Never

As soon as Danzo removed the mask from little Higane, time seemed to freeze around him and the whole world around him was covered in darkness.

But suddenly, someone's white luminous hand penetrated the curtain of darkness and the flow of time resumed.

Stunned by what had happened, Danzō stared at the mask in his hands.

"I didn't understand what just happened... But it's better not to touch those masks anymore."

Danzō carefully lowered the mask to the floor and hurried went out of the room.

*Ptuk*

But he did not expect that right around the corner there would be an adult Higane, with whom he would collide foreheads.

- Danzo? What are you doing here? Didn't you just leave..? - Higane began to bombard Danzō with questions, but was interrupted by his index finger.

Looking in the direction he indicated, Higane saw a ritual mask lying on the floor. A mixture of mixed emotions appeared on her face.

- It seems that this should be returned to your clan? - Danzo thought out loud.

- Yes exactly. It was my fault that she disappeared 15 years ago... - Higane said with a strange intonation, looking intently at Danzo.

Danzo laughed softly.

- You're too curious ... Can we say we met again?

A blush appeared on Higane's face and she roughly understood what had happened.

- Yes. How long ago it was... - nostalgia appeared in Higane's voice. - After I... came back? Yes, I've returned, it's more correct... Nobody believed me, including Mito-sama, who said that the Spirit of Time doesn't actually grant wishes such as showing suitors. He was only called upon to glimpse into the future of the clan and prepare for the disasters that were yet to come.

Higane's fist clenched slightly.

- Back then, I was a prime candidate to become the Mask Keeper… But due to the loss of one of them, the elders thought that I had lost the favor of the spirits. - Higane's face reflected an inexpressible, quiet and immensely great pain. - They tried to turn me into a honey kunoichi... If it wasn't for Mito-sama's help, I can't imagine how I would live now.

Danzo silently approached and hugged Higane, to which she responded in kind.

- All right. I'm here.

In the silence, Danzō heard Higane's heavy breathing and felt a small wet area of

clothing adjacent to him.

- You won't leave me? - she asked softly, hugging her tightly, as much as it is possible for an ordinary female shinobi.

- Never. - Danzo said firmly.

That day, Danzō never returned to the Root, having spent all his time with Higane.

And in order to celebrate this "reunion", they went to the market together. Due to Danzo's purse, Higane's wardrobe and service were significantly replenished, though it is worth saying that she tried to choose not the most expensive, but the highest quality option.

"I'm not a thief, I'm not a thief... Is that right?"

And Danzo, who received significant funding for the Root, had plenty of money. After all, as head of the Root, the Anbu's secret department, Danzō had no salary. At least that's how Danzo justified himself to himself.

But instead of taking a break with Higane, Danzō decided to dedicate his entire next day to working on Root.

"First of all, we urgently need maintenance personnel, at least 5 people..."

Having already figured out his first assignment, Ryu spent his entire day picking up shinobi stuck at the genin level. Then, following Danzō's instructions, he arranged an interview for each shinobi separately, selecting those who fit Danzō's criteria.

Those who did not meet Danzō's criteria, but were either suspicious or simply interesting, Ryu wrote out separately and later provided an oral report on all the work done.

- You're doing great, Ryu. I won't need your help anytime soon, so you have two days off... Before you leave, how's Hyun's doing? - Danzo said while making notes in a notebook that Ryu didn't understand.

- Hyun is developing rapidly and is already fully mastered with his Sharingan, and was also recently able to perform B-rank Fire Release Ninjutsu. - As expected, Ryu told exactly as much as Danzo needed to hear.

*The chapter came out a little early, this is my gift to you.

And I remind you that there are more than 33 extra chapters available on my pat reon.

pat reon.com/ vektor_189