Chapter 440: Furin

Chapter 440: Chapter 440: Furin

"You... you’re a member of the Kamigami?"

As the flowing black Iron Sand constricted tighter and tighter around him, the Root shinobi was already beginning to struggle for breath.

"That’s right!"

Naturally, the one wearing the mask patterned with raging winds was none other than Kagami, currently controlling the Type-A Wind Release clone.

He had come here for two reasons. First, to make a deal involving the Chimera Technique. Second, to acclimate himself to the Type-A Wind Release clone.

Although this Type-A Wind Release clone seemed almost tailor-made for Kagami’s spirit body, it was still like a newly tailored set of clothes—no matter how well it fit, he still needed to wear it for a while before it truly settled into place.

After all, the compatibility between a spirit body and a physical body involved far too many factors to judge purely by feeling. No matter how exceptional the Type-A Wind Release clone was, Kagami had no intention of skipping the acclimation process.

The Root shinobi’s face turned crimson as he struggled to ask between ragged breaths, "How... how did you know... that we have a Root... base here?"

With a wave of his hand, Kagami dispersed the Iron Sand binding the Root shinobi and said indifferently, "I have no interest in wasting words with you here. Lead the way. I want to see Danzo."

After kneeling on the ground and dry-heaving for a while, the Root shinobi stubbornly raised his head and said, "Lord Danzo isn’t here!"

"Is that so...?"

Kagami gave a soft snort before saying coldly, "Forget it. Killing my way inside isn’t particularly troublesome for me anyway."

The Root shinobi’s expression immediately stiffened.

"Please wait. I’ll report your arrival at once."

......

Inside the Root base.

Orochimaru leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and said in his hoarse voice, "Tch. I really don’t understand why. You’ve clearly done so many outrageous things, yet the old man still turns a blind eye to you. He officially disbanded Root, yet he still allowed you to retain this many subordinates."

"Orochimaru, watch your tone!"

Danzo slammed the cane in his hand heavily against the floor, and a fierce surge of chakra suddenly erupted from his body.

Feeling the sheer power of that chakra, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.

Danzo was the same age as the Third Hokage, and his body had long since begun declining with age. Moreover, Danzo had always been somewhat weaker than the Third Hokage, so someone as old and physically deteriorated as him should never have possessed chakra this powerful.

Thinking of a certain possibility, Orochimaru’s expression sharpened.

"You succeeded?"

Danzo did not deny it. He said solemnly, "This old man has already subdued the First Hokage’s cells!"

"Just as I thought!"

The mocking look in Orochimaru’s eyes as he stared at Danzo gained a trace of respect.

Although Orochimaru was often regarded as a madman, in truth, he was more cautious than almost any other researcher.

Because the ultimate goal he pursued was eternal life!

And precisely because of that, any experiment that might endanger his life was little more than an unnecessary risk in Orochimaru’s eyes.

Thus, when confronted with the enormous danger of transplanting the First Hokage’s cells, he chose to give up.

When confronted with the enormous danger of training in senjutsu, he once again chose to give up.

And when confronted with the Chimera Technique, whose hidden dangers were impossible to predict, he still chose to give up.

But just like Kagami, Orochimaru felt a sliver of admiration toward pioneers like Hiruko and Danzo—people willing to gamble with their own lives in pursuit of the unknown.

Of course...

It was only a sliver.

Danzo said solemnly, "You were once a member of the Akatsuki, and you’re an old acquaintance of Hiruko’s. I’m guessing you must have the Chimera Technique in your possession. Tell me, what do you want? As long as you hand over the Chimera Technique, I can satisfy any demand you make!"

Orochimaru smiled and was just about to speak.

Whoosh...

Suddenly, a Root shinobi appeared beside Danzo and leaned in, whispering a few words into his ear.

After hearing the report, Danzo frowned. But almost immediately, his brows relaxed again.

"Let him in."

"Yes!"

After respectfully acknowledging the order, the Root shinobi immediately used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared from the room.

Only then did Orochimaru ask from the side, "Who is it?"

Danzo replied, "Take a guess."

"Someone important enough to make you temporarily put aside your deal for the Chimera Technique must have quite an extraordinary identity." After a brief pause, Orochimaru smiled. "Don’t tell me it’s someone from the Akatsuki?"

Danzo shook his head.

Orochimaru frowned.

"Kamigami?"

Danzo did not answer. He merely shifted his gaze toward the corridor leading into the room.

A moment later, a figure wearing a black cloak with gold trim and a mask patterned with raging winds walked inside.

Danzo and Orochimaru immediately turned their gazes toward him, sizing Kagami up from head to toe.

At the same time, Kagami noticed Orochimaru standing off to the side and thought to himself, "Huh? What’s he doing here?"

Danzo asked, "Who exactly are you?"

Kagami replied in an icy tone, "Kamigami—Furin!"

"Furin!?"

Danzo and Orochimaru simultaneously mulled over the name.

They knew that every member of the Kamigami had a codename, and that codename often represented the member’s primary chakra nature.

For example, ’Kawa’ was a Kekkei Genkai shinobi who possessed Ice Release, while ’Homura’ was an Uchiha who specialized in Fire Release ninjutsu.

Since the person before them used ’Furin’ as his codename, it undoubtedly meant that his primary chakra nature was Wind.

In other words, he was the member of the Kamigami who possessed the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai!

Danzo continued, "How can you prove that you’re truly a member of the Kamigami and not merely an impostor?"

"Hmph!"

Accompanied by Kagami’s cold snort, a wave of Iron Sand suddenly swept toward Danzo!

Danzo’s figure flashed, narrowly avoiding the incoming Iron Sand.

"That’s enough. What business do you have with this old man?"

There were only a handful of people in the entire shinobi world who possessed the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai. Thus, after personally witnessing Kagami use Magnet Release, Danzo no longer had any doubts.

Retracting the Iron Sand, Kagami said, "The Third Hokage has grown old. He no longer possesses the resolve necessary to cooperate with our Kamigami. Therefore, the Kamigami requires a collaborator with both ambition and resolve—and you are one of the candidates we’ve chosen."

He paused before continuing, "To demonstrate our sincerity, we can sell you the Chimera Technique. If you require it, we can even sell you a living Chimera Bud...

"As long as you can afford the price!"

Danzo’s expression changed. "How did you get your hands on the Chimera Technique?"

He had only just proposed a deal involving the Chimera Technique to Orochimaru, yet the Kamigami had suddenly appeared at his doorstep offering the exact same thing. He couldn’t help but become wary.

Kagami answered frankly, "We captured Shinno of the Akatsuki and obtained the Chimera Technique from him."

After weighing the situation for a moment, Danzo asked, "What price must I pay to obtain the Chimera Technique and the living Chimera Bud?"

Kagami held up his hand.

"Fifty million!"

Danzo immediately furrowed his brows.

"That cheap?!"

After hearing Kagami’s asking price, Danzo instinctively began to wonder whether the Chimera Technique in his possession was even genuine...