Chapter 82 : A little surprise for Danzo!!!

Uchiha Sogetsu had a feeling that this mission might take a while. So before officially heading out, he decided to prepare a few gifts for those who had been keeping an eye on him.

He was concerned that charms given to Mikoto might not be enough, so he brought along a few extras and handed them to Mikoto.

"It's really kind of you, Sogetsu."

Mikoto tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Her beautiful eyes held a hint of mystery, and her voice carried a subtle warmth that she seemed unaware of: "You're about to go on a dangerous mission, but you still thought of me. Thank you so much."

"Mikoto-sama, you're teasing me. I'm just doing my duty as a medic," Uchiha Sogetsu replied with a humble chuckle, his voice light. "Now that I've given you the charms, I should be on my way."

"Hey, wait, Sogetsu." Mikoto grabbed his sleeve, her cheeks a soft shade of pink as she whispered, "Please, come back safely. Fugaku and I will be waiting for you."

Whoa, this is getting awkward, ma'am!

Uchiha Sogetsu could only manage an awkward but polite smile before slipping away.

As he vanished into the distance, Mikoto chuckled to herself, a hint of mischief in her eyes. She muttered under her breath, "Next time, I'll make him call me Mikoto. It's always 'my lady or Mikoto-sama.' I'm not that old, seriously~"

Sometimes, having too much charm can be a problem!

Uchiha Sogetsu wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead. If this kept up, by the time Itachi was born, he'd be his godfather.

Wait, on second thought, that might not be such a bad idea...

Quickly dismissing such dangerous thoughts, Uchiha Sogetsu returned to his room. As he sensed an approaching chakra, he quickly hypnotized White Zetsu, who had been watching him from the shadows.

"Come out, Ryoma."

In response to his call, a swarm of insects emerged from the shadows, forming into a human shape.

"Lord Sogetsu, please forgive me for being late," Ryoma said, kneeling on one knee, head bowed, avoiding eye contact. "After receiving your signal, it took some effort to shake off Danzo's surveillance. I beg for your pardon."

A soft "ding" echoed through the room.

The silver-gray ring, adorned with rubies, came to a stop on the table.

Under the soft light in the room, the ruby set into the ring emitted an alluring crimson glow, almost as if it was exuding a seductive charm. 

It was as if a captivating woman was dancing, capturing everyone's attention with her bewitching moves.

Even Ryoma, a seasoned member of Root known for his stoic demeanor, found himself mesmerized by the ring's enchanting aura. 

His eyes were locked onto the gem, his breathing grew heavier, and his face took on a faint shade of red. A powerful urge to claim the ring for himself surged through him, gripping his heart.

Without realizing it, he reached out to grasp the ring.

But just as he was about to touch it, his instincts kicked in.

With a swift motion, Ryoma reversed the grip on his kunai and stabbed it straight through his palm, pinning it to the ground.

The intense pain snapped him out of his trance, pulling him back from that bizarre compulsion.

"Huff... huff..."

Ryoma gasped heavily, a look of fear etched across his face.

What a terrifying object. With just a fleeting glance, it had almost taken control of his mind.

Even though he was part of Root and had witnessed plenty of horrors, Ryoma was genuinely shaken by the sinister influence of this ring. He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself.

But he had no time to dwell on his fear or pain.

He suddenly realized that his momentary lapse in judgment could be interpreted as an attempt to steal from his superior. That was equivalent to an act of provocation.

His eyes widened in terror, and without hesitation, he dropped to his knees and began banging his head on the ground, the sound echoing through the silent room. "Lord Sogetsu, forgive my rudeness! I almost acted on a forbidden impulse. Please, forgive me!"

But there was no answer.

An eerie, suffocating silence filled the room, a heavy pressure that felt like a crushing boulder on his chest.

In a flash, Uchiha Sogetsu shifted into his 'Adam' persona, exuding an aura of detachment and deep wisdom, as if he could see through everything.

The atmosphere was heavy with tension, and Dragon's Aura combined with the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, exerting a crushing pressure that permeated the room.

Ryoma didn't let the pain from his pierced palm slow him down, despite the blood seeping into the tatami mat beneath him. His entire body trembled, and cold sweat ran down his face as he bowed low, forehead nearly touching the ground.

Even though he said nothing, the suffocating pressure made it feel as though his throat was being squeezed shut.

Uchiha Sogetsu had become even more powerful. And Ryoma could feel it—fear and awe twisting inside him.

After what seemed like an eternity, Uchiha Sogetsu finally spoke.

"It won't happen again."

The oppressive weight in the air lifted instantly.

Ryoma felt a rush of relief as the intense pressure dissipated. Keeping his kneeling position, he spoke with careful humility: "Lord Sogetsu, forgive me if I'm wrong, but I'm not quite sure what you intend with this... I think this ring is..."

"A small surprise," Uchiha Sogetsu replied. He shifted into a more comfortable sitting position and lightly tapped his index finger on the table. "Find an appropriate time and reason to give it to Danzo."

Ryoma was no fool; he immediately grasped the implication and replied quickly, "Understood, Lord Sogetsu. I will ensure it's given to Danzo in the most... suitable manner."

"Good. You may leave now."

With that, Uchiha Sogetsu dismissed him, having issued his orders.

Ryoma carefully sealed the mystical ring into the scroll, letting out a sigh of relief. He was genuinely worried about being tricked by its dark influence again.

After stowing away the ring, he cleaned the blood from the tatami and then slowly exited the room. Before leaving, he remarked, "Let's hope I come back to good news."

Uchiha Sogetsu stroked his chin thoughtfully. He had invested quite a bit in this plan, hoping to surprise Danzo. He had acquired a priceless artifact, one that was likely at the level of Sequence 5. Surely Danzo couldn't just shrug off something like that, could he?

This time, Danzo got exactly what he wanted—a power boost. With a Sequence 5 item, it was bound to give Sarutobi Hiruzen a headache. 

Danzo was always striving for more power, but Sogetsu's investment might throw a wrench in his plans.

"What's this?" White Zetsu slowly emerged from the ground, scratching his head as if he had just woken up. "I must've dozed off. What's going on, Lord Sogetsu?"

"Nothing important," Sogetsu replied, sipping his green tea with a calm expression.

White Zetsu noticed the steam rising from the tea, but it didn't seem to bother him. He just couldn't understand why Sogetsu was so calm. 

"I heard you're leaving the village for a mission?" he asked, trying to be polite. White Zetsu had become much more cautious since his punishment, his tone now showing a lot more respect.

"What's it to you?" Uchiha Sogetsu glanced at him with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

"Nothing, really," White Zetsu replied, sinking a little further into the ground as if to shield himself. "Madara-sama asked me to find out what Mangekyo Sharingan ability you've awakened."

To avoid any misunderstanding, he quickly added, "Ahem, Madara-sama said he could better plan if he knew what your eye technique was."

"Don't rush things, White Zetsu," Sogetsu said, setting down his tea cup with a faint smile. "Soon, everyone will know what my Mangekyo Sharingan technique is."

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