The Third Hokage's heart was filled with turmoil and frustration.
He dreaded the possibility of Danzo successfully escaping, knowing he would have no way to face the consequences if he failed to bring him back.
But he also feared capturing Danzo, only to find him unwilling to surrender.
If possible, Hiruzen didn't want things to come to blows with Danzo. They were childhood friends and rivals who had grown up together.
"Hokage-sama, the trail is growing fainter. Shimura Danzo is highly skilled at concealing his tracks and is extremely familiar with ANBU's tracking techniques. I'm worried—"
"No matter what, we must find Danzo!"
The Third Hokage gritted his teeth in determination.
He had deliberately taken a small team of ANBU to pursue Danzo, avoiding a larger operation to prevent unnecessary attention.
He didn't want certain individuals, such as Takuya or Minato, to get involved.
If Takuya joined the chase, especially with Minato helping, Danzo wouldn't stand a chance. Takuya's hatred for Danzo ran too deep; if they caught him, Danzo wouldn't be given the option to surrender.
He would be killed on the spot.
The Third Hokage couldn't bear to see his old comrade die like that. He needed to capture Danzo quickly before the situation escalated further.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the ANBU operatives replied, quickly spreading out to form a net and continue the search.
At the same time, watchtowers throughout the area were notified to intercept and report any sightings of Danzo.
In the forest, Danzo, now dressed in a fresh set of clothes, moved swiftly with a small group of loyal subordinates.
"Danzo-sama, we've sent a message to Orochimaru, but I'm concerned—"
"Orochimaru won't dare betray me. If I fall, he won't escape unscathed either."
Danzo and Orochimaru were cut from the same cloth, each holding leverage over the other.
The moment he escaped, Danzo had sent a message to Orochimaru, who was stationed near the coastline, requesting his assistance to leave the Land of Fire.
Additionally, Danzo demanded the return of certain items Orochimaru had taken from him.
Danzo's movement through the forest was nothing short of impressive. Gone was the frail, decrepit figure he portrayed in the village; now, his agility and mastery of the Body Flicker Technique were on full display.
He wasn't sure who might be pursuing him from Konoha.
If it was the Third Hokage, Danzo could manage.
But if it was Takuya, he was as good as dead.
Danzo knew that surrendering to anyone else might spare his life, but if Takuya was involved, there was no room for negotiation.
He hadn't gone to all the trouble of escaping prison just to die.
Having spent decades navigating Konoha's inner workings, Danzo was intimately familiar with the intelligence and tracking methods employed by the Land of Fire and its shinobi.
Tracking him down would not be easy.
At the coastline, in a sparse and quiet camp, Orochimaru's sinister chuckle echoed from the command tent.
"Knowing Tsunade, she's probably furious enough to want to punch the old man to death."
Danzo's escape—especially with the Third Hokage inadvertently aiding him—piqued Orochimaru's curiosity. He couldn't help but wonder how Hiruzen was handling the situation.
Should he assist Danzo?
After a moment's thought, Orochimaru left a shadow clone to maintain appearances at the camp and quietly slipped away.
He reasoned it was worth meeting Danzo. Orochimaru knew precisely why Danzo sought his help.
Danzo wanted assistance leaving the Land of Fire, as well as the items Orochimaru had taken from him.
In truth, Orochimaru didn't believe Danzo needed his help to escape. With Danzo's vast knowledge and resources, he could evade Konoha's grasp on his own.
But the request for assistance was merely a pretext; Danzo's real goal was reclaiming his possessions.
When Danzo arrived at the agreed-upon location, Orochimaru was already waiting.
Perched on the branch of a large tree, Orochimaru leaned casually against the trunk, arms crossed. His amused gaze swept over Danzo and his small group of subordinates.
"These must be the last of your loyalists, Danzo-sama. It seems Tsunade's purge hit you harder than expected."
Danzo's expression darkened, but Orochimaru continued, his smile widening.
"Unlike the Third Hokage, Tsunade is thorough. When she removes someone from power, she doesn't leave any loose ends.
"No authority, no influence, no subordinates... what will you use to cause trouble now, Danzo?"
"Don't touch what belongs to me, Orochimaru," Danzo growled, his aged features twisted in anger as he approached.
Orochimaru's response was a dismissive smirk.
"If you hadn't been careless enough to expose yourself, leading Takuya Yagami to scour your underground labs, I wouldn't have needed to move your things."
"Do you have any idea the risks I took leaving the battlefield? All of this is on you."
"You're saying Yagami Takuya is looking for my labs?" Danzo's tone was sharp, laced with anger and suspicion.
His hatred for Takuya was already boundless. If given the chance, he would eliminate Takuya without hesitation.
However, Danzo wasn't one to trust anyone—not even his so-called allies like Orochimaru.
Orochimaru pulled out a scroll and tossed it to Danzo. The scroll contained a crude map.
"Everything you're looking for is stored in this underground facility. How you retrieve it is your problem.
"After this, we're done. No more dealings between us."
Oh, really? Danzo thought to himself, sneering inwardly.
He held leverage over Orochimaru—enough to make the man tread carefully.
After all, Danzo was now a fugitive with nothing to lose. His bounty might increase, but it hardly mattered anymore.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, was still a member of Konoha. If certain secrets were exposed, Orochimaru's position could crumble.
This secret is enough to keep me alive for a lifetime, Danzo mused, clenching the scroll tightly.
But Orochimaru wasn't fazed.
"Feel free," Orochimaru said with a sinister grin. "If you think the Third Hokage or Tsunade will act on such flimsy evidence, go ahead and release it."
His smile grew sharper.
"Danzo, I've told you before: people with darkness in their hearts cannot become Hokage.
"And those who have lost their value... are not worth saving."
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