Chapter 9: Being Born in the Hidden Leaf Is Even More Dangerous
"Hiruzen, have them step outside first. I have something to talk to you about."
Hidden Leaf Village, Hokage Office. Danzo Shimura walked in with a chilling expression.
Hearing that, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately stopped his work and had everyone present leave.
"Everyone's gone. Speak. What is it?" After clearing the room, Hiruzen asked Danzo.
"The assassination mission against Yotsuki Ziyun failed. Orochimaru is severely wounded," Danzo said, spitting out a few words.
"With Orochimaru's strength, assassinating under the Third Raikage's nose really is difficult."
In truth, the moment Hiruzen saw Danzo's grim face, he already knew what was coming.
Assassinating someone right under the watch of the strongest Raikage in history was never going to be easy.
"Don't be so calm, Hiruzen. This is different from the previous attempts." Annoyed by Hiruzen's unsurprised reaction, Danzo quickened his speech.
"The one who injured Orochimaru wasn't the Third Raikage, and it wasn't the Hidden Cloud ANBU."
"It was that brat, Yotsuki Ziyun."
"What? Is that really true?"
Hearing Danzo's words, Hiruzen's expression finally cracked, his face darkening.
Yotsuki Ziyun had only just graduated. How could he possibly injure Orochimaru?
"According to Orochimaru, Yotsuki Ziyun's newly developed technique is extremely strange. It resembles the Hidden Mist's Hozuki clan Hydrification Technique, but it goes even further."
"Whether taijutsu or ninjutsu, nothing can harm Yotsuki Ziyun."
"That genius is far more terrifying than I imagined!"
A deep wariness flashed in Danzo's eyes.
According to Orochimaru's description, Yotsuki Ziyun had nearly crippled him in an almost one-on-one situation.
With Orochimaru's current elite jonin-level strength, the only ones who could beat him head-on were Kage-level powerhouses.
Could it be that Yotsuki Ziyun, at such a young age, had already stepped into the Kage realm?
It sounded absurd.
But the reality remained: Orochimaru had been severely wounded in a one-on-one.
Danzo was even more willing to believe that Orochimaru's intelligence on Yotsuki Ziyun was incomplete, which led to the failure.
Intelligence.
For shinobi, intelligence was life.
"His talent is already at this level at such a young age. If we let him keep growing, he will definitely become a major threat to the Hidden Leaf."
Hiruzen's eyes also filled with deep wariness.
As Orochimaru's teacher, Hiruzen understood better than anyone how high Orochimaru's talent and strength were.
Among the younger generation in the Hidden Leaf, Orochimaru's talent was unquestionably the most outstanding. He was also the one Hiruzen valued the most.
If Orochimaru lost to Yotsuki Ziyun, it meant Ziyun's talent was higher than Orochimaru's—far higher.
If a genius like that were allowed to grow up healthy, then with the Third Raikage's ambition, the Hidden Leaf would eventually be swallowed up.
"No. We must find a way to kill him. At the very least, we must obtain all of Yotsuki Ziyun's current intelligence," Danzo said.
"What? Orochimaru didn't even figure out all of Yotsuki Ziyun's intelligence?" Hiruzen froze.
Just how far had Yotsuki Ziyun grown?
"Orochimaru only exchanged a few moves before being defeated. In any case, what we know for now is that ninjutsu and taijutsu are useless against Yotsuki Ziyun," Danzo said irritably.
Hiruzen's reaction was exactly the same as Danzo's when he first heard it.
"Ninjutsu and taijutsu are both ineffective… troublesome. What about genjutsu and sealing techniques?" Hiruzen frowned.
"Unknown. Orochimaru didn't even have time to use genjutsu or sealing techniques before being defeated."
"Fine. We have to clarify that," Hiruzen said helplessly.
Why didn't a genius like Yotsuki Ziyun appear in the Hidden Leaf?
If he had appeared in the Hidden Leaf, they wouldn't be so wary.
If Ziyun heard Hiruzen say that, he would probably laugh until his teeth fell out.
With the narrow-mindedness of Hiruzen and Danzo, being a genius born in the Hidden Leaf would only be even more dangerous.
He probably wouldn't even get the chance to grow before someone targeted him. After all, killing one's own was easier than killing an enemy.
"The problem is, now that we've tested him, the Hidden Cloud will definitely tighten security. And Orochimaru failed too. Are we supposed to send someone from the Uchiha clan? Or do I personally make a move?" Danzo frowned, troubled.
Those old underhanded tactics worked for scheming people to death, but they weren't very useful against a genius protected deep inside another village.
"There's no way? I have a good idea."
Hiruzen shot Danzo a glance, then made a signal. Immediately, an ANBU appeared inside the office.
"Go. Send a message to the Third Raikage. Tell him the Hidden Leaf is willing to form an alliance with the Hidden Cloud."
"If the Hidden Cloud is willing, the Hidden Leaf doesn't mind contributing some supplies and money."
"But the premise is that the Hidden Cloud must demonstrate some strength worthy of an alliance."
Hiruzen smiled warmly.
Danzo instantly understood Hiruzen's meaning.
The two old schemers exchanged a smile that said, "We understand."