NOVEL NEXT Chapter 44: When Fugaku Caught Danzo Doing Shady Deeds
After Fugaku left, three people entered the room. They were the Konoha Council members: Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and Danzō Shimura.
"Do you truly believe what he said?" Danzo asked and scowled upon hearing the Third Hokage's account.
The Third Hokage took a puff of smoke and said, "At least there is nothing suspicious for now."
He looked sincere when he spoke, and a subtle sense of power radiated from him as he uttered his final words, convincing the listeners that he was serious.
Koharu Utatane nodded in agreement. "He has already sent his clan to the border as a sign of goodwill. Let's focus on the Sand Shinobi situation for now," she said with concern.
The third Hokage agreed. "Yes, that's the priority right now. The Uchiha are still part of Konoha. We shouldn't suspect them without evidence."
Danzo felt annoyed by their attitude, but he had no choice. He was not the Hokage, after all. He could only advise, not decide.
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It was nighttime. A secret research facility was located outside of Konoha. It was a cave with a door. Many Anbu could be seen guarding the door from afar. The cave was spacious and wide. consisting of countless experimental chambers lined up on both sides of the path.
These chambers were composed of glass, each filled with diverse and various experimental reagents.
"This one won't work."
"This one won't work either."
"This one failed."
"None of them work."
Orochimaru, who wore a Jonin vest and had long hair, pointed at the broken experimental chambers on both sides of the road and said calmly. Danzo followed him quietly. They stopped at the last experimental chamber that had someone inside.
"This experiment has also failed." Orochimaru said with a helpless gesture: "I assumed that growing children would be ideal for Hashirama's cell, but I was wrong. The children were too weak to handle it. My only option is to close down this research."
Danzo let out a sigh, seeming to be dissatisfied with this result.
Orochimaru noticed Danzo's dissatisfaction and said calmly, "Don't worry, there are still many methods for cell proliferation. I can start the next experiment soon."
They slowly departed, paying no heed to the child who was left in the test chamber, immersed in the liquid. The child's efforts to escape were futile and unnoticed by them.
"We must speed up the progress. Only by bringing Hashirama's power back to the world can we suppress the Uchiha," said Danzo with a cane in his hand.
Orochimaru smiled wickedly. "If we can find two Uchiha clan members who have awakened their Sharingan, maybe there will be other ways."
"No," Danzo replied. "Uchiha Fugaku is very strong, and he has already noticed us. We cannot do anything to his clan members now."
Orochimaru shrugged his shoulders. "Then I cannot help you."
"You go ahead and hurry to the next base and start the experiment; I'll take care of this place."
Orochimaru smiled, put his hands in his pockets, and walked towards the distant forest.
Danzo let out a sigh, ready to order the base to be sealed, when suddenly a sound of glass shattering came from inside. He rushed in and pushed open the door, surprised to see the six-year-old child in front of him. "You actually survived?" he asked in shock.
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"I made it clear where I stand, and it seems they view the Uchiha clan as expendable. However, in my estimation, the clan will not be targeted for the time being. If any action is taken against them, it will only be after this war has concluded."
After briefing Mikoto, Fugaku headed to Naka Shrine, where he contemplated in secret. With the war predicted to continue for years, he had ample time to lay the groundwork for the clan's safety.
Three figures flashed past from a distance. Fugaku reflexively used Sharingan, and he saw Danzo holding a child and walking towards the most remote place in Konoha.
Fugaku followed them inexplicably, keeping a safe distance with the cover of the night. Danzo entered a big stone door, and it slowly closed behind him.
Fugaku knew that this was where Danzo's root was located, but why would Danzo hold this child? From a safe distance, Fugaku touched his chin and thought that this should be an important person.
He estimated that the child was five to seven years old, meaning he was two to four years younger than Kakashi. Fugaku wondered if it could be Captain Yamato with Wood Release.
His guess made him surprised, and he thought that if that were the case, he might find a chance to study it. The ability brought by Hashirama's cell is the wood release.
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