After some detailed inquiry, Kuroto was surprised to find that all the four members of Team-11 had a bounty of twenty million Ryo on their heads.
'These bounties should be Cloud Village's handiwork, right?' – this was Kuroto's thought.
If the Team-11 of Anbu Black Ops has hatred against anyone, then no doubt it is the Cloud Village and the Rock Village.
Compared to Rock Village, Kuroto feels that Cloud Village is more likely to have issued these bounties.
'But there is one thing I don't understand, how come Cloud Village has the specific information on the four of us? I get that Yugito Nii saw our faces when we used the Shadow Clone Jutsu, but just from knowing our faces Cloud Village shouldn't have such specific information about Team-11. Could it be that their spies have infiltrated into the Anbu?"
This sudden thought made Kuroto a little panicked.
The Anbu directly under Hokage-Sama are personally selected by Hokage, and the members could be anyone from the common civilian ninja to the son of the Patriarch of the most prominent Clan.
If there are spies that have infiltrated the village for a long time, then it could only mean that they have not shown any flaw to reveal their identity as of yet and somehow been selected within the Anbu!
'I have to be more careful now if what I think is really true!'
Immediately afterward, Kuroto thought of the second bounty.
The second bounty is five million Ryo higher than the first bounty, reaching a terrifying amount of twenty-five-million Ryo. Such bounties are only offered to the most elite ninjas of a Shinobi Village.
But the strange thing is that only Kuroto has this second bounty, that is to say, other than him no one of the Team-11 has been issued this bounty.
This undoubtedly implies that the person who issued this bounty has personal vengeance against him, and it has nothing to do with the rest of the Team-11.
'It can only be him, right?' thought Kuroto.
"Kuroto-Kun?"
Seeing Kuroto's look, Hiashi thought that Kuroto was a little worried about the bounties, so he explained, "Don't worry too much Kuroto-Kun. For a shinobi the bounty in the black market is also a manifestation of his/her merit, after all, only powerful shinobi are awarded bounties."
Kuroto nodded at Patriarch's explanation.
It's not that he was scared, but just a little concerned is all about the person who offered a bounty for his head.
Taking a light sip of tea, Hiashi continues, "Do you know what is the bounty on my head in the black market?"
"How much?"
Hiashi said lightly, "One hundred million Ryo!"
Kuroto smiled nervously at such an amount: "Hahaha, the patriarch deserves it."
In fact, Kuroto also understands that the 'One hundred million Ryo' isn't a bounty on the patriarch just as an individual, but a reward for the treasure of the Hyuga Clan: 'The Byakugan!'.
The Byakugan can only be stolen from the main family of the Hyuga Clan, and the number of people in the main family is very less.
So, as long as Hyuga Hiashi is killed, it is possible to not only obtain the Byakugan but also cause damage to the Hyuga Clan!
So, this reward of 'One Hundred Million Ryo' is quite right.
After some more casual discussions with the Patriarch, Kuroto bid goodbye and left.
Walking slowly towards his house, as Kuroto walked by a narrow alley, a figure suddenly walked out of the shadow blocking his way.
Kuroto was a little stunned, and immediately took out the Kusanagi Sword at his waist as well activated the Byakugan, along with taking a defensive stance.
A frail-looking old man walked out of the shadow with the support of a cane. He had a cold face, black, shaggy hair, with the right eye bandaged and an x-shaped scar on his chin. The man wore a white shirt, with a blackish robe over the top of it covering from his feet, to just over his shoulder.
Looking at the defensive stance of Kuroto, the old man spoke coldly, "Special Jonin Hyuga Kuroto, you should be aware of just who I am, right?"
Kuroto immediately deactivated the Byakugan and nodded, "Yes, Danzo-Sama."
It was none other than Shimura Danzo who blocked Kuroto's path.
Shimura Danzo, the 'Shadow of Hokage', founder and leader of the 'Root', notorious as the 'The Darkness of the Shinobi', at the same time one of the Four advisor of the Konoha Council.
Taking a deep look at Hyuga Kuroto, Shimura Danzo stated, "Hyuga Kuroto, you have talent. There is no future for you in the Anbu under Hokage. Join 'Root', there you will have everything needed for you to grow into a loyal Konoha Shinobi."
Danzo's tone was cold, it didn't seem like he was trying to entice Kuroto at all, there was great confidence in his approach, which implied that the conditions he offered were something that Hyuga Kuroto could not refuse.
However, Kuroto replied without even a second of hesitation, "I am sorry Danzo-Sama. As a member of Anbu directly under Hokage-Sama, all transfer must follow his arrangements."
Danzo's eye narrowed at Kuroto's answer and he spoke with a cold tone, "If the old man remembers correctly, this is the second time you have refused to join the Root!?"
Back when Kuroto was briefly detained after Orochimaru's defection, at that time also Kuroto refused solicitation from the Root.
But back then he was merely a wartime Chunin, a disposable cannon fodder level character, so Shimura Danzo didn't care at all, after all, Hyuga Kuroto would have eventually died in the cleansing anyway. So, why bother?
Unfortunately, not only did he not die, but seem to have changed completely, and within a few months, his strength not only reached high enough to become a Special Jonin but also defeated three Uchiha with Jonin Class combat power. And not long ago he was recruited by the Hokage in the Anbu and completed the secret mission under Hokage's orders.
A young man who is in full swing.
Obviously, Danzo will personally come to recruit such an individual into his 'Root'.
However, Kuroto's refusal without a moment of hesitation left Danzo Dissatisfied.
Facing Shimura Danzo's double meaning question, Kuroto completely turned a deaf ear to it, "Please forgive me Danzo-Sama, I am not interested in joining the Root."
"Young man, every decision must be made carefully, otherwise, you may regret it in the future." Leaving this sentence Danzo walked away in the darkness.
Looking at Danzo's figure walking away with complete confidence upon himself, as if everything was under his control, Kuroto only had a condescending smirk.
Danzo didn't realize this, but Kuroto had discovered the bastard hidden in the shadows the moment he turned towards this alley.
All that panic and drawing out his Kusanagi sword was just an act to cover up activating the Byakugan and check Danzo's current state.
Obviously, his performance wasn't in vain and he was able to discover that the current Danzo had already transplanted Hashirama Cells and Sharingan in his entire arm that was hidden inside the dark robe.
"It makes sense that he has almost stopped making any public appearance for some time."
Although he can only sigh, Kuroto has to also think of some countermeasures against Danzo.
He has naturally not forgotten the fact that the village had planned to dispose of him in the Cleansing, after several investigations and based on the information provided by Orochimaru, Shimura Danzo is the person who took charge of that task, in fact, it was Shimura Danzo who emphasized on the cleansing.
Therefore, it doesn't matter whether Shimura Danzo tries to recruit him or not, Kuroto will not let off the old bastard so easily.
However, the information he obtained this time did surprise him slightly. 'Obviously, Orochimaru and Danzo's relationship should have fallen apart, but Danzo was still able to obtain Uchiha Shin's hand?
Or, did he transplant that hand from some other source?
No, that can't be!
Or, did he again started cooperating with Orochimaru?
Otherwise, him being able to get Hashirama Cells with Sharingan transplanted, shouldn't be that easy!'
Now, it's not that Danzo doesn't have a study and research of Hashirama Cells, in fact, in this field he might even surpass Orochimaru, although the last part sounds ridiculous, but you never know.
But, recreating an entire hand is not a joke!
Anyway, the fact that he already has that hand shows that he has been collecting the Sharingan of deceased Uchiha for a long time, otherwise, he couldn't have obtained so many Sharingan before Uchiha's extermination by Itachi.
Because there is no Curse Seal in the Uchiha Clan like that of 'Cage Bird', so obtaining Sharingan is relatively easy, at least for Danzo who has the entire 'Root' as his personal force.
'I am afraid that even if the Uchiha Clan didn't have any intention of a Coup d'état, Danzo wouldn't have allowed them to live peacefully, after all, if he did? How would he have obtained so many Sharingan?' - Kuroto thought while walking towards his house quietly.
"Huh… it's really troublesome. Danzo's obsession with the Sharingan is even deeper than Orochimaru's!"
Being a disciple of Senju Tobirama, a friend and rival of Sandaime-Sama, and a long-term advisor of the Konoha Council, even without that hand, Danzo's strength should be close to Kage-Class, otherwise, how could he be so obsessed with the position of Hokage?
And now that he has transplanted Hashirama Cells along with many Sharingan, his strength may have even surpassed Sandaime-Sama to a certain extent…
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Read up to Chapter - 174 on P.a.t.r.e.o.n. : p-atreon.com/Milta_translations
