Chapter 77: Danzo's New Arm.

Konoha Guesthouse Ebizo, the leader of the Sunagakure delegation, grew visibly agitated upon receiving the latest intel from Konoha's operatives. "Zenkichi from Kirigakure? That bastard dared to come here? This is... perfect!" "Sister-sama, just watch! I will avenge you. I swear, I'll be the one to end that man." Ebizo clenched his fists tightly, his voice a low growl as fury flared in his eyes. At the same time, the team leaders from Iwagakure and Kumogakure had also received the news. Roshi muttered to himself, his expression calm but laced with disdain. "Zenkichi from Kirigakure Village? So he showed up after all. Was he the one who took Kitsuchi's arm?" "Annoying as that fool Kitsuchi is—just like his father Onoki—he's still one of ours. It's not up to Kirigakure to handle Iwagakure's problems." As he spoke, red chakra surged from his body—the unmistakable power of the Four-Tails. He had already achieved partial mastery over it. "Onoki... I'll kill Zenkichi myself. Maybe then you'll realize how worthless your son is. Not that you're any better." He let out a cruel laugh. "Master Roshi, sealing techniques are the only reliable way to deal with Zenkichi. And... you're not exactly proficient in them, are you?" A Jōnin beside him spoke up carefully. "Shut your mouth!" Roshi barked. "You think I don't know that? I've got my own plans!" --- Meanwhile, Burubi, the leader of the Kumogakure team, appeared far more composed. "Zenkichi... did you really think we wouldn't anticipate your move?" A glint of menace flashed through his eyes. "We've prepared quite the welcome for you." Burubi's ties to both the Third and Fourth Raikage ran deep—blood ties, in fact. And the Third had died by Zenkichi's hand. His resolve to kill the man was ironclad. --- Underground—Hidden Konoha Facility (Root HQ) Beneath Konoha, a vast underground complex spread out in secret. This was the Root division of the Anbu—now under Shimura Danzo's control after Akimichi Tofaze became the Fourth Hokage. (changed to: after Akimichi Torifu became the Fourth Hokage.) Camouflaged structures lay within powerful sealing barriers, invisible to all but a select few. Inside, high-level lab equipment lined the space, and bookshelves were stacked with advanced research material. "The Second Hokage's forbidden jutsu research notes are here. I've also given you the First Hokage's cells," Danzo said as he entered, his bandaged arm and face partly shrouded in shadow. "How's the progress? I'm done living like a cripple." Orochimaru, absorbed in his experiment, barely glanced up. He had once been a top contender for Hokage—a dream now long abandoned. The betrayal still stung, but he had turned to something greater: the pursuit of eternal life. When Danzo recognized Orochimaru's genius, he wasted no time offering him full resources. Orochimaru accepted swiftly. Together, they became a force of ambition and intellect—Orochimaru the mind, Danzo the patron. Their first focus: the Hashirama cells. Danzo's official reason was simple—he wanted his arm back. But his true motives? Much darker. The unparalleled vitality of Hashirama's cells, the secrets of Wood Release—Danzo wanted it all. Torifu, the new Hokage, remained blissfully unaware of their actions. But the old man, Sarutobi Hiruzen, definitely knew. And yet, he did nothing. He wouldn't soil his own hands with forbidden science. But neither would he stop others. In his mind, Konoha needed results—no matter how they were achieved. --- "My tech can regenerate Hashirama's cells into a fully functional arm," Orochimaru explained, his voice clinical. "But your body might not handle the arm's power. These cells are... monstrous. Ordinary people can't survive their chakra output." "I'm trying to suppress the excess energy to make them usable." Danzo narrowed his eyes. "Do you have any leads?" Orochimaru paused, then replied, "The issue lies in the imbalance—too much physical energy from Hashirama's cells. If we had a way to counter it with spiritual energy, that might work." Danzo murmured, "Yin Release... The Nara and Yamanaka clans specialize in that. Could their cells work?" Orochimaru shook his head. "Not strong enough. You can't compare their chakra to the First Hokage's." "If anything can match it, it's the Mangekyō Sharingan of the Uchiha." "You've seen the report, haven't you? About Zenkichi killing Uchiha Madara? He used Wood Release." Danzo's expression darkened. "Then Madara must've implanted Hashirama's cells. That would explain his unnatural longevity." Orochimaru sighed. "Unfortunately, Kirigakure took Madara's body. If I could study it... the possibilities would be endless." Danzo grunted, "We'll make do. If the Mangekyō Sharingan can suppress Hashirama cells, then we have our blueprint." "But ordinary Sharingan won't be enough," Orochimaru warned. "They lack the potency. However..." "I could design a Hashirama-arm with multiple eye sockets—insert several Sharingan. Quantity over quality." Danzo smirked. "Root still has some Sharingan stockpiled. But if it's not enough, I'll take what we need." "Damn it... if only we had Madara's Rinnegan!" "I heard from Jiraiya that Madara summoned it elsewhere before he died. No one knows where." Orochimaru, still poring over data, responded coldly, "Speculation is pointless. We need to move. Prepare everything." ---