Chapter 162 This time, I'm the one who's going to become Hokage!
May Konoha prosper forever?
Is it that major villain, Danzo?
Even the Souji found it somewhat amusing.
However, it makes sense.
If someone were to step forward at this time, Danzo would be the most influential person among the candidates.
If it were someone else, their chances of winning would obviously be even lower.
Regardless, Danzo possessed status, prestige, and influence, surpassing Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
In particular, their ruthless and tough style is quite popular with some warmongers.
And then there are those who are stubbornly attached to tradition, who, upon hearing that the daimyo should be abolished, resolutely refuse without hesitation, and denounce them as traitorous diehards.
These people will all turn to Danzo.
Danzo has always been relatively low-key and hidden, so it's quite unexpected that he would suddenly come out into the open.
Does he feel that he has encountered another opportunity to become Hokage?
Thinking about it that way, it seems quite reasonable.
When Minato suddenly resigned and withdrew, the conservatives were in a state of panic.
If he were to emerge at this time, he would be seen as a savior, receiving the support of all the conservatives.
In addition, he would have an appeal to the warmongers...
From Danzo's perspective, at least, he probably felt that he had a chance of winning.
Or perhaps, given Danzo's consistently poor self-awareness, he might even believe that the advantage lies with me.
When he was young, Danzo had the opportunity to become Hokage, but because he was afraid of death, he missed it, which led Tobirama to decide that Hiruzen Sarutobi would become the Third Hokage.
This incident became Danzo's eternal inner demon.
For many years, Danzo has been constantly making underhanded moves, trying to find an opportunity to remove Sarutobi from power and take over the position of Hokage himself.
Of course, the gap between the two in terms of both combat strength and overall situation is too great.
Danzo simply cannot defeat Sarutobi, and he is increasingly aware of the gap, so his mentality is becoming more and more obsessed.
From Souji's perspective, it's clear that Danzo's true desire wasn't the Hokage position, but rather to overcome his long-standing sense of inferiority by surpassing Hiruzen Sarutobi.
In fact, simply becoming Hokage without surpassing Sarutobi wouldn't have meant much to Danzo.
Therefore, in the original story, after Sarutobi's death, Danzo waited and plotted for a long time before finally gaining the Daimyo's recognition to succeed him as Hokage.
He remained quite calm, rather than complacent.
However, as the saying goes, those involved are often blinded by their own interests.
Danzo himself failed to truly understand what he wanted and thus fell into the superficial pursuit of the Hokage position.
When another opportunity arose that presented a strong chance for Danzo to win the Hokage position, he was drawn out.
Having missed an opportunity before, which became a lifelong obsession, Danzo immediately became obsessed with this new chance and didn't care about anything else.
That's probably how it is.
Unexpectedly, his opponent in the competition for the Hokage position was not Minato, but Danzo.
However, we cannot let our guard down.
Although Danzo was only good at hiding and his combat strength, strategic vision, and wisdom were all so-so, he had enough people to support him in maintaining the status quo.
As long as someone of standing or not performed too badly, he could gather a lot of people.
It's still too early to say how it will end.
With this in mind, Souji continued to steadily lobby various factions in Konoha with supporters such as Minato.
...
Root stronghold.
Danzo leaned back in his chair, listening to the reports from the two Root ninjas with his eyes closed.
"My lord, we've already spoken to the Daimyo, and he's expressed his willingness to support you.
We absolutely cannot allow a madman like Mochizuki Souji to become Hokage!"
"We have forwarded the Daimyo's personal letter to the heads of all the major ninja clans.
We believe it will definitely make all the ninja clans realize that the one who has received the Daimyo's name is the rightful heir!"
The other person then added:
"My lord, we have been stirring up trouble throughout the village against Mochizuki Souji's attempt to abolish the daimyo, and we have achieved great success.
Many people are very resistant and have denounced Mochizuki Souji as a traitorous madman!"
"Um..."
Danzo Shimura slowly opened his eyes and said in a deep voice:
"You all did a good job."
"However, we are not inciting, but merely stating the facts.
Mochizuki Souji said he wanted to abolish the daimyo, which is indeed a heinous crime."
"I've met so many people, but there aren't many whose ideas are this crazy.
Mochizuki Souji... how can such a madman be allowed to become Hokage?"
Danzo said softly:
"Now Sarutobi is finished too.
The matter of deciding on the Fourth Hokage has developed into what it is now.
Although it was said that the two previous Hokage were supporting him, Sarutobi failed to win or even stop Mochizuki Souji.
This is equivalent to preordaining it."
"For the daimyo, this is tantamount to betrayal as well."
"After serving as Hokage for so many years, he ended up with such a stain on his reputation.
His honor is ruined in his later years..."
"Yes!" the two Root ninjas answered loudly.
Just then, another Root ninja appeared.
"My lord, we have made contact with that mysterious person."
What did he say?
"He has secretly facilitated the alliance of the four great daimyo and stimulated their sense of crisis.
I believe that the four great ninja villages will soon launch an attack on Konoha in the form of a coalition army under the call of the daimyo."
"Oh... I was just planning to ask him for a favor, but I didn't expect he was already making arrangements..."
Danzo nodded slightly and said:
"The four great ninja villages have formed an alliance to attack Konoha.
This is a major crisis for Konoha, and as the source of this crisis, Mochizuki Souji must bear the responsibility."
"As long as this message is spread, those who feel uneasy will immediately point the finger at Mochizuki Souji, which will be another major stain on his reputation."
"In that case, the position of Hokage will surely be mine."
"First, I'll become Hokage, then lead Konoha to defeat the other ninja villages.
From then on, no one can shake my position!"
As Danzo explained his plan, he felt it was far too perfect, practically flawless.
As for the threat posed by the allied forces of the four great ninja villages?
After a series of battles, all four ninja villages suffered severe damage, and the Mizukage and Raikage were killed in action.
It can be said that this so-called allied forces are nothing but a paper tiger, and in reality, they are just a rabble cobbled together from four and a half cruel villages.
In comparison, Konoha's strength has not suffered much loss and it remains in a very strong position.
With Konoha being so powerful, defeating such a weak coalition would be a piece of cake.
"It's practically an achievement delivered right to our doorstep..."
Danzo said, a rare smile appearing on his face.
"Thinking about it this way, Mochizuki Souji is simply my benefactor.
The opportunity to become Hokage, the support of the Daimyo, and the merits to secure the position of Hokage—all of these have been prepared for me!"
"Sarutobi… back then, because I hesitated for even a second, you snatched the Hokage position from me.
But this time, I won't miss it again…"
"This time, I'm the one who will become Hokage!"
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end of this chapter...