Chapter 113: Danzo Can Be a Hero
Evening.
The busy villagers of the Hidden Sand Village were finishing their day's work one after another.
At this time, the Hidden Sand Village was at its liveliest, with people buying groceries, going on dates, and strolling through the streets in an endless stream.
On a high mountain within the Hidden Sand Village.
Saito was sitting in a pavilion, watching the scene below with a smile on his face.
Look... all of this is the territory I have conquered.
Ahem, I'm getting off track.
After finishing his chuunibyou moment, Saito got down to business.
He picked up the freshly boiled water and began to brew tea.
He then handed a cup to the person opposite him... Danzo Shimura.
"Come, Lord Danzo, try my Hidden Sand Village's specialty tea."
"Hmph!"
Facing the tea Saito handed over, Danzo acted very stoic.
Seeing this, Saito was not annoyed.
He placed the tea on the table and looked back at the scenery below the mountain.
"Elder Danzo, what do you think of the scenery in the Hidden Sand Village?"
"Hmph!"
"Elder Danzo, do you think the Hidden Sand Village is prosperous?"
"Hmph!!"
"Elder Danzo, do you think the Hidden Sand Village still has any shortcomings?"
Danzo: [???]
Looking at the Hidden Sand Village below, which was even more prosperous than Konoha, Danzo's cold snort ultimately failed to come out again.
"Kazekage, if you have something to say, just say it directly."
"Good! Lord Danzo is indeed straightforward! Then I'll be direct!"
Danzo: [!!!]
"The Second Hokage was an absolute idiot!"
[Bang!]
A large palm slammed directly onto the table in the pavilion, causing the tea in the bowls to splash out.
The palm striking the table belonged to none other than Danzo Shimura.
[I told you to be direct, but I didn't mean that direct!]
Hearing Saito dare to insult his teacher like that.
Danzo Shimura could no longer control his emotions; he stood up abruptly and slammed his palm onto the stone table, but his face immediately stiffened.
He silently hid his hand behind his back and then looked at Saito with a face full of rage.
"Kazekage! I'm warning you, you can insult me, but you cannot insult my teacher!"
Seeing Danzo's massive reaction, Saito remained very calm and said placidly.
"Elder Danzo, why are you being so impolite? Why not hear me out first?"
"Hmph! So what if I'm impolite! Let me tell you, not only will I be impolite, I will also..."
"The position of Hokage should have been yours!"
Danzo Shimura: [???]
"What did you just say?"
"I said the Second Hokage was an idiot!"
"Not that sentence, the next one!"
"Oh~, I said the position of Hokage should have been held by you, Danzo Shimura!"
Hearing Saito's words again, Danzo Shimura fell silent for a long time... then, he silently sat back down, picked up his teacup, drained it in one gulp, wiped the water off the stone table, and spoke.
"I apologize, Lord Kazekage! I was impolite just now! Please continue!"
...Watching the shift in Danzo's attitude, a smile inadvertently tugged at the corner of Saito's mouth, but it was quickly hidden.
"Of course, I have my reasons for saying so. I wonder if Elder Danzo is willing to listen?"
"I am! I am! I am very willing!"
Hearing Saito's words, Danzo's head nodded up and down very honestly.
"Haha, before I answer Elder Danzo, I wonder if you would be willing to answer a question of mine?"
"Lord Kazekage, please feel free to ask."
"I have heard that Elder Danzo's Root is expert in intelligence gathering, so you must be very familiar with the Kage of other Ninja Villages. I wonder, Elder Danzo, which Kage among those Villages can be called a hero?"
"This..."
Hearing Saito's question, Danzo thought for a long time before tentatively saying.
"The Third Tsuchikage of Hidden Stone Village, the esteemed Lord Ōnoki of the Both Scales. After the Second Tsuchikage died in battle during the First Shinobi World War, he took command in a time of crisis, stabilized the situation within Hidden Stone Village, and developed it into the Village with the largest number of Ninjas.
At the same time, he is the only owner of the Kekkei Tota in the Ninja World—Dust Release!
Can he be considered a hero?"
"The Third Tsuchikage was indeed able to develop Hidden Stone Village into its current state; he is certainly a figure of note.
But I believe having too many Ninjas in Hidden Stone Village is instead a sign of his lack of ability.
During his tenure as Tsuchikage, he suppressed the Ninja Clan too much, leaving only a few stragglers among the clans of Hidden Stone Village.
This led to heavy losses in Hidden Stone Village's high-end combat power, which is the main reason why Onoki chose to mass-produce troops.
The massive number of soldiers today is nothing more than a fig leaf to cover up the fact that they have no top-tier experts.
He cannot be counted as a hero!"
"Then... the Third Raikage?
When a rebellion occurred in the Hidden Cloud Village, it was the Third Raikage who turned the tide, reintegrated the Village, and prevented it from falling apart.
After decades of development, he has also turned the Hidden Cloud Village into a Village among the top three in overall strength, and there are many Bloodline Limit Ninjas in the Village.
Furthermore, he has developed Lightning Release to its limit, being known as the Strongest Shield and Strongest Spear.
Can he be considered a hero?"
"Haha! The Hidden Cloud Village is nothing but a bunch of bandits.
Elder Danzo surely knows how the resources used to develop that Village were obtained.
Just a few years ago, the Hidden Cloud Village almost stole away your Konoha's next generation Jinchuriki.
So in my view, while the Hidden Cloud Village looks like one of the Five Great Nations, its essence is still a bunch of bandits!
The Third Raikage can be called a Bandit Chief, but he cannot be called a hero!"
"Then the Third Mizukage?
He also took command after the Second Mizukage's death, and I've heard that the Hidden Mist Village has been developing quite rapidly these past few years."
"Haha! The Third Mizukage is even less worthy of being called a hero!
At the Five Kage Summit back then, every First Kage brought their respective guards. Among them, only the Third Mizukage did not become the Second, but only ascended to the position of Mizukage after the Second Mizukage died in battle. On that point alone, he is not qualified to be called a hero.
As for the rapid development in recent years... it's just from purging the Yuki Clan. Once the Yuki Clan's heritage is completely consumed... those people who enjoyed the benefits brought by the clan's extermination... will likely start to riot.
When that time comes, internal problems will inevitably worsen!"
"Then... the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He also took command in a time of crisis, and in a Land of Four Wars, he has allowed Konoha Village to remain the leader of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
The number of experts in the Village is also the highest among the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Can he be considered a hero?"
"Do you acknowledge him?"
"..."
Seeing Danzo fall into silence.
Saito smiled and spoke.
"See, if even someone doesn't acknowledge him, then what kind of hero is he?"
"Hmph! Not this one! Not that one! I've gone through all the other Four Great Shinobi Villages, and it turns out none of the four are heroes. Is Lord Kazekage making fun of me, perhaps to make yourself look better by comparison?"
"How could that be? Elder Danzo, how could I be so bored!"
Looking at Saito's grinning face.
Danzo really wanted to say, 'You are exactly that bored.'
But being under someone else's roof, with his life entirely in the other's hands, Danzo ultimately did not say it.
He only gave a cold snort and turned away again, looking elsewhere to express his meaning.
"Elder Danzo, you missed one person."
"Oh? Missed one person! There are only four other Ninja Villages in total, and I've named all four. Where did the fifth one come from?
Even if the Six Paths Sage were resurrected today, there would still only be four!"
"Haha... Elder Danzo, look at how excited you are. Didn't I say before... the position of Hokage should be yours.
So for me, the position of Kage... should include you, Elder Danzo!"
"Include me?"
After hearing what Saito said, Danzo turned his head back with a look of disbelief and pointed a finger at himself.
"Yes! Including Elder Danzo!"
"In my view, the only heroes in this Ninja World are you and I!"
Danzo: [!!!]
[Six Paths Sage, you'd better not come back to life after all!]
Looking at Danzo's shocked expression, Saito said unhurriedly.
"First of all... to be a hero, I believe one needs to possess the following points:
First is courage and boldness!
Second is having lofty aspirations!
Third is endurance and resilience, being able to do what ordinary people cannot!
Fourth is having the ability to judge character!"
"This first ability... Elder Danzo already possessed it over a decade ago."
"Oh~, how can you tell?"
Hearing Saito's words, Danzo was completely drawn in.
After all, from the time he was born until now... no one had ever praised him like this!
And he was even being placed above Hiruzen Sarutobi.
One must know that from beginning to end, he had always been suppressed by Hiruzen Sarutobi, even regarding... the position of Hokage!
"Elder Danzo, let me slowly walk you through it, and you will understand for yourself."
"Back then... during the rebellion of Kinkaku and Ginkaku from the Hidden Cloud... the Second Hokage asked who was willing to stay behind to act as a decoy... did this happen?"
"...Yes..."
"Then, when the Second Hokage spoke those words about needing someone to act as a decoy... what was Elder Danzo's internal reaction?"
"I..."
Hearing someone recount that piece of history again, Danzo Shimura fell into deep thought.
He recalled the scene from back then once more; at that time, he was full of spirit, standing beside his teacher... but before Danzo could ponder for long, Saito's voice came again.
"I think Lord Danzo's heart must have been prepared to sacrifice yourself as the decoy at that time, right?"
"...That's right! It's just..."
"It's just that Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke first."
"...Yes!"
"But so what? Elder Danzo's heart at least did not lack the courage to be the decoy; you were just beaten to it..."
"Should you deny yourself just because someone else was faster?"
"Does a beautiful girl having a boyfriend mean you can't pursue her anymore?"
Danzo Shimura: [??!]
"Ahem... exactly! At that time, it was just Hiruzen who spoke first. If he had been one step later, then the one to speak would have been me!"
"As for the second ability... I'll ask Elder Danzo a few questions. As long as you answer me quickly, you will naturally know!"
Hearing Saito's words and seeing his serious expression, Danzo sat up a bit straighter.
"What does Elder Danzo want to become most?"
"The position of Hokage, of course!"
"Then what does Elder Danzo want to do when you become Hokage?"
"That is naturally to lead Konoha to unify the Ninja World!"
The two questions Saito asked were very rapid.
Danzo's replies were also very rapid.
It took a long while before Danzo realized what he had said.
[It's over! My ambition has been exposed!]
Just as Danzo was thinking about how to remedy the situation.
Saito had already spoken.
"See, I said Elder Danzo is a person with lofty aspirations."
Danzo Shimura: [?!!]
"Is... is that so?"
Saito's words made Danzo Shimura feel quite embarrassed.
After all, in Konoha, everyone said he was an Ambitious Schemer; even he himself had come to think of himself as one.
But now, outside of Konoha, someone actually said he had lofty aspirations.
"Is it not?"
"Is this not ambition?"
"Then go ask the Tsuchikage, Raikage, and Mizukage; ask them if this is ambition or lofty aspirations."
"..."
[Hiruzen! Let's go to war, others are already bullying us!]
[No! Danzo! Konoha is a Village that loves peace! Konoha will gain nothing from going to war! It will only increase Konoha's burden!]
...Watching Danzo Shimura fall into silence.
Saito's eyes darted around as he spoke.
"Could it be... the Hokage..."
"...Yes! I have lofty aspirations!"
...Just like that, after half an hour of Saito's PUA.
Danzo Shimura had successfully been molded into the shape Saito desired.
At this time, although Danzo was still sitting in the pavilion looking at the distant scenery, his mind was no longer there.
His mouth kept muttering... "I am a hero!
I also possessed the courage to stay behind as a decoy; it's just that Hiruzen was one step faster than me!
That wasn't ambition, it was lofty aspirations! It's all because of Hiruzen; it's he who lacks ambition, only caring about stability... it was he who held me back... held Konoha back!
I have been wholeheartedly dedicated to Konoha... my Shimura Clan hasn't developed at all in over a decade; I sent all the family's elites into the Root!
But Hiruzen's Sarutobi Clan grows stronger by the day... everything of mine has been sacrificed for Konoha!
Hiruzen is wrong... Teacher was also... wrong!
I, Danzo Shimura!
Should be the Hokage!"
The last sentence was roared out by Danzo.
There was another long silence.
As if thinking of something, Danzo Shimura gave a deep sigh.
"Sigh! I..."
"Am not the Hokage after all, right?"
Before Danzo Shimura could finish venting his pent-up frustration, Saito's voice rang out from the side.
This caused Danzo to snap his head toward Saito, his hawk-like eyes, honed from years of intelligence work, staring intently at him.
Then he laughed self-deprecatingly.
"Haha... to think that the one who understands me best would be the Lord Kazekage!"
Saito: [...]
"Then, does Elder Danzo want to experience what it feels like to be a Kage?"
[Hmm?]
[Yes!]
Still in the midst of his lamentation, Danzo Shimura heard what Saito said.
He was completely stunned.
It took a long time before he finally asked in disbelief.
"Lord Kazekage, what did you say?"
"I said, does Elder Danzo want to experience what it feels like to be a Kage?"
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