Chapter 90

The snake vanished with the smoke.

Hyuga Setsu appeared before Orochimaru.

Orochimaru glanced at him and took out a test tube.

"These are weakened cells. Though there's still rejection, it won't kill you."

"I understand."

Hyuga Setsu picked up the test tube and injected it into himself. Seconds later, he showed a painful expression.

"It's still not quite right."

Orochimaru watched his reaction coldly, then struck his arm.

Stimulated by the chakra, Hyuga Setsu finally couldn't bear the pain and cried out.

From his right arm, tiny branches sprouted from the elbow, quickly wrapping around his entire arm, making it look like an abnormal tree person.

"You have only three days, or it will completely worsen."

Orochimaru waved his hand, saying no more. He helped this much entirely because of Haruki.

He was surprised that Haruki could get the Hyuga clan to cooperate this much.

"Th-thank you, Orochimaru-sama."

Sweat covered Hyuga Setsu's forehead. He deeply felt the branches, as if they were alive, drilling into his body, both painful and terrifying.

But his face showed no fear.

Hyuga Setsu knew what he was doing.

There was no coercion.

It was for a better future.

Orochimaru was momentarily silent, then formed a seal and disappeared from the lab.

Outside the door, two large figures were wantonly destroying things for the steamed buns Haruki had made.

Half an hour later.

In a Root office.

"Tell me what this is?"

Shimura Danzo's eyes were cold and hid anger.

In front of him was the freshly issued "Konoha Daily."

The most prominent place had three headlines, each more alarming than the last.

"The Worst Criminal in Konoha's History Escapes!"

"Mass Prison Break at Konoha's Maximum-Security Prison!"

"All Konoha Residents, Please Be Cautious!"

If that was all, it would be fine, but Danzo saw an inconspicuous paragraph in the article.

[The cause of the riot seems to be someone conducting human experiments deep in Konoha's maximum-security prison.]

"Sir, sorry, transferring the researchers caused a delay, but we really don't know how 'Konoha Daily' got the news."

A Root ninja in an animal mask knelt before Danzo, his voice trembling slightly.

"How did they know?"

Danzo sneered. The new Konoha bookstore had hired a lot of people as so-called reporters.

Usually, it seemed they only covered gossip, discounts, or trivial matters.

But now he realized the reporters had infiltrated all of Konoha.

He sighed inwardly; this bookstore was too clever.

All those reporters were Konoha villagers.

He couldn't touch them.

"There's still room to mitigate this."

Danzo calmed down, having weathered many storms.

"'Konoha Daily' is just a minor issue, but the news must be withdrawn to avoid attracting attention. Butai, take a few people to the new Konoha bookstore and tell the owner to stop publishing."

"Yes!"

"Aburame Ryoma, go to Konoha's maximum-security prison and clean up, make sure to destroy all traces. As for the rest, notify Anbu and capture the prisoners. This can't be hidden from the Hokage; I'll go there myself."

After giving orders, Danzo thought for a moment, ensuring no omissions, and relaxed.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had allowed him to do some extreme things.

Though the Wood Release experiments were stopped, Hiruzen didn't know it was Wood Release, so any substitute would do.

Besides, he used irredeemable criminals.

It was just waste utilization.

He then frowned slightly. After collaborating with Orochimaru, he found some babies but hadn't conducted experiments yet, so it shouldn't be a big problem.

Danzo collected his thoughts and headed to the Hokage building.

Meanwhile, at the new Konoha bookstore, the atmosphere was slightly heavy.

Omoki looked at the new chrysanthemums in the corner, the faint scent barely detectable.

Something had been added.

"Root ninjas are coming. Continue as usual, but under no circumstances should you fight back, even if it means death."

The voice was heavy yet firm.

His eyes showed unwavering conviction.

Omoki surveyed the few people in front of him, his most trusted subordinates.

The order was given, and they would not hesitate.

"Understood!"

"Just like usual."

A few minutes later, the Root ninja named Butai and three subordinates burst into the bookstore.

"Customer, what would you like to buy?"

Omoki first showed a natural look of surprise, then a welcoming smile at their arrival.

"Are you the owner?"

Butai looked at him, his voice emotionless. "By orders of Danzo-sama, you are to stop today's newspaper."

"Huh?" Omoki asked in surprise, "What does Danzo-sama mean? Our new Konoha bookstore has always been a good Konoha citizen, never breaking any rules."

"You refuse?"

Butai's expression under the mask turned cold, anger rising.

A mere bookstore owner, a weakling, dared defy Danzo-sama. It was intolerable!

"It's not refusal, but there must be a reason, right?"

"Reason?"

Butai slapped him hard. The immense force, coupled with Omoki's lack of resistance, sent him flying into a bookshelf, breaking it with a crash.

"That's the reason!"

"You Root are too domineering!"

"Weakling's wailing!" Butai sneered. "Destroy this store!"

The three ninjas behind him began wrecking the place.

The bookstore staff only glared, not daring to speak.

Butai smiled in satisfaction.

Danzo's earlier scolding was immediately forgotten.

But he felt a slight unease, as if forgetting something important.

The commotion naturally caught the attention of villagers outside.

But seeing Butai's mask and attire, they only watched from afar.

Someone in the crowd whispered, "Why is Root attacking a bookstore?"

"Is it today's newspaper?"

"But what does the prison break have to do with Root?"

"Maybe it's the human experiment mentioned in the paper."

"…"

The crowd fell silent.

After a moment, Omoki, bleeding and bruised, covered in dust, walked out slowly.

He was well-liked by his neighbors.

Seeing him so miserable, many were outraged.

A good man, punished for speaking a possible truth.

Someone, out of fairness, shouted, "Omoki, go to Konoha Hospital for your injuries!"

Omoki forced a smile, bowing to everyone:

"Thank you for your concern, but my bookstore suffered this for no reason, and I won't accept it! I will appeal to the Hokage!

I believe the Hokage won't wrong a good man, nor spare a bad one!

If you have time, please join me as witnesses!

I believe evil does not triumph over good!"