[V2] - Chapter 35. Root Group Collapsed?
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As the video continued to play, at this moment, the video exposing the dark factory was pushed straight onto the hot search list.
Countless people watched the tragic scenes unfold.
People who were supposed to be dead had been resurrected through some strange forbidden technique and were being controlled, forced to do 007-style labor under oppression.
No wages, no food, and no rest!
It's truly heartbreaking to hear and devastating to witness!
Especially for some family members—when they saw their own loved ones being treated like that in the video, their anger exploded.
"Dad! That's my dad! I never imagined… even after death, he couldn't rest in peace, ending up in a black-hearted factory!"
"That's my husband! Damn you, Orochimaru!"
"How can such a dark place still exist in the Ninja World?!"
"I heard the Root Group's subcontracted factory is this place? Eating human ashes? Terrifying!"
Countless angry and condemning comments flooded in.
When they saw those familiar, stooped, numb figures—warped by nonstop labor—everyone's eyes turned red with tears.
What a tragedy in the Ninja World!
"If it weren't for Little White Man 10086 risking his life to expose this, we might still not know about it!"
"Little White Man 10086 is a real hero!"
"Where is he now?!"
"He might already have been killed. After all, the person behind all this is a major figure in the Ninja World… one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, the terrorist who once orchestrated the collapse of the Kumogakure—Orochimaru!"
At this very moment, everyone was united in outrage, ready to seek justice for all those who had died, even if it meant going against a Ninja World powerhouse.
"And the Root Group too! No wonder their products are so cheap! Turns out they eat human ashes!"
"Exactly! We must seek justice!"
"Boycott the Root Group!"
"The darkest place in the Ninja World!"
For a while, the entire Root Group's network nearly crashed.
Countless people flooded in, raging and cursing in the Root Group's and Rootzon's forums. Even employees of the Root Group, after seeing their own boss eat human ashes, were filled with fury—many immediately began to resign.
As a result, the Root Group instantly fell into total chaos!
"How can you be so confused?! How can you do such a thing?!" Sarutobi Hiruzen and Mitokado Homura looked at Danzo with faces full of bitter disappointment. "You're still this foolish? You could actually do something like this?! I thought after going bankrupt, you'd have learned restraint, Danzo! But no—you just keep…" Fuming, he stretched out a trembling finger at the still-silent Danzo. "You even did something as outrageous as eating human ashes?!"
However, what they didn't know was—
At that moment, when Shimura Danzo saw the exposé, his mind was completely blank too!
"I… I didn't tell Orochimaru to do any of this!" Danzo quickly shook his head, speaking solemnly: "I just found out about this too!"
Seriously!
He only partnered with Orochimaru for some subcontracted processing—how was he supposed to know Orochimaru was playing at such a high level?!
Impressive! Impressive!
He, Shimura Danzo, was truly impressed!
This was on another level!
Was Orochimaru planning to go against the entire Ninja World or what?!
But dammit—why drag him down with him?!
Danzo had spent so much time, so much effort, and so much money to slowly rebuild his reputation and establish the Root Group, only to now be branded as being in cahoots with others and eating human ashes…
How was he supposed to keep doing business after this?!
Anyway, Danzo was already cursing Orochimaru's ancestors eight generations back in his heart.
If you were going to go this far, at least be careful about it!
How could you let yourself get exposed?!
You have to understand…
Danzo was planning to fully invest in developing the alternate Ninja World next. As long as he could find and establish a stable trade route to the alternate world, he'd be one step ahead—and the Root Group would surpass Yuto Group in no time.
He, Shimura Danzo, had grand dreams—stars and oceans in his heart!
He had no intention of playing with these evil ways anymore.
But now?
The Root Group was in a huge crisis!
And yet…
He must not panic!
Shimura Danzo took a deep breath, looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen and Mitokado Homura in front of him, and said, "Hurry and prepare a public apology conference. Sever all ties with Orochimaru's black-hearted factory, and stabilize everyone first!"
However, just as he finished speaking—
"Danzo-sama! Danzo-sama!" A subordinate came rushing in, shouting loudly, "The distributors and suppliers are all here demanding payment and preparing to cancel their contracts! All the stores have shut down, calling us a black-hearted group and saying they won't sell through our platform anymore! Also, also…" He wore a panicked expression, "Our stores and warehouses everywhere are being smashed!"
"?!"
The three of them were shocked. Had it already gotten this serious?
Especially Danzo…
His right hand clutched at his chest, and the left hand holding his staff was trembling. But after having experienced bankruptcy back then, he wasn't about to collapse just yet. He took a deep breath and gritted his teeth, saying: "It's fine! It's fine! Things… aren't hopeless yet! Have everyone stabilize the situation! Don't worry—it won't fall apart! Hurry and issue an announcement—Root Group has no ties with that black-hearted factory! For now, the priority is to stabilize the situation!"
After he finished speaking and all the staff had left, he clutched his chest tightly with his right hand and slumped into his seat. Tears seemed to well up in the corners of his eyes as he muttered: "Orochimaru! Orochimaru! How could this guy be so muddle-headed?! He's strayed from the path! Strayed from the path!"
Why couldn't he be more like him, Shimura Danzo… just run a business honestly—was that so hard?
Was his alternate Ninja World development plan going to collapse before it even started?
"Orochimaru…" Sarutobi Hiruzen, standing beside him, also let out a heavy sigh, his eyes full of complexity. He hadn't expected… Orochimaru to fall deeper and deeper into the dark.
Back then, he had turned on his village for a mere billion, betraying the village; later he stirred up wars for money; and now, he'd done something this vile—all for money.
Orochimaru had… been blinded by money?
How is he so different from the Orochimaru of the other Ninja World?
His vision… it's small! It's too small!
[As a teacher… I can't just sit by and watch anymore!] Sarutobi's eyes showed firm determination, as though he had made some important decision.
But for now, he still had more pressing matters to deal with. He looked down at Danzo—dazed, seemingly struck by a huge blow, appearing to have aged several years. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "Danzo… are we true friends?"
"???"
"This time… no matter what, don't run away again!" Sarutobi said in a heartfelt tone, "There's just too much debt…" Tears welled in his eyes. "This time… I really can't pay it all back!"
"…"
…
"Danzo-sama and the Third Hokage didn't come?"
"Sigh~ Don't wait for them! Root Group is in total chaos right now! They probably can't even make it here!"
Turning to look at the Fourth Hokage, Utatane Koharu said, "We must quickly take care of that demon factory!"
At this moment, following the anonymous hero Little White Man 10086's exposé of the black-hearted factory, Konoha also quickly launched an emergency meeting.
"Since that's the case…" Minato nodded gravely, crossing his hands under his chin, "Send out ninjas immediately to destroy the demon factory and arrest Orochimaru!"
The owner of the black-hearted factory—Orochimaru—must be brought to justice, to restore light to the Ninja World!
However—
Just as everyone responded and prepared to carry out the mission—
"Um…"
A hesitant voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone looked over in confusion.
Konoha's newly promoted Jonin, elite courier, and Instant-Delivery Ninja—Uchiha Shisui—raised his hand, as though he had something to say.
"What is it?" Minato looked puzzled at the hesitant Shisui. "Shisui, do you have something to say?"
"Um…" Shisui scratched his head, then finally took a deep breath and said seriously: "I think we shouldn't act rashly right now."
When he said that, everyone grew more curious. "Why?"
"Last time, when I was delivering a package to a factory in the Land of Rice Fields… I think I saw the First Hokage!!"
"?!"
The First Hokage again?!
Everyone's expressions changed. They immediately recalled the last ninja racing competition hosted by Kumogakure… and felt a wave of sadness.
Could it be… the First Hokage was also doing 007-style forced labor?
Orochimaru… really was despicable!
But—
"You snuck into the factory? I remember that place had very strict controls. Outsiders couldn't get in at all, and even entry and exit were tightly monitored!"
"No!" Shisui shook his head.
"Then how did you see him?"
"Last time…" Feeling all the eyes on him, Shisui's heart trembled slightly. He hesitated again, then said: "Last time the First Hokage came out to sign for the delivery himself."
"???"
What?
Came out to sign for a delivery?
Wasn't the First Hokage doing 007 labor inside?
He could still order deliveries?!
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Read upto [V2] Chapter 95 in patreon.com/kurato6180