Hand her over to this old man, and then we can talk about the rest!

Before Suxia completed his mission, he would not easily let himself be exploited for a profit.

Furthermore, as the shinobi world's premier researcher—and arguably its foremost scientist—he had long since mastered the art of efficient communication with Suxia.

In short, it boiled down to: "How much? Is it done yet?"

When conversing with Suxia, one must not listen to a single word outside the scope of the mission, let alone believe any of it.

Otherwise, one would end up like a certain shark-like fellow, taking those flattery-laced words seriously and getting sold out one day without even realizing it.

Karin was feeling rather indignant. Although Suxia possessed no shame, principles, or bottom line when it came to securing mission commissions, Orochimaru was simply being too impolite!

She began to ponder whether she should fire up a Gundam, chase him down, and teach Orochimaru a thing or two about how to treat people.

Naturally, Orochimaru had no inkling of Karin's inner thoughts; otherwise, he might have felt compelled to thank Mother Nature or express his gratitude for the Sage of Six Paths' benevolent bestowal.

To think that while walking along the road, a descendant of the Uzumaki clan—and a descendant possessing the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan at that—would literally deliver herself right to his doorstep.

As for whether he could actually catch this astronomical windfall, that, of course, remained to be seen!

Suxia, naturally, cared not a whit about Orochimaru's attitude.

He was simply waiting for the day he could completely fleece Orochimaru bare, just to see if the man would still maintain such an unyielding and rebellious demeanor then.

Yet, deep down, he still found it somewhat regrettable.

"Sigh..."

"What a pity! I actually failed to squeeze a mission out of Orochimaru this time!"

"It's getting harder and harder to make a living in the shinobi world."

"Even a guy like Orochimaru has gotten smart and is no longer easy to fool."

"Back in the day, I could still use elemental transformation abilities to dupe Orochimaru into giving me a long-term employment contract."

"Now, Orochimaru simply plays deaf and dumb, completely impervious to all persuasion."

"Leaving a master of deception like me with all my skills, yet nowhere to deploy them!"

"Missions are truly becoming harder and harder to acquire!"

Suxia felt deeply exhausted, and he felt that he had been delayed by Kakashi!

It was entirely Kakashi's fault for not being in the Village Hidden in the Leaves; otherwise, how could he possibly be burdened with such vexations?

At this thought, Suxia realized that Mei Terumi of the Village Hidden in the Mist was the only one who truly knew how to be decent.

When he asked Mei Terumi for a mission, she handed one over without a moment's hesitation.

It was just that the Mist Village had long remained in a state of isolation under the Bloody Mist regime, leaving the village's finances extremely tight.

They simply could not spare much money to hire a top-tier mercenary like himself.

"Sigh... Kakashi has wronged me!"

"Since you're as stubborn as a mule, why couldn't you just obediently stay put in Konoha and let me help you make that difficult choice to give up one Sharingan?"

Suxia grumbled continuously as he led Karin forward.

This time, he and Karin had not walked for long before they unexpectedly ran into another acquaintance.
Of course, he recognized the other party, but the other party had never seen him before.

Walking toward them was none other than...
The First Generation Pot-Lid Shadow, Shimura Danzo.

There was a reason for Danzo's presence here.

He had originally walked the golden path back to the village harboring exceptionally lofty and beautiful hopes.

However, he hadn't walked far before he suddenly realized a rather grave problem.

He had been far too excited this time, resulting in a failure to conduct an in-depth discussion with Orochimaru regarding certain details.

For instance, reporting the experimental progress to him every ten days or half a month.

Those matters were secondary; the most crucial thing was that he had failed to agree with Orochimaru on a secure time and location for the delivery.

This issue could be said to be of paramount importance!

If Wood Release were to remain firmly in Konoha's hands, Konoha's strength could naturally ascend to yet another grand tier.

However, should Orochimaru suffer any mishap, and this affair became known to individuals from other hidden villages...

Then the cultivation of perfect Hashirama cells would very likely be seized by shinobi from rival villages.

Therefore, he needed to instruct Orochimaru to maintain the utmost secrecy throughout the research and development process.

And when the final delivery took place, it had to be conducted at an extremely secure time and place.

Realizing that these vital matters had not been settled with Orochimaru, how could Danzo possibly set his mind at ease?

Thus, at the very first instance, he had doubled back.

Never did he expect that upon doubling back this time, he would actually run into two unfamiliar shinobi.

Upon seeing Suxia's attire, Danzo frowned slightly.

"Are they members of the Akatsuki organization? Why would they appear here?"

Others might not know what the garments worn by Suxia and Karin signified.

After all, with Akatsuki having been newly established not long ago, it was not yet famous due to its mysterious and clandestine nature.

Thus, very few people recognized this ensemble, but Danzo knew that this was Akatsuki's signature look!

As the leader of Root, Danzo possessed extremely extensive intelligence sources, and the shinobi within the Root organization also boasted formidable information-gathering capabilities.

Consequently, he had indeed grasped a certain amount of intelligence regarding the Akatsuki organization.

Orochimaru, who had collaborated with him for a long time, was even a member of the Akatsuki organization.

Although he had failed to extract much intelligence concerning Akatsuki from Orochimaru, he had still managed to pick up a thing or two.

Without a doubt, this was a member of the Akatsuki organization.

After rapidly reviewing all intelligence related to Akatsuki in his mind...
Danzo gazed at Suxia and asked with a frown,

"Who are you? State your identity!"

"What is your relationship with Orochimaru?"

"What are you doing in the vicinity of Konoha?"

Suxia chuckled inwardly: *Well, well, look at that! I actually ran into the First Generation Pot-Lid Shadow right here?*

Since his collaboration with Orochimaru was still ongoing, he had no intention of exposing Orochimaru right here in front of Danzo.

Otherwise, if Danzo were to fly into a rage and go cause trouble for Orochimaru right now, he could kiss his chances of taking on commission missions from Orochimaru goodbye.

Naturally, Suxia had no intention of letting slip a major financial backer like Danzo either—this was a super-tier tycoon who would casually shell out a billion taels.

He looked at Danzo and began a cheerful self-introduction.

Suxia believed that given Danzo's intelligence-gathering prowess, he was certainly aware of his illustrious name.

"Lord Danzo, let me introduce myself. My name is Uzumaki Suxia."

The moment Suxia stated his name, Danzo's expression indeed shifted instantly.

On one hand, Danzo was surprised that Suxia actually knew his name.

Even within Konoha, not everyone knew his name, considering he was "Root," which was deeply entrenched in the darkness—let alone a shinobi from a foreign village.

However, that matter was secondary; what truly caught Danzo off guard was that the shinobi before him was actually Uzumaki Suxia!

Danzo knew that Suxia was extremely active in the black markets of various regions, even holding the title of the Strongest Shinobi of the Black Market.

Danzo's expression shifted slightly.

Suxia continued speaking, introducing himself from a professional perspective.

"Lord Danzo, my identity is that of the black market's strongest mercenary."

"With your intelligence-gathering capabilities, you should not be unfamiliar with me."
"To this day, I have accepted countless missions, large and small, in the black market."

"Looking across the entire shinobi world, there is probably no other shinobi who has completed a higher number of missions than I have."

"On the premise of having accepted such a vast number of missions, I am likely the only shinobi who can still guarantee a one hundred percent mission success rate."

"So, Lord Danzo, do you have a mission to commission me with?"

From Suxia's perspective, Danzo should possess a certain degree of intelligence regarding him.

Since this wealthy sucker could fork over a billion taels to Orochimaru in one go, then given his own immensely formidable capabilities, asking for another billion from Danzo was evidently not excessive at all.

After Suxia finished his self-introduction, Danzo stared at him with his single visible eye for a long time.

Then, he spoke in a gloomy tone: "You are Uzumaki Suxia?"

"Hmph! During a mission long ago, not only did you injure my subordinates, but you also snatched away a member of the Uzumaki clan whom I had searched for ages to find!"

"With such a blemished record to your name, how do you even have the nerve to come and pitch yourself to me?"

Upon hearing these words, Karin was deeply shocked!

"Ah? Was it this person who tried to capture me back then?"

Realizing that the man before her was the very villain who had attempted to seize her a long time ago, Karin hastily hid behind Suxia.

Although she was quite formidable now, just like Chopper on Monkey D. Luffy's ship, people always retained certain instinctive reactions.

Suxia: "！！！？？？"

After pondering for a brief moment, Suxia also recalled that mission from the distant past.

During that mission, he had rescued Karin.

If Danzo hadn't brought it up today, he would have almost forgotten about the whole episode.

Yet, it was hardly a problem—he had plenty to say regarding what happened back then!

As the strongest, most reliable mercenary in the shinobi world with a one hundred percent mission completion rate, his reputation could not harbor the slightest flaw!

Suxia smiled faintly and said,

"Lord Danzo, it seems there are still some matters you haven't quite sorted out."

"First, Shui Naihao's original commission to me was merely to ensure his safety."

"Second, even when Shui Naihao subsequently issued a temporary commission to me, it was merely to ensure the safety of his subordinates."

"Third, I had no idea I was taking away cargo from the caravan; I merely thought I was rescuing an innocent child."

"Fourth, injuring Lord Danzo's subordinates happened because they insisted on looking for trouble with me."

"I imagine that back then, Lord Danzo probably hadn't given those shinobi any orders to attack me, right?"

"Therefore, this was merely a misunderstanding!"

The reason Suxia was willing to say so much to Danzo was because this fellow was a supreme sucker.

Danzo had already been completely duped by Orochimaru.

Since Danzo was already in such a state, there was no harm in fanning the flames a little more.

Naturally, Danzo did not accept Suxia's explanation.

No matter how eloquently Suxia spun his words, Suxia had still ruined his good deed back then!

Danzo stared at Suxia for a moment, then let out a cold snort and said,

"Hmph! This old man cannot trust you—unless you hand that little girl behind you over to me."

"If this old man's eyes do not deceive me, she should be the very one you snatched away back then!"

"Hand her over to me, and we can discuss other matters."

As Danzo spoke, his eyes widened into round circles.

Because he saw that the eyes of the red-haired little girl standing behind Suxia happened to be a pair of Mangekyou Sharingan.

In the shinobi world, when it came to understanding and affection for the Sharingan, he certainly ranked near the very top.

He was a true master collector of Sharingan.

Abhorring the inherently evil Uchiha clan, Danzo felt an urge to gouge out any pair of big red eyeballs the moment he laid eyes on them.

Out of an extreme passion for the Sharingan—to the point of keeping them concealed close to his body—upon discovering that Karin possessed a pair of Mangekyou Sharingan, Danzo had already resolved to acquire this pair of Mangekyou Sharingan.

Of course, Karin could also serve other purposes.

A descendant of the Uzumaki clan, plus a pair of Mangekyou Sharingan.

Whether he brought her back to the Root organization to undergo brainwashing and make her his subordinate...

Or utilized Karin as a flawless experimental subject, allowing Orochimaru to conduct research upon her—either option was entirely viable.

With such a flawless experimental subject as research material on Orochimaru's end...

Would not even more advanced scientific achievements be churned out?

At this thought, the gaze Danzo cast toward Karin became all the more filled with greed.

Karin peeked her small head out from behind Suxia with a guarded expression, and happened to meet Danzo's immensely chilling gaze.

"！！！！！"

These remarks left Suxia thoroughly displeased with Danzo.

His initial rescue of Karin had been a spur-of-the-moment whim.

Finding his solo mission-grinding routine rather dull, he had simply brought Karin along by his side to act as a little sidekick.

Through this period of companionship, Karin was no longer just an expendable little sidekick to him, but rather his personal secretary.

What did this signify?

It signified bonds!

Bonds were the highest rule of the shinobi world.

Anyone—absolutely anyone—who dared to violate this taboo was destined to die without a burial site.

Let alone Shimura Danzo; even if Otsutsuki Shibai were to violate this taboo, he certainly wouldn't come to a good end either.

When he accidentally ran into Danzo this time, he had originally intended to extract a mission from him.

Never did he expect that Danzo would actually cast his covetous gaze upon Karin.

This naturally filled Suxia with profound anger.

Most importantly, Danzo had actually taken a breath just now, which meant he had already earned a death sentence!
Even if Danzo engaged in the routine act of breathing every single day, this verdict remained unchanged.

Swish, rustle~

Within the forest, the cold wind howled, and withered leaves drifted down in flurries.

Karin hid behind Suxia, sticking out her head as she stared with extreme vigilance at Shimura Danzo.

As she observed Danzo, Danzo was naturally observing her as well.

To be precise, he was observing her Mangekyou Sharingan.

Although Danzo, much like the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, intensely loathed the inherently evil Uchiha clan...

He had far surpassed his predecessor.

The Uchiha clan were too reluctant to use forbidden techniques like Izanagi, which required sacrificing Sharingan, but Danzo used them whenever he pleased.

The Uchiha clan were too reluctant to ride certain vehicles, but Danzo would simply stand up and pedal with all his might.

Locked in Danzo's line of sight, Karin could only feel as though she were being targeted by a terrifying viper.

Karin thought to herself: *This old man is so terrifying, is he trying to capture me again?*

She had already steeled herself; the moment the terrifying old man opposite her made even the slightest movement...

Danzo looked toward Suxia and spoke once more.

"Uzumaki Suxia, are you certain you refuse to hand over the descendant of the Uzumaki clan behind you, and are determined to make an enemy of this old man?"

"Had it not been for your forcible interference, she would have already fallen into this old man's hands as cargo."

Hearing this, Suxia was amused out of anger by Danzo, and a murderous intent welled up within his eyes.

"Danzo, can't you tell? She belongs to me now!"

"As for the matter from back then, I've already explained it to you quite clearly."

Danzo's gaze likewise sharpened, the cross-shaped scar on his chin distorting into a sinister sneer amidst his cold laughter.

"Uzumaki Suxia, this old man holds comprehensive intelligence on you, while your intelligence on this old man can be said to be utterly blank."

"Do you truly intend to raise your hands against this old man under such circumstances?"