In her current situation, Nono didn't need to fear Danzo's threats.
After all, not only did she now possess Magnet Release, but she also commanded a small army of clones as subordinates.
With such strength at her disposal, Danzo bringing only three people wasn't much of a concern.
However, neither Magnet Release nor the clones could solve her financial problems. Supporting the orphanage required money, and in the long run, she still had to rely on Konoha's aid.
Moreover, she felt that revealing the existence of the clones to anyone in Konoha, especially someone like Danzo—might bring trouble for Orochimaru.
This was why, despite her newfound power, she chose not to bargain with Danzo earlier.
When he made his demand, Nono had been carefully thinking about how to carry out the mission without compromising the orphanage. She was even preparing how to explain her decision to Orochimaru.
But then, Orochimaru had appeared out of nowhere.
With just a few words, he had persuaded Danzo to retreat, a result Nono had never dared to imagine.
And what she expected even less was the shocking request Orochimaru made to her afterward.---
Orochimaru's words echoed in her mind:
"I need you to dedicate your entirety to me: your body, your mind, and your soul.."
It had been so direct, so casual, yet it had left her utterly stunned.
Nono was still reeling from the implications.
Setting aside Orochimaru's image as an almost untouchable figure of power in her mind, she couldn't fathom why someone like him would make such a request of her.
Why her?
Her thoughts swirled with countless questions, but she didn't have time to dwell on them.
Orochimaru had made it clear, she had no other choice.
While Nono wasn't afraid of death, she couldn't ignore the lives of the orphans she cared for.
Besides, deep down, Nono couldn't deny her feelings.
She had admired Orochimaru since her youth.
When he gave her potions, money, and the power of Magnet Release, she had even allowed herself a fleeting fantasy of what might happen.
But Nono had always dismissed such thoughts. As a spy, such emotions were a luxury she couldn't afford.
And the differences between them—strength, identity, status, made any connection between them feel impossible.
Yet now, faced with Orochimaru's blunt request, she found herself hesitating for only a moment before biting her lip and agreeing.
A sharp gasp escaped Nono's lips as she slumped back into her chair.
Her face was flushed, her body trembling slightly as beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
But something felt… strange.
Blinking, she slowly came back to her senses, her gaze falling on her still-intact clothes.
Across from her, Orochimaru sat calmly, not moving an inch.
Her eyes widened in shock as the realization struck her.
"This… this was… an illusion?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Correct," Orochimaru replied evenly.
"When?"
"When you first looked into my eyes," Orochimaru said, his tone calm yet matter-of-fact.
While Orochimaru's Sharingan wasn't specialized for illusions, his mastery of Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu greatly enhanced its effectiveness. Using it on someone like Nono—a powerful yet unsuspecting opponent—had been effortless.
Hearing his admission, Nono's fists clenched as humiliation washed over her.
"Damn it… you… were you trying to humiliate me?" she demanded, her voice shaking with both anger and shame.
To be caught in such a vivid illusion, especially in front of Orochimaru, it was beyond humiliating.
"No," Orochimaru said firmly. "I just wanted to see what your true intentions were."
"But you—"
"Enough, Nono," Orochimaru interrupted, stepping closer to her.
He tilted her chin upward with a finger, a faint, mischievous smile playing on his lips.
"From now on, you're mine," he said softly, his golden eyes glowing with authority. "No one can bully you. No one can command you… except me. Do you understand?"
Nono's mind was reeling. His sudden commanding tone left her at a loss for words.
"I… I…I Understand"
---
A few days later, in Konoha Village…
In the underground training hall of Root, Danzo watched silently as his recruits trained.
Earth flew into the air as streams of water and wood collided in a chaotic mess of chakra.
"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
"Water Style: Water Formation Wave!"
"Wood Style: Wooden Spindle Wall!"
"Wood Style: Four-Pillar Prison!"
The sounds of techniques being executed echoed throughout the room as dozens of teenagers performed complex jutsu with precision.
Danzo's gaze swept over the group of sixty or seventy recruits, each of them wielding Wood Release with surprising ease.
Such a sight would have been unthinkable before.
In the past, Wood Release was an ability so rare it was practically a legend.
Now, Orochimaru had turned that legend into something… mass-producible.
Danzo's feelings were conflicted.
By all rights, he should have been pleased. But as he watched these recruits, a bitter realization gnawed at him.
He had lost Orochimaru.
His paranoia over keeping his own secrets had driven a wedge between them, and in doing so, he had lost a key ally.
In hindsight, it was a decision he deeply regretted.
Not only was he wrong, but Hiruzen had been wrong as well.
---
A masked Root ninja suddenly appeared at Danzo's side, kneeling.
"Lord Danzo."
"Speak."
"The situation in the Land of Sound has been clarified. Their village seems intent on maintaining neutrality in the current war."
"Neutrality?" Danzo sneered, his visible eye narrowing.
"With the current state of the world, even the great nations can't avoid conflict. Do these small countries really think they can stay untouched?"
Without missing a beat, he turned to the operative.
"Mobilize six teams. We move at once."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
***
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