"The Village cannot withstand any more turmoil right now."
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!!" Danzo roared in a low voice.
"I am the Hokage!!!" The Sandaime instinctively retorted out of habit.
Silence fell in the room...
After a long, wordless period.
"Danzo, you should rest well and not overthink things," the Sandaime said. "The Village still needs your strength to contribute."
Danzo turned his neck, laboriously glancing sideways at the Sandaime.
"Hiruzen, you're right. The Village needs my strength." Danzo said coldly, "Root will be established as usual. My Shimura Clan will become Konoha's Root, secretly clearing all threats and obstacles for the Village."
"Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you." The Sandaime took a deep drag from his pipe and said, "For the Shinobi World War, be prepared."
Many people will die.
"I know, but you have to help me," Danzo said. "I need the power of the Sarutobi Clan and the Ino–Shika–Chō."
"Alright," the Sandaime said. "I will reassign personnel from Anbu to you."
Since Danzo suffered such a great injustice, it was best to satisfy what he could.
Besides, whether in Anbu or Root, it was all for the Village.
Wasn't that the same thing?
Danzo's is mine.
"I also need information on secret and forbidden jutsu to bolster Root's strength," Danzo pressed on.
"That is important property of the Village. To prevent leaks..."
"Hiruzen! Will my Shimura Clan betray the Village!?" Danzo fumed.
"These are the Village's regulations. I can give you the jutsu, but for safety's sake, precautions must be taken," the Sandaime said. "Not just anyone can learn these jutsu."
"I know!" Danzo said. "I will ensure security. Finally, I also want the elites among the commoners!"
...The Sandaime smoked and pondered, then said, "I can give them to you, but you have to recruit them yourself."
Recruit them himself?
Danzo fell silent...
Should he try again?
As for commoner Shinobi, they should be willing to serve the Village, right?
Danzo inexplicably lacked confidence.
"I will go, Hiruzen," Danzo said coldly.
Seeing this, and sensing Danzo's lack of confidence, the Sandaime comforted him, "Keep it up, Danzo, don't stop."
"Hmph, you don't need to tell me that," Danzo said. "Who do you think I am? They're just a few brats."
The Sandaime took a puff from his pipe and smiled happily.
Danzo was back in action!
"It's good that you're in high spirits. I need you, Danzo."
As the Sandaime spoke, he turned his back, looking at the night view of Konoha's lights outside the window.
In this cold-hearted and cruel world, only Danzo could give him a little warmth.
Danzo on the hospital bed nodded, secretly pleased.
Hiruzen is still too soft. Indeed, only I should be Hokage!!!
"Oh, and Danzo," the Sandaime said, "since you're Konoha's Root, you should act in secret. It's best to show yourself as little as possible from now on."
The Sandaime took a puff from his pipe and exhaled.
This way, Danzo would have no chance of becoming Hokage. The Hokage is light, and someone hiding in the shadows can never be it.
It was good, suited Danzo's personality.
He wondered when Danzo would finally see this and stop harboring childish thoughts.
And besides...
Danzo was already dead in the Village.
Terrifying, that child.
This was also for Danzo's sake.
"What do you mean?" Danzo asked. "Isn't secrecy the Root's principle?"
Why ask such pointless questions?
This guy always says half and hides half!
So annoying!
"You don't know?"
"What should I know?"
Hesitating for a second, the Sandaime sighed.
"Today, Mushi-Hime took you on a tour of the Village."
"Huh?" Danzo was a bit confused. What did that mean, all vague and unclear?
"Otherwise, where do you think your injuries came from?"
"Weren't they bug bites?"
"They were from being dragged on the ground." The Sandaime paused, then continued, "Mushi-Hime dragged your unconscious body around the Village. Now, there's no one who doesn't know."
"There's a pitiful man in the Village who was beaten by Mushi-Hime and paraded around the Village as a display of power. Everyone unanimously thinks Mushi-Hime is terrifying and expresses sympathy for you."
Danzo understood the problem.
"Hiruzen, kill me."
"Don't! Live!"
"Then kill her!"
"Will you kill me!? Please!?"
"What were you doing then!? Just watching!?"
"I didn't see anything!? Don't overthink it! Do you know how busy I am!?"
The two looked at each other.
"I've always considered you my brother," Danzo said.
"Me too." The Sandaime smoked.
Bah! Danzo turned his head away!
The Sandaime gave an awkward, bitter smile.
"I'll compensate you!!! Are you satisfied now!!!"
"You said it, Hiruzen. Don't you dare regret it!"
"I won't," the Sandaime said. "I am the Hokage, after all."
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