The Darkness didn't end, even when he awoke, in fact it took ten minutes give or take for Kagami to get his vision back. A bag had been over his face, but the drugs in his system were too strong to have Kyuubi wash out without tapping directly into his power. When his vision did return, he saw that he was in an office, before a man covered in bandages, he had black hair and was oddly well muscled for older man.
'Who the hell is this... and why does my mouth taste so bad?' He knew better than to ask, as the man before him started to talk. Plus was bound to a chair and could barely feel his chakra... he was sort of screwed at the moment.
"Hello, Kagami, my name is Danzo Shiruma and I have an offer for you." The man leaned on his cane, looking at him with cold efficiency. "Do you care to listen to my offer?"
"You kidnapped me, so do I have a choice?"
The man laughed. "Impertinent, like your mother. No, you really don't. My offer is simple, I wish for you to learn under me."
"And you are?"
"I am called the Darkness of Shinobi, I run a sect of the ANBU called ROOT. They were once among the most feared Ninja in the Leaf, until Hiruzen banned them due to my training methods."
"Which were?"
"I made my Ninja kill their best friends, and I kidnapped much youth for the good of the Village. You would be surprised what little I wouldn't do for the good of the village." The man's cold brutal honesty hit home, making Kagami shiver.
"You are kind of a monster, aren't you?"
"As are you, I heard what you did to Kabuto. One of my best creations, as was Orochimaru."
Kagami sighed. "Amazing, they were both very powerful...So, tell me what can you teach me? Like at all, or how? I am sure if the Third banned your ROOT, then Tsunade will not allow you to teach me. Even with whatever seal you placed on my tongue." He stuck out his tongue as far as he could, and saw on it a mark, one that he did not recognize. "What does this do?"
"I wondered if you would notice this... this is a binding seal, that prevents you from speaking of your time with me, now or forever."
"Lovely... you do realize I have no friends, I like Shino sure but I would not call him a friend since we barely see each other and honestly his loyalty is to the village and his clan not to me, Same with Yugao I am pretty sure she would kill me for the Hokage."
"Likely... but I would not have you kill your friend. That is done to kill emotion, as my heir you would not need to do that."
"Wait, heir?"
Danzo sighed. " I am an old man, I have lived through all three wars and beyond. I will not survive forever, one day my time will come and the village will be helpless without a real strong hand to lead it. I want that to be you. I know your old goal was to be the Head of ANBU..."
"It was, yes."
"What changed?"
"Being unsure if I care for the village at all... wait, there is a truth seal or something on me, isn't there why else would I tell you that i have no love for the village... damn!"
Danzo laughed. "A truth serum, actually, but yes... and that can change, your lack of love for the village."
It took everything to say nothing about his consideration of Orochimaru's offer... "What can you offer me?"
"I am an advanced sealer, a master of Wind chakra though I can use all elements bar lightning, am skilled in Taijutsu, Kenjutsu and genjutsu. I also have almost six decades of experience in both combat and leading armies. I can offer you more than anyone else..."
Nodding, Kagami realized that no matter what he did, he would benefit. "I guess you have yourself a deal, Sensei, but how do I get started? I mean it is not like anyone would allow you to train me willy-nilly."
"That I can handle... but for now, enjoy your nap."
Everything went dark once more.
When Kagami woke the next time, he was in a room, looking a corpse... that looked identical to him. It was black and blood, with it's throat slit. It oozed Kyuubi's chakra, so much so that it only made Kagami recoil a little.
"We found a boy, from the local Ninja monks, that contained some of Kyuubi's chakra." Danzo, who was standing next to him, said. "We used a jutsu we acquired from the Land of Demons to make it look like you in all ways, down to the last scar. No one will know your death has been faked, not unless you choose to reveal yourself, which you cannot do until my death."
Shivering, Kagami nodded, knowing he had absolutely no choice in this entire operation. "Fine... you know what, I wanted a change, I wanted power, and now I will get it. Let's do this." It was a lie, the serum was gone from his blood. He would do whatever he had to be in order to be safe, to survive. This was no different...
"Are you ready to watch your funeral?"
Kagami shuddered. "How did I die? Foreign Ninja kill me?"
"Actually, a local Ninja snuck into your home and attacked you, you were drugged and your throat slit."
"What was the boy's name, the one you killed?"
"Sora."
Kagami sighed. "So... I guess I am in ROOT now, aren't I?"
"Yes, you are... let me show you to your room."
And as he went with Danzo, he thought of his brother, Yugao and anyone that gave a damn... and he let them go entirely, dedicating himself to surviving the hell that his life would not doubt become. It was time he was number one, the Curse Mark reminded him of that... and damn it, he deserved it...
By any means...
He would survive.
He would thrive.
"""
Danzo restrained the urge to cackle. He had done it, gotten hold of a powerful Ninja to make into his heir! ROOT would thrive beyond him and the village would remain safe...
All would be well...
And no one could take that away.
No one.
Now, he just had to focus on molding the boy into a powerful figure, one that held loyalty to ROOT and to the Village. He had done it many times before, how hard would it be with Kagami?
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
Startled you with that switcharoo! Things are not always as they seem people, that is the point!
I mixed old scenes and new to create a powerful epic start for this new arc! This is my Shippuden in between scene!
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.