Carrying Kakuzu's still-warm body, Rinjin returned to Konoha.
At this moment, the village was shrouded in deep night. The stars were sparse, and the moon shone brightly—a perfect time for a good night's sleep.
Standing in his own courtyard, Rinjin closed his eyes, focusing on sensing Danzo's location.
For some reason, his Flying Thunder God Technique seal, much like his chakra, was unusually persistent and hard to dissipate.
This peculiarity resembled his Shadow Clone Technique.
Rinjin had observed that other people's shadow clones had limited lifespans, but his clones, unless fatally injured or drained of chakra, were almost indestructible.
It was strange.
Not being particularly inclined toward research, Rinjin chose not to dwell on things he couldn't figure out.
Soon, he located Danzo's position.
The old geezer was at home.
Without hesitation, Rinjin formed a single-hand seal and vanished from the spot.
Shimura Clan Grounds, Danzo's Residence
Rinjin appeared instantly beside Danzo's bed, staring at the soundly sleeping elder. Without a second thought, he slapped him across the face.
"Big bro, look what I caught!"
The loud and obnoxious voice rang out, startling Danzo, who woke up in his turtle-print pajamas, his face full of confusion as he stared blankly at Rinjin standing by his bed.
"Big bro, wake up already!"
Seeing Danzo still in a daze, Rinjin slapped him again.
This time, Danzo was fully awake. His pupils dilated in shock as he instinctively let out a scream.
"What the hell! Rinjin Sokuhō, are you out of your goddamn mind?!
Why are you standing by my bed in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?! Damn it, you're going to give me a heart attack!"
Outside, hearing the commotion, the Root operatives burst in, surrounding Rinjin in a defensive formation.
Seeing this, Rinjin immediately put on a pitiful expression, gesturing to the body of Kakuzu slung over his shoulder.
"Big bro, it's me, Dan-Dan! Look what I've brought you!"
Hearing this, Danzo finally noticed the figure on Rinjin's shoulder. His eyes lit up with joy.
He quickly waved off the Root operatives surrounding Rinjin, shooing them away like flies.
"All of you... out! Don't you see my little brother's home?!"
Ignoring the stinging pain on his face, Danzo grinned and leaned closer to Rinjin.
"Little brother, you've done me a huge favor. I've been hunting this guy for a long time!"
"Right? I knew you'd want him." Rinjin smiled amiably on the surface, but his mind was already bubbling with mischievous schemes.
"So..." Danzo's brain worked quickly, his gaze shifting between Rinjin and Kakuzu.
Seeing this, Rinjin chuckled slyly and extended his free hand.
"Big bro, let's not beat around the bush. Teach me Wind Release techniques and sealing jutsu, and this guy is all yours!"
Hearing this, Danzo's eyes darted around nervously.
After all, his bread and butter were his Wind Release techniques and sealing jutsu.
However, if he could extract Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear technique, based on Root's research, he might even be able to integrate other abilities—like Sharingan, Uchiha's Sharingan, or maybe even Kagami's Sharingan...
At that point, would Wind Release techniques even matter anymore?
Without much thought, Danzo made up his mind. He then put on a troubled expression and pondered aloud:
"Which ones do you want? Name them."
He assumed that Rinjin had only fought him once and didn't know all his Wind Release techniques. But little did he know, this guy had watched Naruto: Shippuden.
In fact, Rinjin could have gone to the library, but he found it bothersome. Moreover, he didn't want to waste his access to the library on techniques that weren't particularly critical. Lastly, he wasn't sure if these jutsu were exclusive to the Shimura clan.
After a moment of thought, Rinjin started listing techniques like a menu:
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave, Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves, Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere, Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere, Wind Release: Shuriken, Wind Release: Vacuum Blade."
Hearing this, Danzo's face instantly turned black.
This bastard! He's trying to clean me out!
Rinjin paused for a breath, raised his eyebrows at Danzo, and cheekily added:
"Tongue Cursing Root Seal, Self-Cursed Binding Seal, Reverse Four Symbols Seal."
Looking at the dumbfounded Danzo, Rinjin chuckled mischievously.
Surprised, huh? I got all this from Baidu Wiki!
If you had Sharingan and Wood Release right now, I'd bleed you dry today.
Blue veins popped on Danzo's forehead as he glared at Rinjin, his face full of disdain.
"Self-Cursed Binding Seal and Reverse Four Symbols Seal are not available. If you want them, go to the library yourself!"
Damn it! Is this guy from the Yamanaka clan?! How does he know all the stuff I want?!
Perhaps his desire for Earth Grudge Fear and the ability to summon a "Gundam" overcame everything else. With a dark expression, Danzo pulled out a handful of scrolls from his bedside drawer, tossing them to Rinjin with a mix of heartache and resignation.
"I'll give you the Tongue Cursing Root Seal tomorrow. Now take your scrolls and leave! Stop disturbing my sleep!"
Hearing this, Rinjin smiled, nodded, took the scrolls, and disappeared in an instant.
Staring at the now-empty bedside, Danzo froze for a moment before erupting in curses.
"Damn it! Rinjin Sokuhō, you bastard! Leave the body here!"
Before the words even settled, Rinjin reappeared, raising his hand as if to slap Danzo again.
Seeing this, Danzo shrank his head back, muttering in a muffled voice, "I'm awake; no need to call me!"
Rinjin scratched his head, chuckled, and casually tossed Kakuzu onto the ground before slipping away.
Watching this, Danzo let out a heavy sigh and called out to the door.
"Take Kakuzu to the Root base and secure him tightly."
"Yes, sir!" A Root operative appeared instantly, picked up Kakuzu, and left.
After a moment of thought, Danzo suddenly stripped off his turtle-print pajamas, lying stark naked on the bed. He muttered:
"Someone, check if there are any strange marks on me!"
Hearing this, a Root operative wearing a bird mask entered, nodding quickly.
Soon, after a thorough examination, the Root ninja reported respectfully: "Lord Danzo, there's nothing on your body!"
"Check carefully!"
Having studied the Flying Thunder God scroll, Danzo knew that Rinjin must have left a seal on him to locate him so precisely.
Hearing this, the Root operative nodded again and resumed the examination.
Moments later, a muffled voice reported:
"Lord Danzo, there's some strange writing on your head. It's hard to see clearly through your hair."
Hearing this, Danzo covered his face in despair, his mind filled with a single thought: I want to die!
That damn Rinjin, of all places to leave a seal, he had to put it on my head!
Do you know how much effort I've put into looking younger, avoiding baldness, and not ending up like Hiruzen?!
Gritting his teeth and stomping his foot, Danzo made up his mind and roared: "Shave it off!"
The Root operative flinched, timidly asking, "Sir, should we shave just the part or the whole thing?"
"All of it!" Danzo's eyes burned with fury as he yelled.
Hearing this, the Root operative immediately drew a kunai and, with a swift motion, shaved Danzo's head clean.
Feeling the smoothness of his scalp, Danzo turned with a dark expression and asked the Root operative, "What does the writing say?!"
The startled Root operative trembled, kneeling before Danzo and stammering incoherently.
Seeing this, Danzo's anger flared even more, roaring: "What does it say?! Speak, or I'll kill you!"
The Root operative shuddered violently, shrinking back as he nervously stammered:
"It says... 'Dan-Dan was here'..."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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