"You actually have ti to co to the research lab? Did your jutsu experints finally bear fruit?"
"A little..."
Kyoichi nodded.
Orochimaru imdiately sat up. He still looked sowhat drained and listless, but clearly much more alert than before.
Once he sat properly, Kyoichi frowned as he looked at his face.
This look...
You'd think you were Gaara or sothing!
"What happened to you?"
"A small price from using Shadow Clones — nothing worth ntioning. Let's talk about the jutsu. How do you plan to adjust the Wood Release?"
"For now, there's no definitive fix. We'll just have to test one by one. But while we can't fully resolve the jutsu issue yet, I can address the chakra problem."
Kyoichi pulled out another scroll.
Orochimaru hurriedly snatched it over.
Chakra Transfer Technique?
He fell into thought — this really was...
a direction he hadn't considered at all.
"Though Toshiki will probably be quite exhausted, there's no other way. He's currently the only one who's mastered Wood Release. Or... has soone new appeared?"
"No, not yet."
Orochimaru shook his head.
Kyoichi didn't tell him that Tsunade had already reached Kazamatsuri Toshiki's level of Wood Release — but honestly, it was practically useless.
Tsunade only managed it thanks to her freakish chakra control.
No one else could replicate that.
And as for doing fieldwork with Wood Release...
You can't seriously expect the Hokage to go out farming, right?
That would just be absurd.
Orochimaru finished reading, mulled it over briefly, then nodded. "It'll work for now. But if you want to scale up, it won't. Relying on just one person won't cut it."
"So you'd better start moving, huh? Even the farm's workhorse wouldn't dare rest as much as you."
"...Huh?" Orochimaru shot him a sideways glance.
Kid...
If this were two years ago, you'd already be dead!
But now...
No helping it — I can't beat you.
He couldn't be bothered to argue with Kyoichi. Silently, he tucked the scroll away, then said coolly, "Anything else? If not, stop interrupting my thinking."
"Actually, yeah. Got any thoughts on Danzō?"
"...Hm?"
Orochimaru instantly perked up again.
Danzō...
Now you're talking — I'm wide awake!
"Aren't you afraid the old man's going to co after you for this?" Orochimaru licked his lips, his voice slightly raspy.
Sure, he and Danzō used to cooperate, but that guy had dumped plenty of bla on him over the years. If there was a chance to help take Danzō down, Orochimaru didn't mind lending a hand.
"It's not at that stage yet. Do you have a list of forr Root mbers?"
"I have part of one."
Orochimaru thought for a mont, piecing together parts of Kyoichi's plan in his mind.
Cut off Root's blood supply!
In the past, Root could replenish its manpower partly because Konoha turned a blind eye — but also because they had places to pull in fresh recruits.
But now...
Part of the Yamanaka and Abura clans had been reassigned to the police force, and ANBU was firmly under Kyoichi's control.
Aside from the current mbers, Danzō would have a hard ti recruiting anyone new.
Still...
Even if Danzō brought back so of the old mbers, could Kyoichi really use that as an excuse to strike at Root?
Orochimaru didn't fully grasp Kyoichi's thinking, but after a mont, he still listed off the nas he knew — among them, one stood out: Yakushi Nonō.
"Yakushi Nonō... I rember she runs an orphanage, right? Taking in orphans who lost their parents in the war?"
"Yeah..."
Orochimaru gave a faint nod.
He rembered Nonō fairly well.
Female ninja rarely beca Root mbers, but Nonō had been an exceptionally skilled spy.
Danzō used to bring her up all the ti.
Unfortunately...
Nonō was a resolute kunoichi.
Once she decided to leave, she never showed any interest in coming back.
But as Orochimaru thought about it, he realized:
Soone like Nonō — a retired ninja — could actually be quite easy to draw back in.
Because she had attachnts.
The orphanage!
The more emotional ties you have, the easier you are to control.
That was Danzō's philosophy.
Every Root mber had to sever their humanity.
And when it ca to coercion...
Danzō was an expert.
"You're planning to use them to bait out Danzō's mistakes?"
"Depends if he takes the bait. As long as I cut off his supply of new recruits, he'll be forced to make a move. But if he just hunkers down and stays put... then it's going to be troubleso."
Kyoichi morized the nas.
Later, he'd have ANBU put all of them under surveillance.
As soon as Danzō made contact, he'd eventually slip up.
Especially the orphanage.
A whole group of war orphans — many not even originally from Konoha —
What perfect targets.
Orochimaru, following his own line of reasoning, realized that Danzō probably would take that step.
He couldn't help but lick his lips, then let out a cold chuckle. "If you're planning to make a move, why not call ? My reputation's already in the gutter — might as well make it even worse in the old man's eyes."
"Uh... that's not what I ant. Don't overthink it."
Kyoichi genuinely didn't plan to use Orochimaru as a scapegoat.
Besides...
Did Orochimaru really think he could carry that kind of bla?
If Root ended up exposed, it would definitely involve ANBU operations — which ant the setup had to co from Kyoichi himself.
Having Orochimaru take the fall would only make people underestimate him, Kanda Kyoichi.
Besides...
Taking down Danzō? So what.
In the ani, Kyoichi never saw any real contribution from Danzō —
His biggest "achievent" was probably pushing Akatsuki right onto the path Obito and Madara needed, and turning Nagato into Pain.
So no, Kyoichi had no intention of throwing Orochimaru under the bus.
And Orochimaru wasn't desperate enough to insist on it, either.
After all, he wasn't that much of a masochist.
...
Inside Root headquarters.
Danzō stared darkly at several letters.
Kanda Kyoichi!
That bastard had gone too far.
Tsunade hadn't even officially taken the Hokage seat yet — she was rely holding temporary power — and already Kyoichi had used the police force to sever the Abura clan's ties with Root.
As for the Yamanaka clan...
They hadn't joined the police force, but Yamanaka Inoichi had personally sent a handwritten letter, basically stating they would no longer provide manpower to Root either.
"Tsunade, Kanda Kyoichi... Without Root, Konoha will soon be picked clean by the allied villages! You'll live to regret this!"
With a furious snarl, Danzō crushed the letters into powder.
But...
The imdiate problem was that Kanda Kyoichi had cut off Root's supply of recruits.
So Abura and Yamanaka mbers had even withdrawn from Root altogether.
Their numbers were already limited.
Now, less than half remained.
"Danzō-sama, what should we do?"
"Hmph. Start by calling back so of the scattered, retired mbers — especially those currently outside Konoha.
We'll lie low for now and rebuild.
One day..."
I'll return!
Planting his cane-like sword into the ground, Danzō silently left Root's base.
He was headed for the Shimura clan, to talk with Shimura Kōhei.
Given the dire situation Root was now facing, surviving this crisis might require relying on his family's strength.
However...
When Danzō arrived at the Shimura compound, what greeted him were Kōhei's grave expression and several clan elders.
"Kōhei..."
"Danzō. We've said this before: the Shimura clan has no intention of getting involved in your affairs with the village. Supporting you quietly was already our absolute limit.
Otherwise, it's ti to let it go."
"Even you all think I was wrong?"
Danzō's face turned cold.
Kōhei sighed, looking a bit exasperated.
"Danzō... This isn't about right or wrong.
If you really want to talk about that, whoever can make Konoha stronger is 'right.'
The broad, open road will always surpass the path of darkness.
The Shimura clan doesn't want to walk the side road."
"...I understand."
Danzō closed his eyes, said nothing more, and likewise did not enter the Shimura clan grounds. Instead, he turned and silently left without another word.
The Shimura clan couldn't be relied on either.
Fine then...
He'd follow his own plan: first, bring back so of the retired mbers and quietly amass strength in the shadows.
Sooner or later...
He would prove that he was the one who was right.
Danzō murmured this inwardly.
He made his way back toward Root, his mind now firmly set — for the ti being, he would lie low, quietly recruit new mbers, and preserve his strength.
He would return when the ti was ripe.
However...
Danzō didn't know that his very first step was already a misstep.
Looking for the old mbers?
The mont Kyoichi got the list, he imdiately scattered the people around; there was no need to watch too many targets.
Just focusing on Noyuki Komano's side was enough.
The old mbers returning — that wouldn't be what destroyed Danzō. But coercing children to join the Root organization, forcing them into brutal, inhumane training...
That would bring consequences.
Old bastard...
Can't handle Black Zetsu, and you think you can handle ?
Kyoichi didn't take Danzō too seriously. This guy had stayed in the shadows too long — his actions lacked any sense of boldness.
All sches and conspiracies, but not soone fit to shoulder great responsibility.
Leaving the research institute, Kyoichi returned to the academy.
Konan was still in class.
Kyoichi used the Telescope Technique to check in on things, then began drafting the future plans for the Chūnin class.
Chūnin retraining was definitely sothing that had to be arranged.
But as for scheduling...
It would have to be staggered around their missions — they were shinobi, after all. They couldn't just sit in the village every day.
That would be a massive waste.
Kyoichi pondered for a mont, then quickly began writing with a swish, swish.
He had a plan!
Why not tweak the systems for KPIs and academic credits? Wouldn't that fit perfectly?
Just let them compete.
That kind of competition was healthy.
Being a shinobi was a life-or-death profession; learning an extra jutsu or gaining extra knowledge could only benefit them — most shinobi wouldn't turn down such an opportunity.
Of course...
It couldn't be too rigid.
After weighing it carefully, Kyoichi removed several overly strict rules, leaving only the annual training assessnts and course requirents for ordinary shinobi under fifteen.
The rest could be added later.
As for geniuses like Kakashi... there was no need to waste resources on them for now.
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