutsu, making it impossible to save Kabuto should he choose to die. Danzo was here for the experiment data on the First Hokage’s cells, not actually to eliminate Kabuto.

That cursed Orochimaru was truly cautious.

Danzo’s face was grim, for the Root ninja squad had already reported that no valuable documents were found in the medical room. If he wanted the experiment data, his only breakthrough was the boy who participated in the operation before him. But Orochimaru’s precautions had cut off any possibility of forcing or robbing Kabuto directly.

Yes, Danzo had never believed that Orochimaru would willingly hand over the experiment data, even with the Third Hokage and the two advisor elders on his side.

This time, his plan was simply to use his authority to seize the data swiftly and cleanly. That way, the subsequent conflict between Orochimaru and the elders would have nothing to do with him—he could remain uninvolved.

But now, all those schemes had come to nothing.

The likelihood of obtaining the experimental data was slim. Danzo’s brows furrowed, and murderous intent rose in his heart. The boy was now useless; it would be simpler to kill him and pin the blame on an attack against the advisors, thus continuing to pressure Orochimaru.

Kabuto, ever shrewd, saw the murderous look in Danzo’s eyes. Forced by Danzo’s aura, he stepped back, but his smile only deepened.

He took a scroll from his breast pocket and smiled, "Lord Danzo, don’t be impatient. I have a copy of the surgical data you desire."

Danzo was about to snatch it, but noticed the intricate markings on the scroll, his expression darkening once again.

This damned Orochimaru—his precautions were endless.

"What do you want?" Danzo asked, his brow furrowed.

Kabuto pushed up his glasses, smiling silently.

...

"Damned bastards!"

From the corner of his eye, Uchiha Shinsuke saw Kabuto being escorted away by Danzo and the Root ninja squad, rage and shock mixing within him, the three tomoe in his eyes spinning rapidly.

His hands formed seals swiftly. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flame Jutsu!"

Blades of fire shot out in all directions, precisely targeting the surrounding Root ninja, forcing them to retreat outward.

Seizing the opening, Uchiha Shinsuke pulled a signal flare from his sleeve and fired it into the air.

The Root captain frowned, recognizing the special flare used by the Police Force.

Though it was broad daylight, the area was not far from the Uchiha compound; someone would surely come after seeing the signal.

This could be troublesome.

The two Root captains exchanged glances and each ordered their squads to launch a fierce assault, abandoning their previous strategy of entanglement.

"So, you pests finally stopped running?"

A fierce gleam flashed in the Sharingan. Uchiha Shinsuke advanced rather than retreat, charging straight at the two Root teams.

...

Hokage Tower, conference room.

Upon entering the room, Kabuto bowed slightly. "Lord Hokage, Elders."

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, gazed at the white-haired youth with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

Danzo, for once, had not acted behind the scenes.

"Where is Orochimaru?" Koharu Utatane’s brows were furrowed, clearly displeased with Kabuto’s attitude. "The secret experiments using the First Hokage’s cells have already been exposed. It’s best if you answer our questions honestly."

Beside her, Homura Mitokado spoke up, "If you have Orochimaru’s experiment data, hand it over. The village will review it, and your punishment might be reduced."

One elder played the bad cop, the other the good—all to force Kabuto’s compliance.

"Elders, you may be misunderstanding."

Kabuto let out a bitter laugh. "Whether it’s the operation or human experimentation, whatever you call it, Lord Orochimaru has already abandoned it."

"What?" The unexpected reply left the two elders both surprised and suspicious. Koharu’s face grew angry. "Don’t talk nonsense. How could Orochimaru—"

A scroll covered in black sealing marks was placed on the table, cutting Koharu off.

"This is the previous surgical data, and Lord Orochimaru’s predictions for the physical enhancement surgery."

Kabuto pushed up his glasses and sighed softly. "The First Hokage’s cells are too overwhelming. Orochimaru intended to lower the requirements and develop a surgery to enhance ordinary ninja’s bodies, but found the risks too great. Even for a special case like the Uchiha clan, the danger was immense."

"If the surgery were tested on ordinary ninja, countless casualties would result. With no other choice, Lord Orochimaru had to abandon the research."

The two elders’ eyes flickered, unsure what expression to wear.

The Third Hokage waved his hand, and an assistant immediately took the scroll to verify its authenticity.

Danzo glanced at the departing assistant, barely restraining his urge to intervene.

The Hokage’s office fell silent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kabuto and asked, "Do you know where Orochimaru has gone?"

"Ryuchi Cave."

Kabuto’s attitude was obedient and frank. "Lord Orochimaru went to pay the reward to the snakes for their services in the Cloud Hidden battle. He left only a means for emergency contact."

Before the Third could speak again, Koharu interjected, "Then contact him at once."

Kabuto looked at the Third Hokage and saw the same intent in his eyes. He nodded. "All right."

He stepped to the long table, formed seals with both hands. "Summoning Jutsu!"

White smoke dispersed, revealing a small white snake on the table, flicking its tongue.