"What are you trying to say?" Danzo narrowed his eyes and asked in a deep voice.
It looked like he was questioning Orochimaru, but at the same time, he subtly took two steps back.
However, Orochimaru didn't answer. He just watched with an amused expression.
Through his research on Hollow transformations, he had long discovered something. When a human undergoes Hollowfication, they develop a unique pressure field that affects any living thing nearby.
The stronger the Hollowed individual, the more terrifying this pressure field becomes. And when faced with another Hollowed being, its effects are even more pronounced.
That was why the Root ninjas had been unable to fight back against his massacre.
At first, Orochimaru thought he was the only one who had discovered this oppressive force.
But then he met Aizen. From him, he learned about "Reiatsu." That was when Orochimaru realized just how narrow his own understanding had been.
To him, Aizen was one of Danzo's most trusted subordinates. If Aizen knew about Reiatsu, then it was likely that Danzo's research on Hollows was even more advanced than his own.
But now, looking at Danzo's clueless face, Orochimaru felt like he had overestimated him. This guy probably didn't have a single clue.
If that was the case, then how did Aizen know about Reiatsu? Could it be...
As a certain thought crossed his mind, Orochimaru's smile widened. He licked his lips and murmured, "Interesting. This is getting really interesting."
Neither he nor Danzo had truly understood just how dangerous that kid, Aizen, really was.
Danzo had no idea what was going through Orochimaru's mind, but to him, this was the perfect chance for a sneak attack.
Silently, he moved his hands, preparing to weave hand seals.
Just as he began, a long blade suddenly pierced through his lower back, stabbing straight through his abdomen.
Danzo hadn't expected an attack from behind. He coughed up blood, staggering before barely steadying himself. Holding his wounded stomach, he turned around in shock. "You?!"
What he saw was his own masked subordinate.
"Sorry about this, Danzo-sama." The Root ninja removed his fox mask, revealing a young, delicate-looking face.
"You traitor!" Danzo's lips trembled as he slowly raised his right hand, seemingly about to activate some kind of technique.
"Don't waste your energy, Danzo." Orochimaru saw through him instantly and sneered. "That binding curse mark you placed on him? I already removed it."
"You... you bastard!" Danzo's face turned pale with fury. He finally realized—this was a setup. A carefully planned trap. "Why?! I've never wronged you!"
Not only had he never wronged Orochimaru, but they were also business partners. Danzo couldn't understand why Orochimaru would suddenly try to kill him.
"Well, who knows?" Orochimaru's expression turned strange. "Maybe you should ask your precious disciple."
"You mean... Aizen?!" Danzo was stunned, his face filled with disbelief.
"Ah, right. I heard some rumors—your dear disciple is already dead, isn't he?" Orochimaru chuckled. "In that case, you'll just have to go to the afterlife and ask him yourself. Kabuto, do it."
Orochimaru now knew that his earlier assumptions had been wrong. Danzo didn't have what he was looking for.
But at this point, it was too late to turn back. Orochimaru wasn't the type to leave loose ends.
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama." Yakushi Kabuto, who had been standing nearby, nodded slightly. Under the moonlight, his blade gleamed coldly.
Bright red blood splattered. Orochimaru gasped, his knees buckling.
What... What just happened?
Not far away, Danzo was just as stunned. His eyes widened in shock. *What is Kabuto doing?!*
"Kabuto!" Orochimaru gritted his teeth, his voice filled with rage. "You... you dare betray me?!"
"Kabuto didn't betray you. I'd appreciate it if you didn't blame him too harshly, Orochimaru-senpai."
A calm voice suddenly interrupted.
As the words fell, two figures slowly stepped out from the darkness.
Both Danzo and Orochimaru were frozen in place, eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
"How is this possible?!"
"Aizen-sama." Kabuto stepped toward Aizen and bowed deeply.
"Kabuto has always been loyal," Aizen said with a soft smile. "Just not to you."
After a brief silence, Orochimaru finally seemed to understand. His face darkened as he said, "So that's how it is... This was all part of your plan?"
"You catch on quickly, Orochimaru-senpai."
Aizen smiled and praised him in a soft voice. "I knew about your obsession with Hollowfication research. All I had to do was leak a little information about spiritual pressure, and you'd take the bait. As expected, you immediately assumed Danzo-sama was behind everything."
Quick to react, my ass! If I was really that sharp, how did I let this brat outplay me?!
Orochimaru felt like Aizen's compliment was actually mocking him, making his face turn red with anger.
Though he reacted a little late, Danzo finally realized he'd been played.
Aizen had faked his death to escape from his watch, then used Yakushi Kabuto to lure both him and Orochimaru into this trap, letting them fight it out. Danzo had to admit—it was a flawless scheme.
But there was still something that didn't add up. "When did you learn about Hollowfication?"
Danzo had kept all research and experiments on Hollowfication hidden from Aizen. Even though he considered Aizen his perfect creation, he had still been cautious and withheld information.
And yet, Aizen not only knew about Hollowfication but even had a more detailed understanding than Danzo himself. At the very least, Danzo didn't even know what spiritual pressure was.
"When did I find out?" Aizen smirked, his expression carrying a hint of mockery. "Why don't we change the question, Danzo-sama? Like, for example, the mission you assigned to the Seventh Division of Root. They were ordered to carry out an assassination for the Fire Country's finance minister. So why did they end up encountering the source of Hollowfication?"
Danzo's pupils shrank, and his face twisted in disbelief. "You... don't tell me—"
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