"Since that's the case, that guy is useless now. Get rid of him, and don't leave any traces."
Unable to guess the Root's purpose for stealing children from the Land of Hot Water, Insect Man spoke to the interrogator.
"Don't worry, when it comes to handling corpses, our interrogation department is professional."
Watching Insect Man leave, the interrogator reopened the rusty iron door and walked inside.
◎
In the cold laboratory, a dozen children stared blankly at the pale walls and the almost harsh white lights above.
Several medical ninja wearing white masks were injecting them.
Splurt!
Splurt!
Splurt!
A lot of trees grew from inside the children's bodies, blood splattered everywhere.
Outside, through a glass wall, Danzo coldly watched what was happening inside, accompanied by two Root Jonin guards.
Soon, a medical ninja came out of the laboratory.
"Lord Danzo, the experiment has failed."
"I know, just use a new batch."
"But at this rate..."
The medical ninja's face showed hesitation, bowing his head deeply, his body was trembling slightly.
"I'll give you two more months. You must cultivate a successful subject. As for the test subjects, don't worry, there's an endless supply."
Danzo's cold gaze pierced straight into the medical ninja's heart.
"I'm sorry, Lord Danzo, I... I can't continue any longer. You should find someone else."
The medical ninja's voice was already shaking.
Danzo coldly glanced at him, letting out an unhappy grunt.
Just as he was about to say something, numerous figures suddenly burst through the iron door from outside.
The two Jonin guards next to Danzo quickly assumed a defensive formation to protect him.
However, when they recognized the identities of the intruders, they were momentarily stunned.
They wore similar attire, but the type of paint on their masks was different; they were Anbu Ninja directly under the Hokage.
The number was at least four teams, a squad's worth of personnel.
Danzo squinted his eyes and looked at the ninja leading the Anbu.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen had a stern face, without saying a word, he walked to Danzo's side and ordered the medical ninjas conducting the experiments, "Stop the Wood Style experiments. You can all leave."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Hearing the Hokage's order, the medical ninja sighed in relief, quickly departing from the scene.
"Danzo, I should have asked you to stop the Wood Style experiments two months ago. Why did you continue secretly?"
Hiruzen coldly stared at Danzo, rage burning in his eyes.
Although the Wood Style experiment had his implicit consent, it was conducted only with the voluntary participation of the village's ninja.
Due to slow progress and low success rate, all the Konoha Ninja who volunteered for the Wood Style experiments died during the process. On records, they were marked as having died in the line of duty, with compensation provided to their families.
Back then, the Wood Style experiments were halted by him as Hokage, and no one was allowed to continue with such experiments.
Facing the wrathful Hiruzen, even Danzo felt some fear, yet he stubbornly said, "I'm doing this for Konoha. As long as we can cultivate a Wood Style ninja, the sacrifices would be meaningful."
"The Land of Rain, the Land of Rice Fields, the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Tea... You've been sending Root Ninja into these countries constantly, you should know better than me what you've done."
With a sigh, Hiruzen continued.
"Luckily, it hasn't escalated into an international incident. I can forgive you this time, but there won't be a next time. Erase all traces and data."
"Stopping the Wood Style experiments at this point, you'll regret it, Hiruzen."
Danzo knew with Hiruzen's intervention, the Wood Style experiments would be completely terminated here, and felt unwilling.
Because he wasn't the Hokage, he could only follow Hiruzen's orders, anticipating more stringent surveillance afterward.
But this matter wouldn't end.
Cultivating a Wood Style ninja for Root had significant implications.
With Wood Style, they wouldn't need to fear the Uchiha's Sharingan, and could even control Tailed Beasts.
In that case, the Hokage position would be within reach.
Danzo left with the two Root Jonin, a trace of melancholy on Hiruzen's face.
Danzo was really getting out of hand.
When did he become so ruthless?
Dealing with the Uchiha clan was one thing, and now the same with Wood Style experiments.
Danzo, this is the last time I'll tolerate your actions. If it happens again, I will... Hiruzen looked in the direction Danzo left, with a firm resolve forming in his heart.
◎
The next morning.
Hiruzen arrived early at the Hokage Building office. Seeing the village basked in the morning sun, it was a scene of harmony and peace, bringing a smile to his face.
Yet, thinking of yesterday's incident with Danzo, his expression turned troubled.
After staring out the window for a while, Hiruzen put aside these thoughts and started his day's work.
As the day progressed, many Jonin and Chunin came to take on missions suitable for themselves, something Hiruzen was long accustomed to.
At around ten o'clock, the office door opened again.
Ruri walked in from outside.
Not long ago, a Genin from her team was accepted into the Intelligence Division, and had submitted a resignation letter to Ruri yesterday, indicating that they would be working in Konoha's Intelligence Division.
Ruri didn't stop them, as compared to a regular team, the job at the Intelligence Division was busier but much safer, and the monthly salary was stable.