He regretted it…
He would regret it again!
Only, the current Hiruzen would not cut him off. Instead, he extended a hand, signaling for Danzō to elaborate.
"The Uchiha Clan—that is a clan even Tobirama-sensei regarded with extreme wariness!"
"These people are like wolves that cannot be tamed. Keep them leashed in the village and they can guard the house. But once released and allowed to taste blood, they will bite!"
Seeing that he was allowed to speak, Danzō's expression eased slightly, though his attitude remained firm and intense.
Hiruzen fell into thought.
Danzō's line of thinking toward the Uchiha was based on inheriting and amplifying Tobirama's stance.
In order to consolidate their own legitimacy, successors often magnify the predecessor's "signature policies" to highlight their own position.
This view of the Uchiha Clan was common among the ninja clans of Konohagakure.
It was simply not analyzed as thoroughly as it was in the Hokage Tower, after all, they did not possess the Uchiha's various data.
But during the Warring States period, the most frenzied Uchiha had left an indelible impression on Konoha and even on the major ninja clans of the shinobi world, passed down generation after generation…
Coupled with the resentment accumulated from their current work in the Military Police Force, the Uchiha generally treated others with a poor attitude.
Danzō's excessive targeting of the Uchiha had, in fact, received considerable praise from a portion of people, who believed he was the inheritor of the Second's will.
'The arrangement Tobirama-sensei set for the Uchiha was indeed a dead end.'
'If another Izuna or Madara does not emerge, this clan truly would be slowly worn down to extinction…'
Hiruzen sighed inwardly.
Other Hokage might have let it be, but he could not.
Even setting aside the Will of Fire, these Uchiha who had yet to integrate into Konoha were already a large block of performance. If, from time to time in the future, a few pairs of Mangekyō loyal to Konoha were to appear, each pair would be equivalent to receiving a year-end bonus once…
All of that was potential along Hiruzen's ninja path toward becoming the "Strongest Hokage"…
It absolutely could not be abandoned!
"That is indeed an objective hidden danger."
Hiruzen interlocked his fingers. "However, the establishment of the 'Konoha Committee' system means that if we do not include the Uchiha Clan, the intent to target them will be far too obvious."
"It would also damage the credibility of this system and of the village…"
The "Konoha Committee," in essence, was the village transferring a portion of its non-core authority in exchange for the enthusiasm and participation of the various forces within Konoha.
On this matter, even some ninja clans with an unfavorable view of the Uchiha would not wish to see an Uchiha Clan holding two "Konoha Committee" seats have its reasonable demands rejected at the outset.
If the Uchiha could be treated this way today, then others could be treated the same way tomorrow…
Moreover, in public perception, going to the battlefield was simply a matter of course for a ninja.
"Danzō, if we want rules and systems to carry weight, then they must be carried out without discount."
"The essence of a system is a public contract. The rule-makers' 'reluctance' is precisely the touchstone of a system's strength—and it is also a way to give the shinobi a 'reassuring pill'."
"Everyone in the village is watching us…" Hiruzen said in a low, heavy voice.
Danzō did not immediately speak to refute him.
After Hiruzen stopped using the Hokage's title to force him into silence, and instead analyzed things with him on the basis of facts…
Even the darkness of shinobi could listen to reason.
"This is indeed a problem." Danzō shook his head. "This Konoha Committee system you set up…"
But after thinking it over, Danzō did not voice his complaints.
This system was only in trial operation, yet it had already unearthed talents like Hiruko and Hizashi, and the Hyūga Clan had even had the decades-long issue of being a "village within the village" broken apart.
The branch family elites joined ANBU, and Danzō, as the head of ANBU, found them quite handy to use as well.
Its popularity in the village was also extremely high. Even jōnin—or even chūnin—who could not be selected were heatedly discussing the list in taverns, fantasizing that one day they, too, could join this sequence.
Along with that, the number of missions the village completed recently had even risen a little.
"Forget it. Pros and cons are the norm…"
"Real problems are hard to have perfect solutions. You said that—I remember." Danzō said this: "It was from when you discussed the Hyūga matter."
Hiruzen looked at his old friend in surprise.
Why was he so reasonable today… no, why was he being so matter-of-fact?
He even memorized what he had said, and could find where it came from?
Hiruzen truly wanted to say: On this, you're really a bit extreme, Danzō!
"It's good that you understand. I developed this technique because of that."
Hiruzen pointed at his forehead and went along with it. "In order to guard against the Uchiha producing powerful shinobi, we absolutely cannot slack off in our personal strength."
The matter of the Uchiha going to the battlefield was, at this point, considered resolved…
Although once the sound of guns and cannons rang out, all the shinobi in the village would have to obey Hiruzen's orders.
In everyday matters, he still had to listen to the opinions of Danzō as his assistant, the other advisers, and the committee members. He could not forcefully push recommendations; there always had to be discussion and deliberation.
"You're right, Hiruzen…" Danzō's heart sank, the taste in it complex.
It was good that Hiruzen could agree with his ideas of targeting the Uchiha.
But it was not so good that, in combat power, Hiruzen was pulling farther and farther away from him, step by step.
A sense of urgency surged in Danzō's heart. He frowned and said, "But I think this isn't enough…"
"If the Uchiha Clan produces someone who awakens the Mangekyō Sharingan, or if a figure who can lead them appears—a genius-type leader—then they will clench into a single fist."
"We have to prevent that in advance!"
Hiruzen smiled inwardly, but his face was full of worry. "Then tell me—what should we do?"
"Hiruzen, if such an Uchiha appears, then leave it to me…"
"You want to take them out?"
"What are you saying! Am I that kind of person? That would be far too low-level…" Danzō retorted in dissatisfaction.
You really are…
Hiruzen complained inwardly.
Danzō suddenly fell silent for a moment. After a while, his eyes lit up and he said: "If such an Uchiha appears, I will approach him, combine the Will of Fire with my Will of the Root, and instill it into his mind, turning him into a loyal enforcer of Konoha."
"And thereby disintegrate the Uchiha!"
"For the sake of Konoha, Hiruzen, I can abandon my previous hardline stance, learn Tobirama-sensei's conciliatory policy, and make an exception to take that Uchiha as my disciple!"
Danzō's expression carried a trace of self-satisfaction, as if intoxicated by his own astonishing wisdom: "Well, Hiruzen!"
"Tell me—who among the Uchiha could refuse to become the disciple of the Hokage's assistant? From then on, he would be of the Hokage's legitimate lineage. To put it bluntly, that is a ticket to Konoha's upper ranks!"
"Even if the Uchiha is unwilling in his heart, he would have no choice but to bow his head before such benefits…"
"And as long as he gets close to me, Hiruzen, I can mold him into the shape of Konoha!"
Danzō rarely spoke while smiling. "Wouldn't that solve the problem?"
But inside, he was a little nervous.
There was a small private motive hidden within this.
If he took an Uchiha as his disciple, then his own foundation would rise by more than just a single step.
For his competition with Orochimaru for the position of Hokage, that would be extremely beneficial.
His public image would also be strengthened to a certain extent—one could say it would align even more clearly with the Second.
This was the perfect solution Danzō had just conceived in a flash of inspiration, combining what he had learned from Hiruzen's heart-winning version of the Will of Fire.
But if Hiruzen did not agree, he had no particularly good alternative.
Moreover, he was not the only one who could take a disciple. Orochimaru currently had none under his name either.
Danzō was very worried whether Hiruzen might show favoritism and hand this prized opportunity to him. After all, in terms of seniority, he was not actually suitable to take a disciple at present.
It would amount to elevating the Uchiha's status. From that perspective, rejecting him would also be reasonable.
Hiruzen took a deep breath, steadying his emotions.
He had almost failed to hold it in…
What had he just heard?
Danzō wanted to take Senju Tobirama as a disciple?
Even someone as composed as Hiruzen had to marvel at Danzō's bold imagination.
The Hokage did not stint in raising his thumb toward Danzō and loudly praised him: "An extremely ingenious concept!"
"You taking an Uchiha as a disciple would indeed be better than me doing so. After all, I am the Hokage…"
"If the assistant takes him in, it both demonstrates sincerity and establishes a certain buffer layer. That way, the Uchiha's ambitions won't swell too much and lead them to fixate too heavily on the position of Hokage at this stage."
"You've really absorbed the buffer-layer theory I discussed with you before, Danzō."
"Truly, it feels as though it's been ages since we last met—remarkable!"
Hiruzen's vigorous praise nearly sent Danzō soaring…
Yet he himself was completely unaware of it, because this was indeed the result he had derived from studying Hiruzen's essence.
It was all deserved…
One could say that heaven does not fail the diligent.
"But won't it be too exhausting, Danzō…"
"You're already serving concurrently as head of ANBU and the Hokage's assistant. There are too many matters on your shoulders."
"If you add handling a genius Uchiha on top of that, will you really be able to manage?" The worry on Hiruzen's face seemed almost tangible.
"Old friend, you've already given so much for Konoha. I truly fear you'll wear yourself down."
"First, I couldn't bear it. Second, without your support…"
Hiruzen patted his Hokage robe. "Even I would feel uneasy sitting in this seat!"
Ah!
The peak of Danzō's lips rose uncontrollably, yet the corners strained downward, forcefully suppressing the smile that surged to his mouth into a strange expression.
So taking a disciple also carried the deeper meaning of establishing a buffer layer?
Then he truly had mastered Hiruzen's approach—he was already applying it unconsciously!
And this concern for him…
All these years, who had ever asked whether he was tired?
Only Hiruzen. Only Hiruzen…
Danzō thumped his chest. "Don't worry. Leave it to me… When it comes to working for the village, I will never grow tired!"
"Then I'll trouble you with it, Danzō."
Hiruzen unconsciously took out a cigarette and began to smoke.
For the first time, he experienced the suffocating feeling of having no one to share the revival of his teacher with…
Danzō wanted to take Tobirama as a disciple?
You really are something else! Hiruzen once again raised his thumb to him inwardly.
'Sensei, the stage is set—I've already prepared it by having the assistant take in a disciple, all for the sake of the Uchiha.'
Hiruzen scuffed the ground, as if that could somehow let Tobirama, a hundred meters below, hear him. 'The rest depends on you…'
Exhaling a plume of smoke, the Hokage calmed himself for a moment before handing Danzō a document.
"I won't say more. I see everything you've done."
"Have Koharu and Homura investigate these matters as soon as possible. Once the funds arrive, we must find ways to put them to use. Otherwise, they're nothing but waste paper."
"The 'Konoha Committee' system must be firmly established in one go, while the momentum is still hot."
Danzō took it and went to carry it out without hesitation.
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