When Danzo asked him this, Aburame Ryōma realized that things could never be as simple as what was written in the textbooks.
Since it was politics, it was bound to be full of compromises, deals, and bloody methods.
This was also one of the reasons for Root's existence.
He stood there quietly, not responding, waiting for what came next.
Sure enough, Danzo Shimura continued, "At that time, the Sarutobi Clan was far from the prestigious and powerful clan it is now."
"In order to secure that position, Hiruzen showed a rare display of boldness and skill."
"He split the originally highly concentrated power of the Hokage, forcibly creating several positions for Hokage Assistants."
"He distributed them to me, as well as Homura, Koharu, and a few others."
"We appeared as a tight-knit 'Hokage Team,' while simultaneously gathering the strength of the Sarutobi, Shimura, and other families behind us."
"We also won over the Ino–Shika–Chō clans, who had low status at the time and were in desperate need of a political backer."
"We formed a community of interests that held some degree of power."
A sharp glint flashed in Danzo Shimura's eyes.
"Immediately after, we used the fastest speed possible to find excuses to purge two small families that were the most defiant and unruly at the time."
"Killing the chicken to warn the monkeys, we intimidated all the lesser groups."
"Then, using Lady Mito's prestige and power as a bargaining chip..."
"...we conducted long negotiations with powerful clans that possessed independent armed forces, such as the Hyuga and Uchiha."
"After countless exchanges of interests and multi-party compromises, Hiruzen's position as Hokage was finally truly secured."
Speaking to this point, Danzo Shimura's emotions became somewhat agitated.
"From this perspective, Hiruzen's multi-party balancing and compromises back then were truly acts of necessity; one could even say his methods were quite brilliant."
"That was also the period when he and I cooperated with the most perfect chemistry."
"One in the light and one in the shadows, together we propped up the great tree that is Konoha."
"However!"
Danzo Shimura suddenly raised his voice, his cane thumping heavily on the ground once more.
"He has sat in the Hokage's seat for far too long now!"
"So long that he has forgotten the hardships of those years. He has become obsessed with his reputation, concerned with saving face, and indecisive in his actions!"
"He turns a blind eye to the threats of those great clans, yet remains constantly on guard against Root, which truly cares for the Village!"
"His weak attitude is practically destroying Konoha's future!"
The air in the secret room seemed to freeze due to his fury.
A moment later, Danzo Shimura took a deep breath, calming his agitated emotions.
Realizing his topic had drifted, he pulled it back to the main point.
"During those negotiations back then, in order to gain the support of the major clans, the Village made some concessions."
"Aside from some resource allocation and interest exchanges, the most important clause was the retention of each Family's right to internal autonomy."
"This move destroyed more than half of Sensei's years of hard work to dismantle the clan system, but at least it saved the Hokage's seat."
"Among the various families, it was most extreme with the Hyuga Clan..."
"The Hokage cannot forcibly interfere with the internal personnel arrangements of the Hyuga Clan."
"That is to say, the authority of the Hyuga Main Family is inviolable."
Hearing this, Aburame Ryōma's eyes behind his sunglasses suddenly lit up.
He immediately understood Danzo's meaning.
"Lord Danzo means... to have the Hyuga Clan directly step forward and arrange for Aokawa to join Root?"
This was a brilliant loophole.
If the Hyuga Main Family used the name of 'internal Family training' or 'guarding the Main Family' to transfer Aokawa, a member of the Branch Family, from his current post...
...or even directly assigned him to assist Root with missions...
...then even the Hokage, hindered by the political contracts of the past and the face of the Main Family, would find it difficult to offer any hard resistance on the surface.
As long as the person entered Root, how they were arranged afterward would be up to Danzo.
As for whether Aokawa himself was willing, with the Caged Bird Seal, the Hyuga Clan naturally had ways to make him come over obediently.
"But..."
Aburame Ryōma thought of another problem: "How could the Hyuga Clan possibly listen to us?"
"Aokawa has shown such powerful strength; he is an important combat asset for the Hyuga Clan. Why would they let him go so easily?"
"Hmph."
Danzo Shimura sneered, his face wearing that expression as if he were in control of everything.
"If it were that young man Hyuga Hiashi, he might still consider the overall interests of the Family."
"But the one truly in power right now is still that old thing, Hyuga Ieyasu."
At the mention of this name, Danzo Shimura's tone was filled with disdain.
"Hyuga Ieyasu has no great ambitions; he craves pleasure and only cares for the supreme status of the Main Family."
"For such a person, having a mediocre thug appear in the Branch Family is a good thing."
"But if the Branch Family suddenly produces a Genius who exceeds his control and can even threaten the status of the Main Family..."
"He will absolutely feel uneasy and be unable to sleep or eat in peace."
Danzo Shimura turned his head and stared at Aburame Ryōma: "Fear is the best means of control."
"As long as we provide a little guidance and make him realize the threat Aokawa poses..."
"He will be even more desperate than us to deal with this 'hidden danger.'"
"And..."
Danzo Shimura paused, his voice becoming even colder: "That old fellow's hands are far from clean."
"Go to the intelligence archives and search; I want all the dirt on Hyuga Ieyasu."
"Whether it's embezzling clan funds, deals with the black market, or that unsavory private life of his."
"Find it all for me."
"I intend to pay a personal visit to the Hyuga Clan."
"Yes!"
Aburame Ryōma bowed to receive the order, then his form flashed and disappeared into the shadows.
Only Danzo Shimura remained in the secret room.
He slowly stood up, walked to the map on the wall, and his gaze lingered for a long time on the Fire insignia representing Konoha.
"Hiruzen..."
"Back then we fought side by side, exhausting our wits to suppress these great clans."
"Now, I must use the corruption of these very clans to bypass you, the Hokage."
Danzo Shimura let out a low laugh full of irony: "The affairs of this world are truly fickle."
Suddenly.
His expression became incredibly fierce, and he slammed his cane into the floor, causing several cracks to appear in the hard floor tiles.
"But this isn't my fault!"
"If anyone is to blame, blame yourself for being so stubborn and insisting on blocking my path to protecting Konoha!"
...
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