ALL NOVEL 94. Orochimaru and Danzo: A Clandestine Alliance (1)
A few weeks later, as Konoha ramped up its preparations for the world war in a mobilization effort of historic proportions, a clandestine meeting took place deep within one of the village's most notorious locales.
The Forty-Fourth Training Ground, better known as the Forest of Death, was infamous for its perilous terrain, teeming with gigantic and often venomous flora and fauna, making it an ideal location for keeping secrets hidden from prying eyes.
Beneath the deceptive chaos of the Forest of Death lay a labyrinth of dark, eerie hallways leading to a highly confidential research center.
This facility, operated under the command of Orochimaru, was utilized for a range of secretive experiments, forming the core of his newly established 'semi-secret' division.
The lab was staffed with his trusted assistants, diligently working on advanced research projects far from the light of day.
However, the secrecy of this facility extended even further. Unbeknownst to the Hokage and concealed from all official records, there was a hidden, underground passageway that connected Orochimaru's hidden research center directly to Danzo's Root headquarters located deep inside one of the parts of the Hokage Rock's Mountain.
Inside the Hokage's Rock Mountain, a little closer to the village was the more fancy Anbu HQ connected to the Hokage Building.
It was within this shadowy corridor that Orochimaru and Danzo chose to meet, away from the watchful eyes of their allies and enemies alike.
Danzo's voice carried a hint of irony as he addressed Orochimaru in the dimly lit secrecy of their meeting room, "Pity, you just basically established this new facility completely and you have to go to war now right away without fully utilizing it..."
Orochimaru, ever composed and calculating, let a slight smile play across his lips in response to Danzo's comment,
"Well, the facility isn't entirely dependent on my presence. I've ensured it's staffed with competent researchers, and the teacher has also promised more support than ever before...", He said with a slight, knowing smirk.
He then leaned slightly forward, lowering his voice, adding a layer of gravity to his words, "And to be honest, it is even better that some of the more dangerous parts of my research, like kidnapping and human experimentation, are conducted outside of Konoha, especially during such politically sensitive times...",
Orochimaru's expression then carried a hint of malevolence as he continued to outline his plans, his eyes glinting with the prospect of expanding his research under the cover of war,
"And not only that, additionally, the teacher himself has covertly acquiesced to those kinds of experimentations, and will even help me, provided they are conducted outside of Konoha.",
"Thus, I plan to establish a similar secret research center in Kusagakure, which will also serve as the command center for the Western Front I am leading, If everything goes well for us...",
He paused, the shadows of the room seeming to deepen around him as he spoke, "We already have Land of Rain nearly secured to be neutral to friendly during this war, which means that the neighboring 'Grass' will be the whole center of our focus for my Division.",
"So, If I can cement our control over Kusagakure during the war quickly, it would provide the perfect playground for the 'secret and ambiguous' parts of my research alongside the bulk of research still being done here openly; It is something like simply a match made in heaven...", He said, his voice low and laced with a sinister undertone.
This revelation revealed not just his strategic mind but also his willingness to exploit wartime chaos for his ambitions, pushing the boundaries of ethics in pursuit of his inscrutable goals.
Danzo responded then, his voice low and persuasive as he saw an opportunity to deepen his involvement in Orochimaru's clandestine activities for some reason,
"Establishing such a system inside a foreign territory definitely won't be an easy task...", He acknowledged, his tone suggesting the gravity of the undertaking.
"Why don't you let me and my 'Root' help you? We are perfect for that...", Danzo offered, his eyes narrowing slightly as he proposed his involvement, "Hiruzen can grant you permissions or funds, but we can truly help you with everything 'on the ground' to get it up and running."
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened, his instinct for caution and calculation coming to the forefront as he addressed Danzo's previous offer. The faint, sinister smile faded into a more guarded expression, "And what do you want in return, Danzo...?",
He asked slowly, his voice tinged with suspicion. His narrowed, snake-like eyes studied Danzo intently, seeking to discern the true intentions behind the 'generous' proposal.
Danzo's posture opened up as he spoke, gesturing with open arms, aiming to convey sincerity and openness in his proposal,
"I just want sincere cooperation with you...", He continued, his voice steady and seemingly honest, "I want to establish Root's foreign research facility right where you also build your own. And I want us to sincerely cooperate going forward.",
He laid out his vision for their collaboration, speaking of mutual benefit and shared goals, "I will help you with the research you were tasked by Hiruzen, in terms of procuring everything you need and everything else.",
"In return, you will assist me with some of my own research projects, mainly concerning that jutsu you've also previously explored and I finally managed to obtain info about from Hiruzen...",
Danzo explained, referencing a specific technique that always piqued his interest—one that Orochimaru had dabbled in before.
"I just need some of your initial observations written down first of what you discovered, and then occasional help in then Kusagakure for my researchers...", He added, specifying the nature of the help he expected from Orochimaru.
Danzo's tone was earnest, aiming to reassure Orochimaru that his intentions were focused on collaboration rather than control. Danzo knew exactly how crucial Orochimaru's help could be, not only due to his awesome intellect but also his long history with the technique.
It would cut quite a big part of the learning curve for Danzo and his subordinates, as Orochimaru got that technique from Hiruzen, as a reward for completing some S-level missions, and had it since decades ago already.
Orochimaru's tone took on a note of intrigue as he delved deeper into the specifics of the jutsu that Danzo was interested in,
"Yeah, I understand you, Danzo... The Edo Tensei... Is truly a fascinating concept, full of potential. It was the most fascinating and 'broken' jutsu concept I've encountered thus far...", He acknowledged, recognizing the potential power and the bizarre nature inherent to the technique in question.
"However, that is precisely the problem—it is more a 'concept' than a fully developed jutsu. It requires heavy human experimentation to progress it a step further...", Orochimaru explained, highlighting the dark necessities that such research entailed.
His gaze narrowed slightly as he continued, "It's just that previously I never had the permission or resources to conduct something like that...", His voice trailed off for a moment, suggesting the frustrations and limitations he had previously faced.
"But, it seems you really managed to convince the teacher to give it to you now finally? Is it due to all the sky-high pressure that has been mounting on our faction? And his position...?",
He commented with a 'knowing' expression, it appears he used a similar tactic for his own research permissions and funds from the Hokage previously, just like Danzo hinted at too.
Danzo responded with a nod, his voice carrying a tone of satisfaction from the recent developments, "Yes, Hiruzen has fully agreed and has already provided me with all the necessary information about it. So, are you on board?", He continued, reinforcing the benefits of their cooperation, "We will share all the findings about the jutsu with you as well...",
His offer was strategically framed to appeal to Orochimaru's thirst for knowledge and advancement in his forbidden arts, presenting it as a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Orochimaru's response came with a sly smile, also mentioning the deep roots of their past collaborations, "Of course, how could I say no to that? And weren't we old partners in Root already up until recently..?", He could be even seen as the vice-leaders there until recently as the Orochimaru's ventured on his path as Hiruzen allowed him establish this department.
As he considered Danzo's proposal, Orochimaru's mind also raced through the broader implications of the research on Edo Tensei. He recognized not only the inherent value of mastering such a jutsu but also its potential to significantly enhance his other ventures, particularly those involving the manipulation of souls.
This realization deepened his interest in the collaboration, viewing it as a pivotal opportunity to advance his understanding and manipulation of life and death, which could revolutionize his other experiments, goals, and broaden the scope of his influence in the shinobi world.
"Then, it's settled, Orochimaru. Let's make great progress together. I will also provide you maximum help with your Hashirama's cells research...", He declared, an edge of enthusiasm barely contained in his voice as he considered the vast potential of their combined efforts.
As the power of the Anti-Hokage coalition grew and the display of the Hyuga Patriarch still lingered, Hiruzen recognized the vulnerabilities in his own position, to this extent, for the first time. Faced with this mounting pressure, he made strategic concessions, long-coveted, to both Danzo and Orochimaru, at the same time, aiming to fortify his faction's capabilities.
Despite his reservations and a lesser degree of trust, for the two in question, due to various reasons, mostly to do with their personality types, compared to other members of his faction like Jiraiya and others for example, Hiruzen still had a long-standing personal connection with both Danzo and Orochimaru, at the end of the day, which influenced his decision.
Recognizing the necessity of bolstering their faction's and interest group's power to counter the growing threats, Hiruzen agreed to support their ambitions for advanced research—ventures he had previously been reluctant to authorize due to their 'ethical implications'.
Danzo was given the green light to delve deeper into the secrets of Edo Tensei, while Orochimaru was allowed to pursue research involving Hashirama Senju's genetics.
This marked a significant shift for Hiruzen, who, for the first time, set aside his usual 'principled stance', or better said 'sanctimonious cover', that was constantly 'turned on' to the outside world, even his closest associates, to engage in morally ambiguous activities.
He authorized Orochimaru to exhume Hashirama's grave to retrieve his DNA—a move fraught with personal and ethical conflicts, considering Hashirama was not only the village founder but also a relative of his own disciple, Tsunade, and Hiruzen's own mentor. This decision underscored the desperation Hiruzen felt to maintain his leadership and 'safeguard the village' amidst an increasingly hostile political landscape. He was willing to push the boundaries of conventional morality to enhance their strength and ensure their survival.
This shift in strategy was a testament to the severe pressures he faced, driving him to secure any advantage possible to counteract the schemes of his rivals and solidify his position within the village.
Internally now, Danzo felt a surge of satisfaction. He was already planning to mobilize Root's resources, intending to push his personnel to work tirelessly—day and night—to refine and enhance the Edo Tensei technique beyond its original, initial design by Tobirama as soon as possible to be useful on time before the Konoha perishes from their enemies in his opinion.
Danzo was acutely aware and was familiar with the jutsu's current limitations—its slight impracticality in battle, the reduced strength of the summoned shinobi, compared to when they were actually alive, and the restriction of only being able to summon one shinobi.
Yet, he envisioned a future where these shortcomings were overcome, transforming Edo Tensei into a formidable tool of war and control,
'If mastered successfully, this jutsu could be my ticket to unparalleled power...', Danzo thought, his strategic mind already plotting the applications of such a powerful tool.
Unlike the complex biological manipulations involved with Hashirama's cells, Edo Tensei was a jutsu—a technique rooted in the mystical and martial aspects of the shinobi world, areas where Danzo felt a confident mastery.
This confidence bolstered his commitment to the project, driven by the belief that mastering this jutsu would not only cement his personnel power, help him defeat all of the internal 'enemies' of the village, but also secure a significant advantage for their village in terms of the global positioning, preparing it for his grand goal of conquering all the other villages.
Danzo was well aware that Hiruzen had not fully grasped the vast potential of the Edo Tensei jutsu. If Hiruzen had truly understood its capabilities, he likely would have taken a more active role in its development rather than delegating the research almost exclusively to him. This oversight presented him with a strategic opportunity.
By the time Danzo mastered the technique, even if Hiruzen later pressured him to share the research findings and secrets, after realizing how valuable it was, it would be too late for that as Danzo thought that he would be even stronger than Hiruzen at that time.
But, even if not and Hiruzen pressures him successfully, it would then take considerable time for Hiruzen himself, or anyone else, to learn and apply the complex jutsu effectively, and also gauge right from wrong from the information provided to them.
During this period, Danzo planned to leverage his newfound knowledge to significantly enhance his standing within the village, potentially shifting the balance of power in his favor more than ever before. This strategic advantage could enable him to solidify his influence.
Danzo's mind was already racing ahead to future possibilities as he considered the broader implications of his collaboration with Orochimaru, 'If everything goes to plan, I might even obtain some of those Senju cells transplanted into me, at a later date, after the research and technological breakthroughs get finished... That would truly make me 'untouchable' then...',
He mused inwardly, his thoughts tinged with optimism and a hint of cunning. That would also go quite well with and allow him to summon more shinobi under his command during fights with the Edo Tensei.
However, Danzo's brief moment of satisfaction was swiftly undercut by Orochimaru's intense scrutiny and direct proposition.
Leaning forward, his demeanor a calculated blend of sincerity and strategic foresight, Orochimaru addressed him directly,
"Danzo, could you perhaps start looking into acquiring the Byakugan or Sharingan kekkei genkai as soon as possible with your organization? Or better said just when are you planning to do that? You're an expert in such matters, unlike me, and besides, my role in this war constrains me...",
