Chapter 182: Terms of Cooperation

Danzō's cane struck the floor of the passage at a steady pace. Two guards walked beside him. After more than ten minutes underground, they reached a broad chamber lit by flickering candles. Specimens, framed pictures, and unfamiliar instruments lined its walls.

"At last, Danzō."

The guards checked the room before he entered. Orochimaru waited on the far side, smiling as Danzō lowered himself onto a sofa opposite him.

"An invitation from you is a surprise," Danzō said. "How long has it been since we last spoke? Aren't you afraid I'll bring ANBU here and destroy this place?"

"I have a proposal. I don't think you'll refuse it."

Orochimaru's tongue passed over his lips.

"Who else can give you the means to suppress both the Sharingan and Hashirama's cells?"

Danzō's visible eye remained fixed on him. "What do you want? Root has been dissolved. I hold no power in Konoha now. You may have come to the wrong man."

"Your influence has never depended entirely on your office. If it had, you could not have held Root for so long."

"Flattery wastes time."

"Then I'll be direct. During the next international Chūnin Exams, I need one man sent away from the village. Arrange that, and I'll give you the technology you want."

Danzō leaned both hands on his cane.

"Who?"

"Tobitake Tonbo."

"What are you planning?"

"To kill the old man in front of everyone. I imagine you'd enjoy that. He used the Uchiha affair to strip you of your position. An old comrade, discarded when he became inconvenient."

Danzō did not answer the provocation. Sending Tonbo away would be simple enough. An important mission could occupy him for months. What concerned Danzō was the purpose behind Orochimaru's stated purpose. The man rarely laid every part of a scheme before anyone else.

"It isn't a difficult request," Orochimaru said.

Jiraiya and Tsunade were usually outside the village. With them absent, Tonbo was the remaining shinobi in Konoha whom Orochimaru particularly wanted removed before he acted. Danzō still had more than enough influence to arrange an assignment.

"I'll consider it," Danzō said at last. "Leave a way to contact you. If I decide to help, you'll hear from me. If I decide otherwise..."

"You'll have me arrested?"

Orochimaru laughed softly. The threat did not trouble him. He knew the man across from him, and he knew what he was offering.

Danzō rose. His guards moved with him toward the passage.

"Won't you stay for dinner? Your two friends are welcome as well."

The cane stopped for a moment.

"I have no time to eat with you."

Then the footsteps resumed, fading into the dark.

Orochimaru remained seated, thinking of the plan ahead. Jiraiya could wander the world searching for a child of destiny if he liked. Why spend a lifetime waiting for such a child when one could make one instead?

Everything that mattered had to remain in Orochimaru's own hands. Above all, his life. He did not intend to die.

Back on Konoha's streets, one of Danzō's guards turned his cat mask toward him.

"Can Orochimaru be trusted?"

"That isn't your concern. I will handle it."

Danzō walked on into the sunlight, still considering the offer.

Elsewhere in the village, Naruto stopped and looked over his shoulder. A square of camouflage cloth pressed itself against a wall. One small foot protruded beneath it.

He walked a few more paces. The foot followed.

Konohamaru had gone to see his grandfather that day and witnessed something astonishing: Naruto had used a technique that defeated the Hokage. If he could learn it, Tenyu and Maki would not stand a chance. He had been following Naruto ever since.

"Couldn't you try a less obvious way of doing that?" Naruto asked.

Konohamaru lowered the cloth and folded his arms, as though being discovered had been his intention all along.

"Since you've noticed me, I'll let you be my big brother."

"No."

"I'm the Third Hokage's grandson. I order you to take me as your little brother."

Naruto pointed proudly at himself. "I'm the Fourth Hokage's son. You're a generation below me. You can't order me around."

Konohamaru stared. "You can't be. The Fourth Hokage is dead."

"People can have children before they die, idiot!"

Hiruzen had confirmed it. Naruto had gone through the day scarcely able to keep the news inside himself. He looked up at the monument, where the Fourth's face watched over the village. His father was dead, but he had been a hero. That face would still be there when Naruto looked up tomorrow.

He was the Fourth Hokage's son. He was not a demon fox.

"I don't care," Konohamaru declared. "You're my big brother now."

He wanted to beat the twins more than he wanted to argue over Hokage family trees.

Naruto lifted his chin. "Well, since I'm in a good mood, I'll allow it."

He had plenty of reasons to be pleased. Learning the Shadow Clone Technique had persuaded the Third to let him graduate despite his earlier failure. Tomorrow he would return to the Academy to receive his forehead protector.

There would be something else, too. Hiruzen had promised a special reward, something that would make him stronger, without explaining what it was.

A father to be proud of, graduation, a mysterious gift, and now someone who wanted to follow him. Naruto could afford to be generous.