Danzo Shimura, the most dangerous man in the room and quite possibly the entire village, sat in the guest chair facing Yuki. His face was a stoic mask, devoid of any emotion, his singular eye tightly shut. The tension was a suffocating presence. Ryu's heart pounded so loudly in his chest that he was certain it echoed through the room as he concealed himself behind the bookshelf.
One of Danzo's masked subordinates silently handed him a scroll containing vital information. Yuki's expression shifted, her shoulders slumping in despair and fear as Danzo's single eye meticulously scanned the contents.
After examining the scroll's contents, Danzo exclaimed, "Twenty-eight children. I hope you did not conceal anything if you know what is best for you."
"As much as I wish I could, I know I can't deceive you," Yuki admitted, her tone steeped in bitter resignation.
Danzo replied, "You were always smart. You were always skilled at research and medicine-making, but you were never a good shinobi or spy and were only a mediocre healer, though the poisons that you created are still in use to this day."
Yuki's eyes filled with contempt as she retorted, "Our ideals were different. That was not how things were back then, under your father's leadership at the Root Division. He was similar to you, but not quite as extreme. Not to this extent. He had his limits that he wouldn't cross. He wouldn't stoop so low, no matter what, until the day he crossed those limits. I don't know what changed in him. I decided to cut myself off from the Root the day your father decided to cut off his humanity."
Anger and sadness warred in her voice, a complex mixture of emotions that spoke of a shared history and deep-seated regrets.
Danzo closed his eyes and dwelt on his father for a moment. He knew what changed him and why. But there was no point in telling.
Yuki added, "I am well aware of the experiments conducted in the shadows of the Root. I choose to keep my conscience clear."
The silent cloaked figure then began speaking, "Well, well, well. You know, as a researcher, I used to really admire you. For such things, you had a knack and insight," he hissed as he pulled back the cloak that concealed his face.
As the figure revealed his face, Yuki's eyes widened in shock.
"Orochimaru," she gasped.
The name hung in the air like a death sentence. Ryu felt his blood run cold, his mind racing with all he knew about this infamous shinobi. The presence of Danzo had already left Ryu sweating profusely; the addition of Orochimaru was paralyzing. "Please, let them not find me," Ryu prayed internally.
Orochimaru's lips curled into his signature unsettling grin. "It was a shame to lose such a valuable researcher. I was almost sad that day."
"So, you're both working together," Yuki stated flatly. "No surprises there."
With a menacing smile, he said, "No one knows outside the Root. If you knew what was best for you, you would prefer it that way. I doubt sensei is already aware of this, but still."
The room fell silent after Orochimaru's thinly veiled threat. Yuki, already strained by Danzo's presence, now faced the combined danger of both men. She felt ensnared between two ruthless predators, each radiating a menacing aura. Her eyes darted frantically between them, desperately seeking a lifeline to shield the vulnerable children under her charge.
Danzo was going through the list that his subordinate had provided as Orochimaru and Yuki were conversing, meticulously reviewing the qualities of each child.
Danzo turned to his subordinate and asked, "Is the kid hiding behind the bookshelf on the list as well?"
Ryu's intense dread crushed him, making him feel as though his very soul had abandoned him. His mind raced, desperately searching for a way out of this situation. But he knew, deep down, that there was no escaping the notice of these shinobi. The subordinate thought, "This kid is skilled at hiding. I didn't even notice him."
Orochimaru's gaze slid to the bookshelf, a predatory glint in his eyes. "Come out, kid. Playtime's over."
Ryu knew that he had been found, and he couldn't escape from these individuals. He slowly came out. Orochimaru looked at Ryu and smiled; the already-tense Ryu shivered in response. As Ryu stepped into view, he felt the weight of their gazes upon him. Danzo's single eye seemed to pierce through him, while Orochimaru's gaze made him feel like a specimen under a microscope. The subordinate recalled having examined the boy more closely than the others for some reason.
The subordinate looked at Danzo and replied, "The kid is useless, Lord Danzo."
Danzo glanced over at Ryu and then said, "He doesn't seem useless to me. The chakra is already activated; it is less than average, but the quality is better than average. Apart from his eyes and hair, his presence is also appropriate for spies."
The subordinate looked at Ryu and said, "Lord Danzo, his chakra was not active when I tested him. Besides, this kid is gravely ill." He paused and continued, "The boy has pneumonia and several other infections; he also has peptic ulcers."
Danzo looked at Yuki and said, "Are you faking it?".
Danzo's years of experience told him she was not. Without waiting for her reply, Danzo turned to face his subordinate.
The ninja answered, "I have confirmed it with Leaf Central Hospital."
Danzo looked at Yuki and said, "Sure, those are some serious illnesses, but not untreatable. Someone as capable as you surely would have treated him by now. I am disappointed."
Yuki replied, "Are you sure I haven't tried?"
Danzo looked at his subordinate again for an explanation. His organisation was short on staff, and he was not ready to lose any talent, however minor it was.
His subordinate explained, "All the diseases the boy has contracted can be treated with immunity boosters. They can afford it, despite having a limited budget. However, the boy's body is not strong enough for it. The side effects are too severe, and his body is rejecting other treatment methods as well. If his ulcers were not regularly healed, he would be on a strictly liquid diet, even though his diet is mostly simple. Even if he lived past the initial estimates, constant healing may lead to cancerous development. He might not make it past six months."
The Root ANBU's confirmation aligned with Ryu's own suspicions, which, ironically, simplified his immediate problem. Danzo remained silent the entire time his ANBU was explaining Ryu's situation to him. No hint of emotion—concern or pity—showed on his face. This was Danzo.
On the other hand, Orochimaru was the one who responded to it. He said, "What an unfortunate kid. You really have very awful luck. It's as if the gods themselves want you to die."
With a menacing grin that terrified Ryu, Orochimaru suggested, "We could thoroughly record your medical condition and involve you in research during your final days. What do you think, young man?"
Ryu felt a chill run down his spine at Orochimaru's words. The idea of being a research subject for this man was terrifying.
Yuki's anger erupted. "Don't even think about it. The boy has enough trouble," she snapped.
Orochimaru replied, "My, my, aren't you too protective?". He looked at Ryu and mockingly said, "Hey, chin up! Maybe a miracle cure will pop up in the next few months. Hee hee hee. One can always dream, right? Good Luck."
He then turned to Yuki and said, "Don't worry; a few months go by fast. It will be over soon for him."
Ryu's stomach churned violently in response to the callous cruelty laced within Orochimaru's words. Yuki, her face pale with restrained fury, looked at Danzo and said, "Go about your business and leave."
Her voice dripped with icy coldness, masking the seething anger that lay just beneath the surface.
Danzo stood up and started to leave. Outside, near the door, he stopped for a moment and said, "Make preparations."
With the closing of the door, a heavy silence settled in the room, the weight of the encounter still suffocating. Yuki did not move until the sounds of their footsteps had faded entirely. Only then did she place a trembling hand over the scroll Danzo had left, her jaw set with grim determination. Ryu looked at Yuki, unsure of what to say or do.