I’m Not Naruto, But I Got a Better Bloodline

"You're saying Orochimaru handed our intel over to Konoha?"

Land of Rain — Amegakure.

Beneath a curtain of rain, Pain stared coldly at Uchiha Obito.

"Yeah, quite a bit of it. But not everything. He still knows how to hold back."

Obito nodded. He had sent Black Zetsu to Konoha to dig into Shimura Danzō's secrets, planning to hit from all angles.

But he hadn't expected this kind of mess to break out during the investigation.

Originally, Obito had intended to keep this information under wraps—but after Black Zetsu's warning, he decided it was worth delivering in person.

He didn't get along with Nagato, but Pain was deeply tied to the restoration of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path—and to everything they were planning for the future.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru had both gone too far. If Konoha started sniffing around too much, it could derail everything they were working toward.

"We don't even need Orochimaru to expose us. According to the intel, Shimura Danzō is investigating things himself. He's planning to reach out to Hanzō of the Salamander, which means—"

"You're worried he'll come to Amegakure?"

Pain scoffed and responded with icy indifference.

"If he really does… then I'll personally—"

"—Kill him?"

Obito let out a cold snort, cutting him off with words straight from Black Zetsu's warning.

"And then the entirety of Konoha will know we're here. They'll come after us in force. Don't forget what happened with Iwagakure."

Pain fell silent.

He didn't think Iwa had discovered much, but there were rumors that Deidara had gone to Konoha.

So, it's possible that Konohagakure and Iwagakure have been exchanging intel—if they've been coordinating on information, then...

"So, what do you suggest we do?"

Pain wasn't willing to gamble on it. If it were just about him personally, he could manage.

But he also bore responsibility for Amegakure—and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path still required energy. Right now was absolutely the wrong time to be exposed.

"We won't let them go unpunished," Uchiha Obito said with a cold smirk, his voice low. "But it can't happen here, not in the Land of Rain."

"They're currently in Sugi Village," he continued. "Because of the Fourth Raikage incident, they likely can't leave just yet, so…"

"You're saying we pose as if we're on a mission in that area… and just happen to run into them?"

Pain instantly grasped Obito's meaning. It did seem like a solid plan.

Still, a quiet sigh formed in his heart. Who would've thought things would spiral into this?

A name surfaced in his mind—a man who, together with Hanzō of the Salamander, had led to Yahiko's death. The same man who kept stirring up trouble time and again.

'Shimura Danzō.'

'You truly deserve to die.'

...

"Still no news?"

In Konohagakure, at the Root Division headquarters—

Shimura Danzō sat quietly, waiting for a response from Orochimaru.

It had already been over a week since Orochimaru agreed to the arrangement. The funds and supplies had long since been transferred. All Danzō could do now was wait.

Truth be told, he hadn't wanted to pay up first, but after cooperating with Orochimaru for so many years, this had become their usual method of operation.

At the very least, it had produced results before.

"Let's just hope nothing goes wrong this time..."

Danzō muttered to himself, but right then, a furious voice suddenly echoed through the compound.

"Shimura Danzō! Come out here this instant!"

The shout made Danzō flinch violently. That voice was both familiar and unfamiliar.

He knew it was an old friend's voice, but it had been a long time since he'd heard Sarutobi Hiruzen this angry.

As that thought passed through his mind, he saw Hiruzen walk in with a thunderous expression.

Several members of the Anbu followed behind him.

Danzō's heart skipped a beat.

Were they planning to surround Root again?

"Hiruzen, what's going on?"

Although suspicion and unease swirled inside him, Danzō still kept his composure and stood up to speak.

"What's the problem?"

The moment Hiruzen thought about the report, his head throbbed. But he could only suppress his fury and force the words out.

"Back then, during the events in the Land of Rain—how much did you hide?"

Hearing this, Danzō felt his own anger rise.

That incident had always weighed heavily on him, and now Hiruzen was dredging it up again?

"What happened? Why are you suddenly asking about that?"

Though he was upset, one look at Hiruzen's expression made Danzō hold his tongue.

"Jiraiya encountered Orochimaru."

Hiruzen took a deep breath, his expression grim and heavy.

"Orochimaru revealed some intel. Some members of that mysterious organization—the Akatsuki—were originally the targets of a purge you and Hanzo carried out back then. So I'm asking you again: what the hell happened?"

"…"

Danzō's pupils shrank.

He hadn't expected Jiraiya and Orochimaru to run into each other at all.

Wasn't Jiraiya supposed to be out looking for Tsunade?

What in the world had happened in between?

Whatever it was, Danzō knew this was now a serious problem.

He had suspected that the ones who wiped out his Root operatives back then might've been members of Akatsuki—but the identities hadn't lined up!

"I don't know the full story either," he replied at last. "Back then, Hanzo invited me to help eliminate a rebel faction and promised us his support in return."

Danzō's face darkened as he spoke in a forced tone of helplessness.

"I did it for the sake of Konoha. That's why I got involved. But something went terribly wrong. Hanzo told me they had all been wiped out!"

"Wiped out?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued to fix a piercing stare on Danzō.

"If they were really wiped out, would something like this still be happening? Do you even know who those people were?"

Hiruzen was losing control now. Danzō had never told him about any of this!

Granted, even he didn't know that those people were Jiraiya's former disciples—because Jiraiya had never mentioned it to him either.

Back then, after the war ended, Jiraiya had gone missing for several years. Both Orochimaru and Tsunade had claimed he was just off taking time to relax.

Who would've thought the two of them had teamed up to lie to him… only for things to spiral into this mess?

"Who were they?"

Danzō asked, frowning in confusion, but Hiruzen simply waved his hand and turned away.

"At this point, there's no need to say more. I only have one demand—get in touch with Hanzo of the Salamander."

"Didn't you say this was all for Konoha? Then I'm giving you a direct order. I want to find out exactly what happened with those people."

"Where are they now? Do they hold any hatred toward Konoha? If you can't get me those answers… then I'm sorry, but you'd better prepare to return to retirement."

The moment he finished speaking, Hiruzen felt a noticeable weight lift from his chest.

Just moments ago, he had felt as if the sky itself was collapsing. He'd honestly wanted to just pass out and be done with it.

But unfortunately, no matter how badly he wished for it, he couldn't simply faint. All he could do was start taking care of what could be handled.

'Is this what they call venting?'

The thought crossed Hiruzen's mind. Either way, he felt significantly better now—even if it meant letting down an old friend a little.

Meanwhile, Danzō felt like half his soul had frozen over.

He opened his mouth, wanting to protest, but Hiruzen had already turned and walked away, not giving him the slightest chance to explain.

Return to retirement?

That was as good as a death sentence.

'Damn you, Orochimaru! You've dragged me down with you!'

Watching Hiruzen and the accompanying Anbu leave, Danzō couldn't help cursing silently in his heart.

'And Hanzo… You hid yourself so well. Don't tell me you're actually dead now?'

...

"Oi! Do we have a mission or what?"

Amegakure – Akatsuki base.

As the figures of the members materialized one by one, Hidan couldn't help shouting out.

Kakuzu shot him a glare from the side, but it had no effect—fortunately, Pain spoke up at that moment.

"There's an urgent mission this time. It's in Sugi Village. Anyone available should participate."

"Sugi Village?"

Uchiha Itachi frowned, speaking with a trace of confusion.

"Is something happening there?"

"We've run into a bit of trouble—not major, but not minor either. The target is currently in Sugi Village," Pain said coldly, sweeping his gaze across everyone present.

"And those people have been digging a little too deep into our business lately. Many of you have already encountered them more than once."

"More than once?"

Sasori raised an eyebrow. Suddenly, a realization struck him.

"You mean those guys from Konoha? That brat—Kitagawa Gen?"

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