The Adventurous Gamer Ninja - Daichi Hekima [Vol. 02]

Chapter 364 - Danzo's Methods

A few Hours Ago.

Around 3:45 pm, a small convoy of grim-faced men, heavily armed and silent, escorted Danzo through the warlord's base. The compound consisted of several buildings arranged around a large dusty courtyard, each structure bearing the wear of countless unsavory dealings.

At the center stood a modest structure of reinforced timber, no frills or pomp—just the mark of someone who cared only about function.

Danzo scanned the area through his single good eye. He could smell sweat, smoke, and cheap liquor on the men who flanked him. They led him inside the middle building.

The interior was dimly lit by a few flickering lanterns, casting shadows that stretched across the rough wooden floor. Seated at a crude table was the warlord himself. Sanada Ryozo.

He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a crow tattoo etched onto his left cheek. He wore a thick vest of patched leather armor, and a thin haze of tobacco smoke hung around him like a secret aura. Nearby, a bottle of some strong liquor and a half-full glass suggested he'd been indulging his vices.

The warlord looked at Danzo and quickly recognized him. "Well this is a surprise. The kind I like."

Several underlings lounged around him, grinning at the prospect of handling a captive from the famed Hidden Leaf.

The men explained the situation of Danzo's capture to their leader.

One of them stepped forward, placing a scroll containing ten million ryo onto the table with a satisfying thump.

"Boss, we found this on him," the underling said, smirking. "He was carrying it all by himself."

The warlord took a long drag from his cigar, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "So, you're alone, old man? That's shocking." he asked, eyeing Danzo with suspicion. "My men say no one else is around. Let's confirm." He gestured to a small, thin man seated on the floor. A sensor-type ninja with a calm demeanor.

The warlord looked at the man who brought him Danzo. "You brought me a really big fish. You'll get your reward. But if there are any Root ninjas hiding, your head will be the last thing to go." He warned the man who became frightened at the threat.

The sensor closed his eyes, focused, and after a moment said, "There's no one else. He's telling the truth. He's alone."

Hearing that, the warlord laughed and looked at his man. "Look at that. You did great. I'll definitely give you something worth the catch. Now keep an eye outside."

"Of course. Thank you Lord Sanada." The men with him bowed and left.

Danzo stood calmly, not restrained, not bothered. 'They think I'm at their mercy.' he mused, 'but they've no idea what's lurking in the shadows.' He kept his face neutral, a slight crease forming at the corner of his mouth.

The warlord eyed Danzo, taking in the elder's attire and the empty sleeve where an arm should be. "An elder of the Leaf Village," he said mockingly. "You don't look so good, Danzo. What happened to that arm? Did someone you screwed over take it as compensation? Hahahaha..."

Danzo's eye almost twitched in anger as he thought about that particular memory but he kept an impassive face and stayed silent.

"Not gonna answer? Well, no matter. But I am curious. Why are you here in the Land of Earth with no guards? That's not like you. And with a big pile of money no less?"

Danzo's voice was steady, his tone measured. "You might think it's your men who found me, Sanada," he said, "but it's the other way around. I'm the one who found you!"