Konoha: I’m Danzo! What the hell is this Naruto chat group?

When I woke up, I became Shimura Danzo, the man who carried all the darkness of Konoha! Just after the third war, Sarutobi old man smiled with a knife hidden in his heart, but I activated it – Konoha Hokage chat group

I laughed!

The position of Hokage really belongs to me!

Hold the script in your hand and control the future! The Nine-Tails Rebellion, the extermination of the Uchiha clan, the rampage of the Akatsuki organization, the advent of the Otsutsuki… in front of my “chat group”, they are nothing more than a chess game in my hand!

He deceived the first generation and abducted the second generation to be his thugs, and trained Tsunade and Minato to become “his own people”!

Sarutobi Hiruzen? He’s just a stepping stone on my way to the top! Uchiha Madara? He has to dance obediently in front of me!

“Necessary evil”? No, that’s my badge! “Dark Knight”? I am order!

From the mastermind to the only true god in the ninja world, transplanting the Sharingan, fusing Hashirama’s cells, seizing the Samsara Eye, and rubbing an artificial god with my own hands! What Kaguya Otsutsuki is, she is just the last “nutrient” for my long step to becoming a god!

“Those who follow me will prosper, those who go against me will perish! Naruto chat group? Humph, this is just the beginning of my subversion of everything!”

Konoha: I’m Danzo! What the hell is this Naruto chat group?
Chapter 1 I, Danzo, joined the Naruto chat group?!Ice cold, freezing cold.
This was the first clear feeling that the new Danzo had after regaining consciousness. It was not simply a low temperature, but a chill that penetrated deep into the bone marrow and seemed to freeze even the soul.
He suddenly opened his eyes, and what he saw was not the familiar ceiling, but a rough, blue-black rock dome. The weak torches flickered on the stone walls, casting ghostly shadows, making the surrounding scene gloomy and depressing.
The air was filled with a damp smell mixed with rust and a faint smell of blood.
“here it is……”
Chaotic memories flooded into his mind like a flood. The intense pain made him groan and he subconsciously covered his forehead.
Danzo Shimura.
The leader of the “Root” organization in Konoha Village.
Endure the darkness.
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s best friend and rival.
A hero who would do anything for Konoha, whose hands are stained with blood, and who walks alone in the darkness.
No, now, in this body is a soul from the 21st century.
He became Danzo Shimura.
The new Danzo slowly lowered his hand and looked around.
This was a huge underground cave, obviously a carefully repaired secret base. Not far in front of him, dozens of ninjas wearing uniform black uniforms and wearing various animal masks on their faces knelt on one knee, silent, like a group of lifeless sculptures.
Members of “root”.
The aura of absolute obedience and cold silence emanating from them made the new Danzo feel a slight chill in his heart.
These are the claws that Danzo relies on for survival, Konoha’s sharpest and most invisible fangs.
“Danzo-sama.”
A deep and hoarse voice came from the ninja kneeling in the front. He was wearing a weasel mask.
The new Danzo did not respond immediately. He was rapidly digesting the original owner’s memories.
It is now the 47th year of Konoha, and the Third Ninja World War has just ended. Although Konoha has achieved the final victory, it has also paid a heavy price. The village is in ruins and surrounded by powerful enemies. It can be said that it is facing internal and external troubles.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage known as the “Hero of Ninja”, was in his prime and at the peak of his power.
The original owner, Danzo, had very complicated feelings towards Sarutobi Hiruzen. There was a friendship between them as classmates when they were young, studying under the second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, but there was also a deep resentment for missing out on the position of Hokage. He believed that he was more decisive than Sarutobi and more suitable to lead Konoha to become stronger, but he had to be inferior to Sarutobi and become his “shadow” to stabilize his rule.
This unwillingness and ambition, like a maggot on the tarsal bone, is deeply engraved in the depths of the soul, and is now clearly conveyed to the new Danzo.
The new Danzo’s mouth curled up in an imperceptible sneer.
Sarutobi Hinanten, a shrewd politician, is good at balancing the forces of all parties and using the “will of fire” to unite people. But his so-called “kindness” is, in his own opinion, just another manifestation of indecision and hypocrisy.
Although the original owner, Danzo, used cruel and unscrupulous means, his ultimate goal was indeed to make Konoha stronger. However, this strength must be created by him personally.
“Hmm.” The new Danzo finally responded with a single syllable, his voice hoarse and low, just like the original owner. He slowly stood up and stretched his slightly stiff body. There was a slight strange feeling under the bandage on his right eye, which was the transplanted Sharingan.
“Yamazaki Wind,” the new Danzo’s gaze fell on the weasel-masked ninja, “Has there been any unusual movement in or outside the village recently?” He deliberately imitated the original owner’s tone and habits of speaking.
The ninja named Yamanakafune bowed his head slightly and answered respectfully, “Reporting to Danzo-sama, everything is normal in the village, and Hokage-sama is handling various post-war matters. There are no obvious changes in the major families. Externally, the Sand Village has signed a peace agreement after its defeat. Although the Iwagakure Village and the Cloud Village are unwilling to accept the defeat, they are unable to start a large-scale war in the short term. The Mist Village is preoccupied with its own internal problems.”
The new Danzo nodded slightly, the information roughly matched what he remembered.
He walked to a stone table with some scrolls and documents on it. He picked up one at random and looked over it, his mind racing.
Time travel is a fact, and there is no point in complaining about it. Although Shimura Danzo is notorious, he also holds great power, so he is not without opportunities.
At least, he has more “foresight” from the future than Danzo in the original work, who only knows how to plot and ultimately fails miserably.
“How to break the impasse…” the new Danzo muttered to himself.
It was obviously unwise to confront Sarutobi Hiruzen head-on. That old fox had been operating in Konoha for many years and was deeply rooted. Whether it was strength or prestige, it was not something that he could easily shake.
We must proceed step by step.
Just as he was thinking, a cold, emotionless mechanical voice suddenly sounded in his mind:
[Ding! The host’s strong will and special identity have been detected…]Shindanzo’s body shook violently, and the scroll in his hand almost slipped.
What’s that sound?
He calmly put the scroll back on the table, but his eyes sharpened and he glanced around vigilantly.
Shan Zhongfeng and others were still kneeling on the ground, motionless, apparently unaware of anything unusual.
[The “Konoha Hokage Chat Group” system is being activated…][System bound host: Shimura Danzo. ]【Group owner authority has been granted. 】
[Newbie Task Release: Invite at least three Konoha Hokage (or those who are closely related to the Hokage) from different timelines to join the chat group. 】
[Task Reward: Open the basic functions of the chat group, and the exclusive rights of the group owner (primary).][Scanning for eligible target persons…][Scanning completed, generating invitation list…][The first list of candidate members who can be invited has been generated. Please select the invitees. 】
A series of mechanical beeps made Shin Danzo’s heart beat violently and uncontrollably.
System? Chat group? Hokage from different timelines?
He suppressed the shock and ecstasy in his heart and tried to maintain his outward calm.
This is simply… giving you a pillow when you feel sleepy!
What does he lack the most? It is the trump card to fight against Sarutobi Hinantren and the opportunity to change his fate!
And this “Konoha Hokage Chat Group” is undoubtedly his biggest trump card!
If only we could pull those legendary Hokage, those beings who hold Konoha’s core secrets and powerful powers, into the group chat…
The new Danzo’s breathing was slightly rapid, but he quickly calmed down.
The more critical the moment, the more you need to stay calm.
His consciousness sank into his mind, and a virtual interface emitting a faint blue light slowly unfolded. The interface design was extremely simple, with the words “Konoha Hokage Chat Group” at the top and a blank chat window at the bottom.
On the right side of the chat window, there are several icons, one of which says “Invite group members” and is flashing.
The new Danzo’s consciousness was focused on that icon.
The next moment, a list popped up.
[Optional invitation objects (first batch):][1. Hashirama Senju (First Hokage period – peak state)][2. Senju Tobirama (Second Hokage period – middle-aged state)][3. Sarutobi Hiruzen (Third Hokage period – young age)][4. Namikaze Minato (before the Fourth Hokage took over – peak state)][5. Tsunade (Girlhood – Konoha 10th Year)][6. Uzumaki Naruto (Genin period – after the Wave Country mission)][7. Uchiha Sasuke (Genin period – after the Wave Country mission)]【……】
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ActivityRegister as a Filo member and get 200 points![Register Now]Chapter 2 Invite the Hokage to join the group chat! (Old version)
Looking at the familiar names on the list, the new Danzo’s eyes became extremely deep.
Sarutobi Hiruzen? In his youth? No, inviting him now would only add to the uncertainty.
Namikaze Minato? The future Fourth Hokage, a genius, but unfortunately…
Uzumaki Naruto? Uchiha Sasuke? These two brats are still too young.
The new Danzo’s gaze finally stopped on the first two names.
Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama.
The founder of Konoha, the legend of the ninja world.
If I could get their “guidance”, no, use them…
The corner of the new Danzo’s mouth raised uncontrollably into an icy arc.
Without hesitation, he chose “Senju Hashirama” with his mind.
[Ding! The person you want to invite has been selected: Senju Hashirama.][Invitation letter is being sent…]On the dark blue chat group interface, a gray icon with the first Hokage’s avatar began to flash slightly, as if waiting for the other party’s response.
The new Danzo’s heart was also lifted.
Will this legendary ninja god accept the invitation?
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
The cave was still dead silent, with only the slight crackling sound of burning torches.
The new Danzo’s consciousness was fixed on the flickering portrait.
Suddenly, the avatar suddenly lit up and changed from gray to color!
[Ding! “Senju Hashirama” has joined the Konoha Hokage chat group! ]Done!
The new Danzo was delighted in his heart, but he remained calm on the surface.
He took a deep breath and calmed his excitement.
Next, how to have the first “contact” with the legendary first generation Hokage?
He tried to input a line of words into the chat interface input box in his mind using his mind.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Owner)]: “Welcome to the Konoha Hokage chat group.”
Message sent successfully.
The message he sent was clearly displayed on the group interface.
Now, we just have to wait for the response from the First Hokage.
The new Danzo’s gaze turned toward the window again, as if he had penetrated through layers of rock walls and saw the Hokage Rock, which symbolized the highest power in Konoha Village.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, our game has just begun.
…
At the same time, in an unknown time and space.
On a sunny day, in a lush forest, a handsome man wearing red layered armor, a Konoha forehead protector, and a signature bob haircut, was sitting cross-legged on a huge rock with his eyes closed.
He is the first Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes sharply, a look of confusion on his face.
“Hmm? Just now there seemed to be…some voice in my head?”
He scratched his head, somewhat puzzled.
A line of unfamiliar text suddenly appeared in his mind, accompanied by an equally unfamiliar virtual interface.
Senju Hashirama widened his eyes and “looked” at this magical scene in his mind in surprise.
“Oh?” He exclaimed, his thick eyebrows raised, “Is this a new Wood Release Ninjutsu? Or an illusion?”
He tried to sense it with his chakra, but found nothing unusual.
“Konoha Hokage chat group…Shimura Danzo?” Hashirama touched his chin, thinking about the name.
“Danzo… sounds familiar, like the name of a kid Tobirama mentioned?”
He has an open-minded personality and is full of interest in such new things.
So he tried to respond with his mind.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Oh? Is this some new Wood Release Ninjutsu? Tobirama, is this something new you came up with?”
The message was sent successfully.
Hashirama laughed, finding this thing quite amusing.
“I wonder if Tobirama is here. This little brother always likes to study strange things.”
He looked at the chat interface in his mind with interest, expecting a reply from the man named “Shimura Danzo” or his younger brother Tobirama.
Inside the secret base of “Root”.
When seeing Hashirama Senju’s response that was full of his personal style, the corners of the new Danzo’s mouth twitched slightly.
New Wood Release Ninjutsu? It really fits the thinking of the first Hokage.
However, this also made him feel relieved.
At least, the first Hokage did not show strong rejection and vigilance. This is a good start.
He decided to observe first and not rush to reveal his identity and true purpose.
He needed more time to think about how to get the most out of this “Ninja God”.
At this moment, a prompt sound came from the chat group interface again.
[Ding! Group owner, please continue to select the invitees. ]The new Danzo’s eyes fell on the invitation list again.
This time, he made his choice without any hesitation.
“Senju Tobirama.”
[Ding! The person you want to invite has been selected: Senju Tobirama.]The second avatar, the one representing the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, began to flash.
If Hashirama Senju represents the “light” of Konoha, then Tobirama Senju is undoubtedly the indispensable “shadow” of Konoha. His wisdom, calmness, iron fist and deep insight into reality are all highly valued by the new Danzo.
More importantly, Tobirama was the teacher of the original owner, Danzo. This teacher-student relationship might be a breakthrough that he could exploit.
Of course, the new Danzo is very clear that Tobirama Senju is definitely not as easy to “fool” as Hashirama Senju.
The second generation Hokage was known for his rigor and vigilance.
A moment later, Senju Tobirama’s avatar also lit up!
[Ding! “Senju Tobirama” has joined the Konoha Hokage chat group! ]Almost the moment Tobirama joined, a new message appeared in the group.
This message is full of scrutiny and vigilance.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Brother Hashirama? You are here too? Where is this place? Who did this? Tell me your name!”
As expected, he is worthy of being the second generation.
The new Danzo felt an invisible pressure. Across time and space, he seemed to be able to see the pair of sharp red eyes of Senju Tobirama.
He took a deep breath and began to choose his words.
When facing Tobirama Senju, any careless words may arouse the other party’s suspicion.
He had to appear mysterious yet trustworthy, or at least make Tobirama feel that what he was doing was beneficial to Konoha.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Master Tobirama, long time no see. This is the place that connects the will of Konoha in different time and space. I am the one who opened this place for the future of Konoha.”
He deliberately blurred his specific identity, only mentioning the title “Master Tobirama” to imply that he knew him. At the same time, he elevated the nature of the chat group to the level of “Konoha’s will” and “Konoha’s future.”
He believed that with Senju Tobirama’s wisdom, he would definitely be interested in these two keywords.
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Chapter 3 What? Danzo is the next Hokage?! (Old version)
In another time and space, the Hokage’s office.
Wearing blue armor, with a face that is intimidating even without being angry, under his short silver-white hair, Senju Tobirama is buried in a mountain of official business.
Suddenly, the brush in his hand paused slightly.
“Um?”
Similar to Hashirama’s experience, a strange interface and voice appeared in his mind.
When he saw the somewhat off-line remarks made by the eldest brother Hashirama in the group and the person who called himself “Shimura Danzo (group leader)”, Tobirama’s brows immediately furrowed.
“Brother Hashirama…” He whispered to himself, with a hint of helplessness in his tone. His elder brother was sometimes too optimistic and naive.
“Shimura Danzo… Is this name the same as that of the kid from Monkey’s class?” Tobirama vaguely remembered that among his many disciples, there was indeed one named Shimura Danzo, who was taciturn but there was always an lingering gloom in his eyes.
“The place that connects the will of Konoha in different time and space?”
“For the future of Konoha?”
Tobirama chewed over the other person’s words over and over again, his scarlet eyes flashing with shrewdness and prudence.
This incredible thing made him think of the Uchiha clan’s strange eye techniques.
But soon, he denied this speculation.
If it was an Uchiha conspiracy, it would be impossible to drag himself and his elder brother into it so easily. Moreover, although Danzo, who called himself the “group leader”, spoke in a pretentious tone, he seemed to have no ill intentions.
“Different time and space…” Tobirama became very interested in this concept.
If it is really possible to connect Konoha in different time and space, then perhaps we can learn from them and prevent Konoha from repeating certain mistakes.
Of course, the premise is that this so-called “chat group” and “group owner” are trustworthy.
He didn’t believe it immediately, but he didn’t refute it directly either.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Oh? A different time and space? Konoha’s future? Interesting. So, what exactly is the ‘future’ you’re talking about?”
He decided to test the background of this “group leader” first.
Within the “root” base.
Seeing Senju Tobirama’s tentative response, the new Danzo said in his heart, “As expected.”
The Second Hokage’s sharpness and pragmatism far surpassed that of ordinary people.
He did not directly answer Tobirama’s question about the “future” because once it came to specific details, it would be easy to expose his true colors or reveal his intentions too early.
He needs to take the initiative into his own hands.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “It’s hard to describe the future in a few words. Later, I will invite another person who is closely related to the future of Konoha to join the group. Then, perhaps you can discuss it together.”
He cleverly changed the subject and threw out a new suspense.
“Another person who is closely related to the future of Konoha?”
Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama became curious about this sentence almost at the same time.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Oh! Are there any newcomers? Are they powerful ninjas? Welcome, welcome!”
Hashirama is always so enthusiastic.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Humph, you are just being mysterious. I want to see what you are up to.”
Although Tobirama’s tone was unfriendly, he obviously had no intention of leaving.
The new Danzo smiled slightly.
The fish has been hooked.
His eyes turned to the invitation list again.
This time, he chose the future Fifth Hokage.
“Tsunade.”
[Ding! The person you want to invite has been selected: Tsunade (girlhood – Konoha 10th year). ]Tsunade’s portrait began to flicker.
The new Danzo has more complicated considerations for Tsunade.
She is not only the granddaughter of the first Hokage, the princess of the Senju clan, and the future medical master, but also… a woman full of weaknesses.
Rope tree, broken.
These two names are the pain that she can never get rid of in her life.
And now Tsunade should still be a carefree and even somewhat spoiled little girl, right?
If she knew the tragic future in advance…
There was a hint of cold calculation in the new Danzo’s eyes.
Soon, Tsunade’s portrait lit up.
[Ding! “Tsunade” has joined the Konoha Hokage chat group! ]A slightly childish girl’s voice (in text form) with a hint of naivety and doubt appeared in the group chat.
[Tsunade]: “Grandpa? Second Grandpa? Why are you here? Is this a prank? Who is playing tricks?”
Then, she seemed to see the ID of the group owner.
[Tsunade]: “Shimura Danzo? I think I heard Nawaki mention you. He said you were a gloomy guy with a stern face all day long!”
New Danzo: “…”
He didn’t expect that this was the image of him in the mind of this ten-year-old girl.
But he didn’t care.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Oh! It’s Tsuna-chan! Hahaha, you’re here too! That’s great, that’s great!”
Hashirama seemed extremely happy to see his granddaughter, and the atmosphere in the group became a little more lively with Tsunade’s joining.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Tsunade? How come you…what’s going on with this chat group?”
There was even more confusion and alarm in Tobirama’s voice.
[Tsunade]: “I don’t know either, Second Grandpa! I was just playing with Nawaki, Jiraiya, Orochimaru and the others! Suddenly this thing popped into my mind!”
[Tsunade]: “Grandpa, second grandpa, what on earth is this? Is it a new ninjutsu?”
Little Tsunade asked questions rapidly, full of childish curiosity and confusion.
She was full of admiration for the two legendary ancestors, and when she saw them now, her initial vigilance had dissipated a lot, and was replaced by more doubts.
The new Danzo silently observed the interaction between the three.
Hashirama was trying to comfort his granddaughter, Tobirama was still trying to analyze the nature of this chat group, and Tsunade was like a little animal that had entered an unfamiliar environment, full of curiosity and a hint of uneasiness.
The timing is almost right.
The new Danzo cleared his throat – of course, this was just a subconscious action. In the group, he still sent a serious text message.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Since the three of you have gathered here, I believe you all care deeply about the fate of Konoha.”
His opening remarks were grand and impressive.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “I propose that we hold a round table meeting. In this special space, we can share information from each other’s eras and discuss Konoha’s past, present, and… the unknown future.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “What do you three think?”
He made his first proposal.
“Round table?”
Senju Hashirama’s eyes lit up.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Oh! That’s good! That’s good! Let’s all sit down and have a good chat. We will surely be able to come up with many ideas that will benefit Konoha! I agree!”
As expected of the first Hokage, he always has great enthusiasm for this kind of “communication” activities.
Senju Tobirama’s reaction was much calmer.
He pondered for a moment.
“Share intelligence… discuss the future…”
Chapter 4: First Round Table Meeting! (Old Version)
From a rational point of view, if this chat group can really connect different time and space, then the value of this intelligence sharing will be immeasurable.
Especially Danzo, who calls himself the “group leader”, seems to have some key information.
Out of a sense of responsibility to Konoha and curiosity about this mysterious chat group, Tobirama finally made a decision.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Hmph, a round table meeting? That’s not a bad idea. But I warn you, group leader, if you have any intentions that are detrimental to Konoha, I, Senju Tobirama, will be the first one to not forgive you!”
Although he agreed, he still added a stern warning.
The new Danzo didn’t care at all.
Warning? Once you know some of the “truths” about the future of Konoha, you may not think so.
Now, only Tsunade is left.
[Tsunade]: “Round table meeting? It sounds like it would be great… Grandpa and Second Grandpa both agreed, so I’ll join in too!”
The young girl Tsunade was more out of trust in the two elders and curiosity about the word “future”.
For her, being able to “attend a meeting” with the legendary grandfather and second grandfather was also a novel and honorable thing.
[Ding! Group members Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Tsunade have agreed to participate in the first round table meeting. ][The first roundtable meeting is about to start, meeting mode: information sharing and future warning. ]【Meeting host: Group leader Danzo Shimura. 】
Looking at the system prompt, a deep smile appeared on the corner of the new Danzo’s mouth.
Everything is under control.
This first round-table meeting will be his first step to change history, change destiny and seize power.
He wanted to let these legendary Hokage “see” with their own eyes some of the “darkness” and “helplessness” of Konoha’s future.
He wanted to cleverly direct the spearhead toward someone.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, are you ready to welcome this “surprise” from the “past” and the “future”?
There was a cold and excited light in the new Danzo’s eyes.
He couldn’t wait to see the wonderful expressions of these high-ranking Hokage after they learned the “truth”.
Especially…Tsunade.
The story about the rope tree and the broken future must have left a deep impression on her.
All of this will become a bargaining chip for Shimura Danzo to control people’s hearts and play power games.
A grand plan was slowly taking shape in his mind.
From this moment on, the fate of Konoha will completely deviate from its original track because of his existence.
As the system prompt sounded, the new Danzo felt as if his consciousness was being pulled by an invisible force into a strange virtual space.
The space was not large, presenting a simple and solemn style. In the center was a huge round stone table, the material of which was unknown, emitting a faint glow. Around the stone table were four simple stone chairs.
The new Danzo found himself sitting on one of the stone chairs, while Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju and Tsunade were sitting on the other three stone chairs. Their images were not real, but a kind of slightly illusory projection composed of light and shadow, but their faces and expressions were clearly visible.
“Oh! This is really magical!” Senju Hashirama looked around curiously, stretched out his hand to try to touch the stone table in front of him, but it went straight through. He showed a childlike expression of curiosity, “It feels like my spirit has entered a special place.”
Senju Tobirama remained alert. He looked around with a frown, as if analyzing the composition of this space. His sharp red eyes occasionally swept over the projection of Danzo sitting in the main seat, his eyes full of scrutiny.
The girl Tsunade seemed a little nervous and excited. She looked at this, touched that (even though she couldn’t touch it), and her face was full of curiosity. “That’s amazing! We are really in different places, but we can ‘meet’ and chat here?”
The projection of the new Danzo sat in the main seat, his face deliberately shrouded in a light shadow, making it difficult to see his specific expression, only revealing a pair of deep and calm eyes. He wanted to maintain his mystery and authority.
“Three of you,” the new Danzo’s deep voice rang out in the virtual space, clearly reaching everyone’s ears, “Welcome to the first round table meeting.”
He paused, glanced at the three people, and continued, “As I said before, we are gathered here for the fate of Konoha. Each of you is in a different time node, which is both our advantage and may cause some cognitive bias. Therefore, I suggest that we share some key information from our respective eras first, so as to better carry out subsequent discussions.”
He did not throw out those shocking “future predictions” at the beginning, but chose a relatively gentle opening method. He needed to guide these people step by step to gradually accept and believe what he said.
“Sharing information? I agree with that!” Senju Hashirama immediately agreed, “Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you win every battle! Although we are not going to fight now, it is always good to know more.”
Senju Tobirama did not immediately express his opinion. He stared at Danzo with sharp eyes, as if trying to see something from his blurred face. “It’s okay to share information, but how can we ensure the authenticity of the information? And, what kind of information do you, the ‘group leader’, have?”
“Don’t be anxious, Lord Tobirama,” the new Danzo said slowly, “You will all judge the authenticity of the information later. As for the information I have… I think it is enough for you to have a completely new understanding of the future of Konoha.” There was a hint of unquestionable confidence in his tone.
The young girl Tsunade blinked her eyes, and watched the confrontation between the “adults” in a daze. She didn’t quite understand these complicated words, but she could feel that the atmosphere was a bit solemn.
The new Danzo turned his gaze to Tsunade, and his tone was deliberately softened: “Princess Tsunade, how about you start first? The era you lived in should be one of the most peaceful and hopeful periods in Konoha, right? How about telling us about Konoha in your eyes and your wishes?”
He chose to let Tsunade speak first, which has a profound meaning. The girl’s innocence and beautiful vision of the future will form a sharp contrast with the cruel truth revealed later, which will be more shocking.
Tsunade was a little nervous when her name was called, but when she saw her grandfather’s encouraging eyes, she plucked up her courage.
“I… My name is Tsunade, and I’m ten years old!” The girl’s voice was clear and pleasant. “My village, Konoha, has just experienced a war. Grandpa and second grandfather defeated the bad guys and brought peace! The people in the village are working hard to rebuild their homes. Although it’s still a bit hard, everyone is full of energy!”
Her little face was filled with a longing for peace: “I hope Konoha can always be peaceful like this, and there will be no more wars! Everyone can live together happily!”
Chapter 5 Crazy spoilers of the future to the Hokage! (Old version)
“I have a younger brother named Nawaki. He is very cute and admires grandpa very much. He dreams of becoming a great Hokage like grandpa in the future!” Tsunade’s eyes were full of love when she mentioned her younger brother. “And my good friend Dan is also very powerful. We agreed to protect Konoha together!”
The girl’s voice is full of sincere feelings for her family and friends, as well as beautiful expectations for the future.
As Senju Hashirama listened to his granddaughter’s story, a gratified smile appeared on his face and he nodded continuously.
Senju Tobirama also rarely relaxed his expression. He was quite fond of his niece.
The atmosphere in the virtual space became much more relaxed because of Tsunade’s speech.
However, the new Danzo’s next words were like a basin of ice water, instantly extinguishing the warmth that had just risen.
His voice was still calm, but it carried a hint of cruelty that was unmistakable.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Princess Tsunade, your wish is beautiful. Peace is the common hope of all Konoha ninjas.”
He first affirmed Tsunade’s wish, then changed the subject, like the sharpest blade, piercing people’s hearts.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “But, do you know that in your future timeline, your beloved brother Nawaki, and your lover Dan…they will all die in the cruel war?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire virtual space fell into silence.
The smile on Tsunade’s face froze, and her big eyes stared at Danzo’s projection in disbelief, as if she didn’t hear clearly what the other person said.
“W…what?” Her voice trembled a little.
The smile on Senju Hashirama’s face also disappeared instantly. He suddenly looked at Danzo, his eyes full of surprise and confusion: “Danzo, you…what nonsense are you talking about?! What sacrifice?!”
Senju Tobirama’s brows were also tightly knitted, and his sharp gaze shot towards Danzo as if it were real: “Group leader! Be careful with your words! Don’t say such things carelessly!”
The new Danzo ignored the questions from Hashirama and Tobirama, and his eyes were still fixed on Tsunade. He wanted to see with his own eyes how this girl would be crushed by the cruel truth.
“The rope tree…broken…sacrifice?” Tsunade muttered to herself, her face instantly turned pale, the blood drained away. Her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
“No…Impossible! You are lying! You are talking nonsense!” She screamed suddenly, her voice shrill and desperate, full of disbelief and fear.
[Tsunade]: “Grandpa! Second Grandpa! He’s lying! He must be lying to us! Nawaki won’t die! Dan won’t die either! They’re so powerful!”
The girl’s emotions instantly went out of control. She cried and tried to stand up from the stone chair, but she was unable to do so because she was in a projection state. Her tears rolled down like pearls that had broken off the string, and turned into dots of light and dissipated in the virtual space.
The sudden fear of losing her beloved almost completely overwhelmed this ten-year-old girl.
Senju Hashirama felt heartbroken when he saw his granddaughter’s grief-stricken look. He turned to Danzo angrily and said, “Danzo! Why did you say such a thing to scare a child? Take back your words now!”
[Senju Hashirama]: “Tsunade, be good, don’t cry, don’t cry, Grandpa is here, that guy is talking nonsense!” He tried to comfort Tsunade, but his voice was also trembling slightly. Because Danzo’s tone was too firm, it didn’t seem like he was just talking nonsense.
Although Senju Tobirama was also shocked and angry about Danzo’s remarks, he was calmer than Hashirama. He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and asked in a deep voice: “Group leader, do you have any evidence for what you said? It is a serious crime to fabricate the future life and death of others at will!”
The new Danzo remained calm in the face of the three people’s questioning and Tsunade’s crying.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “I never make things up. War is cruel, and the future is full of uncertainties. Nawaki died in a mission shortly after he became a Genin, when he was killed by the enemy’s detonating trap. And Kato Dan was seriously injured and his internal organs were ruptured in a future war while trying to protect his companions. Even with your future medical ninjutsu, Tsunade, there is no way to save him.”
He briefly described the cause of death of Rope Tree and Dan in an almost cold, factual tone. Every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting Tsunade’s heart hard.
“No… stop talking! I don’t want to hear it! I don’t want to hear it!” Tsunade covered her ears and shook her head desperately, tears blurring her vision. She couldn’t accept that her lively and lovely brother, her gentle and strong lover, would leave her in such a tragic way.
The pain of knowing the death of a loved one in advance was too much for a ten-year-old child.
Senju Hashirama was heartbroken when he saw his granddaughter in pain. He wanted to hug her, but found that he was just an illusory projection. He could only watch helplessly, with the anger in his eyes almost bursting out.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Danzo! What on earth do you want to do?! Even if what you said is true, is it necessary to tell a child in this way?!”
Senju Tobirama fell silent. He knew Danzo’s disciple. Although he was ruthless, he was not a random person. If he said so much in detail, it was probably not groundless.
A heavy sadness welled up in his heart. Was the bloodline of the Thousand Hands clan going to wither again?
This is the effect that the new Danzo is waiting for.
He wanted Tsunade to remember this pain and despair. Only in this way, when he threw out the bait of “changing fate” in the future, Tsunade would be more likely to take the bait.
At the same time, he also wanted to take this opportunity to lead the topic to deeper issues.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “I understand Princess Tsunade’s grief. But running away won’t solve the problem. These tragedies are not only caused by the cruelty of war, but are also closely related to certain decisions and hidden dangers within Konoha.”
He changed the subject and found his next target as accurately as a venomous snake.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Lord Tobirama,” he turned to Senju Tobirama, his voice carrying a hint of meaning, “I fully understand your vigilance against the Uchiha clan. After all, the Uchiha clan is too powerful and too dangerous.”
Senju Tobirama’s pupils shrank slightly when he heard this. Uchiha, this is the clan he has been wary of and guarded against all his life.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “But, Master Tobirama, you should know that at some point in the future, the Uchiha clan… will face the disaster of extinction. The entire powerful Uchiha clan will be almost completely slaughtered, leaving only a very small number of survivors, wandering outside.”
Chapter 6 A Necessary Evil (Old Version)
“What?!” Senju Tobirama suddenly “stood” up from the stone chair. Although it was just a projection, the pressure brought by his action was still strong. His scarlet eyes stared at Danzo, “The Uchiha clan was exterminated? How is this possible? Who did it?!”
Although the Uchiha clan is unruly, it is one of the founding clans of Konoha after all, and its strength is unquestionable. What kind of power could have wiped out the Uchiha clan?
Senju Hashirama was also shocked by the news. Although he broke with Uchiha Madara, he had no ill feelings towards the Uchiha clan and even worked hard to resolve the conflict between the two clans. Hearing that the Uchiha clan would be exterminated in the future, he also felt unbelievable and sad.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Danzo! Is this… is this true? Uchiha… they…”
The new Danzo did not directly answer who did it, but cleverly directed the spearhead to the target he really wanted to attack.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “The reasons for the demise of the Uchiha were complicated. There were flaws in their own characters, as well as instigation from external forces. But more importantly, it was the inappropriate way that Konoha’s high-level officials handled the Uchiha issue.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “All of this is closely related to the future Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen’s certain ‘soft’ policies, and his ‘hands-off’ attitude towards internal conflicts.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen!
When this name came out of Danzo’s mouth and was linked to the tragedy of the Uchiha clan’s genocide, Senju Tobirama’s face instantly became extremely ugly.
“Monkey?” Tobirama’s eyes flashed with disbelief. Sarutobi Hiruzen was one of his most proud disciples, and he even once believed that Sarutobi could inherit his will and lead Konoha to a brighter future.
But now, this Danzo said that Sarutobi’s “appeasement” and “indulgence” led to the extermination of the Uchiha clan?
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Not only that,” the new Danzo continued, “Under Sarutobi Sensei’s rule, one of his most trusted disciples, Orochimaru, openly defected from Konoha and caused great trauma to Konoha. However, Sarutobi Sensei, because of the temporary ‘mentor-disciple friendship’, missed the opportunity to root out the problem several times, which eventually led to a disaster.”
Orochimaru defected! Konoha suffered a heavy blow!
These pieces of information, like thunder, exploded in the minds of Hashirama and Tobirama.
They couldn’t imagine that after them, Konoha would experience so many changes and disasters.
Tsunade had now recovered from her grief a little. Although she was still immersed in the fear of losing her loved ones, she also heard Danzo’s subsequent revelations.
Orochimaru… that companion who always likes to research strange things, will he defect in the future? Will he harm Konoha?
This made her feel confused and disoriented.
Senju Hashirama’s face was filled with grief and anguish.
[Senju Hashirama]: “How could this happen… Sarutobi, I remember that he admired me very much when he was a child and was determined to protect Konoha… Why did this happen…”
He couldn’t understand why the village that he and Tobirama had worked so hard to build had become so unstable in the hands of their successors.
This is exactly the effect that the new Danzo wants.
He wanted to make these legendary Hokage question and even be dissatisfied with Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “rule”.
He spoke at the right time and steered the topic in a direction that was beneficial to him.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Sarutobi-sensei’s kindness is his strength, but at times, this kindness has become Konoha’s greatest weakness.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “His indecision and his indulgence of certain potential threats indirectly led to many tragedies that could have been avoided.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “For the sake of Konoha’s strength and stability, and to avoid the sacrifice of more innocent people, sometimes, more decisive, tougher, and even… incomprehensible measures must be taken.”
There was an unquestionable firmness in his voice, as if he was expounding some irrefutable truth.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “I, Shimura Danzo, have walked in darkness all my life, bearing all the infamy and misunderstanding. Everything I do is to make up for the corners that the Hokage cannot reach under the sun, to eliminate the termites that threaten Konoha, and to protect the true peace of Konoha.”
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Perhaps my methods are not understood, and perhaps I am seen as a ‘necessary evil’. But as long as it can make Konoha stronger and more stable, I am willing to bear it all.”
An impassioned, or rather, carefully packaged “self-confession” came slowly out of Danzo’s mouth.
He portrayed himself as a “tragic hero” who would do anything for Konoha, silently sacrifice himself in the darkness, and even go against the “Bright Hokage” in order to correct his mistakes.
Senju Hashirama frowned as he listened to Danzo’s words. He instinctively felt uncomfortable with this “the end justifies the means” argument, but thinking of the future tragedies he had just heard, he was a little shaken.
Could it be that there really was something wrong with Sarutobi’s “kindness”?
But Senju Tobirama was lost in deep thought at this moment.
Danzo’s words, especially the part about Uchiha and Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the sentence “more decisive and tougher measures must be taken”, actually made him feel a little…secretly in agreement.
Tobirama has been implementing iron-fisted policies throughout his life. He knows very well that being kind to the enemy is cruel to oneself. If Sarutobi really caused the Uchiha problem to get out of control and even eventually lead to the extinction of the clan because of “softness”, it would undoubtedly be a huge dereliction of duty.
Moreover, although Danzo’s disciple had a gloomy personality, Tobirama was aware of his loyalty to Konoha.
“A necessary evil…” Tobirama repeated the word in a low voice with a complicated look in his eyes.
Perhaps, Konoha really needs such a sharp blade that roams in the darkness to deal with matters that the Hokage is not convenient to handle.
Although he still had doubts about Danzo’s words and remained highly alert to this suddenly appeared chat group, it was undeniable that Danzo’s words successfully planted a seed of dissatisfaction with Sarutobi Hiruzen in his heart.
The new Danzo keenly captured the subtle changes in Tobirama’s expression.
Very good, first step, initial success.
He didn’t need Tobirama to believe in him completely immediately, he just needed to plant the seeds of doubt in his heart, and that was enough.
The purpose of the first round-table meeting has been basically achieved.
If we continue like this, it will be too much.
Chapter 7: Konoha’s Stability!!! (Old Version)
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Today’s meeting ends here for now. You can think carefully about what I said. In the future, the chat group will invite more people related to Konoha’s fate to join. By then, perhaps we can get more confirmation.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Dismiss.”
As Danzo finished his words, the virtual round table meeting space began to become unstable, with lights and shadows flickering.
The next moment, the new Danzo’s consciousness returned to his real body.
He was still sitting in the secret base of “Root”, as if everything that had just happened was just a dream.
But the clear memory in my mind and the still active avatars on the chat group interface prove the authenticity of everything.
The new Danzo slowly exhaled a breath, his eyes flashing with brilliance.
The information in the chat group gave him a clearer understanding of the future direction and made him more determined in his plans.
“Teacher Sarutobi, you really left me a lot of messes.” He whispered to himself with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
It is far from enough to just provide verbal guidance within the chat group.
He must accumulate enough chips in reality in order to take the initiative in the game with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He stood up suddenly, with a fierce look in his eyes.
“Mountain Wind!”
“I’m here!” The weasel-masked ninja appeared in front of him like a ghost and knelt on one knee.
The new Danzo’s voice was cold and decisive: “Pass my orders!”
“First, immediately, strengthen the comprehensive surveillance of the Uchiha clan! Any unusual movements of theirs, even the most trivial ones, must be recorded in detail and reported immediately!”
He wanted to personally “collect” “evidence” of a possible future rebellion by the Uchiha.
“Second, secretly investigate all of Orochimaru’s recent movements! Including his experiments, the people he contacts, and all his unusual behaviors! I want to know what the hell he is doing!”
Since we know that Orochimaru will defect in the future, we naturally have to make plans in advance to see if we can gain some benefits from it, or… use it as a powerful weapon to attack Sarutobi Hiruzen.
“Third,” the new Danzo’s tone became even more gloomy, “collect for me carefully any clues that could be interpreted as ‘mistakes’, ‘connivance’ or ‘favoritism’ in the way the Sandaime Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen handled village affairs, especially in his treatment of Orochimaru and the Uchiha clan!”
“Remember, what I want is ‘evidence’! Even if it’s just hearsay, you have to produce ‘evidence’ for me! I want everyone to see what kind of hidden dangers Sarutobi Hiruzen’s ‘kindness’ has brought to Konoha!”
His voice echoed in the empty underground base, filled with undisguised ambition and calculation.
Shan Zhongfeng’s body trembled slightly. He could feel that his master seemed to have become more… unfathomable and more dangerous than before.
But he did not hesitate at all, and immediately responded in a deep voice: “Yes! I obey your command!”
“Go.” The new Danzo waved his hand.
Shan Zhongfeng’s figure instantly disappeared into the shadows.
Silence returned to the base again.
The new Danzo walked to the window and looked at the sky outside which was shrouded in darkness.
The chat group is his weapon, but the layout in reality is the foundation of his power.
The fangs of the “root” have quietly opened.
He needed a suitable opportunity to “visit” his “respected” teacher.
A few days later, in the Hokage’s office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was dealing with a mountain of documents, his brows slightly furrowed. In post-war Konoha, there were too many things for him to worry about.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
There was a knock on the office door.
“Please come in.” Sarutobi Hiruzen put down the brush in his hand and rubbed his eyebrows.
The door was pushed open and a familiar figure walked in.
It was none other than Danzo Shimura.
“Oh, it’s Danzo.” Sarutobi Hiruzen showed his usual gentle smile, “What’s the matter?”
Danzo bowed slightly, and said in a very humble manner: “Hokage-sama, I am here to report on the recent progress of the Root, and I also have some humble opinions on the safety of the village. I would like to report this to you.”
His tone was respectful, but deep in his eyes, there was an imperceptible sharpness.
“Please sit down.” Sarutobi Hiruzen pointed to the chair opposite.
Danzo sat down as he was told and began to report on some of the routine work of the “Root” organization, mostly about border reconnaissance and internal stability maintenance.
Sarutobi Hiruzen listened patiently, nodding from time to time or asking some questions.
After reporting on the routine work, Danzo changed the subject and said casually, “Hokage, the border friction seems to have intensified recently, especially in the border areas with Iwagakure and Kumogakure. Although it is only a small-scale test, we still need to be vigilant to prevent the other party from reviving.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and slowly exhaled the smoke: “Yes, I already know about this matter, and I have already sent the Anbu to strengthen the guard. Post-war reconstruction and appeasing the people are the top priorities, and it is not appropriate to start any more disputes.”
Danzo nodded and continued, “In addition, I heard that some ninja families in the village seem to have some complaints about the compensation for the victims of this war. They think that the compensation standards do not fully reflect the contributions of the victims, and the payment process is a bit slow.”
His tone was full of “worry”, as if he was really sharing the Hokage’s worries.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned slightly, then relaxed his brows again: “I have heard a little about this matter. The war has just ended and there are so many things to deal with that it is inevitable that there will be omissions. I will order the relevant departments to verify and handle the matter as soon as possible, and ensure that the heroes who died receive the respect and comfort they deserve.”
His answer was flawless and he still looked like a kind-hearted elder.
Danzo sneered in his heart, Sarutobi, this old fox, was indeed slippery.
The purpose of his coming today was not to confront Sarutobi, but to test the other party’s attitude and subtly exert some pressure to let him know that he did not have no objection to all his decisions.
“Hokage-sama is wise.” Danzo bowed slightly, “I am just worried that these seemingly minor issues, if not dealt with in a timely manner, may affect the stability of the village and the people’s will.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Danzo deeply, and there was a barely perceptible sharpness in his eyes.
Of course he understood what Danzo meant.
These two former close friends, now political enemies, know exactly what the other is thinking.
“Danzo, I have always known your loyalty.” Sarutobi Hiruzen’s tone became serious, “Konoha’s stability is inseparable from your efforts. In some matters, I know you are more decisive than me, and better at dealing with those dark sides. But you must remember that if the water is too clear, there will be no fish. Sometimes, being too tough will backfire.”
Chapter 8: Hokage’s Teachings!!! (Old Version)
These words are both a warning and a comfort.
Danzo snorted in his heart. Was Sarutobi warning him not to go too far?
“I will keep your teachings in mind, Hokage-sama.” Danzo remained respectful on the surface.
The two men exchanged a few more pretentious words, and then Danzo stood up and said goodbye.
Walking out of the Hokage’s office and basking in the sunlight, Danzo narrowed his eyes slightly.
This undercurrent battle with Sarutobi Hiruzen has just begun.
He could feel that although Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared calm on the surface, deep down in his heart, he was still wary of him.
But it doesn’t matter.
He has plenty of time and patience.
The existence of the chat group and the gradual infiltration of the “Root” organization will become powerful weapons for him to defeat Sarutobi Hiruzen.
“Teacher Sarutobi, wait.” Danzo’s mouth curled up in a cold arc, “Soon, you will find out how vulnerable the ‘kindness’ and ‘balance’ you trust are in the face of absolute power and iron-fisted means.”
He strode towards the base of “Root”.
A bigger storm is quietly brewing in the sky above Konoha.
After coming out of the Hokage’s office, the new Danzo did not immediately return to the “Root” base, but walked in the opposite direction of the Hokage building.
He was going to visit two “old friends” – the two Hokage advisors of Konoha Village, Utane Koharu and Mito Kado En.
These two, along with Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, are disciples of the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, and are also important components of the power core of Konoha Village.
Although they do not have the final decision-making power like the Hokage, their opinions have a significant impact on the Hokage’s decision.
More importantly, the new Danzo knew very well that these two elders were not completely satisfied with Sarutobi Hiruzen’s handling of certain issues. They preferred a tough and pragmatic style, more similar to Tobirama.
This is the breakthrough point he can exploit.
In order to dismantle Sarutobi Hiruzen’s power base from within, it is crucial to win the support of these two elders, or at least make them suspicious of Sarutobi.
The new Danzo first came to the residence of Koharu Utatane.
Utane Koharu is a shrewd and capable woman with a sharp mind and decisive actions. She is known among Konoha’s high-ranking officials for her ruthless outspokenness.
“Danzo? What do you want to do here?” When Koharu Utane saw Danzo, her face didn’t show much expression, and her tone seemed a bit formal. Her relationship with Danzo was not close, but they maintained a basic friendship as colleagues.
“Advisor Koharu,” the new Danzo bowed slightly, keeping a low profile, with just the right amount of “worry” on his face, “I came here today because I have some concerns about the future of Konoha, and I would like to ask you for advice.”
“Oh?” Utane Koharu raised her eyebrows and motioned for Danzo to sit down.
After the new Danzo sat down, he did not immediately throw out those “explosive news”, but started with some unimportant village affairs, creating an atmosphere that he was indeed “humbly seeking advice”.
After talking for a while and the atmosphere eased a little, the new Danzo sighed as if unintentionally.
“Counselor Xiaochun, as you know, I am in charge of the Root and am responsible for handling some secret affairs. I also know more about various intelligence inside and outside the village than ordinary people.”
Utane Koharu nodded, signaling him to continue.
The new Danzo lowered his voice, with a hint of “sadness” in his tone: “Recently, I have discovered some…worrying signs. These things are all related to some decisions made by the Hokage. I am well aware that the Hokage has worked hard, but because of this, some details may not have been fully taken into account.”
He paused for a moment, observing Utane Koharu’s reaction.
Utane Koharu’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she was obviously interested: “Oh? What signs make you so worried?”
He took out a scroll from his arms and handed it to Utane Koharu with both hands: “Advisor Koharu, here are some snippets of intelligence I have compiled recently. Perhaps… after reading it, you will understand my concerns.”
Naturally, this scroll does not contain any real and complete evidence, but rather “black material” that he has carefully “modified” and “edited” specifically to attack Sarutobi Hiruzen.
For example, the scroll records that during a small-scale conflict with the Iwagakure Village, Sarutobi Hiruzen was “indecisive” and failed to order a pursuit in time, which led to the loss of a good opportunity to expand the victory and caused Konoha to suffer unnecessary losses. This “intelligence” was deliberately exaggerated by him, and emphasized that Sarutobi’s “hesitation” was the main reason.
For example, the scroll also “detailedly” records Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “protection” and “indulgence” of some of Orochimaru’s “extraordinary behaviors.” For example, when Orochimaru was conducting some forbidden techniques in private, Sarutobi was aware of it, but he only gave a verbal warning and did not take any substantial punishment measures, which made Orochimaru more unscrupulous.
These “evidences” are a mixture of true and false. Some of them are true, but were exaggerated by Danzo to magnify the negative impact. Some of them are groundless or even fabricated, but after being “professionally processed” by the intelligence personnel of the “Root” organization, they look legitimate.
Utane Koharu took the scroll and read it carefully.
As the scroll unfolded, her brows furrowed more and more, and her expression gradually became solemn.
Shindan hid aside and watched silently, sneering in his heart. He knew that these “carefully prepared” “evidence” would inevitably trigger the deep dissatisfaction of Utatane Koharu with some of Sarutobi’s practices.
After reading the scroll, Utatane Koharu was silent for a moment before she slowly spoke, with a hint of subtle complex emotions in her tone: “Danzo, this information… are you sure it’s true?”
The new Danzo immediately showed a “heartbroken” expression: “Advisor Koharu, as the leader of the Root, I guarantee that although these intelligence are only fragments, every word has been repeatedly verified. I hope these are all false, but the facts are in front of me, I… I really can’t sit idly by.”
He paused, and his tone became more sincere: “I present these to you today not to criticize the Hokage. It’s just… I am deeply worried. For the future of Konoha, there are some problems that must arouse our vigilance. You are the elder of the village and have profound wisdom. I hope you can give us some advice on how we should deal with these potential crises.”
He kept a very humble attitude, and put himself in the position of a junior who “was concerned about the country and the people and had to ask the elders for help.”
Koharu Utatane looked at Danzo’s “sincere” appearance with a twinkling look in her eyes. She certainly knew that Danzo’s actions were not as simple as they seemed. But the content of the scroll really touched her.
Chapter 9 Evidence!!! (Old version)
She herself had complaints about Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “kindness” and “delay” on certain issues. For example, she had reminded Sarutobi of his favoritism towards Orochimaru many times, but Sarutobi always refused to take strong measures on the grounds of “mentor-disciple friendship”.
Now, seeing the “evidence” provided by Danzo, although she knew there might be water in it, it seemed to confirm some of her deep-seated concerns.
“Danzo, this matter is of great importance. I need time to think carefully.” Utane Koharu finally said in a deep voice, “You should go back first. I will not spread what you said today.”
“Thank you, Counselor Xiaochun, for your understanding.” Having achieved his goal, the new Danzo did not bother to discuss further. He bowed respectfully and stood up to say goodbye.
After leaving Utane Koharu’s residence, the new Danzo went straight to Mito Kado En’s residence.
Like Utatane Koharu, Mitokado En is also a disciple of the Second Hokage. He is calm and experienced, and handles things fairly. He also enjoys a high prestige among the Konoha high-level officials.
The process was similar to that of visiting Koharu Utatane. The new Danzo also handed the “carefully decorated” scroll to Mito Kado En on the grounds of “worrying about the future of Konoha”.
After reading the scroll, Mizuto Menen also fell into a long silence.
Unlike Utane Koharu, Mito Kado En has a closer personal relationship with Sarutobi Hiruzen, so he is more suspicious of Danzo’s motives.
But he also could not ignore the “shocking” contents on the scroll.
“Danzo, what exactly do you want to do today?” Mito Menyan’s eyes were as sharp as an eagle, staring at Danzo.
The new Danzo was well prepared. He showed a “righteous” expression: “Counselor Menyan, I am the same as you and Consultant Koharu. I am a disciple of the Second Hokage and I have the deepest love for Konoha. What I did today was not against the Hokage personally, but for the future of Konoha, to prevent a greater tragedy from happening.”
He deliberately mentioned his identity as “disciple of the Second Hokage” in an attempt to narrow the distance between him and Mito Kado En.
“Sarutobi-sensei is old and his energy is inevitably insufficient. Moreover, he has a kind nature and may be affected by emotions when dealing with certain complex issues. I just hope that you and advisor Utatane Koharu can give more advice and help Hokage-sama make a more correct decision.”
These words were very high-sounding, expressing “respect” for Sarutobi while cleverly pointing out Sarutobi’s “shortcomings”.
Mizutomon Yan was silent for a long time, and finally just waved his hand: “I know, you can go back.”
The new Danzo knew that it was unrealistic to immediately win the support of Mitomon En, but he believed that the seeds of doubt had already taken root in the heart of this elder.
After Danzo left, Utane Koharu and Mito Kado En both fell into deep thought at the same time.
They held several secret talks in private.
“Xiaochun, what do you think of the things Danzo brought today?” Mito Kado En spoke first, his tone serious.
Utane Koharu picked up the teacup and took a sip, her eyes flickering with thought: “Danzo never does anything without a profit. He must have a purpose for what he did today. I don’t think the so-called ‘evidence’ he provided is entirely credible. Most of it is probably carefully selected and exaggerated by him.”
“I agree.” Mitomon En nodded, “We all know Danzo’s ambition for the position of Hokage. He wants to use us to shake Sarutobi’s foundation.”
“But,” Utane Koharu changed the subject, her tone becoming somewhat complicated, “putting aside Danzo’s motives, didn’t we notice the problems he mentioned before?”
Upon hearing this, Mizuto Menyan fell silent again.
Utatane Koharu continued, “Sarutobi… he is indeed too kind sometimes. He should have taken ruthless action against Orochimaru a long time ago, but he indulged him again and again. He also tried to appease the Uchiha clan but refused to take stronger measures to restrain them. If this continues, I’m afraid it will really lead to disaster.”
Mitomon En sighed: “Sarutobi…after all, he grew up watching Orochimaru, so they have a master-disciple relationship. As for Uchiha, well, that’s also a long-standing problem, and even Tobirama Sensei couldn’t completely solve it back then.”
“But we can’t turn a blind eye to potential dangers just because of ‘feelings’ and ‘trouble’!” Utane Koharu’s tone became a little agitated, “Konoha is our home that we all protect! If the village suffers a heavy loss because of Sarutobi’s momentary weakness, how can we explain to our dead companions? How can we explain to Tobirama-sensei?”
Mizuto Menyan frowned, he understood this truth very well.
The “evidence” provided by Danzo was like a mirror. Although it might be somewhat distorted, it also reflected their real concerns deep in their hearts about some of Sarutobi’s actions.
“Perhaps… Sarutobi has really become a little… indecisive because of his age, or because of his many years as Hokage.” Mito Kado En said with some difficulty.
“He’s not just indecisive,” Utatane Koharu snorted, “at certain critical moments, he even seemed a little confused! If what Danzo said about the Uchiha clan being exterminated in the future and Orochimaru defecting is true… then Sarutobi will bear a huge responsibility!”
Although they still had doubts about Danzo’s “future prophecy”, the specific descriptions made them have to be vigilant.
“We can’t completely believe Danzo’s one-sided words yet.” Mitomon En murmured, “But we do need to pay more attention to Sarutobi’s recent decisions. If he really handles some key issues improperly, we must remind him in time, or even… stop him.”
Utatane Koharu nodded, “That’s what I meant. We can’t let Danzo take advantage of us, but we can’t just sit back and do nothing about the future of Konoha.”
Although the two elders did not immediately side with Danzo, and were even wary of Danzo’s motives, it was undeniable that Danzo’s “divide and conquer” strategy successfully created a clearly visible rift within Sarutobi Hiruzen’s core decision-making circle.
Their trust in Sarutobi Hiruzen has begun to decline quietly.
And this is exactly the result that the new Danzo wants to see.
While the real world was busy with its layout, the new group was hiding in the chat group without any pause.
He knew very well that gaining the support of Senju Tobirama, or at least partial understanding, was crucial to his future plans.
After the first roundtable meeting, Tsunade was in a low mood and didn’t speak much in the group because she learned the death of her brother and lover.
Chapter 10: Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)… (Old Version)
Senju Hashirama was trying to comfort his granddaughter, but he was also worried about the dark future revealed by Danzo.
The new Danzo focused his main energy on “communication” with Senju Tobirama.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Master Tobirama, after the last meeting, I’m sure you have some new ideas about the future of Konoha?”
Senju Tobirama was silent for a moment before slowly responding.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Humph, you are a good alarmist. However, if the things you said really happened, it would be a disaster for Konoha.”
His tone was still wary, but no longer as hostile as it had been at first.
The new Danzo knew that Tobirama had begun to think seriously about what he said.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Master Tobirama, please forgive me for being blunt, but the future of Konoha requires a leader who can see through crises and take tough measures. Sarutobi-sensei is excellent, but when it comes to dealing with some potential huge threats, especially the Uchiha clan, his ‘soft’ policy will only bring disaster to the tiger, and eventually drag the entire Konoha into the abyss.”
He once again directed his attack towards the Uchiha issue, which was what Tobirama was most concerned about and most wary of.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Uchiha… Humph, that cursed clan is indeed Konoha’s biggest hidden danger. I set up the police force and isolated them to prevent them. If Sarutobi really leaves them alone, he is really playing with fire!”
Tobirama’s tone was filled with disgust and distrust towards the Uchiha.
The new Danzo was secretly delighted and continued to add fuel to the fire.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “That’s right, Master Tobirama. From what I know, the future Uchiha clan not only did not restrain themselves, but instead became resentful because of the ‘unfair treatment’ they had received from the village for a long time, and even secretly planned a rebellion. However, Sarutobi-sensei turned a blind eye to this, or rather, was helpless, which eventually led to the tragedy of the genocide.”
He deliberately linked Uchiha’s “rebellion” with Sarutobi’s “incompetence” to further deepen Tobirama’s dissatisfaction with Sarutobi.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Lord Tobirama, you did not hesitate to use iron-fisted methods and even bore the infamy for the stability of Konoha. This courage and determination is what Konoha really needs. And I, Shimura Danzo, am willing to inherit your will and use my hands to remove all obstacles that threaten Konoha and protect Konoha’s true peace and strength!”
He subtly implied that he had the determination and ability to solve these problems, and portrayed himself as a “successor” who could inherit Tobirama’s strong will and protect Konoha from harm.
After listening to Danzo’s words, Tobirama Senju fell silent again.
Every word Danzo said touched his heart.
His vigilance against Uchiha, his approval of tough measures, and his concern about Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “weakness”…
These emotions were infinitely magnified under Danzo’s constant “heart attack”.
Combining the arrangements he made for the Uchiha clan back then and the cruel future of “Uchiha clan annihilation” revealed by Danzo, the balance in Tobirama’s heart has clearly begun to tilt towards Danzo.
He began to seriously think about a question: Is Sarutobi Hiruzen really suitable to continue leading Konoha to face the more severe crises in the future?
Perhaps, Konoha really needs a “dark guardian” like Danzo, who is ruthless and unscrupulous.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Danzo, I will consider what you said carefully. If Sarutobi is really as bad as you said, I… will not sit idly by.”
Although he did not explicitly express his support for Danzo, Tobirama’s words already showed his attitude.
He began to have substantial doubts about Sarutobi Hiruzen’s leadership ability.
The new Danzo felt at peace.
Being able to make Senju Tobirama say such words, his strategy of winning over the heart has achieved a phased victory.
At this time, Hashirama Senju was watching the conversation between Tobirama and Danzo, and his heart was full of worry.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Tobirama, Danzo, you…you shouldn’t talk about Sarutobi like that! He’s a good kid, I believe he can handle the village’s affairs! The Uchiha problem is not so easy to solve…”
Hashirama tried to persuade the two to believe in Sarutobi’s abilities and not to deny him too soon.
But his words, to Tobirama and Danzo at this moment, seemed a little… pale and powerless.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Brother! You are too idealistic! Reality is cruel! If Sarutobi really destroys Konoha because of your ‘trust’, that would be the greatest tragedy!”
Tobirama refuted Hashirama bluntly.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Shodaime-sama, your kindness and ideals are admirable. But in the ninja world where the strong prey on the weak, ideals alone cannot protect Konoha. Sometimes, blood must be shed to gain true peace.”
Danzo echoed the words at the right moment.
Senju Hashirama looked at the words of the two people, opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say.
He found that the “Will of Fire” and “Mutual Understanding” that he was proud of seemed to become a little…out of place in this chat group full of “future crises” and “reality calculations”.
He could only sigh helplessly, his heart filled with deep worry about the future of Konoha.
After successfully creating a rift in the hearts of the elders in reality and initially gaining Tobirama’s “understanding” in the chat group, the new Danzo believed that it was time to start dealing with the “time bomb” – the Uchiha clan.
As for Uchiha, his strategy was not like Danzo’s in the original work, which was to suppress and force the other party blindly, eventually leading to the other party becoming desperate.
He wanted to adopt a more sophisticated and more sinister method.
He wanted the Uchiha clan to “willingly” become pawns in his hands.
He took the initiative to meet with the current head of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Fugaku.
The meeting place was set in a secret meeting room of the “Root” organization.
The room was dimly lit and the atmosphere was depressing.
Uchiha Fugaku sat upright in the guest seat, his face stern and a hint of imperceptible vigilance in his eyes.
As the patriarch of the Uchiha clan, he knew very well that the man in front of him, named Danzo Shimura, was one of the Uchiha clan members who disliked the most among the Konoha high-ranking officials.
Danzo took the initiative to meet with me today, which was definitely not out of good intentions.
The new Danzo looked confident. He looked at Uchiha Fugaku and spoke slowly in a low and magnetic voice:
“Patriarch Fugaku, how are you?”
Chapter 11 Konoha Anbu Secret Order (Old Version)
Uchiha Fugaku nodded slightly as a response.
The new Danzo didn’t care about his indifference and said directly: “Patriarch Fugaku, I asked you to come here today because I want to have a frank talk with you… about the future of the Uchiha clan.”
“The future of Uchiha?” Uchiha Fugaku raised his eyebrows slightly, “What do you mean by this, Lord Danzo?”
The new Danzo’s mouth curled up into a meaningful smile: “Patriarch Fugaku, you and I both know that the situation of the Uchiha clan in Konoha is not good. Although you have great power, you are also suspected and guarded by the village’s top leaders.”
Uchiha Fugaku’s face darkened, but he did not refute. This was an indisputable fact.
The new Danzo continued, “In my opinion, the future of the Uchiha clan depends on your own choices.”
He paused, and his tone suddenly became serious: “Sarutobi Hokage’s ‘kindness’ and ‘gentleness’ towards your Uchiha clan, Patriarch Fugaku, do you really believe that it is from the heart?”
Uchiha Fugaku’s pupils shrank slightly and he stared at Danzo closely.
The new Danzo met his gaze and said in a cold tone: “In my opinion, that is just a hypocritical appearance! It is a means to paralyze you!”
“Once the Uchiha’s power truly threatens his rule, once you show any signs of being out of control, guess… what will Sarutobi Hokage do?”
The new Danzo leaned forward slightly, his eyes flashing with a frightening light, and he spoke word by word:
“He will definitely raise the butcher knife without hesitation!”
The new Danzo’s voice was not loud, but it was like the sharpest ice cone, piercing Uchiha Fugaku’s heart.
Uchiha Fugaku’s body shook violently, and his deep Mangekyō Sharingan suddenly shrank, flashing a dangerous light. A powerful chakra wave emanated from him, making the air in the entire secret room heavy.
“Danzo-sama, what do you mean by this?” Uchiha Fugaku’s voice was as cold as the Siberian wind. “Are you trying to sow discord between our Uchiha clan and Hokage-sama?”
Although his heart was already in turmoil, as the head of the clan, Uchiha Fugaku had to remain calm on the surface. He could not be easily swayed by Danzo’s words.
Facing the powerful aura released by Uchiha Fugaku, the new Danzo remained as steady as a rock. He picked up the teacup in front of him, blew gently on the floating tea leaves, and said slowly: “Provoke? Chief Fugaku, do you think that with my identity as Shimura Danzo, I need to use such a despicable method?”
He put down the teacup and looked directly at Uchiha Fugaku, his eyes full of unquestionable confidence: “I am just stating a fact… that may exist in your heart and mine, but we are unwilling to admit it easily.”
“Sarutobi Hiruzen is indeed a kind elder and a respected Hokage. However,” the new Danzo’s tone turned sharp, “in the face of power, the so-called ‘kindness’ is often the most unreliable thing. The Uchiha clan is too powerful, powerful enough to make any Hokage feel apprehensive. Do you think Sarutobi Hiruzen will allow a clan that is not under his complete control and has the ability to subvert Konoha to exist safely?”
Uchiha Fugaku frowned tightly, he had to admit that what Danzo said was not entirely unreasonable.
The conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village’s high-ranking officials has a long history. Ever since the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, set up a police force and isolated the Uchiha clan on the edge of the village, the seeds of suspicion and distrust have been deeply planted.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen adopted a relatively mild policy towards the Uchiha after taking office, that sense of estrangement never really disappeared.
“Lord Danzo, what you said is just your guess.” Uchiha Fugaku said in a deep voice, trying to refute.
“Guess?” The new Danzo raised a mocking arc at the corner of his mouth, “Patriarch Fugaku, do you think I invited you here today just to talk about speculation with you?”
He slowly took out several scrolls from his arms, gently placed them on the stone table, and pushed them towards Uchiha Fugaku.
“These are some… ‘things’ that my ‘Root’ organization has spent a lot of effort to collect. Patriarch Fugaku may wish to take a look at them. Perhaps, they will give you a deeper understanding of the ‘kindness’ of the Sarutobi Hokage.”
Uchiha Fugaku’s eyes fell on those scrolls, his eyes full of vigilance. He knew that these things might not be good news.
But he still reached out, picked up a scroll, and slowly unfolded it.
On the scroll was a “Secret Order of Konoha Anbu”, with the personal seal of the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen clearly stamped on it. The content of the order was to require the Anbu to strengthen surveillance of the Uchiha settlements, pay close attention to the movements of the senior members of the Uchiha clan, and report regularly.
Uchiha Fugaku’s pupils suddenly contracted!
If this warrant is true, it means that although Sarutobi Hiruzen is friendly to the Uchiha on the surface, he has been secretly wary of and monitoring them!
This is simply blatant betrayal!
“This… this is impossible!” Uchiha Fugaku’s voice was a little hoarse.
The new Danzo sneered, “Impossible? Chief Fugaku, look at this again.”
He motioned for Uchiha Fugaku to look at another scroll.
The scroll contained a “summary” of a secret meeting of Konoha’s top leaders. The content of the meeting was to discuss how to further limit the power of the Uchiha clan and prevent its excessive expansion. Among them, there were even proposals to cut the funding of the police force and limit the proportion of Uchiha clan members holding important positions in the village.
These “record summaries” are so convincing and detailed that they seem to have really come from that secret meeting.
Uchiha Fugaku looked at these “evidences” one by one, his face became more and more gloomy, and the blue veins on his forehead were faintly bulging.
He clenched the scroll tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the force.
Deep in his heart, the last bit of trust he had in Sarutobi Hiruzen was being ruthlessly shattered by these cold “evidences”.
Of course, Uchiha Fugaku didn’t know that most of these so-called “evidence” were carefully forged and exaggerated by the new Danzo.
The ANBU warrant was indeed forged by Danzo imitating Sarutobi Hiruzen’s handwriting and seal. With the ability of the Root organization, it is not difficult to forge a document of this level.
The “summary records” of the high-level meetings were a mixture of truth and falsehood. Some of the contents were indeed the directions discussed by the high-level officials, but they were deliberately exaggerated and distorted by Danzo, who added a lot of “private goods” that were beneficial to him.
But for Uchiha Fugaku at this moment, he was simply unable to tell the authenticity of these “evidences”.
He only knew that if these were all true, then the Uchiha clan was in an extremely dangerous situation.
“Sarutobi Hiruzen…he…he is so wary of us!” Uchiha Fugaku’s voice was full of anger and disappointment.
The new Danzo looked at Uchiha Fugaku, who looked deeply shocked, and felt secretly proud.
He knew that although Uchiha Fugaku was a calm person, he had the pride and suspicion that were unique to the Uchiha clan. These “evidences” were enough to plant a deep distrust of Sarutobi Hiruzen in his heart.
“Patriarch Fugaku, do you still think that I am trying to sow discord?” There was a barely perceptible hint of pride in the new Danzo’s tone.
Uchiha Fugaku took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner turmoil. He slammed the scrolls on the table and looked at Danzo with complicated eyes: “Danzo-sama, what is your purpose in telling me all this today?”
Chapter 12: A Moment of Thought (Old Version)
He didn’t believe that Danzo would be so “kind” just to remind him of the Uchiha’s crisis.
The new Danzo smiled slightly, revealing a fox-like expression.
“My purpose is very simple, Patriarch Fugaku.” His voice was low and full of temptation. “Instead of waiting for an unknown judgment and passively accepting the arrangement of fate, it is better to… take the initiative to seek change.”
“Take the initiative to seek change?” Uchiha Fugaku’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“That’s right.” The new Danzo nodded, leaned forward slightly, looked directly into Uchiha Fugaku’s eyes, and said word by word: “I propose that I, Shimura Danzo, come forward to ‘integrate’ the power of the Uchiha clan and bring the elites of your clan into my ‘Root’ system.”
As soon as these words came out, Uchiha Fugaku’s pupils contracted violently again!
Integrating the elite of Uchiha into the “Root”? This is simply courting disaster!
“Lord Danzo, are you trying to… annex us Uchiha?” Uchiha Fugaku’s voice became unusually cold.
The new Danzo shook his head, with a “sincere” expression on his face: “Patriarch Fugaku, you misunderstood. I don’t want to annex the Uchiha, but to… protect the Uchiha.”
“Protect?” Uchiha Fugaku sneered, “Putting our people under your control, is this what you call protection?”
“Patriarch Fugaku, don’t be so quick to deny it.” The new Danzo said slowly, “Think carefully, if the power of the Uchiha is guided and controlled by me, what will be different?”
“On the surface, this does strengthen the village’s control over the Uchiha. I’m sure the Sarutobi Hokage will be happy to see this. He will think that the Uchiha tiger has finally been shackled.”
“But in reality?” A gleam of light flashed in the eyes of the new Danzo, “In reality, it is to put the powerful power of Uchiha into the hands of people who can truly understand it and can really make good use of it!”
“Do you think Sarutobi Hiruzen really understands the power of the Sharingan? Does he really know how to maximize the potential of the Uchiha? No, he doesn’t! He only knows how to guard against, suppress, and even… destroy when necessary!”
“But I’m different!” The new Danzo’s tone became excited, “I, Shimura Danzo, know the importance of strength! I admire the power of the Uchiha, and I also know how to make this power create greater value for Konoha and the Uchiha themselves!”
“Rather than letting the power of the Uchiha gradually wither away in suspicion and suppression, or even eventually go to destruction, it is better to hand it over to me! I will allow the elites of the Uchiha to display their talents and make great achievements on the broader stage of Root!”
“Only I, Shimura Danzo, can give Uchiha a real way out! Instead of Sarutobi Hiruzen’s hypocritical appeasement and unrealistic appeasement!”
The new Danzo’s words were full of incitement and temptation.
He portrayed himself as the “savior” of the Uchiha people, a “mentor” who could understand and make use of the power of the Uchiha people.
Uchiha Fugaku felt a huge wave of emotion in his heart when he heard Danzo’s words.
Danzo’s proposal was undoubtedly extremely risky. Handing over the Uchiha elite to Danzo was equivalent to handing over the fate of the family to this man known for his ruthlessness.
This is simply drinking poison to quench thirst!
but……
What Danzo said was not entirely unreasonable.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen is really as suspicious and wary of Uchiha as the “evidence” shows, then the future of Uchiha is indeed worrying.
Instead of waiting for death, why not… give it a try?
Moreover, there was indeed a hint of temptation in Danzo’s proposal.
If the power of the Uchiha clan could really be guided and utilized “correctly” instead of being suppressed, then the status of the Uchiha clan in Konoha might really be improved.
Although the “Root” organization has a bad reputation, its power and influence in Konoha cannot be underestimated. If the Uchiha elite can enter the “Root”, it will undoubtedly greatly enhance the Uchiha’s voice in the village.
Uchiha Fugaku fell into a deep struggle.
He looked into Danzo’s deep and calculating eyes and found it difficult to make a decision for a moment.
The new Danzo saw Uchiha Fugaku’s hesitation and knew that he was still a little short of the right moment.
He spoke slowly, with a hint of “regret” in his tone: “Patriarch Fugaku, I know this decision is difficult. But time waits for no one. The future of Uchiha depends on your thoughts.”
“You can choose to continue to believe in Sarutobi Hokage’s illusory ‘kindness’ and wait for an unknown fate to come.”
“Or, you can choose to cooperate with me and fight for a different future for the Uchiha and yourself.”
“That’s all I have to say. The choice is up to you.”
After saying that, the new Danzo stopped talking and just looked at Uchiha Fugaku quietly, waiting for his reply.
The atmosphere in the secret room was so solemn that it was almost suffocating.
A layer of fine beads of sweat appeared on Uchiha Fugaku’s forehead.
He pursed his lips tightly and his eyes changed constantly.
Finally, he took a deep breath and spoke slowly: “Master Danzo, this matter is of great importance. I need time… to think carefully.”
He didn’t agree immediately, but he didn’t refuse outright either.
This answer was within the expectations of the new Danzo.
Uchiha Fugaku is not a fool. He will not put the fate of his family into his own hands so easily.
But he didn’t refuse, which meant that he was moved.
That’s enough.
“Okay.” The new Danzo nodded, “I’ll give you three days to think about it. After three days, I hope to get a clear answer from you.”
“During these three days, Patriarch Fugaku might as well observe carefully what attitude the Sarutobi Hokage has towards you Uchiha.”
The corner of the new Danzo’s mouth curled up in an imperceptible arc.
He knew that these three days were enough for Uchiha Fugaku’s inner suspicion and anxiety to ferment to the extreme.
After Uchiha Fugaku left, the new Danzo was not idle.
He immediately began to spread some…specific remarks within the Uchiha clan through the secret channels of the “Root” organization.
For example, “The root cause of the Uchiha clan’s predicament lies in the weakness of its leader, who is unable to lead the clan out of the quagmire.”
Another example is, “Sarutobi Hokage’s appeasement of Uchiha is just a means to paralyze us. We can no longer have any illusions.”
For example, “Only a truly strong person can lead Uchiha to regain its glory. Those who only know how to compromise and give in are not worthy of leading us.”
These remarks were cleverly conveyed to the ears of some young, radical ninjas in the Uchiha clan who were dissatisfied with the status quo.
Chapter 13 Tell Minato He Will Die! (Old Version)
Most of these young Uchiha clan members are full of vigor and resentment for the fact that their family has been excluded and suppressed by the village for a long time. They are eager for change, power, and recognition from the village.
However, Uchiha Fugaku’s relatively conservative and tolerant leadership style could not meet their demands.
When they heard these inflammatory remarks and the rumors that Danzo Shimura, a high-ranking official in Konoha known for his “iron fist” and “foresight”, seemed to be interested in “supporting” the Uchiha, their hearts began to stir.
They began to feel a little curious about Danzo, this mysterious and powerful being, and even… a little twisted admiration.
Within the Uchiha clan, a turbulent undercurrent began to surge quietly.
Beneath the originally relatively calm surface of the lake, the voices of radicals began to gradually rise.
And all of this was within the new Danzo’s calculations.
What he wants is not only the cooperation of Uchiha Fugaku, he also wants to create rifts within the Uchiha clan and cultivate his own “spokesperson”.
Only in this way can the Uchiha chess piece be firmly controlled in one’s own hands.
Just as the new Danzo was stepping up his efforts to infiltrate and divide the Uchiha clan, and the chess game in the real world was becoming more and more complicated, a new reminder sound came from the “Konoha Hokage Chat Group” in his mind.
[Ding! A special person who meets the invitation requirements has been detected…][The system automatically sends an invitation…][New member “Namikaze Minato” has joined the Konoha Hokage chat group! ]A new avatar quietly lights up on the chat group interface.
It was a portrait of a young man with short blond hair and a gentle and sunny smile.
Namikaze Minato!
The new Danzo’s heart suddenly trembled!
The future Fourth Hokage!
The golden flash of Konoha!
A key figure in the Nine-Tails Rebellion! And also… a victim!
He didn’t expect that the system would pull Minato Namikaze into the group chat at this time.
For him, this is both a huge opportunity and a big challenge.
The opportunity lies in that if he can successfully “guide” the future Fourth Hokage, then the bargaining chips in his hand will undoubtedly increase greatly.
The challenge is that Minato Namikaze’s wisdom and strength should not be underestimated. It is much more difficult to fool him than to fool Tsunade when she was a girl.
At this time, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju and Tsunade in the group all felt a little unfamiliar with this newly appeared name.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Oh! Is there a newcomer? Namikaze Minato? I haven’t heard of this name before. Which era is this kid from?”
[Senju Tobirama]: “Humph, this chat group is getting weirder and weirder. Namikaze… this surname doesn’t seem to be a big family.”
[Tsunade]: “Namikaze Minato? I don’t know him. Is he a powerful ninja?”
Just as the three were discussing this, Minato Namikaze, who had just joined the group, politely sent the first message in the group.
[Namikaze Minato]: “Hello, seniors. I am Namikaze Minato, currently an ordinary jonin in Konoha Village. The current time is the 48th year of Konoha.”
[Namikaze Minato]: “My wife Uzumaki Kushina is about to give birth. I am full of expectations for the future. I hope our child can grow up healthy and happy, and I also hope that Konoha can always be peaceful and tranquil.”
Minato’s speech was full of sunshine and positive energy, as well as love for his family and village.
The new Danzo looked at Minato’s speech, but his eyes became a little complicated.
Konoha’s 48th year…Kushina is about to give birth…
This means that the Nine-Tailed Fox Rebellion, which changed the fate of countless people, is not far away.
And Minato, the young man who was full of beautiful visions of the future, had no idea what a cruel fate was waiting for him.
The new Danzo took a deep breath and knew that he had to do something.
He couldn’t give Minato too much time to adapt and buffer.
He wanted to use the most direct and cruel way to make the future Fourth Hokage recognize the “truth” of reality.
After confirming Minato’s time point, the projection of the new Danzo slowly emerged in the virtual round table meeting space. His voice, with a hint of deliberate heaviness and compassion, sounded in the group.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Namikaze Minato, welcome to join us. But… I regret to inform you of something… unfortunate about your future.”
The atmosphere in the group suddenly became stagnant because of Danzo’s sudden heavy tone.
Minato Namikaze’s heart tightened and an ominous premonition came to his mind.
[Namikaze Minato]: “Danzo-senpai…what…what do you want to say?”
The new Danzo didn’t hesitate at all and directly dropped the bombshell that was enough to defeat anyone.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Minato, on the day your wife Uzumaki Kushina gives birth, due to some…accident, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sealed in her body will break free from its seal, break out of its cage, and launch a devastating attack on Konoha Village.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire chat group fell into deathly silence.
Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Tsunade were all so shocked that they were speechless because of this sudden and terrible news.
Nine-tailed beast! It’s the strongest tailed beast in legend! If it gets out of control, the consequences will be disastrous!
When Minato Namikaze heard these words, he felt as if struck by lightning!
His mind went blank and he could barely think.
The Nine-Tails…breaks free from its seal? Attacks Konoha?
How is this possible? !
He knew that Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and he also knew that the seal would be most vulnerable when the Jinchuriki was giving birth.
But… will the Nine-Tail break free from the seal?
This is simply a fantasy!
[Namikaze Minato]: “Danzo-senpai! Are you…are you telling the truth?! This…this is impossible! Kushina’s sealing technique is very powerful! Moreover, there are ANBU and barrier squads guarding her!”
Minato’s voice trembled violently, full of disbelief and fear.
The new Danzo ignored Minato’s doubts and continued to pronounce his future fate in that sad tone.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “And you, Namikaze Minato, in order to protect the village, in order to protect your newborn son Uzumaki Naruto… you will seal the Nine-Tails again at the cost of your own life.”
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “You…will be sacrificed.”
sacrifice!
These two words, like two sharp knives, stabbed deeply into Minato Namikaze’s heart!
He couldn’t believe it! He couldn’t accept it!
His beloved wife, his unborn child, the village he swore to protect with his life… and himself…
Will they all face such a tragic fate? !
No! This can’t be true! This must be an illusion! This guy named Danzo is exaggerating!
[Namikaze Minato]: “No! I don’t believe it! You’re lying to me! You must be lying to me!”
Minato’s emotions were completely out of control, he screamed in the group, full of despair and anger.
At this moment, his sunny and gentle image was ruthlessly shattered by the cruel “future”.
He even tried to forcibly quit the damn chat group, but he found that he couldn’t do it at all.
He could only watch helplessly as the man who called himself “Danzo” sentenced him and his family to death with cold words.
This feeling of powerlessness and despair almost swallowed him up.
There was dead silence in the chat group.
Hashirama, Tobirama, and Tsunade were all shocked by this sudden tragedy.
They watched Minato’s nearly collapsed speech, their hearts filled with sympathy and sadness.
Another poor person who was teased by fate.
As for the new Danzo, he watched all this without any disturbance in his eyes.
He knew it was cruel.
But only the cruelest way can make Namikaze Minato, the future Fourth Hokage, face the reality as quickly as possible.
Only in this way can he keep this important chess piece firmly in his own hands.
The Nine-Tails Rebellion… Sarutobi Hiruzen…
The corner of the new Danzo’s mouth curled up in a cold arc.
Chapter 14: Senju Tobirama!!! (Old version)
A bigger storm is about to blow violently in Konoha and on his chessboard.
These four simple words were like a ruthless hammer, hitting Minato Namikaze’s heart hard, shattering all his hopes and aspirations.
In the virtual chat group space, the projection of Minato Namikaze was shaking violently, and his azure eyes were filled with incredible pain, anger and despair.
[Namikaze Minato]: “No! This is impossible! Senior Danzo, please tell me, this is not true! There must be something wrong! Kushina’s seal was reinforced by me personally, it is absolutely impossible for the Nine-Tails to break free so easily! Moreover, I will be by her side during the birth! There is also Jiraiya-sensei, the Anbu, and so many companions! How could we let the Nine-Tails come out to endanger the village?!”
Minato’s voice became hoarse with excitement. He frantically asked for details, trying to find a glimmer of possibility from Danzo to overturn this cruel “future”.
He couldn’t imagine that his beloved wife would encounter such a disaster on the day of giving birth. He couldn’t imagine that his unborn child would have to face such a terrifying monster just after coming into the world. He couldn’t imagine that he would sacrifice himself to protect the village…
What does sacrifice mean?
It meant that he would leave Kushina forever, leave the child he had yet to meet forever, and leave the Konoha Village he loved forever.
This thought bit his heart like a poisonous snake, making him feel miserable.
Senju Hashirama felt a pang of pain when he saw Minato in pain. He thought of his younger brothers Itama and Watama, who also died in the cruel war when they were young. He felt the pain of losing a loved one.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Minato, calm down. Danzo, what you said… is too sudden. The Nine-Tails guy is indeed troublesome, but it shouldn’t be… not to this extent, right?”
Hashirama tried to ease the atmosphere, but also had a hint of doubt about Danzo’s words. After all, he was the one who personally distributed the Nine-Tails to various ninja villages, and he had a clear understanding of the Nine-Tails’ power and the importance of its seal.
Senju Tobirama frowned, he was more rational than Hashirama. He knew that if what Danzo said was true, then this Nine-Tails Rebellion would be a devastating disaster for Konoha.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Minato, please control your emotions first. Group leader, if what you said is true, then what is the cause of this disaster? Is it just because the seal weakened due to the Jinchūriki giving birth? Or are there other deeper reasons?”
Tobirama is worthy of being the calculating Second Hokage. He keenly realized that things might not be that simple.
The new Danzo still maintained his iconic calmness in the face of Minato’s crazy questioning and the doubts of the two previous Hokage.
He knew that Minato was in a very unstable mood at the moment, and any words of comfort seemed pale and powerless. What he needed was the “truth”, or rather, the “truth” that he had carefully packaged.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Minato, I understand how you feel. But the truth is often more cruel than we imagine. The Nine-Tails Rebellion was caused by the weakening of the seal due to the Jinchūriki’s childbirth, but there were also signs behind it.”
His voice was deep and penetrating, and seemed to carry an unquestionable authority.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “As far as I know, the occurrence of this disaster is closely related to some intelligence errors made by the then Konoha high-ranking official, the Sandaime Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, and his neglect of some potentially dangerous people.”
When this name was once again spoken by Danzo and linked to a huge disaster, the atmosphere in the group became even more solemn.
Namikaze Minato suddenly raised his head, and a hint of surprise flashed in his blue eyes.
Sarutobi Sensei? The Nine-Tails Rebellion, is it related to Sarutobi Sensei?
How is this possible? Sarutobi-sensei has always been his most respected elder and mentor!
The new Danzo did not give Minato too much time to think, and continued: “Childbirth is the period when the seal of a female Jinchūriki is the weakest. The Konoha high-level officials cannot be unaware of this. Logically, they should adopt the highest level of vigilance, and even set the birthing location in a secret place far away from the village that is absolutely safe.”
“But,” Danzo’s tone changed, with a barely perceptible accusation, “From what I know, the guards during Kushina’s childbirth, although not weak, were definitely not strong enough to deal with a threat of the Kyuubi’s level. Moreover, it seems that they did not conduct a thorough investigation of the surrounding environment, allowing some…uninvited guests to easily approach and take advantage of this opportunity.”
“Uninvited guest?” Namikaze Minato keenly grasped this key word, “Who is it?!”
The new Danzo’s mouth curled up in a cold arc, and his voice was mysterious: “A mysterious Uchiha wearing a mask. His goal is to release the Nine-Tails and use the power of the Nine-Tails to destroy Konoha.”
“An Uchiha wearing a mask?!” Minato was shocked. He had also heard about the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village. Could it be that there really was an Uchiha clan member who would do such a cruel thing?
[Senju Tobirama]: “Uchiha?! Uchiha again! Humph, I knew that this cursed clan would bring disaster to Konoha sooner or later!”
Tobirama’s voice was filled with anger and a sense of “as expected”. His hatred for Uchiha was deep in his bones.
The new Danzo laughed secretly in his heart. Tobirama’s reaction was completely within his expectations.
He continued, “This mysterious Uchiha clan member possesses an extremely strange space-time ninjutsu that can easily break through Konoha’s defenses. And Sarutobi-sensei did not seem to pay enough attention to this potential huge threat. It can even be said that it was a major mistake in intelligence that led to the success of the other party’s conspiracy.”
“If,” the new Danzo’s tone became meaningful, “the leader of Konoha at that time was someone who had a more comprehensive grasp of intelligence, was more vigilant to potential threats, and made more decisive decisions, perhaps the Nine-Tails Rebellion could have been warned in advance, or even… completely avoided.”
His words cleverly shifted part of the blame for the Nine-Tails Rebellion onto Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “intelligence errors” and “poor decision-making.”
He did not directly say that Sarutobi Hiruzen was the culprit, but his words implied that Sarutobi’s “incompetence” was one of the important reasons that led to this tragedy.
Chapter 15 Return. . (Old version)
Minato Namikaze was extremely shocked when he listened to Danzo’s analysis.
He has always regarded Sarutobi Hiruzen as a symbol of wisdom and strength, but now, Danzo tells him that Sarutobi teacher’s “mistake” indirectly led to the tragedy of him and his family?
This huge cognitive shock made him feel dizzy and confused.
He didn’t know who to trust.
[Namikaze Minato]: “Danzo-senpai…you mean…if it wasn’t for Sarutobi-sensei’s mistake…the Nine-Tails Rebellion…wouldn’t have happened? Kushina and I…and my child…wouldn’t have…”
There was a trembling hint of hope in his voice, as if a drowning man had grasped at the last straw.
The new Danzo looked at Minato’s eyes full of desire and sneered in his heart, but showed a “heartbroken” expression on the surface.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Minato, there is no “if” in history. But from an outsider’s perspective, there are indeed many things worth discussing in the way Sarutobi-sensei handled this matter.”
Instead of answering Minato’s question directly, he began to show his “far-sightedness” and “iron-fisted” side.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Take the case of Kushina’s childbirth as an example. Since we know that the Jinchūriki’s childbirth is the period when the seal is the weakest, then the most stringent precautions should be taken.”
“First, the birthing location must not be in Konoha Village, or too close to the village. Once the Nine-Tails goes berserk, the consequences will be disastrous. We should choose a secret place far away from human habitation and with natural barriers or powerful barriers.”
“Secondly, the guard level must be raised to the highest level. Not only should there be a sufficient number of ANBU elites, but there should also be someone proficient in sealing techniques to monitor the status of the seal. We can even consider requesting a Kage-level powerhouse like Lord Jiraiya to personally guard the place.”
“Third, and most importantly, any possible threats must be thoroughly investigated and eliminated! Especially those suspicious individuals with mysterious whereabouts and powerful strength. It is better to kill the wrong person than to let him go! In the face of Konoha’s safety, any trace of luck is fatal!”
Danzo’s voice was sonorous and full of unquestionable determination. The measures he proposed did sound much more comprehensive and tougher than the approach taken by Sarutobi Hiruzen (in Danzo’s description).
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “If I were to handle this, I would have started planning months in advance. I would secretly transfer Kushina to the safest place and set up a dragnet around her. Any suspicious person who tries to approach would be eliminated at the first opportunity. I would make sure that not even a fly can fly in during Kushina’s delivery!”
His words were full of confidence and the arrogance of being in control of everything.
He sent a strong message to Minato and the others in the group: if it was Shimura Danzo who led Konoha, the result might be completely different. He had the ability to prevent this tragedy from happening.
As Minato Namikaze listened to Danzo’s analysis and proposed countermeasures, a complex look flashed in his eyes.
He had to admit that what Danzo said sounded… indeed reasonable.
If we really did what Danzo said, perhaps… the Nine-Tails Rebellion could really be avoided?
The balance in his heart began to unconsciously tilt towards Danzo.
He began to believe that the mysterious “Danzo-senpai” before him might really have the ability to change his destiny.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Hmm… What Danzo said does sound safer than what Sarutobi did. We must not take it lightly when dealing with a giant like the Nine-Tails.”
Hashirama couldn’t help but nod his head in agreement.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Humph, Sarutobi has really gotten old and muddle-headed! He doesn’t even understand this simple truth! If it’s really as Danzo said, then he is really failing in his duty as Hokage!”
Tobirama even criticized his own disciple without any hesitation. His dissatisfaction with Sarutobi Hiruzen deepened.
The new Danzo looked at everyone’s reactions and felt secretly proud.
He successfully portrayed himself as a “strong backing” who could make up for Sarutobi Hiruzen’s shortcomings and provide stronger protection for Konoha.
Now, it’s time to give Minato Namikaze a reassurance pill.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Minato, although what I just said is your future destiny. But destiny is not set in stone.”
There was a subtle hint of inducement in his tone.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Now that you have joined this special chat group and know all of this in advance, then it is not impossible… for things to change.”
“Possibility of change?!”
When Minato Namikaze heard this, a strong light suddenly burst out in his eyes!
He stared at Danzo’s projection as if he had grasped a life-saving straw.
[Namikaze Minato]: “Danzo-senpai! You mean… my fate… can be changed? Kushina and my child… don’t have to die?!”
His voice trembled with excitement.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “In theory, yes.” The new Danzo nodded slowly, “Knowing the future is a powerful weapon in itself. We can make plans and take precautions in advance based on the known ‘plot’, so as to avoid risks, or even… turn the tide.”
“But,” his tone changed and became meaningful, “It is not easy to change your fate. It requires careful planning, strong strength, and… absolute trust.”
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “I will do my best to provide you with intelligence and advice about the future. I will tell you who the mysterious Uchiha in the mask is, what his weaknesses are, and how his schemes proceed.”
“And you, Namikaze Minato, also need to make your own choice.”
The new Danzo’s eyes, like a sharp hawk, were fixed on Minato.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Are you willing to trust me? Are you willing to follow my plan? Even… at certain critical moments in the future, I may need your help and support as a ‘reward’ for changing your destiny.”
His words were very blunt.
He was telling Minato that there is no free lunch in the world. If you want to change your destiny, you must pay a price.
And the price is Minato’s trust and… some “support” in the future.
The new Danzo began to subtly cultivate Minato’s trust in himself, and regarded the future Fourth Hokage as an important chess piece on his chessboard that he could influence and utilize.
Minato Namikaze fell silent after listening to Danzo’s words.
He was not a fool, he certainly understood the deeper meaning of Danzo’s words.
Seeking the skin of a tiger?
Maybe.
However, compared with the safety of my family and the village, what is this risk?
As long as it means protecting Kushina and his unborn child, he is willing to pay any price!
What’s more, from the conversation just now, this “Danzo-senpai” seems to really possess wisdom and means far beyond ordinary people.
Chapter 16 Ability! ! ! (old version)
The measures he proposed to deal with the Nine-Tails Rebellion do sound much more brilliant than what Sarutobi Sensei (described by Danzo) did.
Maybe… he could really trust this person?
[Namikaze Minato]: “Danzo-senpai…if…if you can really help me avoid tragedy and protect my family and village…then, I, Namikaze Minato, am willing to believe you! No matter what you need me to do, as long as I can do it, I will never refuse!”
Minato’s voice was full of determination and resolve.
For his family and his village, he is willing to risk everything!
When the new Danzo heard Minato’s answer, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
Very good, this important chess piece has been initially hooked.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Very good, Minato, I feel your determination. Well, from now on, I will gradually reveal to you more details about the Nine-Tails Rebellion and how to deal with it. You must also be prepared to meet the upcoming challenges.”
The communication within the chat group allowed the new Danzo in the real world to have a clearer and more specific plan for the upcoming Nine-Tails Rebellion.
He knew that the real threat was Uchiha Obito, who was bewitched and used by Uchiha Madara.
However, he could not directly point out Obito’s identity in the group.
Because once it is pointed out, it is likely to cause a chain reaction, leading to unpredictable changes in the future “plot”, and may even alert Obito in advance, thus disrupting his overall plan.
He needed a more covert and safer way to deal with this crisis.
He immediately summoned the core members of the “Root” organization and issued a series of secret instructions.
“Keep a close eye on Uzumaki Kushina’s pregnancy and record the time of each of her prenatal checkups, as well as the list of medical ninjas who will be delivering the baby.”
“Closely monitor the area around Konoha Village and the Uchiha settlements for any suspicious activity by masked Uchiha. If you find any, don’t alarm them, just keep an eye on them and report to me at any time.”
“Mobilize the most elite sensory ninjas and barrier ninjas within the Root organization and be prepared to respond to any emergency at any time.”
The new Danzo arranged the tasks in an orderly manner.
He not only wanted to “help” Minato avoid tragedy, but also wanted to seize his own interests in this Nine-Tails Rebellion.
For example, further weakening Sarutobi Hiruzen’s prestige in the village.
If he could successfully “predict” and “assist” in resolving the Nine-Tails Rebellion, then his reputation in Konoha would undoubtedly be greatly enhanced.
The prestige of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage whose disaster was almost caused by “intelligence errors” and “poor decision-making”, will inevitably suffer a severe blow.
As one thing grows stronger, the other loses strength, and he is one step closer to that supreme position.
The Nine-Tailed Fox Rebellion was both a crisis and… a godsend opportunity for him!
At the same time, in the chat group.
Tsunade looked at Minato Namikaze’s complex emotions of despair and hope, and her heart was filled with mixed feelings.
She thought of her younger brother Shengshu and her lover Duan.
If someone had been able to tell her about the future tragedy in advance like Danzo did, and give her the opportunity to change her fate…how great would that be?
Although she still felt uncomfortable and wary of some of Danzo’s cruel methods, when she saw the desperate situation Minato was facing and that Danzo seemed to be able to provide a “solution”, her inner balance began to subtly waver.
She longed to change the fate of her loved ones.
At this moment, she had another thought of wanting to help Minato.
Maybe… this man named Danzo is not just a pure conspirator as she initially imagined?
[Tsunade]: “Minato…you…you must be strong! If…if there is anything I can help with, just ask! Even though I’m just a kid now, I…I will try my best!”
There was a hint of sympathy and the best kindness she could in Tsunade’s voice.
And Senju Tobirama observed Danzo’s “guidance” and “induction” of Minato more calmly.
He found that Danzo’s analysis was indeed penetrating and to the point, and the countermeasures he proposed were also very targeted and feasible.
This gave Tobirama a deeper understanding of Danzo’s “abilities”.
This disciple indeed possesses wisdom and skills far beyond that of ordinary people.
But because of this, Tobirama became more wary of Danzo’s skills in manipulating people’s minds.
He could see that Danzo was gradually leading Minato Namikaze onto the track he had set.
This method of controlling everything without making any noise made Tobirama feel a little… uneasy.
He began to wonder whether there was a deeper conspiracy behind the emergence of this chat group and everything Danzo did.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Danzo, your suggestion to Minato does sound reasonable. However, changing the future is not that simple. Any small change may lead to unpredictable consequences. Are you sure that your plan is foolproof?”
There was a hint of caution and questioning in Tobirama’s tone.
He hopes that Danzo can help Konoha avoid disaster, but he also doesn’t want Konoha to fall into the hands of another more dangerous controller.
This contradictory mentality made his attitude towards Danzo more complicated.
Senju Tobirama’s voice echoed in the virtual chat group space, with a subtle sense of caution and worry about the unknown. He has been fighting against various uncertainties all his life, and he knows that once the trajectory of fate is forcibly reversed, it will often lead to more uncontrollable variables.
Facing Tobirama’s questioning, the new Danzo still had a calm expression on his face. His shadow was shrouded in a faint shadow, making him seem even more unfathomable.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Master Tobirama, is there ever anything in this world that is truly ‘infallible’? Even when you formulated those far-sighted policies, didn’t you also face various unforeseen challenges?”
He cleverly threw the question back, neither directly affirming nor completely denying it.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “All I can do is to make the greatest possible deductions and preparations based on the known ‘future’, to minimize the risks and maximize the possibility of success. As for the final outcome, it depends on the right time, the right place, and… the right people.”
Chapter 17 Konoha Village, Hokage’s Office. (Old version)
His words were flawless, showing his confidence without being too sure, leaving himself enough room.
Senju Tobirama frowned slightly when he heard this. He was a little dissatisfied with Danzo’s answer, but he couldn’t find any big faults. Indeed, nothing is absolute in the world, and even he dared not say that every decision he made was perfect.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Humph, you are getting better at talking. However, I still want to remind you that Minato’s affairs are related to the future of Konoha and the safety of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, and there is no room for error. If you just want to use him to achieve some of your own goals, then don’t blame me… for not remembering our friendship!”
There was a hint of stern warning in Tobirama’s tone. Although he was dissatisfied with some of Sarutobi Hiruzen’s actions, his loyalty to Konoha was unquestionable. He would never allow anyone to seek personal gain at the expense of Konoha’s safety.
The new Danzo sneered in his heart, no longer caring about the old friendship? Teacher Tobirama, you may not know that at some point in the future, your “favorite disciple” Sarutobi Hiruzen will do something that will “surprise” you.
But on the surface, he still remained respectful.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Don’t worry, Lord Tobirama. Everything I, Shimura Danzo, do is for Konoha. Minato is the hope of Konoha’s future, and Kushina is an important Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Their safety is more important to me than anyone else. The reason why I want to help them change their fate is to protect the future of Konoha.”
He once again elevated his actions to the level of “for Konoha” in an attempt to dispel Tobirama’s doubts.
Senju Hashirama listened to the conversation between the two and felt very nervous. He hoped that Minato would be safe, but he was also worried that Danzo’s intervention would lead to worse consequences.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Well, I hope everything goes well. Minato, you should be more careful too. The Kyuubi is not someone you can easily mess with.”
Minato Namikaze’s mood at this moment had long since changed from the initial shock and despair to a glimmer of hope and a determination to fight to the death.
[Namikaze Minato]: “Thank you for your concern, First-Daime-sama and Second-Daime-sama. Thank you also for your guidance, Danzo-senpai. No matter what the future holds, I will do my best to protect Kushina and my child, and to protect Konoha!”
His tone was full of responsibility and duty as a husband, father, and Konoha ninja.
The new Danzo looked at Minato’s statement and nodded with satisfaction.
The chess pieces have been initially put into place.
Next, all we have to do is wait for that fateful day to arrive in the real world.
Konoha Village, Hokage’s office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen put down the pipe in his hand and looked out the window with a frown.
Recently, he always felt that something was wrong in the village.
Especially that guy Danzo, his activity frequency is obviously much higher than before.
The personnel transfers in the “Root” organization have also become unusually frequent, as if they are secretly planning something.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen did not know the existence of the chat group, and did not know that Danzo had already mastered the shocking secret about the “future”, he still sensed a hint of something unusual with his keen political sense from having been in charge of the position of Hokage for many years.
“Danzo…what are you planning now?” Sarutobi Hiruzen whispered to himself, with a barely perceptible hint of vigilance in his eyes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen knows his former best friend, now political enemy, very well.
Danzo’s ambition for the position of Hokage has never been extinguished. Over the years, he has been secretly accumulating strength, trying to find an opportunity to replace him.
On the one hand, Sarutobi Hiruzen remained highly alert to Danzo’s ambitions, and sent Anbu to secretly monitor the movements of the “Root” organization to prevent him from doing anything that would harm the village.
On the other hand, he had to admit that Danzo’s existence did help Konoha handle a lot of difficult “dirty work” in some aspects.
This delicate balance of mutual vigilance and mutual benefit has been maintained for many years.
But recently, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that this balance seemed to be broken.
“Could it be… that he wants to take advantage of the instability in the village after the war and the people’s restlessness to do some small things?” Sarutobi Hiruzen guessed.
In addition to being wary of Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen has also recently increased his attention on Uzumaki Kushina.
After all, the safety of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is the top priority of Konoha Village and must not be allowed to fail.
He had already ordered an increase in the Anbu guard strength around Kushina’s residence, and instructed the medical team to pay close attention to Kushina’s physical condition to ensure that the delivery process was foolproof.
But all his countermeasures were based more on guarding against Danzo’s personal ambitions and the general attention to the safety of the Jinchūriki.
He didn’t know that a huge conspiracy planned by a mysterious masked man to release the Nine-Tails and destroy Konoha was quietly approaching.
What he didn’t know was that what Danzo held in his hands was not just simple ambition, but a “prophecy” that could subvert the future of the entire ninja world.
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s response was like scratching an itch through a shoe. Although it played a certain preventive role, it failed to touch the real core of the threat.
He still failed to see through Danzo’s true trump card, and the extent of the threat posed by the Nine-Tails Rebellion, which was terrifying enough to destroy everything.
This information asymmetry means that he will be in an extremely passive position in the upcoming game.
The Uchiha clan’s settlement area.
The atmosphere in the residence of clan leader Uchiha Fugaku seemed a bit depressing.
Ever since the secret meeting with Shimura Danzo a few days ago, Uchiha Fugaku has been in a very heavy mood.
The “evidence” thrown out by Danzo and the “radical but effective” solution were like two huge rocks pressing on his heart, making him unable to sleep or eat.
On the one hand, he was full of suspicion and vigilance about Danzo’s motives. On the other hand, he had to admit that the crisis that Danzo described that the Uchiha clan might face in the future, as well as Sarutobi Hiruzen’s true attitude towards the Uchiha clan, made him feel deeply uneasy.
In the past few days, he also secretly conducted some investigations to try to verify the authenticity of what Danzo said.
The result made him even more frightened.
He discovered that the village leaders had indeed discussed limiting the power of the Uchiha in some meetings. Although the specific content was different from the “summary of records” provided by Danzo, the general direction was basically the same.
Moreover, he also noticed that the Anbu’s surveillance of the Uchiha settlement seemed to be more stringent than before.
These discoveries further shook his trust in Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Chapter 18: Completely eradicate the Uchiha clan! (Old version)
Could it be that what Danzo said was true? Did Sarutobi Hokage really have evil intentions towards the Uchiha clan?
As the three-day consideration period given by Danzo was about to expire, Uchiha Fugaku finally made a difficult decision.
He secretly convened several respected elders in the tribe, as well as some radical representatives who were influential among the younger generation, and held a small-scale secret discussion in his own secret room.
He told these people exactly what had happened between him and Danzo, as well as the “evidence”.
For a moment, there was a lot of discussion in the secret room and the crowd was excited.
“This is outrageous! Sarutobi Hiruzen actually treats our Uchiha clan like this!” A hot-tempered radical youth slammed the table and stood up, anger burning in his eyes, “We shed blood and sacrificed for Konoha, and this is what we get in return?!”
“Chief! We can’t tolerate this any longer! We must ask the Hokage for an explanation!” another radical member echoed.
The older elders seemed relatively calmer, but their expressions were equally grim.
“Fugaku, Danzo is a sinister and cunning person. Don’t trust everything he says.” A white-haired old man said in a deep voice, “He obviously wants to use us Uchiha to achieve his own political goals.”
“That’s right,” another elder also nodded, “Sending the elite of the clan into the Root is tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house! Once controlled by Danzo, the future of our Uchiha clan will be even more worrying!”
Opposing voices rose and fell in the secret room.
Uchiha Fugaku listened quietly to everyone’s discussion and did not express his opinion immediately.
He knew that working with Danzo was extremely risky.
But… can we just sit back and relax if we don’t cooperate?
If Sarutobi Hiruzen really harbored a grudge against the Uchiha, then no matter how they endured and compromised, they would probably not be able to escape the fate of being liquidated in the end.
“Everyone,” Uchiha Fugaku spoke slowly, with a hint of fatigue in his voice, “I am naturally aware of Danzo’s intentions. His proposal is indeed full of risks.”
“But,” he changed the subject, his eyes becoming sharp, “we cannot deny that the situation of the Uchiha clan in the village is indeed becoming increasingly difficult. Sarutobi Hokage’s attitude towards us is indeed… questionable.”
“Instead of sitting there and waiting for an unknown fate to come, it is better to… take the initiative to seek some changes.”
He glanced at everyone present: “Although Danzo is untrustworthy, some of the conditions he proposed are not without temptation. If we can make good use of this opportunity, and while cooperating with him, we can also maintain sufficient vigilance and autonomy, perhaps… we can really win a new world for the Uchiha.”
Uchiha Fugaku’s words made the atmosphere in the secret room become solemn again.
Although there are still elders who strongly oppose cooperating with Danzo, believing that it is making a deal with the devil.
However, some radical representatives and clan members who were desperate about the current situation began to seriously consider Fugaku’s proposal.
They believed that the Uchiha clan could no longer blindly tolerate and retreat as they had done in the past.
They need a tougher stance and greater power to protect the interests and future of their family.
And Danzo Shimura, the man known for his iron fist, might… really be able to bring them something different.
The desire for change and the undercurrent of distrust towards Sarutobi Hiruzen began to spread gradually within the Uchiha clan.
Uchiha Fugaku looked at the different expressions of his clansmen and sighed inwardly.
He knew that no matter what choice he made, the future of the Uchiha clan would be full of unknowns and challenges.
But he had no choice.
As the patriarch, he must find every possible way out for the survival and continuation of the family.
Even though this road is full of thorns and traps.
The new Danzo naturally would not place all his hopes on Uchiha Fugaku alone.
He knows very well that one should not put all his eggs in one basket.
While waiting for Fugaku’s reply, he also began to contact some young ninjas in the Uchiha clan who he thought were “valuable” through the secret channels of the “Root” organization.
His eyes were particularly focused on a young man named “Uchiha Shisui”.
At this time, Uchiha Shisui may not have fully grown up, and his strength had not yet reached its later peak.
But the new Danzo, relying on his memory of the original work, clearly knows that this young boy will open the Mangekyō Sharingan in the future and possess the “Kotoamatsukami”, which is known as the “strongest illusion”!
It is a terrifying eye technique that can permanently change the will of others silently!
Its strategic value is immeasurable!
If I could control Uchiha Shisui and his “Kotoamatsukami” in my own hands…
There was a gleam of greed and excitement in the new Danzo’s eyes.
He immediately ordered members of the “Root” organization to find a way to establish initial contact with Uchiha Shisui.
This kind of contact is not a direct solicitation or coercion, but a more covert and subtle approach.
For example, arrange for “Root” members to appear “just right” when Shisui is performing tasks or practicing, and give some “inadvertent” guidance and help to win his favor.
Or, through some special channels, convey some…carefully screened and packaged “thoughts” to Shisui.
For example, “In order to achieve true peace, sometimes extraordinary and even incomprehensible measures must be taken.”
“The future of the Uchiha clan cannot rely on the charity of others, but must rely on its own strength and decisive changes.”
“If personal sacrifice can bring long-term peace and stability to the entire family and village, then this sacrifice is worth it.”
These seemingly plausible and misleading ideas, like invisible seeds, were quietly sown into Uchiha Shisui’s young and immature heart.
The new Danzo believed that with Shisui’s talent and precocity, he would start thinking about these issues sooner or later.
And when these “seeds” take root and sprout, it is his harvest season.
He wants to make Uchiha Shisui, the future “Instant Body Shisui”, the sharpest and most obedient knife in his hand!
Paving the way for him to control the Uchiha in the future, and even… control the entire Konoha.
Just as the new group was hiding in the real world and the chat group, operating on two lines, and carrying out his grand layout in full swing.
Suddenly, a discordant sound of war was heard at the border of Konoha Village.
The Iwagakure Village, which had been devastated in the Third Ninja World War and had already signed a peace agreement, suddenly caused trouble in the border area with the Land of Fire for some unknown reason.
Chapter 19: Be polite before fighting! Danzo Shimura! (old version)
They sent a small force across the border, attacked several outposts in Konoha, and looted some supplies.
Although the scale was small and the damage caused was limited, its provocative meaning was very obvious.
This news was soon passed back to Konoha Village and placed on the desk of Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the urgent military report in his hand with a frown on his face.
“Iwagakure Village…what are they planning to do? Have they forgotten the lessons of the war?”
At this time, Konoha had just experienced a war and was in a state of disrepair, so it was not appropriate for another large-scale conflict.
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s first reaction was to make a solemn representation to the Iwagakure Village through diplomatic channels, demanding that the other party immediately stop the provocative behavior and give an explanation for the matter.
He believed that this might just be the unauthorized action of some warmongers within the Iwagakure Village, and not the intention of the Tsuchikage Ōnoki.
As long as Konoha shows a tough attitude and doesn’t make things too big, the Iwagakure Village should give up.
So he immediately convened advisors such as Utane Koharu, Mito Kado En, and several squad leaders of the jonin squads to hold an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures.
At the meeting, Sarutobi Hiruzen expounded his ideas, advocating the use of diplomacy before force, and mainly resolving the issue through diplomatic means to avoid escalation of conflicts.
His “slow” and “cautious” attitude made some people present feel dissatisfied.
Especially Utane Koharu and Mito Kado En, who had just been “turned” by Danzo.
They believed that in the face of such naked provocation from the Iwagakure Village, Konoha should have given a tougher and more direct response, rather than simply pinning its hopes on illusory diplomatic mediation.
“Hokage, the Iwagakure Village has wicked ambitions. This provocation is probably just a test. If we show too weak, it will only encourage their arrogance!” Utane Koharu said bluntly.
“That’s right,” Mitomon En also echoed, “We must send troops immediately to give them a head-on blow and let them know that Konoha’s dignity cannot be violated!”
The atmosphere in the meeting suddenly became a little tense.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the two advisors’ intense reactions and felt somewhat helpless.
Doesn’t he want to fight back strongly?
But Konoha… really can’t withstand another large-scale war.
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was discussing countermeasures with his advisors, trying to reach a consensus and put pressure on the Iwagakure Village through diplomatic channels.
Danzo Shimura, who was far away in the secret base of “Root”, had already received the news.
The corner of his mouth curled up into an icy smile.
“Iwagakure Village… provoking? Haha, God is really helping me!”
He was keenly aware that this was a golden opportunity to demonstrate his “ability” and “decisiveness” while at the same time undermining Sarutobi Hiruzen’s prestige!
He must not miss it!
“I’m here!”
“Immediately assemble the most elite assault teams within the Root organization! I want them to find out the exact location, force deployment, and purpose of the Iwagakure Village’s provocative troops in the shortest possible time!”
“Also, get the recording crystal ready! I want all the ‘hard evidence’ of their provocation clearly recorded for me!”
There was a gleam of excitement and cruelty in the new Danzo’s eyes.
He wanted to show everyone that when dealing with a crisis, his methods as Shimura Danzo were much more effective than Sarutobi Hiruzen’s cumbersome diplomatic rhetoric!
An hour later, detailed information about the provocative forces of Iwagakure was placed in front of Danzo.
As he expected, this was just a small force consisting of dozens of Iwagakure ninjas, whose main purpose was to harass and test, not to launch a large-scale attack.
“Very good.” The new Danzo nodded with satisfaction.
Without any hesitation, he immediately gave the order to attack!
“Target, the Iwagakure provocative force! Action requirements, swift, covert, and lethal! Make sure to disintegrate the enemy’s offensive and eliminate all threats in the shortest possible time! At the same time, make sure to bring back ‘conclusive evidence’ of their provocation!”
“yes!”
Several assault teams composed of the elite of the “Root” organization, like ghosts in the dark night, quietly left Konoha Village, secretly crossed the border, and rushed towards the stronghold of the provocative troops in Iwagakure Village.
These “root” ninjas are all carefully selected and trained to be killing machines. They are proficient in assassination, infiltration, intelligence gathering and other skills. For them, carrying out such small-scale raids is simply a common occurrence.
Under the cover of night, the “Root” assault team, like the sharpest razor, accurately and ruthlessly cut into the positions of the provocative forces of the Iwagakure Village.
The battle breaks out in an instant!
Faced with these Konoha “Root” members who appeared like ghosts, the Iwagakure ninjas, who had been arrogant, were caught off guard.
Before they even had time to raise the alarm, their throats were ruthlessly slit and their hearts stabbed.
The ninja of “Root” is ruthless and deadly in every move, leaving no one alive.
The whole operation was clean and neat, without any drag.
In less than half an hour, the provocative force from the Iwagakure Village was completely wiped out.
After carefully cleaning up the battlefield and collecting enough “evidence” to prove that the Iwagakure Village had taken the initiative to provoke them (for example, the corpses of the Iwagakure ninjas, the weapons and equipment with the Iwagakure mark they used, and the Konoha supplies they looted), the “Root” ninjas quickly evacuated and disappeared into the night.
The whole process happens without anyone noticing.
As if nothing had happened.
Except…the bodies of the Iwagakure ninjas who remained forever on the cold land.
This action not only successfully thwarted the provocation of the Iwagakure Village, but more importantly, did not leave the other side any excuse to launch a large-scale counterattack.
Because, from the looks of it, Konoha Village…did nothing.
All of this was done independently by the “root” organization in the dark.
While Sarutobi Hiruzen was still in the Hokage’s office, he was worried about how to resolve border frictions through diplomatic means and arguing with his advisors.
Danzo Shimura had quietly arrived outside the Hokage Building, bringing with him the “glorious results” of the “Root” Thunder Attack and “conclusive evidence” of the Iwagakure Village’s provocation.
He knew that a good show was about to begin.
He wanted to let Sarutobi Hiruzen and all the high-ranking officials of Konoha see who was the one who could truly protect Konoha and resolve the crisis!
Chapter 20 “Negotiation” and “Mediation”!! (Old version)
When the “Root” organization’s thunder operation came to an end quietly in the darkness, the provocative behavior of the Iwagakure Village at the border came to an abrupt halt as if it was strangled by an invisible big hand.
The war on the border was quelled in a very short time.
At this time, the Konoha high-level officials were still in a state of information lag regarding the occurrence and ending of all this.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was still in the Hokage’s office, having “intense” discussions and “careful” deployments with advisors such as Utane Koharu and Mito Kado En, as well as the heads of various departments, on how to respond to the provocation from the Iwagakure Village.
They are still arguing over whether to lodge a solemn protest through diplomatic channels first or to directly send troops for military deterrence.
They are still weighing the pros and cons of which troops should be sent, who should command them, and what the scale and bottom line of the action should be if military action is taken.
Little did they know that while they were still talking on paper and hesitating about the so-called “procedural justice” and “overall stability”, Danzo Shimura had already solved all the problems in the most direct, effective and ruthless way.
It was not until the news came from the Konoha garrison at the border that the provocative troops from the Iwagakure Village had “mysteriously disappeared” and the border returned to peace that Sarutobi Hiruzen and others woke up from their dreams and looked at each other in bewilderment.
“Disappeared? What happened? Did the Iwagakure Village retreat on its own?” Sarutobi Hiruzen asked confusedly.
Just then, there was a knock on the Hokage’s office door.
“Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama requests to see you.” The Anbu’s messenger ninja reported outside the door.
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his eyebrows and exchanged glances with Utane Koharu and Mito Kado En.
Danzo? What is he doing here at this hour?
“Let him in.”
A moment later, Shimura Danzo slowly walked into the Hokage’s office. His face was still as calm as ever, but deep in his eyes, there was a hint of smugness that was barely noticeable.
“Hokage, fellow advisors,” Danzo bowed slightly as a greeting.
“Danzo, you’ve come just in time.” Sarutobi Hiruzen said in a deep voice, “What do you think about the provocation from the border village?”
Upon hearing this, the new Danzo raised a faint arc at the corner of his mouth, and said in a calm tone: “Hokage-sama, regarding this matter, I have already… dealt with it.”
“Dealt with it?” Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned, and the others in the office also showed surprised expressions.
“That’s right.” The new Danzo nodded, took out a scroll from his arms, and presented it with both hands, “This is a detailed report of the incident, and… the ‘conclusive evidence’ that the Iwagakure Village took the initiative to provoke. Please take a look, Hokage.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen took the scroll and quickly unfolded it.
The scroll records in detail the entire process of the “Root” organization’s secret operation – how to discover the Iwagakure provocative forces, how to carry out a raid, how to wipe out the enemy, and how to collect evidence.
At the end of the scroll, there are several image crystals recorded with special ninjutsu, which clearly show the scene of the Iwagakure ninja crossing the border to provoke and being “killed” on the spot by members of the “Root” organization.
Looking at the contents on the scroll and those shocking images, Sarutobi Hiruzen’s expression became increasingly ugly.
His hands even trembled slightly because of anger.
“Danzo!” Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly raised his head, his eyes as sharp as a knife, staring at Danzo, “You… you dare to act on your own?! Why didn’t you report such a major military operation to me in advance?!”
The anger in his heart almost burst out!
Danzo’s action is simply a disregard for the authority of the Hokage and a disregard for military discipline!
Facing the thundering wrath of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the new Danzo remained calm.
He bowed slightly, with a hint of “grievance” and “helplessness” in his tone: “Hokage, please calm down. The reason why I did not report it in advance was because of the emergency and I had no choice.”
“You have no choice?” Sarutobi Hiruzen snorted, “I think you don’t even take me, the Hokage, seriously!”
The new Danzo shook his head, sighed and said, “Hokage-sama, you misunderstood. At that time, the provocative behavior of the Iwagakure Village had already posed a substantial threat to Konoha’s border security. And the information I received was that you, Hokage-sama, and your advisors seemed to be still ‘discussing’ and ‘mediating’ on how to respond.”
He deliberately emphasized the tone of the words “negotiation” and “mediation”, and the sarcasm was self-evident.
“I believe that in the face of the enemy’s provocation, hesitation and delay will only lead to missed opportunities and may even lead to greater losses. For the benefit of Konoha and to maintain Konoha’s dignity, I have to act decisively and take the most direct and effective measures to nip the threat in the bud.”
“As for the subsequent report,” the new Danzo paused, with a “righteous” expression on his face, “I believe that the result of the action is far more important than the cumbersome procedures. Now, the provocation of the Iwagakure Village has been successfully disintegrated, the border has returned to peace, and the interests of Konoha have been maintained. I believe that you, Hokage, should understand my painstaking efforts.”
His words sounded high-sounding, beautifying his own unauthorized actions as “decisive and decisive for the benefit of Konoha” and cleverly portraying Sarutobi Hiruzen’s previous “diplomatic mediation” as “indecisive” and “inefficient.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen listened to Danzo’s sophistry of confusing right and wrong and became so angry that his face turned blue, but he couldn’t find a good reason to refute it for a while.
After all, judging from the results, Danzo did solve the problem.
Moreover, he also brought back “conclusive evidence” of the Iwagakure Village’s provocation. With this evidence, Konoha will have an absolute initiative in the subsequent diplomatic negotiations.
Utane Koharu and Mitokado En watched this scene from the side with complicated expressions.
On the one hand, they were dissatisfied with Danzo’s unauthorized actions and disregard for the authority of the Hokage, but on the other hand, they had to admit that Danzo’s methods were indeed… very efficient.
Compared to Sarutobi Hiruzen who was still repeatedly discussing various procedures and possibilities, Danzo’s style of cutting the Gordian knot could undoubtedly solve the problem more quickly.
“Danzo, although your action this time solved the problem, it also set a very bad precedent!” Sarutobi Hiruzen suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice, “If everyone is like you, ignoring orders and acting on their own, then Konoha’s command system will be in chaos! ”
“You are right, Hokage.” The new Danzo immediately lowered his head “sincerely”. “I am willing to accept any punishment. But I still believe that in some special circumstances, in order to safeguard Konoha’s core interests, it is necessary to take some ‘unconventional’ measures.”
He said he accepted the punishment, but there was no remorse in his tone.
Chapter 21: Iron Fist and Mercy (Old Version)
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Danzo’s calm and helpless look, and felt helpless.
He knew that it would be difficult for him to truly punish Danzo in this incident.
After all, Danzo had “made contributions” first, and he also had the “hard evidence” of the Iwagakure Village’s provocation. If he severely punished Danzo at this time, he would be accused of “envying talented people” and “suppressing meritorious officials”.
In the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only snort heavily and let the matter go.
“Let’s not talk about this for now. Since you already have evidence of Iwagakure’s provocation, collect it immediately. I will send someone to have a serious negotiation with Iwagakure and demand that they be held accountable for this matter!”
“Yes, Lord Hokage.” The new Danzo responded respectfully, but the corners of his mouth rose slightly at an angle that no one noticed.
He knew that he had won another round in this confrontation.
Although the secret actions of the “Root” organization were not made public within Konoha Village, its effect – the rapid quelling of the provocative behavior of the Iwagakure Village – was obvious.
Soon after, some “rumors” about this matter began to spread quietly in every corner of Konoha Village.
“Hey, have you heard? There was trouble in the Iwagakure Village on the border a few days ago, and it seems that the people from the Root organization secretly took action to solve it!”
“Is this true? Why did I hear that the Hokage is still meeting with his advisors to discuss countermeasures?”
“Hey, you don’t know this, right? After all, the Hokage is old, and it’s inevitable that he will be hesitant and consider too much when dealing with things. At times like this, we still have to rely on people like Danzo to act decisively!”
“Yeah, yeah. I heard that the Root guys acted very efficiently. In just a few days, they beat the Iwagakure guys so badly that they didn’t even dare to fart!”
“Tsk tsk, although Lord Danzo looks gloomy at ordinary times, he is really reliable at critical moments! With him guarding Konoha in secret, we can feel more at ease.”
“That’s right! If you ask me, Konoha needs a strong leader like Danzo-sama! Those who can only talk are useless at the critical moment!”
These remarks, like spring rain, penetrated silently into every class of Konoha.
Their source, naturally, comes from Danzo Shimura and the “Root” organization he controls.
The new Danzo is well aware of the importance of public opinion manipulation. He knows that if he wants to gain an advantage in the power game with Sarutobi Hiruzen, he must not only divide and win over the top leaders, but also establish his own “glorious image” among the people, and at the same time… discredit his opponent without leaving any trace.
He ordered the intelligence personnel of the “Root” organization to use various covert channels to spread these carefully compiled “rumors” to pubs, teahouses, training grounds, and even in the casual conversations of some ninja families.
These news cleverly portrayed Sarutobi Hiruzen as an “old and weak”, “indecisive” and “making wrong decisions”.
In sharp contrast, Danzo Shimura is portrayed as the “last guardian of Konoha” and “the sharp blade in the darkness” who is “far-sighted”, “decisive and brave”, and “capable of turning the tide at critical moments”.
This kind of public opinion orientation may not be able to fundamentally shake Sarutobi Hiruzen’s position as Hokage in the short term.
But it was like an invisible carving knife, gradually eroding Sarutobi Hiruzen’s prestige in the eyes of the villagers and the middle and lower-level ninjas.
These “rumors” spread throughout Konoha Village soon aroused reactions from different groups of people.
For the villagers and middle and lower-level ninjas who have experienced the cruelty of war, yearn for peace and stability, and advocate strong leadership, the “efficiency” and “strength” demonstrated by Danzo in this incident made them feel an inexplicable sense of peace.
They may not like the darkness and mystery of the “Root” organization, and even keep their distance from Danzo.
However, when the crisis really comes, a leader who can solve problems quickly and decisively will undoubtedly give them a greater sense of security.
“Although Lord Danzo looks scary at ordinary times, he did a great job on the border this time!” A Chunin who was drinking in the tavern said to his companions in a low voice.
“Yeah,” another Chunin agreed, “Hokage-sama is old, and sometimes he does… react a little slowly. Fortunately, Danzo-sama is here, otherwise who knows how long it would have dragged on.”
“Shh… keep your voice down! Don’t say that casually!” someone nearby reminded.
Despite this, similar discussions were happening one after another in every corner of Konoha.
People began to compare Danzo with Sarutobi Hiruzen in private.
Danzo’s “decisiveness” and Sarutobi’s “slowness”.
Danzo’s “iron fist” and Sarutobi’s “kindness”.
This contrast caused some people to begin to doubt Sarutobi Hiruzen’s leadership ability.
They began to feel that perhaps Konoha really needed a tougher and more decisive leader like Danzo to deal with various crises that might arise in the future.
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s prestige suffered a certain amount of damage due to this unconscious erosion of public opinion.
Although this damage is not enough to shake his foundation at present, cracks have already quietly appeared.
Regarding the entire process of this border conflict and Danzo’s “thunderous means”, the two Hokage advisors, Utane Koharu and Mito Kado En, can be said to be the ones who saw it most clearly and felt it most deeply.
Danzo’s “decisiveness and efficiency” formed a very sharp contrast with Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “slowness and hesitation” in the meeting.
This further deepened their doubts about Sarutobi Hiruzen in their hearts.
They began to think about a question more seriously: Is Sarutobi Hiruzen really still suitable to continue serving as Hokage?
In some non-public occasions, such as small meetings attended by only the three of them, the attitudes of Utane Koharu and Mitokado En began to undergo some subtle changes.
They no longer obeyed Sarutobi Hiruzen’s decisions as they did before, but began to make some “tough” suggestions more frequently.
“Hokage, I think our terms in this trade negotiation with the Hidden Cloud Village can be tougher. The Hidden Cloud Village has always been unruly, and if we show too weak, they will only become more aggressive.” Utane Koharu said bluntly at a meeting.
“That’s right,” Mitomon Yan also agreed, “When dealing with certain issues involving the core interests of the village, we must not give in. Sometimes, showing enough toughness can make the other party respect us more.”
They would even mention Shimura Danzo’s “unique insights” on certain matters.
“Hokage, regarding the adjustment of the village’s security patrol force, I remember that Danzo seemed to have proposed a plan before, and it sounds like… it’s more efficient.” Mito Kado En said casually.
“Well, Danzo does have some…unique ideas when it comes to intelligence gathering and crisis management. Perhaps, we can listen to his advice?” Utane Koharu also chimed in cleverly.
They did this not because they were completely side with Danzo, but because they hoped to influence Sarutobi Hiruzen’s decision-making in this way and make Konoha’s policy direction more “tough” and “pragmatic.”
But objectively, their behavior invisibly created opportunities for Danzo to seize greater power in the future.
Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally also noticed the change in the attitudes of his two old friends.
Although he was somewhat unhappy, he also understood that Danzo’s “outstanding performance” in this border incident did bring them a considerable shock.
He could only sigh inwardly, and at the same time become more alert to Danzo’s next move.
The power game among Konoha’s top leaders has become even more turbulent because of this border conflict.
Chapter 22 Striving to Inherit Your Will (Old Version)
After successfully using the border conflict incident in the real world to enhance his own reputation and further divide the Hokage advisors, the new Danzo did not forget to conduct his “reality teaching” in the chat group.
He “shared” his “experience” in handling the border conflict in the chat group with some exaggeration.
Of course, he concealed the details of his own unauthorized actions and the fact that he reported to Sarutobi afterwards, and instead focused on the importance of intelligence, the decisiveness of decision-making, and the legitimacy of taking “unconventional measures” when necessary.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Everyone, recently a provocation from the Iwagakure Village occurred at the border of Konoha. Fortunately, with my decisive handling, the crisis has been resolved.”
He took the credit lightly.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “This incident has once again confirmed some of my previous views. When facing external threats, the accuracy and timeliness of intelligence are crucial. Only when you have enough intelligence can you make the most correct judgment.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Secondly, decisiveness in decision-making is also the key to defeating the enemy. If you hesitate when you should, you will suffer the consequences. Hesitation and delay will only lead to missed opportunities and may even put your side in a more passive position.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Finally, and most importantly, in certain special circumstances, in order to safeguard Konoha’s core interests, we must dare to take some… necessary ‘unconventional measures’. Sometimes, being too rigid with procedures and rules will only tie our own hands and feet.”
It was obvious that he was speaking to Minato Namikaze and Tobirama Senju.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Minato, you see, this border conflict is a good example. If I hadn’t acted in time and decisively, but had been hesitant about so-called ‘diplomatic mediation’ like Sarutobi-sensei, I’m afraid the border outposts of Konoha would have been razed to the ground by the Iwagakure Village long ago, and it might even have caused a larger-scale conflict.”
He bluntly used Sarutobi Hiruzen as a negative example to “educate” Namikaze Minato.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “So, Minato, you must remember that when dealing with the Nine-Tails Rebellion and the mysterious masked man in the future, you must remain absolutely calm and decisive. Any hesitation or mercy may cost you a heavy price.”
As Minato Namikaze listened to Danzo’s “teachings”, he felt deeply moved.
He had to admit that Danzo’s handling of the border incident was indeed much more efficient and more deterrent than what he had imagined Sarutobi-sensei would do.
[Namikaze Minato]: “Thank you for your guidance, Senior Danzo. I understand. In future actions, I will definitely keep your teachings in mind and never hesitate to act decisively!”
His trust in Danzo increased a little bit.
And as Tobirama Senju watched Danzo’s “realistic teaching”, a complex light flashed in his eyes.
He discovered that his disciple Danzo had indeed learned his “iron-fisted style” to perfection, and was even better than his teacher.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Humph, Danzo, what you did this time is somewhat like what I did back then. You really can’t be soft-hearted when dealing with those jackals, tigers and leopards.”
He rarely expressed a hint of approval for Danzo’s behavior.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Thank you for the compliment, Master Tobirama. I am just trying to inherit your will and protect Konoha in the way you taught me.”
The new Danzo immediately climbed up the pole and tied himself and Tobirama tightly together.
He wanted to make Tobirama believe that he was the “successor” who could best understand and implement his political ideas.
Only in this way can we gain the spiritual support of the Second Hokage in future power struggles.
The atmosphere in the chat group subtly changed again because of this “reality teaching”.
Minato’s trust in Danzo further increased.
Tobirama is more impressed with Danzo’s “ability”, but also more wary of his ambitions.
Tsunade was still watching silently, her heart full of conflicts and struggles.
And Hashirama Senju could only watch all this happen helplessly, his heart filled with deep worry about the future of Konoha.
The new Danzo’s chess game is progressing steadily step by step according to the track he set.
The balance of power also began to slowly tilt towards him, the manipulator hidden in the dark, without anyone noticing.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “I am just trying to inherit your will and protect Konoha in the way you taught me.”
The new Danzo’s “heartfelt” confession once again put the atmosphere in the chat group into a delicate situation.
Especially for the young Minato Namikaze, Danzo’s “far-sightedness”, “strategic planning” and “thunderous means” shown in this border conflict left a very deep impression on him.
Combined with the Nine-Tails Rebellion that he would face in the future, as well as the “warnings” and “guidance” that Danzo had given him before, Minato’s inner balance began to irresistibly tilt towards this mysterious and powerful “Danzo Senior”.
He began to feel that perhaps only someone like Danzo, who had an iron-fisted approach, acted decisively, and was willing to achieve his goals at all costs, could truly protect Konoha and avoid tragedies that should not have happened.
Although Sarutobi-sensei is kind and respected, he does seem… a little too “idealistic” and “hesitant” when dealing with certain crises.
If, before Kushina gave birth, Konoha’s high-level officials had taken more stringent and decisive measures as Danzo had analyzed, would the Nine-Tails Rebellion still have happened? Would he, Kushina, and the unborn Naruto still have faced such a tragic fate?
Minato didn’t dare to think too deeply, but the answer in his heart became clearer and clearer.
[Namikaze Minato]: “Danzo-senpai, the way you handled this border incident really opened my eyes. It also made me understand more deeply how important it is to be decisive and tough at certain times.”
[Namikaze Minato]: “If…if I really face the Nine-Tails Rebellion in the future, I hope…I can be like you, with wisdom that sees through everything and powerful means to protect everything I cherish.”
Minato’s words were almost equivalent to publicly expressing his approval of Danzo’s “realism” and “iron-fisted approach.”
His heart, which was originally full of sunshine and ideals, began to be gradually overshadowed by the cruel “future” and the “reality” carefully constructed by Danzo, and he also had an additional desire for “power” and “efficiency”.
The new Danzo looked at Minato’s speech, feeling secretly satisfied.
Chapter 23 Sarutobi: I’m old! (Old version)
Very good, the thinking of this important chess piece is changing in the direction he expects.
However, not everyone agrees with Danzo’s approach.
In the chat group, Senju Hashirama, who had been silent all this time, finally couldn’t help but speak.
His voice was filled with deep worry and a hint of barely perceptible anger.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Danzo! You…I beg you to differ with what you just said!”
[Senju Hashirama]: “In order to achieve your goal, can you do whatever it takes? Can you ignore the rules and act on your own? Even… you have to slander your companions behind their backs and sow discord?”
Hashirama was referring to the fact that when Danzo dealt with a border conflict in reality, he acted first and then asked for permission, and then cleverly attributed the credit to himself afterwards, portraying Sarutobi Hiruzen as “indecisive.” Although Danzo did not explicitly state these details in the group, with Hashirama’s wisdom and his insight into human nature, he could guess some of them.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Although Sarutobi may not have handled some things perfectly, his loyalty to Konoha and his love for his companions are unquestionable! How could you attack him in this way?!”
[Senju Hashirama]: “The strength of Konoha should not be based on conspiracy and infighting! Instead, it should be based on trust, understanding and unity! This is the true will of fire!”
Hashirama’s tone was somewhat excited, and the brilliance of his idealism seemed particularly dazzling at this moment.
He tried to use the “will of fire” he believed in to refute Danzo’s “heresies.”
However, his impassioned speech seemed a little… pale and powerless in the face of the logic of “cruel reality” and “necessary evil” carefully constructed by Danzo.
The new Danzo just smiled faintly in the face of Hashirama’s accusations.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Shodai-sama, your ideals are indeed lofty and admirable. But forgive me for being frank, in the ninja world where the strong prey on the weak, a simple ideal cannot fill your stomach, let alone resist the enemy’s butcher knife.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Trust? Understanding? Unity? These are certainly important. But when the enemy is at the gates and the village is facing a crisis of life and death, do you think that empty slogans can better save Konoha, or… sharp blades and decisive decisions can better protect our home?”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “As for Sarutobi-sensei… I have never denied his loyalty to Konoha. I just think that some of his ‘kindness’ and ‘hesitation’, under certain circumstances, will become Konoha’s fatal weakness. And what I do is just to make up for these weaknesses and protect Konoha in my own way.”
He once again rationalized his behavior, portraying himself as a tragic hero who “had to make difficult choices for the greater good.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Shodaime-sama, times have changed. In your time, perhaps you could still rely on your passion and personal charm to unite people and create peace. But in today’s more complex and cruel times, what we need is a calmer mind, tougher means, and…more unknown efforts.”
Although Danzo’s words were full of sophistry and fallacies, they carried a sense of “reality” that was difficult to refute.
Senju Hashirama listened to Danzo’s words, opened his mouth, but found himself speechless.
He felt that the beliefs he held on to seemed so vulnerable in front of this younger generation who called himself “Danzo”.
Could it be… was it really my fault? Could it be… that this world really no longer needs ideals and trust?
There was a flash of confusion and deep helplessness in Hashirama’s eyes.
He found that he seemed… increasingly unable to understand this “future”.
In the real world, Sarutobi Hiruzen is not a mediocre person.
Although he failed to see through the biggest trump card of the “chat group” in Danzo’s hands, with his years of political experience and understanding of Danzo, he was still keenly aware of the subtle changes in public opinion in Konoha Village in recent times and Danzo’s growing ambitions.
Especially after the border conflict, the “rumors” circulating in the village about his “old age and weakness” and “wrong decision-making”, as well as praising Danzo for his “decisiveness and bravery” and “turning the tide” naturally reached his ears.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen was angry, he also understood that it must be Danzo who was behind this.
“Danzo…you guy, you really don’t take me seriously anymore!” Sarutobi Hiruzen gritted his teeth secretly in the Hokage’s office.
He knew that he could no longer sit idly by and allow Danzo to erode his prestige and shake the foundation of his rule.
He had to do something to fight back.
First, he began to consciously commend some Anbu members who performed outstandingly in missions in public.
Of course, these commended ANBU members were all loyal to his Hokage line and had nothing to do with Danzo’s “Root” organization.
He wanted to convey a message to the outside world in this way: Konoha’s protective power is not just the “Root”, and he, Sarutobi Hiruzen, also has elite armed forces in his hands.
Secondly, he repeatedly emphasized the importance of unity and harmony in the village in his public speeches, calling on villagers not to believe in rumors, but to believe in the Hokage and the leadership of Konoha’s top brass.
He tried to use this method to offset the negative public opinion created by Danzo.
At the same time, Sarutobi Hiruzen also tried to give Danzo a beating.
He summoned Danzo to the Hokage’s office in the name of “reporting work” and sternly warned him not to act beyond his authority, to abide by his duties as the leader of the “Root”, and not to interfere in matters that were not his business.
“Danzo, I hope you can understand that there is only one Hokage in Konoha. There are some things that should be done by someone and who should not be done by someone. The rules cannot be broken.” There was a hint of unquestionable majesty in Sarutobi Hiruzen’s tone.
However, facing Sarutobi Hiruzen’s warnings and criticisms, the new Danzo remained unmoved.
On the surface, he listened respectfully to the Hokage’s “teachings”, nodded in agreement, and stated that he would “abide by his duties” and “never overstep his authority.”
But in reality, he didn’t take Sarutobi’s warning seriously at all.
His actions were still secretive and decisive. Everything he did was done flawlessly, so that Sarutobi Hiruzen could not find any substantial evidence.
Moreover, after years of operation, the “Root” organization has already penetrated into every aspect of Konoha, forming a huge force with complex connections.
Even the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, felt that it was beyond his ability to completely eliminate or suppress the “Root” in a short period of time.
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s counterattack was like a punch on cotton. Although it made a loud noise, the actual effect was minimal.
He could only watch helplessly as Danzo’s power continued to expand in secret and his own prestige was eroded imperceptibly, but he could do nothing about it.
This feeling of powerlessness made Sarutobi Hiruzen feel deeply tired.
He began to realize that he…maybe he was really old.
Chapter 24: Dealing with Uchiha (Old Version)
Through his “outstanding” performance in the border conflict, as well as a series of careful public opinion manipulation and high-level operations that followed, Danzo Shimura successfully created a wave of “support” for himself within Konoha Village that could not be underestimated.
Although this kind of “support” is more based on the blind worship of “strength” and “efficiency” and disappointment with Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “weakness”.
But in any case, the effect is obvious.
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s prestige was weakened to a certain extent.
The influence of the “Root” organization has been further expanded in secret.
Although Danzo has not yet directly challenged the throne of Hokage, his power has already expanded substantially.
This is particularly evident in some important decisions made by Konoha Village.
In the past, when discussing important village affairs, although Sarutobi Hiruzen would listen to the opinions of advisors and department heads, the final decision-making power was still firmly in his own hands.
But now, things have changed subtly.
On certain issues involving village security, intelligence gathering, and the management of certain “special forces” (such as the Uchiha clan), Sarutobi Hiruzen found that he had to “consider” Shimura Danzo’s opinions more.
Because Danzo could always come up with some… “reasons” and “plans” that he could not refute.
These “reasons” and “plans” may not be morally tenable, and may even be… unscrupulous.
But they often get to the heart of the matter and…seem to be very “effective”.
In addition, the two Hokage advisors, Utane Koharu and Mitokado En, would sometimes intentionally or unintentionally speak a few words for Danzo.
This made Sarutobi Hiruzen feel unprecedented pressure when making decisions.
He felt that the power in his hands was being eroded bit by bit.
The balance of power in Konoha Village has begun to tilt towards Danzo Shimura in a subtle but continuous manner.
Once this tilt starts, it is difficult to stop.
With the continuous expansion of his own power and the gradual erosion of Sarutobi Hiruzen’s power, the new Danzo believes that the time has come to completely solve the “heartache” of the Uchiha clan.
He could no longer allow the Uchiha, this unstable factor, to continue to exist.
He must firmly control this powerful force in his own hands and make it a stepping stone for him to ascend to the position of Hokage in the future.
So, he once again secretly met with the head of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Fugaku.
The meeting place was still the secret meeting room located underground in the “Root” organization.
But this time, compared with last time, the new Danzo’s attitude had undergone some obvious changes.
If we talk about the last meeting, he still had a hint of “discussion” and “persuasion”.
This time, his attitude became even tougher, even… with a hint of unquestionable oppression.
Uchiha Fugaku walked into the secret room and saw Shimura Danzo sitting in the main seat, and his heart sank.
He could sense that Danzo today was a little different than before.
The light emitted by those eyes hidden in the shadows was sharper and more… dangerous.
“Patriarch Fugaku, how are you?” The new Danzo’s voice was still as calm, but with a hint of irresistible majesty.
“Lord Danzo.” Uchiha Fugaku bowed slightly as a salute.
“Please sit down.” The new Danzo gestured to the seat opposite.
Uchiha Fugaku sat down as he was told, but his heart was beating fast. He didn’t know what Danzo was up to today.
The new Danzo did not engage in some pretentious greetings like last time, but went straight to the point:
“Patriarch Fugaku, it’s been a while since our last meeting. I think you should have thought it through.”
His gaze, as if it were real, was fixed on Uchiha Fugaku’s face.
Uchiha Fugaku’s heart tightened, he knew that Danzo was asking for a final answer from him.
During this period of time, he has been under tremendous pressure from all sides.
Danzo’s coercion and inducement, Sarutobi Hiruzen’s unpredictable “true attitude” (under the influence of Danzo’s continuous propaganda and “evidence”, Fugaku’s trust in Sarutobi has long dropped to freezing point), and the calls for change from the radicals in the clan…
All this made him feel exhausted.
He tried to find a path that would be most beneficial to the Uchiha clan, but under heavy fog and pressure, he felt more and more confused and helpless.
“Lord Danzo…” Uchiha Fugaku was about to say something but was interrupted rudely by the new Danzo.
“Patriarch Fugaku,” the new Danzo’s tone became a little impatient, “My patience is limited.”
He leaned forward slightly, and a powerful aura emanated from him, pressing towards Uchiha Fugaku.
“How long do you think Sarutobi Hiruzen’s ‘softness’ and ‘appeasement’ towards your Uchiha clan can last?”
“Once the village is in greater turmoil, once he thinks the threat from you Uchiha is beyond his control, guess…what will he do?”
There was a hint of cold sarcasm in the new Danzo’s voice.
“By then, I’m afraid it won’t be about ‘appeasement’ or ‘pacification’, but… ruthless cleansing and suppression!”
“The fate of the Uchiha clan will become disastrous!”
His words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Uchiha Fugaku’s heart hard.
Uchiha Fugaku’s face turned pale in an instant.
He knew that what Danzo said was not alarmist.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen is really determined to deal with Uchiha, then with the Uchiha’s current strength, it would be difficult to resist.
“Now,” the new Danzo’s tone became tougher and full of unquestionable meaning, “it’s time for you to make the final choice on behalf of the entire Uchiha clan!”
“Will you choose to cooperate with me, Shimura Danzo, to integrate the power of the Uchiha into a more ‘efficient’ and ‘safer’ management system and jointly create a new future?”
“Or… continue to hold on to that unrealistic fantasy, waiting for the unpredictable and possibly destructive future to come?”
The new Danzo’s gaze was like two sharp knives, piercing deep into Uchiha Fugaku’s heart.
He wanted to force Uchiha Fugaku to make the choice he wanted in the shortest time possible.
Faced with Danzo’s almost ultimatum-like pressure, Uchiha Fugaku felt unprecedented pressure.
A fine layer of cold sweat oozed out of his forehead, and his back was already soaked with sweat.
There was a fierce struggle going on in his heart.
Cooperating with Danzo is like seeking the skin of a tiger, and may even invite a wolf into the house. He is deeply afraid of this man’s ambition and means.
But…if we don’t cooperate with Danzo, what is the future of Uchiha?
Can Sarutobi Hiruzen really be trusted? The “evidence” was so vivid in his mind that he could no longer have absolute trust in the Hokage as he did before.
The radical faction within the clan was also constantly putting pressure on him, asking him to take a tougher stance and strive for greater power and status for the Uchiha.
He felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff, with a bottomless abyss in front of him and a tiger closing in behind him.
Chapter 25: Thoroughly investigate! Severely punish the perpetrators! (Old version)
Whether to the left or to the right, it seems… full of danger.
“Lord Danzo… I…” Uchiha Fugaku spoke with difficulty, his voice a little hoarse.
He wanted to say something, but didn’t know where to start.
At this moment, there was a slight commotion outside the secret room.
Then, a member of the “Root” organization knocked on the door of the secret room in a panic.
“Danzo-sama! Chief Fugaku! It’s bad! Something…something happened!”
Shindanzo frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
At this critical moment, someone actually dares to disturb us?
“Come in!” he said in a deep voice.
The door was pushed open, and the “Root” member ran in, crawling, his face full of fear and anxiety.
“Master Danzo! Chief Fugaku!” he said breathlessly, “Just now… just now I got the news… several young ninjas from the Uchiha clan… they… they seem to have… attacked the headquarters of the Konoha Police Force! And… they injured several members of the police force!”
“What?!”
Upon hearing the news, Uchiha Fugaku suddenly stood up from his seat, his face full of shock and disbelief!
Young Uchiha ninjas attack the police headquarters? !
This… How is this possible? !
Who gave them the courage? !
There was also a barely perceptible flash of surprise in the new Danzo’s eyes.
But he quickly calmed down, and even a playful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
It’s true… God helps me!
He was just worrying about how to make Uchiha Fugaku make up his mind, but he didn’t expect… someone would take the initiative to offer him such a “big gift”!
The panicked voice of the Root member was like a huge rock dropped into a calm lake, instantly breaking the oppression and silence in the secret room.
Uchiha Fugaku suddenly stood up from his seat, his face full of shock and disbelief. His body trembled slightly because of the sudden news, and his deep Mangekyō Sharingan also shrank uncontrollably.
“What did you say?! The young Uchiha ninjas… attacked the police force headquarters?! And injured members of the police force?!” Uchiha Fugaku’s voice became a little hoarse because of shock and anger. He could hardly believe his ears.
The Konoha Police Force is a law enforcement force controlled by the Uchiha clan! It is the symbol of the Uchiha clan’s power and status in Konoha Village!
Now, there are Uchiha clan members who are attacking the department controlled by their own clan? And they even hurt their own people?
This is simply…absurd!
Who gave them the courage?! What on earth do they want to do?!
A series of questions surged into Uchiha Fugaku’s mind like a tide, making him feel dizzy and angry.
And after the initial moment of surprise, the new Danzo’s face quickly regained its composure, and even… a barely perceptible, playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
It’s really… When I feel sleepy, I send you a pillow. Whatever you wish for will come true!
He was worrying about how to completely break down Uchiha Fugaku’s psychological defenses and make him hand over the Uchiha clan to him, but he didn’t expect… someone would take the initiative to offer such a “big gift”!
This is simply a stroke of genius!
He suppressed the joy in his heart, but on the surface he showed the same “shocked” and “angry” expression as Uchiha Fugaku.
“This is outrageous! These young Uchiha people are simply lawless! Do they still have any regard for the clan rules? Do they still have the laws and regulations of the village?!” The new Danzo slammed the table, his tone full of “righteous indignation”.
He turned to look at Uchiha Fugaku, his eyes filled with a trace of “heartache and grief”: “Clan leader Fugaku! Is this the Uchiha clan under your leadership?! The clan is in such a state of chaos! They even dare to attack their own people! If this situation continues, the Uchiha clan will probably be destroyed soon!”
His words were powerful and seemed to be accusing Uchiha Fugaku of “poor leadership” and also to imply that the Uchiha clan had reached the “edge of danger.”
Uchiha Fugaku’s face turned pale and blue as he listened to Danzo’s sarcastic words, and he felt anxious and angry in his heart.
He knew that no matter what the cause of this incident was, he, as the patriarch, could not escape blame.
If it is not handled properly, not only will the Uchiha clan lose face in the village, it may also become an excuse for the village leaders to further suppress the Uchiha clan!
“Lord Danzo… I will thoroughly investigate this matter… I will severely punish the perpetrators! Give an explanation to the village!” Uchiha Fugaku said gritting his teeth, the blue veins on his forehead throbbing with anger.
“A thorough investigation? Severe punishment?” The new Danzo sneered, his tone full of disdain, “Patriarch Fugaku, do you think now is the time for a thorough investigation and severe punishment?”
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes as sharp as a knife, staring at Uchiha Fugaku: “Don’t you see clearly? This incident is by no means accidental! It is clearly someone with ulterior motives within the Uchiha clan who is deliberately provoking trouble! Their goal is to push the Uchiha clan into an abyss of no return!”
“And you, Uchiha Fugaku,” the new Danzo’s tone became even colder, “as the head of the Uchiha clan, are you going to continue to be indecisive and sit back and do nothing?!”
His words were like a wake-up call, hitting Uchiha Fugaku’s heart hard.
Uchiha Fugaku’s body shook violently and a trace of fear flashed in his eyes.
Could it be… that this was really a premeditated riot?
Just when Uchiha Fugaku was uneasy and confused, the new Danzo did not give him much time to think.
He knew that now was the best time to strike while the iron was hot and take complete control of the situation.
He turned to the panicked Root member and shouted, “What are you still standing there for?! Find out immediately which Uchiha youths are causing trouble! Who is their leader?! What is their purpose?! I want to get all the relevant detailed information in the shortest possible time!”
“Yes! Yes! I obey your command!” The “Root” member ran out crawling as if he had been pardoned.
Inside the secret room, only Shin Danzo and Uchiha Fugaku were left again.
The atmosphere was more solemn than before, and also more… weird.
The new Danzo looked at the distraught and confused Uchiha Fugaku, and a barely perceptible sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He knew that this big fish had completely fallen into the net he had carefully woven.
He did not place all his hopes on Uchiha Fugaku’s so-called “enlightenment” and “compromise.”
While dealing with Uchiha Fugaku, he was also carrying out a more direct and cruel “cleansing” and “integration” within the Uchiha clan through the secret channels of the “Root” organization.
As for those “hardliners” in the Uchiha clan who stood firm, firmly opposed cooperating with Shimura Danzo, and tried to contact Sarutobi Hiruzen to seek the protection of the Hokage…
The new Danzo’s methods have always been simple and effective.
Chapter 26 No Way Out (Old Version)
“Purge” or “suppress”.
For those Uchiha elders who were stubborn and ignorant and dared to hinder his plan, or the hard-line backbone forces who had a certain reputation and influence in the clan…
The new Danzo would not hesitate to send out the elite assassination team of the “Root” organization and make them disappear completely from this world in some “accident”.
Of course, this kind of “cleansing” operation will be done in a very covert manner, leaving no trace and making it impossible for anyone to catch any evidence.
To the outside world, they would simply claim it was an “accidental death”, “recurrence of old injuries” or “unfortunate sacrifice while performing a secret mission”.
As for those Uchiha clan members who are also opposed to cooperating with Danzo, but are relatively weak or have little influence…
The new Danzo will adopt the means of “suppression”.
For example, they use the intelligence network of the “Root” organization to collect their “black materials”, and then spread this “black materials” through certain “special channels”, so that they will be discredited and lose their voice in the tribe.
Or, he could directly use the force of the “Root” to “warn” and “warn” them, letting them know what the consequences would be if they went against Shimura Danzo.
Under the dual offensive of carrot and stick, coercion and inducement, the voices within Uchiha opposing cooperation with Danzo were quickly suppressed.
At the same time, the new Danzo was also actively supporting those Uchiha members who had been recruited by him earlier or were ideologically close to him.
Most of these people are young radicals within the Uchiha clan.
They crave power, desire to change the status quo of their family, and accept the jungle law of “the strong are respected” and “strength is supreme”.
They had long been dissatisfied with Uchiha Fugaku’s relatively conservative and tolerant leadership style.
When the new group extends an olive branch to them, promising them that after the establishment of the “new order”, they will gain a higher status, greater power and more resources…
These young Uchiha radicals chose to surrender without hesitation.
They regarded Danzo Shimura as the “savior” and “guide” who could lead the Uchiha clan out of trouble and regain glory.
They willingly became Danzo’s “spokespersons” and “vanguards” within the Uchiha clan, helping him eliminate dissidents, consolidate his power, and cheer for him.
In this way, under a series of careful planning and cruel means by the new Danzo, the power structure within the Uchiha clan began to change quietly.
The voices of opposition gradually died down, while the forces close to Danzo continued to rise and grow stronger.
Although Uchiha Fugaku was aware of all this, he was powerless to stop it.
He felt like he was trapped in a huge whirlpool. No matter how hard he struggled, he could not escape the powerful and irresistible suction.
He could only watch as the fate of the Uchiha clan slipped step by step into an unknown abyss.
Just when undercurrents were surging within the Uchiha clan and people were in panic.
The “accident” in which the young Uchiha ninjas attacked the police force headquarters was also quickly investigated.
Just as the new Danzo “expected”, there was indeed something fishy behind this matter.
According to the intelligence fed back by the “Root” organization, the attack on the police force headquarters was secretly planned and instigated by several radical young people within the Uchiha clan.
Their purpose is not really to overthrow the police force or to become an enemy of the family.
Instead, he wanted to use this extreme method to express his dissatisfaction with the current situation of the family and his protest against the “weakness and incompetence” of the clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku.
They hoped to create chaos in order to force Uchiha Fugaku to take a tougher stance and gain more power and benefits from the village’s top leaders.
Of course, these young radicals did not know that their “reckless action” had already been cleverly exploited by a black hand hiding behind the scenes.
When the new Danzo presented this “investigation result” and the “conclusive evidence” that the Uchiha youths who attacked the police force “rebelled against their superiors” and “disturbed the peace of the village” to Uchiha Fugaku…
Uchiha Fugaku’s expression became uglier than a dead person.
He knew that he had… no way out.
If he doesn’t make a choice, then what awaits the Uchiha clan may really be the “destruction” that Danzo mentioned.
Under the coercion and inducement of Danzo, as well as the strong pressure from the pro-Danzo faction within the Uchiha clan, the exhausted Uchiha Fugaku finally made a difficult decision… which he himself couldn’t tell whether it was right or wrong.
He chose… to compromise.
He agreed to gradually transfer the command of the Uchiha Police Force to people designated by Danzo Shimura (or, rather, influenced by Danzo).
He also agreed to select a group of elite ninjas from the Uchiha clan to join the “Root” organization and receive so-called “unified management and training.”
The making of this decision marked the beginning of the Uchiha clan, a powerful eye-jutsu family that once held a pivotal position in Konoha Village, being formally and step by step incorporated into Danzo Shimura’s control system.
From now on, the fate of the Uchiha clan will be closely linked to this man named Danzo Shimura.
Is it heading towards glory, or…sliding into deeper darkness?
No one knows the answer.
After successfully taking command of the Uchiha Police Force and a portion of the Uchiha elite ninjas under his control, the new Danzo was not satisfied.
He knew very well that if he wanted to completely control the Uchiha clan, relying solely on external pressure and compromise from the top was far from enough.
He must establish an effective management system within Uchiha that can ensure absolute obedience.
As a result, a policy of “high-pressure management” and “interest differentiation” against the Uchiha clan began to be quietly implemented under the strict control of the “Root” organization.
First, it is “high-pressure management”.
For those Uchiha members who still harbor dissatisfaction or show any disobedience or disloyalty to Danzo’s rule…
The new Danzo’s methods have always been simple and direct.
In the lighter cases, they will be severely punished, deprived of their status and power within the tribe, and completely marginalized.
In serious cases, the “roots” will be directly mobilized with force to secretly “eliminate” them, leaving no future troubles.
Under the shock of this iron-blooded approach, the remaining voices of opposition within the Uchiha quickly disappeared.
Everyone knows that the current Uchiha is no longer the Uchiha who could express his opinions freely and even challenge the Hokage.
Chapter 27 What Did Uchiha Do Wrong? (Old Version)
Under Shimura Danzo’s rule, any form of resistance will bring about the most brutal retaliation.
Fear, like an invisible shackle, was firmly placed around the neck of every Uchiha member.
However, the new Danzo does not just know how to exert pressure.
He is well versed in the ways of controlling his subordinates by combining kindness with severity and by giving a sweet reward after a slap in the face.
While implementing high-pressure management, he also gave generous rewards to those Uchiha members who showed “obedience” and demonstrated strong strength and “loyalty” to Danzo personally.
For example, by giving them higher positions and greater powers within the “root” organization or in the new police force structure.
For example, allocate more training resources to them to help them improve their strength.
For example, giving them more promotion opportunities allows them to emerge in the new power system more quickly.
In this way, the new Danzo successfully created a group of vested interests within the Uchiha clan.
In order to maintain their own status and power, these vested interests will actively support Danzo’s rule, and will even help Danzo to suppress those of their own clansmen who are still dissatisfied.
The Uchiha clan, under the interweaving of this fear and interests, began their new way of “survival”.
Some of them remain silent in fear and live in repression.
Another group of people, driven by interests, chose to “obey” or even… “flatter”.
The Uchiha, who was once known for his pride and strength, is being transformed little by little by Danzo Shimura into what he needs.
A… sharp and obedient blade.
During the new Danzo’s drastic “integration” and “transformation” of the Uchiha clan, there was a small figure that caught his special attention.
This figure is Uchiha Fugaku’s eldest son, Uchiha Itachi, who is only a few years old.
Although Uchiha Itachi was just a gifted child at this time, he was far from growing into the “tragic hero” who could carry the fate of the entire family on his own.
But the new Danzo, relying on his memory of the original work, clearly knows how great the future potential of this child is.
The future Mangekyō Sharingan, the calm and almost cruel mind, the obsession to do anything for the so-called “peace”…
All of this made the new Danzo feel…extremely excited.
He seemed to see an uncut jade, a perfect material that could be molded into any shape according to his wishes.
Therefore, the new Danzo began to consciously contact the young Uchiha Itachi in certain “appropriate” occasions.
This kind of contact is not direct teaching or solicitation, but it influences the child’s mind in a more subtle way.
For example, when Uchiha Itachi felt confused and painful after witnessing the cruelty of war, the new Danzo would appear “just right” and “interpret” the nature of war to him in the tone of an “elder”.
“Itachi, you see, war is cruel, but it is also… necessary.”
“Sometimes, in order to protect more important things and to achieve greater peace, some sacrifices… are inevitable.”
“The strong prey on the weak, and the fittest survive. This is the truest law of this world. So-called kindness and ideals are often vulnerable in the face of absolute power.”
For example, when Uchiha Itachi felt confused and unfair because of his family’s embarrassing situation in the village, the new Danzo would “reveal” some so-called “truths” to him.
“Itachi, do you think your family is really treated fairly by the village?”
“Why is it that an Uchiha with such great power is subject to so much suspicion and restrictions?”
“Perhaps…it’s not that the Uchiha did anything wrong, but…this village, this system itself has problems.”
“Only with absolute power can we break this injustice and establish order in the true sense.”
These ideas, full of darkness and realism, were like poison, instilled little by little by the new Danzo into Uchiha Itachi’s precocious and sensitive mind.
He wanted Uchiha Itachi to realize the “cruelness” and “injustice” of this world from an early age.
He wanted to make Uchiha Itachi doubt and waver in the existing system of his family and village.
He wanted to train Uchiha Itachi into a perfect tool who was absolutely loyal to him, able to understand and execute the cruelest orders.
Of course, the new Danzo also knew that Uchiha Itachi was not so easy to manipulate. This child’s mind was much more mature than his peers.
Therefore, his “investment” and “guidance” were done very carefully and patiently.
He believed that given time, these “seeds” planted in his heart would sooner or later take root, sprout, and bear… the fruits he wanted.
In the real world, after successfully bringing the Uchiha clan, this “time bomb”, under his initial control, the new Danzo did not forget to “report” his “work results” to a “special” member in the chat group.
This “special” group member is naturally the second generation Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
The new Danzo knew that Senju Tobirama had been troubled all his life by how to deal with the problems of the Uchiha clan.
If he could show him how he “effectively managed” this powerful force that once left the second generation helpless, then he would undoubtedly be able to further consolidate his image of being “capable” and “decisive” in Tobirama’s mind.
So, in an “informal” exchange in a chat group, the new Danzo seemed to unintentionally mention some of his recent “experiences” in dealing with the Uchiha issue.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Sir Tobirama, speaking of which, I have recently been dealing with some internal affairs of the Uchiha clan, and I have had some feelings about this.”
Upon hearing this, Senju Tobirama became interested.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Oh? Uchiha? How did you deal with those troublesome guys?”
The new Danzo smiled slightly and began his “performance”.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Master Tobirama, as you know, although the Uchiha clan is powerful, it is also extremely unstable and can be easily swayed by negative emotions, thus posing a threat to the village. I’m sure you experienced this deeply in the past.”
[Senju Tobirama]: “Humph, it’s more than just experience! Those guys are simply a group of gunpowder barrels that may explode at any time!”
Chapter 28 Cold (Old Version)
Tobirama’s tone was still filled with disgust towards the Uchiha.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “That’s right. So, I think that simply appeasing and comforting the Uchiha clan will not work. It will only encourage their arrogance and make them even more unscrupulous.”
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “We must take tougher and more direct measures to keep this unstable force firmly under control and make it work for Konoha instead of becoming a threat to the village.”
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “For example, I will firmly control the command of the Uchiha Police Force in the hands of trustworthy people, and ensure that their every move is under the surveillance of the village.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “For those Uchiha members who disobey management or have different intentions, I will not hesitate to take the most severe punishment measures and will not tolerate them!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “But at the same time, for those Uchiha members who are willing to obey management and show enough loyalty and ability, I will also give them the power and resources they deserve, and let them know that as long as they are willing to work for Konoha, the Uchiha Sharingan can also become a powerful force to protect the village.”
The new Danzo cleverly beautified his iron-fisted methods and policy of interest differentiation as “necessary order construction” and “effective integration of forces.”
He emphasized how he transformed the “dangerous power” of the Uchiha into a “controllable” power that could be used by Konoha.
After listening to Danzo’s “report”, Tobirama Senju fell into silence.
He had to admit that Danzo’s approach sounded… indeed more “smart” than his simple isolation and suppression back then.
At least, for now, it seems… more “effective”.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Humph, you do have some skills, kid. However, the Uchiha clan is unruly by nature. Are you sure they will sincerely obey your management?”
Tobirama still had a glimmer of doubt.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Whether they are sincere or not is not important, Master Tobirama.” The new Danzo’s tone was filled with unquestionable confidence, “What is important is that they will be ‘afraid’, ‘surrender’, and ‘choose to cooperate for their own benefit’.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “As long as I integrate their power into a system dominated by me with clear rewards and punishments, and let them know that those who obey me will prosper, and those who disobey me will perish. Then, even the Uchiha will become tools in my hands.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Master Tobirama, I think this is the… ‘correct’ way to deal with the Uchiha problem. Instead of blindly compromising and giving in like some people do, which will only end up causing trouble.”
He once again pointed his spearhead at Sarutobi Hiruzen without leaving a trace.
After hearing what Danzo said, Tobirama Senju remained silent for a long time.
Deep down in his heart, he developed a complex emotion towards Danzo’s “iron-blooded and efficient” style of doing things… a mixture of recognition and vigilance.
He began to feel that perhaps… Danzo was really more suitable than Sarutobi to deal with certain… difficult problems.
And this is exactly the effect that the new Danzo wants to achieve.
He wanted to make Senju Tobirama believe that he was the one who could truly inherit his will and protect Konoha in a more “effective” way.
This “heart-wrestling war” against the Second-generation Hokage is achieving increasingly significant results.
The new Danzo’s powerful words, full of confidence and control, echoed for a long time in the virtual chat group space.
The projection of Senju Tobirama remained silent. His deep red eyes stared at Danzo’s blurry face, as if he wanted to see through the truest thoughts in the disciple’s heart.
After a long time, Tobirama slowly spoke, with an indescribable complex emotion in his voice.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Humph, Danzo, you… are indeed much more resourceful than I thought.”
He had to admit that judging from the “results” Danzo had shown so far, his “integration” and “control” of the Uchiha clan seemed to… have really achieved some results.
At least, on the surface, the Uchiha clan did not immediately cause large-scale bloodshed and fierce resistance because of Danzo’s iron-fisted approach. Instead, in a kind of… depressing calm, they began to be gradually incorporated into the control system of the “Root”.
This result was what Tobirama wanted to achieve but was unable to fully accomplish.
Although he adopted a tough policy of isolation and suppression against the Uchiha in those days, the Uchiha’s resistance never stopped, and the conflict between the two sides was always in a tense state.
And Danzo seemed to have temporarily “solved” this problem that had plagued Konoha for many years in a more cruel and more “effective” way.
Although Tobirama morally despised Danzo’s unscrupulous and even…despicable behavior.
But he also had to admit that when dealing with a “troublesome” clan like the Uchiha, perhaps… this kind of ruthless, immoral iron fist was really needed.
It was because Sarutobi was too “merciful” and too “concerned” that he seemed so helpless and even… a little weak when it came to the Uchiha issue.
[Senju Tobirama]: “You are right. We should not be soft-hearted when dealing with Uchiha. Sarutobi is not as decisive as you in this regard.”
Tobirama finally gave Danzo a kind of… complicated recognition.
He recognized Danzo’s “ability” and “efficiency”, but he was still deeply wary of Danzo as a person and his unfathomable ambitions.
He was worried that after solving the Uchiha problem, Danzo’s “double-edged sword” would turn around and cause greater harm to Konoha.
The new Danzo heard the complexity and vigilance in Tobirama’s tone, but he didn’t care.
What he wants is this kind of “complex” recognition.
As long as Tobirama no longer explicitly opposes him, and even can give him some “spiritual” support at certain times, that would be enough.
However, not everyone is like Tobirama, who can “understand” Danzo’s approach from a “pragmatic” perspective.
Chapter 29 Unforeseeable Storm (Old Version)
In the chat group, another voice was filled with grief and pain.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Tobirama! Danzo boy! You…how can you say that?! How can you do that?!”
The projection of the first Hokage, Senju Hashirama, was trembling slightly because of excitement. His gentle eyes were filled with extreme sorrow for the Uchiha clan’s experience, as well as strong dissatisfaction with the remarks of Danzo and Tobirama.
[Senju Hashirama]: “The Uchiha clan are also villagers of Konoha! They have made great contributions to the establishment and development of Konoha! Even if some of them are dissatisfied or have done something wrong, we cannot treat the entire clan in such a brutal and inhumane way!”
Hashirama thought of his former best friend Uchiha Madara, and the Uchiha clan members who had fought alongside him.
He could not accept that this great clan, which had once co-founded Konoha with the Senju clan, was now being “controlled” and “integrated” in this way.
[Senju Hashirama]: “Danzo, your so-called ‘effective management’ is, in my opinion, simply strangling the future of the Uchiha! You use fear and high pressure to force them to submit. How is this different from a tyrant?!”
[Senju Hashirama]: “Do you think this will solve the problem? No! You are only replacing the original problem with a greater darkness! You are only pushing the Uchiha clan into a deeper abyss of despair and hatred!”
Hashirama’s tone became increasingly agitated, his radiant idealism forming a stark contrast to Danzo’s cold realism.
The ideological conflict between him and Danzo completely broke out at this moment and became increasingly intense.
Facing Hashirama’s accusations, the new Danzo simply smiled faintly, with a barely perceptible hint of sarcasm in his tone.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Shodaime-sama, your kindness and ideals are indeed touching. But if I may be frank, I’m afraid your way of doing things won’t work on the Uchiha.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “The Uchiha clan is born with great power, and they are also born with pride and ambition. They are like unruly horses. If you don’t put a bridle on them and whip them hard, they will not obey.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “What did you get in return for your ‘kindness’ and ‘trust’ towards Uchiha Madara? The great battle at the Valley of the End and the near destruction of Konoha!”
Danzo unceremoniously revealed the deepest scar in Hashirama’s heart.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “As for strangling the future? A greater darkness? Haha, Master Shodaime, what do you think is better, to let them step by step towards self-destruction in the so-called ‘freedom’ and ‘dignity’, and eventually bring disaster to the entire Konoha? Or… let them be under my ‘control’, although they will lose some things, but at least they can survive and contribute to Konoha?”
He once again packaged his behavior as a “helpless act” of “choosing the lesser of two evils.”
Senju Hashirama was so angry at Danzo’s fallacies that he was shaking all over, but he couldn’t find any good words to refute for a while.
He found that in front of this junior, he always seemed so “naive” and “powerless”.
[Senju Hashirama]: “You… you are making up stories! You are distorting the facts!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Whether it is just specious or not, the facts will prove everything. Master Shodai, just wait and see. Let’s see where the Uchiha clan will go under my ‘management’.”
The new Danzo’s tone was filled with unquestionable confidence.
He believed that as long as he was given enough time, he would be able to completely transform the Uchiha clan into what he needed.
The debate within the chat group finally came to a temporary end due to Hashirama’s helplessness and Danzo’s “confidence”.
But the conflict in ideas is like a buried fire that will burn again at the right time.
Time passed quietly under the peaceful appearance of Konoha Village.
In the blink of an eye, it was late autumn.
A hint of coolness began to spread in the air.
The atmosphere in the chat group became increasingly tense as a special date approached.
This special date is Uzumaki Kushina’s due date.
For everyone in the group, the arrival of this date means that an… unpredictable storm is about to come.
Especially for Minato Namikaze, during this period of time, he could hardly sleep or eat, and every day felt like a year.
Ever since he learned about his tragic future in the chat group, his heart has been shrouded in great fear and anxiety.
He was afraid of losing Kushina, afraid of losing his unborn child, and also afraid…that he would die young as in the “prophecy”.
But at the same time, the “teachings” and “warnings” of Danzo’s senior, as well as the words “it’s not impossible to change”, were like a candle flickering in the darkness, giving him a glimmer of hope.
Under Danzo’s continued “guidance” and “intelligence support”, Namikaze Minato gained a deeper and more specific understanding of the upcoming Nine-Tails Rebellion.
He also became more convinced and dependent on the unpredictable “ability” and “foresight” of his senior Danzo.
He began to make some preparations in the real world subtly based on some “suggestions” provided by Danzo.
For example, he proposed to Sarutobi Hiruzen to further strengthen the guard force and barrier strength during childbirth on the grounds of “ensuring absolute safety during Kushina’s childbirth process.”
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen was a little puzzled by this (because in his opinion, the existing protective measures were already strict enough), considering that Minato’s wife was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and Minato’s usual image of being steady and reliable, Sarutobi finally agreed to his request.
For another example, Minato began to pay more attention to the surroundings of the village and near Kushina’s residence to see if there were any suspicious signs.
From time to time, he would quietly patrol around Kushina’s residence late at night, checking for any abnormal chakra fluctuations or the appearance of mysterious people.
His perception ability was extremely sharp, and under deliberate vigilance, it reached an almost neurotic level.
He was determined to change his destiny!
He wanted to protect Kushina! Protect his unborn child! Protect the Leaf Village he loved so much!
And Shimura Danzo, the mysterious “senior”, seems to be… the only force he can rely on at the moment, and also one of the most powerful forces.
He began to unconsciously regard Danzo as his “mentor” and “ally” in the fight against fate.
Chapter 30: Demonic Seal (Old Version)
Finally, amid the anticipation, worry and nervous waiting of countless people, the predicted fateful day arrived as scheduled.
Uzumaki Kushina began the difficult delivery process in a heavily guarded secret delivery room outside Konoha Village.
Minato Namikaze stayed by her side all the time, holding her hand tightly, giving her strength and comfort.
Outside the delivery room, Sarutobi Hiruzen was personally in command. A large number of Anbu ninjas and barrier squad members surrounded the entire area and were on high alert.
There was a suffocating tension in the air.
Everyone knows what this moment means to Konoha.
However, even Minato had made some additional preparations based on Danzo’s “suggestions”.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen attached great importance to the security of this delivery.
But… the gears of fate seem to still be turning relentlessly along the predetermined track.
Just when Kushina successfully gave birth to a healthy baby boy (Uzumaki Naruto), the seal became the most vulnerable due to childbirth…
The accident still happened!
A mysterious black shadow wearing a vortex mask, like a ghost, silently broke through the layers of defense and appeared in the delivery room!
His purpose was clear and direct – Nine-Tailed Fox!
A brutal war broke out in an instant!
Although Minato Namikaze tried his best to stop the masked man’s conspiracy.
However, the opponent’s mysterious space-time ninjutsu and his accurate grasp of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki’s weaknesses still put him in a tough fight.
Finally, under the control of the masked man, the huge figure of the Nine-tailed Demon Fox, full of hatred and desire for destruction, broke free from years of restraints and descended over the Konoha Village with tremendous rage!
“roar–!!!!”
The deafening roar resounded through the sky!
The Nine-Tailed Fox’s huge body is like a mountain, and every time it swings, it will bring devastating damage!
Houses collapsed, streets broke apart, and countless innocent villagers and ninjas were instantly turned into ashes under the ravages of the Nine-Tails!
Konoha Village, the once peaceful and tranquil home, was plunged into a hell of fire and wailing in an instant!
When Sarutobi Hiruzen received the news, his face turned pale instantly!
He never thought that the Nine-Tailed Fox… would actually go berserk at this moment!
Moreover, there is a mysterious masked man controlling everything in secret!
This was completely beyond his expectations!
“Quick! Organize all the ninjas! At all costs! Stop the Nine-tailed Fox! Protect the villagers!” Sarutobi Hiruzen roared at the top of his lungs, put on his combat uniform himself, picked up the Ruyi Jingu Bang, and led the ninjas of Konoha, rushing towards the Nine-tailed Demon Fox that looked like the devil of doom!
However, facing the terrifying power of the Nine-Tailed Fox that could destroy the world, even the battle-hardened Sarutobi Hiruzen felt deeply powerless.
In the face of such a huge natural and man-made disaster, his command seemed a little… pale and chaotic.
Ordinary ninjutsu cannot cause any substantial damage to the Nine-Tails.
And every attack of the Nine-Tails would take the lives of a large number of Konoha ninjas.
The casualties are constantly increasing.
Despair began to spread in the hearts of every Konoha ninja.
But at this time, Danzo Shimura did not rush to the battlefield like Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He was sitting in the secret base of the “Root” organization, calmly observing every move on the battlefield through the intelligence network throughout Konoha.
There was no panic or fear on his face, but instead… a hint of barely perceptible excitement.
“Very good… Everything is going according to plan…” He whispered to himself, with a cold arc at the corner of his mouth.
He did not immediately send the main force of the “Root” organization to participate in the resistance against the Nine-Tails.
He has to wait.
Wait for the best time.
As Sarutobi Hiruzen was ravaged by the Nine-Tails, he seemed even more “incompetent” and “embarrassed”.
Waiting for Konoha’s casualties to reach a level that would… satisfy him.
At the same time, he also ordered the intelligence personnel of the “Root” organization to focus on collecting “evidence” of Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “improper” command of the battle, as well as the “slowness” and “chaos” of the rescue operation.
These “evidences” will become powerful weapons for him to attack Sarutobi Hiruzen and seize power in the future.
The situation on the battlefield is extremely critical.
Under the control of the mysterious masked man, the nine-tailed fox becomes more and more violent, and its destructive power becomes more and more alarming.
Although the Konoha ninjas fought hard under the leadership of Sarutobi Hiruzen, they were still defeated and suffered heavy casualties.
Just when Konoha Village was on the brink of destruction…
Two golden figures appeared in front of the Nine-Tailed Fox like lightning that cut through the darkness!
It was Minato Namikaze who had just snatched his wife and children back from the masked man!
At this moment, Minato’s face no longer had the sunshine and gentleness of the past, and instead, it was filled with endless grief and indignation and a determination to fight to the death!
He knew that he had to stop the Nine-Tailed Fox!
For Kushina, for Naruto, for Konoha!
A shocking battle breaks out between Minato and the Nine-Tails!
Flying Thunder God Technique, Rasengan…
Minato used his speed and skills to the extreme!
He was like a golden phantom, shuttling around the huge body of the Nine-Tailed Fox, constantly looking for opportunities to attack.
And Uzumaki Kushina, enduring the weakness after childbirth and the pain of losing the tailed beast, used up her last bit of strength to cast the Uzumaki clan’s unique Diamond Seal, trying to trap the Nine-Tails and buy time for Minato.
However, the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox is simply too great.
Even if the Minato couple tried their best, they could only restrain it temporarily and could not defeat it completely.
Just as the battle reached its most critical and tragic moment…
Danzo Shimura, who had been keeping a low profile, finally… took action!
He did not go into battle personally, but instead commanded the elite troops of the “Root” organization that had been prepared long ago, and carried out “precise” intervention in the battlefield from various hidden corners.
These “root” troops did not directly confront the Nine-Tailed Fox, but instead demonstrated amazing efficiency and combat proficiency, and played a crucial role in some local battlefields.
For example, they evacuated a large number of trapped villagers quickly and orderly, transferring them to safe shelters.
For example, in the intervals between the Nine-Tails’ attacks, they used special earth-style ninjutsu to reinforce some important defense facilities, slowing down the Nine-Tails’ destructive speed.
For example, at certain critical moments, they accurately eliminated “criminals” who tried to take advantage of the situation or create chaos.
Although the emergence of the “Root” organization did not fundamentally reverse the situation of the war, it did relieve the pressure on Konoha to a certain extent and reduced the casualties of innocent people.
Their actions were efficient, calm and decisive, forming a sharp contrast to Sarutobi Hiruzen’s previous somewhat chaotic command.
After a long and desperate battle with the Nine-Tails, Minato Namikaze and his wife finally… embarked on the tragic road in the “prophecy”.
In order to completely seal the Nine-Tails and to protect the newly born Naruto, they made the same choice as in the original work.
Demonic seal!
Chapter 31 Sharp Contrast (Old Version)
At the cost of his own life, he sealed half of the Nine-Tails’ chakra within his own body.
The other half, along with their endless love and expectations for their son, was sealed in Uzumaki Naruto’s small body.
The golden flash of light went out forever in the sky above Konoha.
After ensuring that the Minato couple had “sacrificed”, the Nine-Tails had been successfully sealed, and after collecting enough “materials” about Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “inappropriate” command…
Danzo Shimura appeared on the battlefield “in great sorrow”.
He began to direct the subsequent rescue work, comfort the frightened people, and stabilize the chaotic situation.
His face showed just the right amount of sadness and determination.
His voice was filled with unquestionable majesty and power.
He perfectly shaped himself into a pillar who could stand up and support the entire Konoha in times of crisis.
The Nine-Tailed Fox Rebellion finally came to an end after paying a heavy price.
The entire Konoha Village was almost reduced to ruins.
Countless houses were destroyed and countless lives were lost.
The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and burning.
The faces of the surviving villagers and ninjas were filled with deep sorrow, fear and confusion about the future.
As the third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen is undoubtedly the person with the greatest responsibility in this incident.
Although he also led the charge and fought hard, he was even seriously injured.
But… he failed to prevent the tragedy from happening after all.
The sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and his wife, as well as the huge losses suffered by Konoha Village, were like a heavy mountain, weighing on his heart and on the hearts of all Konoha people.
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s prestige plummeted to the bottom because of this incident.
In sharp contrast to this is Danzo Shimura.
After the Nine-Tails Rebellion, Danzo immediately used various media channels controlled by the “Root” organization to begin large-scale propaganda.
He infinitely magnified the “wisdom and bravery”, “decisiveness and courage” and “excellent command” he showed in the crisis.
For example, newspapers published the “touching deeds” of “Root” organization members who heroically evacuated civilians and rescued the wounded.
The “heroic legend” circulating in the tavern is that Lord Danzo remained calm and composed at the critical moment, commanded with confidence, and withstood several critical attacks from the Nine-Tails.
At the same time, he also cleverly spread Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “mistakes”, “slowness” and “inability” in handling the incident through various “inadvertent” ways.
For example, it is implied that Sarutobi Hiruzen failed to give advance warning, allowing the Nine-Tails to easily break through its defenses.
For example, he accused Sarutobi Hiruzen of being indecisive and missing opportunities when commanding the battle, which led to increased casualties.
He even cleverly attributed the sacrifice of Minato Namikaze and his wife to Sarutobi Hiruzen’s failure to take precautions against the mysterious “mastermind” (masked man) in advance, which forced Minato to pay with his life.
He perfectly portrayed himself as a powerful leader who could turn the tide in the face of disaster and was the only one who could lead Konoha out of the shadows and rebuild their homeland.
Amidst the great grief and confusion about the future, the villagers and ninjas of Konoha were more likely to accept this simple and direct “strong” narrative.
They began to believe that perhaps… only someone like Danzo Shimura, who possessed an iron fist and great power, could truly protect Konoha and lead them out of the predicament.
The balance of public opinion began to tilt completely towards Danzo Shimura.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the once beloved Third Hokage, is being pushed step by step to the trial of public opinion.
And Danzo Shimura, stepping on his “failure” and Konoha’s “blood”, took another solid step towards the pinnacle of power he had always dreamed of.
A more cruel and fierce power struggle over the position of Hokage is about to begin in post-disaster Konoha.
After the Nine-Tails Rebellion, Konoha was like a devastating earthquake, with devastation everywhere and a lot of work to be done.
The once bustling streets have now become ruins. The homes that were once filled with laughter and joy are now filled with weeping and wailing.
The air was filled with a strong smell of blood, burning, and… a smell called despair.
In this catastrophe, the sacrifice of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and his wife cast an indelible shadow on this scarred village.
As the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, who failed to effectively prevent the tragedy when the disaster occurred and even appeared to have “improper command” and “slow rescue” in some aspects, his prestige in the eyes of the villagers and ninjas instantly plummeted to the bottom, as if he had been hit head-on by the Nine-Tailed Fox’s Tailed Beast Ball.
In sharp contrast to him is Danzo Shimura.
After the disaster, the “Root” organization he led demonstrated amazing efficiency and execution.
They quickly devoted themselves to the work of post-disaster reconstruction and order maintenance, clearing out the remaining threats, searching and rescuing the trapped people, distributing relief supplies, and calming the panicked people…
Of course, all these actions were given a more “glorious” and “tragic” color under Danzo’s careful planning and the extensive publicity through the media channels controlled by the “Root” organization.
The newspapers were filled with reports of the “touching deeds” of Lord Danzo, who worked tirelessly, personally went to the front lines, and directed the rescue work.
In the tavern, bards sang the “heroic epic” of how the ninjas of the “Root” organization risked their own lives to save lives in the ruins, showing the most dazzling light of the “Will of Fire”.
On the streets, people were whispering, lamenting that in the face of disaster, only people like Danzo-sama could truly hold up the sky of Konoha.
“Alas, if Danzo-sama had been the Hokage, perhaps…Minato-sama and the others would not have sacrificed themselves.”
“Yes, after all, the Sandaime-sama is old and his energy is not as good. When faced with such an emergency, it is inevitable that he will be a little… powerless.”
“It’s all good now. With Lord Danzo here, Konoha will surely be able to get out of the shadows and rebuild their homeland soon!”
These words, like spring rain, silently penetrated into every corner of Konoha and into the hearts of every survivor.
Amid great grief, confusion about the future, and desire for a “strong leader,” people are more likely to accept this simple and direct “strong narrative.”
They began to place their hopes of rebuilding their homes and protecting Konoha on Danzo Shimura, the “hero” who “stepped forward” in times of crisis.
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, people’s eyes were filled with disappointment, doubt, and even… a hint of resentment that was barely perceptible.
Chapter 32: Guardian’s Companion (Old Version)
Under this powerful public opinion offensive and the “urgent need” for post-disaster reconstruction, Shimura Danzo’s power began to expand rapidly in an almost “legitimate” manner.
In the name of “assisting the Hokage, overcoming difficulties together, and rebuilding Konoha”, he openly took over most of the actual decision-making power of Konoha Village.
From the planning and implementation of post-disaster reconstruction to the allocation and distribution of village resources, from the formulation and adjustment of foreign policies to the maintenance and control of internal order…
Almost all important matters need to be “reviewed” and “approved” by Danzo Shimura before they can be finally implemented.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage who once held great power, now seems like a puppet. Although he still retains the title of “Hokage”, the power in his hands has long been severely weakened, and he has almost become a… symbolic existence.
He still showed up at the Hokage’s office on time every day, handling some unimportant paperwork and meeting with some subordinates who came to “report”.
But everyone knows that in Konoha today, the one who truly has the final say is no longer the elderly Hokage, but the one hiding behind the scenes and controlling the “Root” organization… Danzo Shimura.
Regarding this substantial transfer of power, the other two elders of Konoha Village, Utane Koharu and Mitokado En, also adopted an attitude…almost tacit.
After witnessing the brutality of the Nine-Tails Rebellion and Danzo’s “lightning measures” and “excellent ability” in post-disaster reconstruction, and then comparing Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “hesitation” and “weakness” in handling the entire incident…
Deep in their hearts, the last bit of fantasy they had about Sarutobi Hiruzen was completely shattered.
They began to believe that perhaps… Sarutobi was really no longer fit to lead this scarred village.
Perhaps… only a person like Danzo, who is ruthless and unscrupulous but possesses strong execution and control capabilities, can lead Konoha out of the current predicament and usher in a new future.
Although they were still wary of Danzo’s ambitions and methods.
But “choose the lesser of two evils”, facing the “life and death” of Konoha, they finally chose… silence.
This silence is undoubtedly a tacit approval and connivance of Danzo’s attempt to seize power.
After a baptism of blood and fire, the balance of power in Konoha Village finally… completely and irreversibly tilted towards Danzo Shimura.
After essentially gaining control of Konoha’s highest decision-making power, Danzo Shimura did not slack off or feel complacent at all.
He knew very well that consolidating power was not something that could be achieved overnight.
He must completely reshape the order of the entire Konoha Village according to his own will.
The sharpest tool in his hand is naturally the huge organization that has already infiltrated every aspect of Konoha – “Root”.
Under Danzo’s personal instructions and command, the power of the “Root” organization, like a tide, quickly and comprehensively penetrated every level and every corner of Konoha Village.
From the most important intelligence collection and analysis to the most secret assassination and elimination operations, from the daily security management and patrols in the village to the implementation of foreign policy and intelligence infiltration…
Almost all key departments and fields are deeply marked by the “Root” organization.
Those Anbu members who were once loyal to Sarutobi Hiruzen, or the “old forces” who occupied certain important positions, were either marginalized, or replaced by members of the “Root” organization, or… they could only choose to “be a hero who knows the times” and obediently pledge allegiance to the new person in power.
In a very short period of time, the entire Konoha Village entered a period of… high pressure, high efficiency, but also extremely depressing.
On the streets, members of the “Root” organization can be seen everywhere, wearing animal masks, with cold expressions and an aura of “keep away from strangers”, carrying out various “tasks”.
Their eyes were as sharp as those of hawks, monitoring every corner of the village and every suspicious movement.
Any voice that shows the slightest “dissatisfaction” or “doubt” about Danzo’s rule or the Root organization’s style of doing things will be quickly and ruthlessly eliminated at the first opportunity.
At the very least, they will be secretly arrested and subjected to “ideological re-education” by the “Root” organization.
In serious cases, they will simply “disappear” from this world without leaving any trace.
Fear, like an invisible dark cloud, once again shrouded the sky over Konoha Village.
But unlike the pure fear of the unknown during the Nine-Tails Rebellion, the fear this time was more specific and more… suffocating.
Because it came from those companions who were once considered “guardians”, from the organization that once promised to “protect Konoha”.
However, under this high-pressure rule, the “order” of Konoha Village is indeed recovering at an astonishing speed.
The ruins on the streets were quickly cleared under the efficient deployment and command of the “Root” organization.
New houses were built under the day and night hard work of the villagers (and the ninjas “recruited” by the “Root” organization).
The relief supplies were also delivered to every disaster-stricken person under the “fair and just” distribution of the “Root” organization.
Everything seemed so… orderly and efficient.
It seemed as if the trauma caused by the Nine-Tailed Fox Rebellion was being quickly healed by a powerful and unquestionable force.
It is with this iron-fisted approach that Danzo Shimura maintains the superficial “stability” and “prosperity” of Konoha Village.
At the same time, he also began to vigorously implement a series of policies aimed at enhancing Konoha’s military strength and intelligence capabilities.
For example, he ordered the expansion of the recruitment scale of the “Root” organization, selecting talented, potential, and “reliable-minded” members from young ninjas who lost their loved ones in the Nine-Tails Rebellion or were dissatisfied with the status quo, and focusing on training them.
For example, he strengthened the construction of the intelligence network in the areas surrounding Konoha Village and dispatched a large number of “Root” organization members to infiltrate other ninja villages and small countries to collect all valuable intelligence.
For example, he also ordered the revision of Konoha Village’s ninja training syllabus, adding more training content on “practical skills” such as assassination, lurking, torture, etc., trying to train Konoha’s ninjas into… more cruel and more efficient killing machines.
He wanted to turn the entire Konoha Village into a huge and sophisticated war machine that would completely obey his personal will.
He wants Konoha to recover in the shortest possible time and… become stronger than before!
Powerful enough to crush anyone who dares to challenge his authority!
While Danzo Shimura was vigorously carrying out the construction of his “new order”, there was a special existence that naturally attracted his high attention.
This special existence is the newly born Jinchūriki in this Nine-Tails Rebellion – Uzumaki Naruto.
As the orphan of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and the former Nine-Tails Jinchuriki Kushina Uzumaki, Naruto Uzumaki’s identity is inherently full of sensitivity and specialness.
What’s more, the nine-tailed demon fox that once brought devastating disaster to Konoha is sealed in his body.
Danzo Shimura would naturally not let go of such a “strategic-level” “weapon” easily.
He immediately placed Uzumaki Naruto under the close surveillance and “special training” of the “Root” organization.
To the outside world, he claimed that this was to protect the hero’s orphan and ensure his healthy growth. At the same time, it was also to better control and guide the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox in his body to prevent tragedy from happening again.
Chapter 33 The title of “Sandaime Hokage”. . (Old version)
This statement sounds reasonable and impeccable.
After all, the villagers of Konoha, who had just experienced the Nine-Tails Rebellion, had a genuine fear of the Nine-Tails.
In their view, it was only natural to put the new Jinchūriki under strict surveillance.
But in fact, Danzo’s real purpose is to train Uzumaki Naruto into a powerful and ruthless weapon who completely obeys his orders.
Just like he treated other talented young people, such as Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui (if he could successfully recruit them).
He wanted to deeply imprint “loyalty” and “reverence” for himself in Naruto’s young heart.
He wanted Naruto to receive the “ideological education” of the “Root” organization from an early age, so that he would agree with his ideas and obey his orders.
He wanted Naruto to see the Nine-Tails power within his body as a tool that could be used and controlled, rather than a burden that needed to be suppressed and feared.
Of course, the new Danzo is also well aware of the complexity and danger of the Nine-Tails.
After all, this is the strongest tailed beast in the legend. Its strength and stubborn will are far beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Moreover, in Uzumaki Naruto’s body, there is still a special seal set by Minato Namikaze and his wife, as well as their love and expectations for their son.
These factors make it extremely difficult and complicated to control and direct the Nine-Tails power within Naruto.
Therefore, in dealing with the issue of Uzumaki Naruto, Danzo was more cautious and patient than before.
He did not rush to carry out cruel “transformation” or “brainwashing” on Naruto, but adopted a more covert and subtle approach.
He would regularly send people to “visit” Naruto and give him some… “special” care and “teaching”.
He would tell Naruto some…carefully crafted stories about “heroes”, “sacrifice”, “responsibility” and “power”.
He tried to create in Naruto’s young heart the image of an “Uncle Danzo” who was powerful, “kind”, and able to “understand” him.
He wanted Naruto to become dependent on and trust him without realizing it.
As for whether he could finally control this unruly “little fox” and the even more unruly “old fox” in his body firmly in his own hands…
There was a gleam of determination in the new Danzo’s eyes.
As Danzo Shimura’s power in Konoha Village becomes increasingly consolidated, the “new order” he promotes gradually gains popularity (or, fear) among the people.
A question that no one can avoid began to surface.
That is the position of Hokage.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen still holds the title of “Sandaime Hokage”, any discerning person can see that he has long been sidelined and has become a symbol in name only.
So, will Danzo Shimura, who has actually already taken control of the highest power in Konoha, officially ascend the throne that represents the highest glory of Konoha Village?
Will there be a new portrait of Danzo Shimura added to the Hokage Rock?
This issue became the focus of private discussion and speculation among many people in Konoha Village.
Some people believe that with Danzo’s ambition and strength, he will sooner or later replace Sarutobi Hiruzen and become the new Hokage. This seems to be a natural thing.
Some people also believe that Danzo may not care about the empty title of “Hokage”. What he values ​​more is the actual power and control. As long as he can firmly control the entire Konoha, then whether he has the title of “Hokage” may not be important to him.
Some even speculated that Danzo might choose to support a puppet who obeys his orders to serve as the new Hokage, while he himself would continue to hide behind the scenes and be a true “uncrowned king.”
Naturally, the new Danzo had heard about these speculations and discussions.
But he was not in a hurry to express his opinion.
He knew that the position of Hokage did have a certain appeal to him.
After all, that was the goal he (or rather, the original owner Danzo) had been pursuing all his life.
However, he also knew that if he was eager to ascend to the position of Hokage at this time, it might cause some unnecessary backlash and trouble.
For example, the “old forces” in the village who are still loyal to Sarutobi Hiruzen may become desperate and launch a final counterattack.
For example, other ninja villages may also become wary and cautious about Konoha’s “abnormal” power change, thus affecting his subsequent “ninja world integration” plan.
So, the new Danzo decided to… wait a little longer.
He would wait until a more appropriate time.
By the time Sarutobi Hiruzen’s prestige was completely destroyed.
Wait until the “new order” of Konoha Village is completely consolidated.
Until his “great achievements” as Shimura Danzo were “remembered in heart” by everyone.
Only then, his ascension to the position of Hokage would seem… legitimate and well-deserved.
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen now…
The corner of the new Danzo’s mouth curled up into a cold smile.
After experiencing the heavy blow of the Nine-Tails Rebellion and his own efforts to seize power, this former “hero ninja” was already exhausted and had lost all his fighting spirit.
Now, he is nothing more than a… loser who is struggling to survive.
Perhaps, he would take the initiative to “resign” and take the “responsibility” he should bear for the tragedy of the Nine-Tailed Fox Rebellion.
Perhaps, he will be completely marginalized by himself in some “decent” way and become a “senior consultant” in name only.
No matter what, the era of Sarutobi Hiruzen is… over.
And his era, Shimura Danzo, has just…begun.
Who will be the new owner of the Hokage’s office?
The answer to this question seems to be…obvious.
However, how and when to achieve this final change depends entirely on the will of one person, Danzo Shimura.
Just when Danzo Shimura basically took control of the overall situation of Konoha in the real world and began to implement his so-called “new order” according to his own will.
The “Konoha Hokage Chat Group” in his mind that had been silent for a while, once again… had new movements.
[Ding! Special space-time fluctuations detected…][The system is connecting to a new parallel space-time node…][New member “Namikaze Minato (Other World)” has joined the Konoha Hokage chat group! 】
This avatar is almost exactly the same as the previous one representing Minato Namikaze of this world.
The same short blond hair, the same blue eyes, the same handsome face.
However, if you look closely, you can find some… subtle differences.
Chapter 34 “Dead…dead?” (Old version)
This newly joined “Namikaze Minato” seems to have an indescribable sense of vicissitudes and sadness between his brows.
His eyes were not as sunny and hopeful as those of Minato in this world (before joining the group chat). Instead… they were filled with a hint of fatigue and deep regret from seeing through the world.
It seemed as if he had experienced countless storms and carried too many burdens.
While the other people in the group were still confused and surprised by this new member whose profile picture was so similar to Minato’s before.
This “another Watergate” took the initiative to send the first message in the group.
His voice (in text form) has a heart-wrenching hoarseness and fatigue.
[Namikaze Minato (Another World)]: “Where… is this place? Am I… not… already… dead?”
[Namikaze Minato (Another World)]: “Kushina… Naruto… I’m sorry… I couldn’t… protect you…”
His words were intermittent, filled with endless sadness, self-blame and regret.
Dead?!
This newly joined Minato Namikaze actually said that he… is already dead? !
Moreover, from his words, it can be heard that he seems to have… also experienced the Nine-Tailed Fox Rebellion!
This…what on earth is going on? !
The people in the group, including Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Tsunade, and… the one from this world, Minato Namikaze, who was temporarily “escaped” (at least he thought so) because of Danzo’s “warning”, all felt unprecedented shock and confusion because of the appearance and words of this “Minato from another world”.
Especially the Namikaze Minato of this world. When he saw the avatar that looked so much like himself but was full of sadness, and the words that were full of despair and regret…
His heart suddenly skipped a beat!
An indescribable fear and dread instantly surged into his heart!
If…if it weren’t for Danzo’s “warning” and “help”…
Then, isn’t the tragic ending of this “Otherworld Minato”…his own future? !
Will he also die in the Nine-Tail Rebellion like this man, leaving behind endless regrets and guilt towards his wife and children? !
When Minato thought of this, he broke out in a cold sweat on his back.
At this moment, his gratitude and trust towards Senior Danzo reached an unprecedented peak!
And the new Danzo, looking at this newly joined “Minato from another world”, had a flash of… an imperceptible gleam of light and calculation in his eyes.
Is this Minato from the “original” timeline where the Nine-Tails Rebellion had already occurred and he had already sacrificed himself?
Did he enter this chat group through some kind of residual consciousness or special method?
Interesting…really interesting!
This is simply… another perfect “tool” that has come to his doorstep and can be used by him!
He could use the tragic experience of this “Minato from another world” to further confirm the accuracy of his previous “prediction” of the Nine-Tails Rebellion.
He can use the pain and regret of this “Minato from another world” to further gain the trust and dependence of Minato from this world.
He can even… use this “Minato from another world” to further attack and discredit Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “incompetence” and “negligence”!
The third roundtable meeting…seems like it can be held ahead of schedule.
And this time, the meeting will become… more exciting because of the arrival of this “Water Gate from Another World”!
This sudden new member, filled with sadness and despair, and his chilling opening remarks instantly plunged the entire chat group into silence.
The projections of every group member showed expressions of shock and disbelief due to this sudden change.
Especially the Minato Namikaze of this world. When he saw the “Minato from another world” who looked almost exactly like himself but had a completely different temperament, his heart almost stopped beating.
“Dead…dead?” The Minato of this world muttered to himself, his voice filled with unspeakable fear and dread, “He…he is…another me? A me…who was unable to change his fate?”
If it weren’t for the appearance of Danzo-senpai, if it weren’t for the warning from the chat group, then would I be the one crying so loudly in the group now?
When he thought of this, Minato in this world felt a chill down his spine. His gratitude and dependence on Danzo reached an unprecedented level at this moment.
Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju and Tsunade were also shocked by the tragic fate of this “Minato from another world”.
[Senju Hashirama]: “This… what is going on? Another Minato kid? And… he said he was dead? The Nine-Tails Rebellion… is it really that terrible?”
Hashirama’s tone was full of confusion and uneasiness. He couldn’t imagine that the Leaf Village, which he once regarded as hope, would have such a tragic tragedy.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Humph, it seems that this chat group is even weirder than I thought. Can it actually connect to… a parallel time and space where tragedy has already occurred?”
Tobirama’s brows were furrowed, his eyes flashing with shrewdness and prudence. He began to re-evaluate the value and… potential danger of this chat group.
[Tsunade]: “Ugh… Another Minato… So pitiful… He must be in a lot of pain…”
The girl Tsunade’s heart was filled with sympathy. She thought of her own future tragedy, of Rope Tree and Dan, and a feeling of grief surged in her heart.
Just as everyone was shocked and talking about it, the “Minato from another world” from the “original” timeline seemed to have recovered a little from his initial confusion and chaos.
He noticed the chat group interface and the presence of other members in the group.
[Namikaze Minato (Another World)]: “You… who are you? Where… is this place? Is… this the world after death?”
His voice was still hoarse and tired, full of curiosity about the unknown and a hint of subtle vigilance.
The new Danzo looked at all this and his heart was already filled with joy.
Really…whatever you think will come true!
The appearance of this “Water Gate from Another World” is simply a gift from God to him!
He cleared his throat and spoke in a steady and magnetic voice to the group:
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Namikaze Minato (different world), welcome. This is not the world after death, but a special space that connects the will of Konoha in different time and space.”
Chapter 35 Leader (Old Version)
These words from “Alien Water Gate” were like dropping a bombshell on a calm lake, causing an uproar in the chat group again!
Naruto… the orphan of a hero… was treated so coldly? !
Sarutobi Hiruzen…the Third Hokage…actually “ignored” and “mistreated” the descendants of the heroes so badly? !
This… this is simply horrifying!
When Minato Namikaze of this world heard this, he was so angry that he trembled all over!
If he wasn’t just a projection, he would probably go berserk on the spot!
That was his son! He was the hope he had exchanged his life for!
Sarutobi-sensei…how could you…how could you treat Naruto like this? !
[Senju Hashirama]: “This is too much! This is simply too much! How can the villagers of Konoha treat the child of a hero like this?! That brat Sarutobi…he…how could he be so confused!”
Hashirama was so angry that he was puffing his beard and glaring, and his disappointment with Sarutobi Hiruzen was evident in his words.
[Senju Tobirama]: “Humph! I knew that Sarutobi would never amount to anything great! He is indecisive and tolerant of evil! He can’t even take care of a child! Is he worthy of being the Hokage?!”
Tobirama scolded him mercilessly.
Tsunade also felt chills in her heart. She couldn’t imagine how angry and desperate she would be if her own child was treated like this.
As for the new Danzo, looking at the excited crowd, his heart was filled with joy.
This “bloody and tearful accusation” of “Minato from another world” is simply… the sharpest and most deadly weapon given to him to attack Sarutobi Hiruzen!
This is “ironclad evidence” from the “victim”!
He immediately seized the opportunity and spoke in a tone full of compassion and grief:
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Everyone, did you hear that? This is… another tragedy that could happen to Konoha under the leadership of Sarutobi Sensei!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “A hero who sacrificed his life for the village, his orphan, actually has to suffer such unfair treatment! This is simply a shame for Konoha! It is a disgrace to the Will of Fire!”
His voice was filled with righteous anger.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “If I, Shimura Danzo, had been in charge of Konoha, if I had been able to eliminate those potential threats earlier, if I had been able to use tougher measures to maintain the order and justice of the village… then, such a tragedy could have been… completely avoided!”
He once again portrayed himself as a “wise and decisive” “savior” who could turn the tide.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Namikaze Minato (Otherworld), I deeply sympathize with your situation. Don’t worry, if… if the world you are in needs help, I, Shimura Danzo, and the Konoha that I lead can consider… providing some ‘cross-world support’ within our capabilities.”
He spoke with great righteousness, as if he was truly a leader who cared about the world and possessed a “big picture view” and “strong strength.”
Of course, deep down in his heart, what he was thinking about was how to grab more “intelligence” and “resources” that would be beneficial to him from the “original” timeline.
When “Minato from another world” heard Danzo’s words, a complicated light flashed in his eyes. Although he didn’t know Danzo from this world, the “sympathy” and “help” shown by the other party still made him feel a little…warm.
After listening to the tragic experience of “Minato from another world”, Namikaze Minato, Tsunade and others in this world compared their own world with the “changes” that might happen because of Danzo’s “intervention”…
They were even more convinced of Danzo’s “wisdom and decisiveness” and “far-sightedness”!
They began to feel fortunate that the world they lived in had a “strong man” like Danzo-senpai.
They began to believe that only a leader like Senior Danzo could truly protect Konoha and prevent the tragedy from happening again!
Danzo used this clever contrast and guidance to further consolidate his position and prestige in their minds.
Let them become the most loyal “supporters” on their chessboard without realizing it.
After successfully using the “testimony” of “Minato from another world” in the chat group to nail Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “incompetence” and “negligence” to the pillar of shame, the new Danzo did not stop there.
He wants to transform this “achievement” into the final blow to Sarutobi Hiruzen in the real world!
He convened a secret meeting of the highest level in Konoha Village under the name of “Deep Reflection on the Nine-Tails Rebellion and Discussion on the Future Development Direction of Konoha”.
Those attending the meeting, besides himself and the now defunct Sandaime Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, included the two Hokage advisors, Utane Koharu and Mito Kado En, as well as the heads of various major departments of Konoha Village, and even… Uchiha Fugaku, the patriarch of the Uchiha clan who had just “surrendered”.
The meeting was held in the Hokage Building, the Hokage conference room that once symbolized the highest power in Konoha but now seemed a bit bleak and depressing.
At the beginning of the meeting, the new Danzo did not launch a direct attack, but first asked the participants to “review” the painful lessons of the Nine-Tails Rebellion and “deeply reflect” on the various problems exposed by Konoha in dealing with this crisis.
The atmosphere seemed extremely solemn and depressing from the very beginning.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in the main seat, looking haggard and gloomy. He knew that today’s meeting was probably just a Hongmen Banquet for him.
As expected, after a brief “opening speech”, the new Danzo changed the subject and pointed the finger directly at Sarutobi Hiruzen!
He stood up, his eyes as sharp as a knife, scanning everyone present, and then, in an unquestionable tone full of “heartache and indignation”, began to enumerate all the “faults” of Sarutobi Hiruzen during his reign!
“Everyone!” Danzo’s voice echoed in the silent conference room like thunder. “The Nine-Tails Rebellion brought a devastating disaster to our Konoha Village! Countless companions died, and countless families were broken! This painful lesson must be remembered by each of us!”
“But what we should reflect on more deeply is, is this tragedy…really just a natural disaster? Is…there no human factors at all?!”
He paused, staring at the pale-faced Sarutobi Hiruzen with a sharp gaze.
“Sandaime Hokage!” Danzo’s tone suddenly became extremely stern, “As the supreme leader of Konoha Village, for the occurrence of the Nine-Tails Rebellion and the huge losses suffered by Konoha, don’t you have any responsibility at all?!”
Chapter 36 Power (Old Version)
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s body shook slightly, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just let out a weak sigh.
He knew that in the face of the ironclad facts, any excuse would seem so pale and powerless.
Seeing this, the new Danzo sneered and continued his “trial”.
“First! Tolerating Orochimaru!” Danzo’s voice was like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone’s heart again and again. “Orochimaru, this traitor who was once regarded as your most proud disciple, conducted forbidden techniques research in the village and harmed his compatriots. You obviously noticed it a long time ago, but because of your own master-disciple relationship, you repeatedly condoned him, which eventually led to his defection from the village and caused immeasurable losses to Konoha! If you could have acted decisively and brought him to justice, how could Konoha have come to this?!”
“Second! The Uchiha issue was not handled properly!” Danzo’s eyes turned to Uchiha Fugaku who was sitting in the corner, with a hint of “compassion” in his tone, “The Uchiha clan, as one of the founding families of Konoha, has great power, but it has also been suspected and excluded by the village. As the Hokage, you not only did not actively resolve the conflict and bridge the rift, but instead adopted some… seemingly ‘soft’, but actually ‘laissez-faire’ policies, which led to the increasingly intensified conflict between the Uchiha and the village, and even… in a parallel time and space in the future, it almost caused a tragedy of genocide! If you could have taken wiser and more decisive measures to effectively guide and manage the Uchiha, why did you let this powerful family become a powder keg that could explode at any time in Konoha?!”
When Uchiha Fugaku heard this, his expression became even gloomier, and his eyes were filled with complicated emotions.
“The third one is the most direct and unshirkable responsibility. The inappropriate response to the Nine-Tails Rebellion!” Danzo’s voice suddenly rose, full of an unquestionable sense of oppression. “At the most critical and dangerous moment when the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was giving birth, you, as the Hokage, actually made such a major intelligence error! You were completely unaware of the mysterious masked man lurking in the dark! You even let the Nine-Tails easily break free of the seal and launch a devastating attack on Konoha!”
“If it weren’t for the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and his wife, as well as countless Konoha ninjas, who used their lives and blood to make up for your mistakes, then Konoha Village… I’m afraid it would have ceased to exist long ago!”
“Even…” Danzo’s tone changed, becoming even more “heartbroken”, “According to a certain… special channel, in another parallel Konoha, because of your ‘negligence’ and ‘neglect’, the hero’s orphan Uzumaki Naruto has been treated coldly and discriminated against by the villagers, and has grown up in loneliness and pain! This is simply… appalling! The greatest blasphemy against heroes!”
He cleverly threw out the “testimony” of “Minato from another world” as one of the “evidence” to attack Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Each and every one of these was like a mountain of ironclad evidence, overwhelming Sarutobi Hiruzen.
His face was pale, his lips were trembling, and his body was shaking, as if he would fall down at any time.
He wanted to refute and defend himself, but he found that in the face of Danzo’s… carefully arranged and exaggerated “crimes”, all his words seemed so pale and powerless.
Everyone else in the conference room fell into silence.
Utatane Koharu and Mito Kado En, looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen’s distraught appearance, felt mixed emotions. Although they were also dissatisfied with some of Sarutobi’s actions, seeing him being “judged” by Danzo in this way, they couldn’t help but feel a little sad.
But… they had nothing to say.
Because, although what Danzo said was a bit biased and exaggerated, it was not completely unreasonable.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, indeed… in some respects, made unforgivable mistakes.
In the end, this so-called “seminar” turned into a unilateral “political trial” of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Faced with Danzo’s aggressive offensive and the “iron-clad” “evidence”, Sarutobi Hiruzen was speechless and completely lost all possibility of a comeback.
At this moment, his political life was completely ended.
His once glorious image of a “ninja hero” also completely collapsed in the hearts of the Konoha villagers and ninjas.
After completely eliminating Sarutobi Hiruzen’s political influence, Danzo Shimura finally… became the sole and absolute controller of Konoha Village.
Although he has not yet officially ascended the throne of “Hokage” which represents the highest power.
But the power he holds has already surpassed that of any previous Hokage.
The entire Konoha Village was under his iron-fisted rule and began to undergo a…thorough transformation according to his will.
Under his leadership, the order of the village took on a…cold and efficient operating mode.
Military strength and intelligence capabilities have been unprecedentedly strengthened.
But because of this, the whole village is filled with an atmosphere of… depression and fear.
In the chat group, the Hokage from different times and spaces, looking at the current… “New Konoha” under the iron-fisted rule of Danzo, all have complicated feelings in their hearts.
Senju Hashirama is still worried about Konoha’s lost “will of fire” and “human touch”. He is worried that this high-pressure and authoritarian rule will eventually strangle Konoha’s true soul and turn it into a… cold war machine.
Senju Tobirama, while being wary of Danzo’s unfathomable ambitions and growing power, had to admit that Danzo had indeed demonstrated… “ability” and “efficiency” far exceeding Sarutobi in some aspects. At least, in terms of “stabilizing order” and “increasing strength”, Danzo’s approach seemed… more effective.
Tsunade, on the other hand, survived with difficulty under the shadow of Danzo. She felt disgusted and contemptuous of some of Danzo’s actions, but because of her future “tragedy” and desire to change her fate, she had to make some… complicated “deals” and “compromises” with this man she hated.
And the Namikaze Minato of this world (if he is still alive) may have completely become Danzo’s most loyal “supporter” and “executor”. He will firmly believe that only a “strong man” like Danzo can truly protect Konoha and prevent the tragedy from happening again.
Under the iron-fisted rule of Danzo Shimura, the future of Konoha has been heading towards a course full of unknowns and cruel order.
What is waiting for them ahead? Is it… a more powerful glory, or… a deeper darkness?
And Danzo Shimura, like a chess player watching from the sidelines, controls every chess piece on the board and continues his… never-ending path of control.
Chapter 37 Dark Contribution (Old Version)
His sight was no longer limited to the small Konoha Village.
His ambition had long been directed towards… the wider ninja world, or even… the unknown other dimension.
A bigger storm was quietly brewing in his heart.
[Namikaze Minato (Another World)]: “Sarutobi-sensei… he is too weak… and too… disappointing…”
The accusations of “Minato from Another World” filled with sadness, self-blame and deep disappointment towards Sarutobi Hiruzen were like huge rocks thrown into a calm lake, causing huge waves in the chat group.
Every projection of the group member fell into a long silence and deep shock because of this “bloody” “testimony” from the “parallel universe”.
Especially Minato Namikaze of this world, his heart was like a raging sea, and he couldn’t calm down for a long time.
He couldn’t imagine that his son, Naruto, whom he protected with his life, would be treated so unfairly in another time and space.
He also couldn’t accept that Sarutobi Sensei, whom he once respected and trusted so much, would be so “weak” and “negligent” in another time and space.
This huge overturn in cognition made him feel dizzy and… scared.
If…if it weren’t for the appearance and “warning” of Danzo-senpai, would the same tragic fate be waiting for him and Naruto?
When he thought of this, his gratitude, trust and dependence on Danzo deepened.
Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju and Tsunade were also deeply moved by the tragic fate of “Minato from another world” and Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “inaction” in that time and space.
Hashirama was so angry that he blew his beard and glared, and scolded Sarutobi for being “stupid” and “ungrateful”.
Tobirama further confirmed his judgment that Sarutobi was “weak and incompetent” and believed that he was no longer worthy of being Hokage.
While Tsunade sympathized with Naruto’s situation, she also felt chilled and disgusted by Sarutobi Hiruzen’s actions.
The entire chat group was filled with disappointment, doubt and…anger towards Sarutobi Hiruzen.
And all of this is exactly what the new Danzo wants.
He cleverly used the tragic experience of “Minato from another world” to portray himself as a “savior” who is “far-sighted” and “able to turn the tide”, further consolidating his position and influence in the group.
Just when the atmosphere in the group became extremely solemn and depressing because of the narration of “Minato from another world”, the cold system prompt sound suddenly rang out again, breaking the suffocating silence.
[Ding! Detected that the special space-time connection is about to be disconnected…][Member “Namikaze Minato (Another World)” is about to leave the chat group…]As the system prompt sounded, the projection of “Water Gate of Another World” that was full of sadness and vicissitudes began to become blurred and unstable, as if it would dissipate at any time.
[Namikaze Minato (Another World)]: “It seems… I don’t have much time… anymore…” His voice was filled with a hint of relief and reluctance, “The other me… will… protect Kushina… and Naruto… and don’t… let them… suffer… the same… pain… as I did…”
He looked deeply at Minato Namikaze of this world, his eyes full of expectation and blessing.
Then, his figure, like bubbles, slowly dissipated in the virtual chat group space, without any sound left.
The image of “Minato from another world” completely disappeared.
But his accusations filled with blood and tears, as well as that heavy sense of tragedy, still linger in the hearts of every group member for a long time and cannot be calmed down.
There was a long silence in the group.
Everyone was digesting everything they had just heard, and thinking about what this “warning” from the “parallel universe” meant.
After a long time, the cold system prompt sound once again broke the depressing silence.
[Ding! The second round table meeting (special addition) ends. ][The “Dark Contribution” settlement is in progress…][The system will make a comprehensive assessment of the “necessary intervention in Konoha’s historical process” and “determination to wander in the darkness” based on the group members’ behavior during this meeting and in their respective time and space. ]This cold and mechanical text was like a bomb dropped on a calm lake, causing all group members’ hearts to suddenly shudder!
“Dark Contribution”? !
This word, which was filled with an ominous aura, made Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Tsunade, and even Minato Namikaze of this world, feel a hint of… an inexplicable chill.
“Necessary intervention”? “Determination to walk in the dark”?
This doesn’t sound like something that should be done in a righteous way!
Could it be that this chat group is actually encouraging… evil? !
Hashirama’s brows immediately furrowed tightly, and a strong look of dissatisfaction and vigilance appeared on his face.
Tobirama’s eyes also became deeper and more cautious. He began to suspect that the real purpose of this chat group might not be as simple as it claimed on the surface, “to connect Konoha’s will and protect Konoha’s future.”
Tsunade and Minato felt a sense of inexplicable panic and uneasiness. They felt that they seemed to be… involved in a vortex of danger beyond their imagination.
However, in stark contrast to everyone’s shock and uneasiness, when the new group heard the five words “dark contribution”, he understood everything in his heart, and even… there was a hint of barely perceptible excitement and anticipation!
He knew that his…chance had come!
Judging from the various behaviors of this chat group, it seems that… it does not reject, and even to some extent, “encourages” the behavior of those “tyrants” who will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.
And he, Danzo Shimura, whether the original owner or the current him, can be called… an “expert” in this area!
Just as everyone was thinking different things, the cold system prompt sounded again, and began to announce the so-called “Dark Contribution” ranking.
[Ding! The ranking of “Darkness Contribution” is announced as follows:]【Fifth place: Tsunade. 】
[Comment: Although he is resistant to darkness, he shows a certain struggle and desire for change in the choice between family affection and morality. Dark potential: medium to low.]Tsunade was slightly surprised when she saw her ranking and comments. She didn’t expect that she would be rated as “Dark Contribution”. Moreover, this comment… seemed to be meaningful.
【Fourth place: Minato Namikaze. 】
[Comment: He has a bright heart, but in order to protect his beloved and the village, he has initially shown a tendency to accept “unconventional means”. Dark potential: medium.]Minato in this world felt complicated when he saw his ranking. He knew that the reason why he was ranked like this was probably related to his “trust” and “dependence” on Senior Danzo.
Chapter 38 Resurrection (Old Version)
【Third place: Senju Hashirama. 】
[Comment: He sticks to his ideals, is upright and honest, and is extremely averse to dark means. However, when faced with irreversible tragedy and the impact of “reality”, his firm belief also has a subtle wavering. Dark potential: low.]When Hashirama saw his ranking and comments, he was so angry that he almost went berserk on the spot!
[Senju Hashirama]: “How ridiculous! What dark contribution?! I, Senju Hashirama, have always acted uprightly throughout my life, how could I possibly have any dark contribution?! This broken system is simply talking nonsense! It is tarnishing my reputation!”
He felt that his “will of fire” had been insulted like never before!
【Second place: Senju Tobirama. 】
[Comment: A realistic iron-fisted ruler who is well versed in power struggles and checks and balances. He has a certain degree of understanding and tolerance for “necessary evils”. After witnessing certain possibilities of the “future”, his pursuit of “order” and “efficiency” makes him more likely to accept the rationality of certain “darkness”. Dark potential: above average.]When Tobirama saw his ranking and comments, he fell silent.
He had to admit that the system’s evaluation, to some extent, did… touch his heart.
He is indeed a realist, and he has indeed taken some…not so fair means to protect the interests of the Bokugan and Senju clan.
Moreover, after listening to the stories of Danzo and “Minato from another world”, he did feel deeply disappointed and dissatisfied with Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “weakness” and “dereliction of duty”.
Maybe… Konoha really needs some… tougher and more ruthless means to survive in the cruel ninja world?
His heart was struggling violently between light and darkness, ideal and reality.
And at this moment, the system finally announced the… most eye-catching ranking.
[First place: Group leader, Shimura Danzo! ]This result… didn’t seem to surprise many people.
After all, from the very beginning, this chat group exuded a kind of weird atmosphere everywhere, which was highly consistent with Danzo’s gloomy and weird temperament.
[Comment: Shimura Danzo, the Dark Lord of Konoha, the Commander of the Root. His deep strategy, ruthless means, and determination to achieve his goals at all costs are chilling. ][In the real world, he successfully divided the power core of the Hokage, gradually controlled part of the power of the Uchiha clan, and in key events such as the Nine-Tails Rebellion, he showed calmness and calculation far beyond ordinary people, turning the crisis into his own political bargaining chip. ][In the chat group, he skillfully guided public opinion, took advantage of information gaps and people’s hearts, and pointed the finger at Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “mistakes” and “incompetence”, successfully shaking his prestige in the minds of group members. ][His series of “necessary evil” actions that can be called “textbook-level” fully demonstrate his “heroic” nature of wandering in the darkness, taking pleasure in it, and forging ahead. ][Comprehensive evaluation, “Darkness Contribution” is——Highest!!!]The system’s cold and mechanical reading echoed in the minds of every group member.
Every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting their hearts hard.
Upon hearing this comment, Hashirama was so angry that he trembled all over. He pointed at Danzo’s projection and roared:
[Senju Hashirama]: “Danzo! You…you are such a despicable villain! You actually…actually used such despicable means to steal the power of Konoha! You are committing a crime! You are betraying the Will of Fire!”
He couldn’t accept that the village he and Tobirama had worked so hard to build would fall into the hands of such a…conspirator!
What he couldn’t tolerate even more was that this chat group would “promote” and “reward” such evil behavior!
Facing Hashirama’s thundering wrath, the new Danzo simply smiled faintly, his tone full of disdain and ridicule.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Shodai-sama, why are you so excited? The winners are kings and the losers are bandits. This has always been the case since ancient times. History has always been written by the victors.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “In my opinion, your so-called ‘will of fire’ is nothing but an illusory slogan. The only thing that can truly protect Konoha is… absolute strength and iron-blooded means!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “As for whether I am despicable or not… Hehe, as long as I can make Konoha stronger and more stable, it doesn’t matter if I bear some infamy.”
He once again rationalized and even…beautified his behavior.
Tobirama looked at Danzo’s self-righteous, even… proud look, and felt powerless in his heart.
He had to admit that in some aspects, Danzo, the disciple, was indeed… much more “outstanding” than Sarutobi, the “good student”.
At least, in terms of “playing power games” and “doing whatever it takes”, Danzo has… surpassed his teacher.
Although he was still wary of Danzo, he also felt that perhaps… only a person like Danzo could lead Konoha to fight its way out of the more cruel and complicated situation in the future?
This contradictory mentality made his attitude towards Danzo even more… ambiguous and complicated.
Just when the atmosphere in the group became extremely weird and tense due to the announcement of the “Dark Contribution”, the cold system prompt sounded again, bringing an even more heart-pounding news.
[Ding! According to the ranking of “Dark Contribution”, the first-ranked person, group leader Shimura Danzo, will get a chance to… draw from the “Forbidden Reward Pool”! ][The “Taboo Reward Pool” contains all kinds of powerful forces, mysterious items, forbidden knowledge, and even the possibility of reversing life and death! ][But please note that extracting and using these “taboo” items also requires taking corresponding, unpredictable, and huge risks! ]“Taboo Reward Pool”!
“Subvert cognition”! “Change destiny”! “Reverse life and death”!
These words, full of temptation and danger, were like a spell, instantly capturing the hearts of every group member!
When Tsunade heard the words “reverse life and death”, her body shook violently!
resurrection!
Resurrection of the Rope Tree! Resurrection of the Broken!
This thought, like wild weeds growing wildly, instantly occupied her entire mind!
If… if there really is a way to revive them… then, no matter how great the price, she will… do it at all costs!
Chapter 39 Ambush by a Powerful Enemy (Old Version)
Her eyes were filled with desire, expectation, and a hint of…desperate madness!
In this world, Minato Namikaze’s breathing became rapid when he heard the words “change destiny” and “avoid tragedy”.
If… if he could obtain some powerful power, or some special item, then, would he really be able to… completely get rid of the shadow of the Nine-Tails Rebellion, protect Kushina and Naruto, and safeguard the peace of Konoha?
His heart was filled with a strong desire for this “forbidden reward”.
When Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju heard the word “taboo”, their hearts skipped a beat and their vigilance instantly reached the highest level!
They know very well that “taboo” often goes hand in hand with “destruction”.
This powerful force that is enough to “subvert cognition” and “change destiny”, once it falls into the hands of people with evil intentions or is used improperly, it is likely to bring… even more immeasurable disasters to the entire world!
They all turned their eyes to Shimura Danzo.
They were worried that this ambitious and unscrupulous guy would use this “forbidden” power to do something… even crazier and more dangerous.
And the new Danzo, feeling the different gazes from the crowd, curled up the corners of his mouth… a deeper and more imperceptible arc.
Taboo reward pool?
This… is exactly what he expected!
He needs more powerful forces and more secretive cards to consolidate his rule and realize his ambitions!
And this so-called “forbidden reward pool” undoubtedly… provides him with such a possibility!
He couldn’t wait to see what kind of… surprising “treasure” was hidden in this “reward pool”!
Just as the new Danzo was about to click the “Draw Forbidden Reward” button that was emitting a strange red light on the chat group interface.
Mutation happened again!
The virtual interface of the chat group suddenly flickered violently, as if it was subject to some kind of strong interference.
Then, a series of blurry images with a strong smell of historical dust began to play automatically on the interface…!
The title of the video is written in an old and weathered font:
[Group Leader·Shimura Danzo·Record of Merits and Demerits·Volume 1: The Shadow Before Dawn]“What’s this?”
All members of the group, including the new Danzo himself, were stunned by this sudden change.
Chat group… actually has this kind of “automatically play historical documentaries” function?
Moreover, what was being broadcast was… the “dark history” of Shimura Danzo?
The new Danzo frowned slightly. He felt vaguely that this seemed… not a good thing.
The picture slowly began to become clear.
The first thing that catches your eye is the prosperous and redeveloped scene of Konoha Village when it was first built.
Then, the scene changed and came to Konoha’s Ninja School.
A group of young boys and girls who are still childish are practicing ninjutsu diligently.
Among them, there are several familiar figures.
A young man with a bob haircut, a bright smile and a sunny disposition, is none other than the young Sarutobi Hiruzen.
A girl wearing glasses, gentle and polite, but with a hint of shrewdness in her eyes, is Utane Koharu.
A young man with a serious expression, an unsmiling face, but a determined gaze, is Mitomon En.
And… a boy standing in the corner, silent, with a gloomy and unwilling look in his eyes…
It was actually the young… Danzo Shimura!
They are all disciples of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and are the hope for the future of Konoha.
The pictures continued to move, showing them studying and performing tasks together.
In these scenes, the chat group shots seem to…deliberately highlight some of Shimura Danzo’s “uniqueness”.
For example, during a dangerous mission in which they were ambushed by a powerful enemy, the team got into trouble and suffered heavy casualties.
The young Sarutobi Hiruzen advocated to rescue every injured companion with all his strength, and never give up on anyone, no matter how great the cost. He believed that this was the embodiment of the “will of fire”.
However, the young Danzo Shimura proposed a…completely opposite plan.
He believed that under the circumstances at the time, if they forcibly rescued all the wounded, the entire team would be in danger of being wiped out.
The most rational and most “effective” approach is to… sacrifice a small number of companions who are too seriously injured and have lost their combat effectiveness, and use them as bait to cover the safe retreat of the main force.
Naturally, this proposal was strongly opposed and severely rebuked by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
A fierce quarrel broke out between the two.
In the end, after a difficult decision, the leading jonin decided to adopt Sarutobi Hiruzen’s plan. Although it came at a heavy price, they successfully brought most of their companions back to the village.
Afterwards, Sarutobi Hiruzen was praised by the Second Hokage for his “kindness” and “bravery”.
Danzo Shimura, on the other hand, was criticized and alienated by many people because of his “cold” and “inhumane” proposals.
Seeing this, Hashirama Senju in the chat group couldn’t help but snorted heavily.
[Senju Hashirama]: “See! I’ve always said that this kid is not a good guy since he was young! In order to save his own life, he even disregarded the lives of his companions! This kind of person is not worthy of being a ninja of Konoha!”
As for the new Danzo, when he saw this “dark history” being ruthlessly exposed, there was no trace of embarrassment or shame on his face.
Instead, he seized the opportunity to “explain” and “whitewash” the group at the right time.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Haha, Master Shodaime, what you see is just a superficial phenomenon.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “The second generation master Tobirama once taught us that as a ninja, especially a leader, we must learn to make choices at critical moments.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “For the overall benefit of the village, for the safety of more companions, sometimes, some…necessary sacrifices are unavoidable.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “If Sarutobi’s ‘mercy’ had really been carried out according to my plan at that time, perhaps… we wouldn’t have paid such a heavy price. His ‘womanly kindness’ that disregarded the overall situation would only cost more innocent lives on the battlefield!”
He cleverly beautified his “cold-bloodedness” into “considering the overall situation” and “far-sightedness.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “kindness and bravery” was belittled as “womanly kindness” and “lack of consideration”.
This sophistry technique of confusing right and wrong is simply… perfect!
Chapter 40: Ninja World Battlefield (Old Version)
Fragments of history continued to play on the chat group interface.
The scene comes after the end of the First Ninja World War.
Although Konoha Village achieved the final victory, it also paid a huge price. There were many internal conflicts and external threats still existed.
The young Danzo Shimura was keenly aware of these potential crises.
He went against all odds and solemnly put forward a… bold and radical suggestion to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had succeeded to the position of the Third Hokage at that time.
That is – to establish a secret organization that is not bound by the conventional system, has the right to act independently and the privilege of “acting first and reporting later”!
The purpose of this organization is to secretly eliminate those “worms” that threaten the internal stability of Konoha Village, as well as those “enemies” from outside that are difficult to deal with by conventional means!
In the picture, after hearing Danzo’s proposal, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked embarrassed and frowned.
He thought that Danzo’s idea was too extreme and too dangerous.
An unrestrained secret power organization, once it gets out of control, is likely to become more terrifying than the enemy.
He was even more worried that Danzo would use this organization to satisfy his own selfish desires and ambitions.
Therefore, he did not immediately agree to Danzo’s request, but adopted an attitude of…delay and wait-and-see.
Seeing this, the new Tuanzo once again “explained” in the group with a tone full of “heartache” and “hate for not being able to make up for one’s shortcomings”:
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “You all saw this, didn’t you? This is Sarutobi! He’s always like this! He has too many concerns! Hesitant! Hesitant!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “After the First Ninja World War, Konoha Village was plagued by internal and external troubles and crises! If we cannot eliminate those internal hidden dangers in time and stabilize the rear, then once a new war breaks out, Konoha is likely to collapse due to internal strife!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “The reason why I proposed to establish the ‘Root’ is to silently protect the peace of Konoha in places where the light cannot shine! It is to help the Hokage handle those dirty and tiring tasks that he…is not convenient for, or… dares not to handle!”
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “I, Shimura Danzo, am willing to bear this darkness, and willing to endure all the infamy and misunderstanding! As long as it can make Konoha stronger and more stable! I… will do whatever it takes!”
He once again portrayed himself as a “tragic hero” who was willing to do anything for Konoha and silently sacrificed in the darkness.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen once again became the “indecisive”, “short-sighted” and “foolish” leader he described.
This carefully choreographed “historical review” and “self-whitewashing” made the atmosphere in the chat group become…subtle again.
Some group members who originally had an extreme aversion to Danzo, after listening to his “heartfelt words” and seeing those “historical fragments” that seemed to “confirm” what he said, could not help but… feel a little shaken.
Maybe… this Shimura Danzo is not as useless as they imagined?
Perhaps…some of the things he did, although the means were extreme,…did have their “hardships” and “necessity”?
The new Danzo keenly captured this subtle change in the atmosphere within the group.
The corner of his mouth curled up into a…victorious smile.
He knew that his “performance” had been… initially successful.
Next, it’s time to reap the “forbidden reward”!
The new Danzo’s self-confession full of “sadness” and “responsibility”, combined with the carefully edited “historical fragment” about the early days of the “Root” organization on the chat group interface, successfully aroused a ripple in the hearts of some members of the group.
They began to think that perhaps… Danzo Shimura, whom they had always regarded as a “conspirator” and an “ambitious person”, was not as… despicable as they had imagined?
Perhaps… some of the things he did, although the means were extreme and even a little… cruel and ruthless,… they did have their “hardships” and “necessity”?
Just as everyone’s thoughts were different and their views on Danzo were subtly changing, the historical images on the chat group interface did not stop, but switched rapidly as if the fast-forward button was pressed.
The scene shifted from the interior of Konoha Village to the more vast and cruel… battlefield of the Ninja World!
The Ninja World Wars that broke out time and time again were like a meat grinder, mercilessly devouring countless lives.
The air was filled with smoke and rivers of blood.
Hatred continues to spread and grow among the various ninja villages.
And in these cruel war scenes, a familiar figure, like a ghost, often appears in some…the most critical and darkest corners.
He is Danzo Shimura.
And the terrifying secret force he led – “The Root”!
The video shows a series of jaw-dropping, even inhumane “unconventional measures” that Danzo took when commanding the “Root” organization in each of the Ninja World Wars.
For example, on the eve of a crucial peace negotiation between Konoha and a hostile superpower, Danzo commanded the top assassination team of the “Root” organization to secretly sneak into the enemy country and successfully assassinated an important negotiating official of the other side who had a tough stance in the negotiations and was extremely unfavorable to Konoha.
This assassination directly led to the breakdown of peace talks, causing the war, which was already nearing its end, to escalate again.
But because of this, Konoha seized a fleeting favorable opportunity in the subsequent war, successfully reversed the unfavorable situation on the local battlefield, and ultimately… won the war at a lower cost.
Seeing this, Hashirama Senju in the chat group was so angry that he trembled again.
[Senju Hashirama]: “You bastard! You are such a bastard! Just for the so-called ‘favorable opportunity’, you can wantonly destroy peace and provoke a bigger war?! In your eyes, are those innocent lives that died in the war just cold numbers?!”
Facing Hashirama’s question, the new Danzo just smiled coldly and responded in the group in an almost “instructive” tone:
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Master Shodaime, you are still so naive. The so-called ‘peace’ has never been achieved through compromise and concessions at the negotiation table, but… by fighting with fists!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “If we had really accepted the other party’s harsh peace conditions, then Konoha would have lost a lot of land and resources, and might even… become a vassal of the other party! At that time, the people of Konoha would only live in an even more humiliating and miserable situation!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “My disruption of the peace talks may seem to have prolonged the war, but in fact, it was to give Konoha a… more favorable and dignified ending! Those who sacrificed their lives for this were worth it! Because, they brought… Konoha’s final victory and lasting peace!”
Chapter 41: The Letter of Invitation (Old Version)
Although his heretical theories are full of cruelty and utilitarianism, they also carry a kind of… “realistic logic” that is difficult to refute.
The images of history continue to play.
The picture shows the scene in which the “Root” organization used double agents to pass false intelligence to the enemy during the war.
These false intelligence successfully misled the enemy’s command system, causing it to make wrong judgments, and ultimately leading to its main force suffering a devastating blow in a crucial battle.
As a result, Konoha achieved a decisive victory in that battle.
However… in order to ensure the “authenticity” of the false intelligence, and to make the enemy completely believe in the “loyalty” of the double agent, Danzo… did not hesitate to sacrifice several of his own senior intelligence personnel who had been lurking in the enemy for many years and had made outstanding contributions.
Their sacrifice became the perfect “pledge of allegiance” for the false information.
[Tsunade]: “You…you lunatic! How could you…how could you sacrifice your own lives just to pass on false information?! They…they are also heroes of Konoha!”
Tsunade was so angry when she saw this that she trembled all over, her eyes filled with anger and intolerance. She could not accept this kind of cold-blooded practice of treating companions’ lives as tools and bargaining chips.
The new Danzo’s face still had that calm expression.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Tsunade, you are still too young. War is never a dinner party. On a cruel battlefield, any hesitation or mercy may lead to a total loss.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Those sacrificed undercover personnel are heroes of Konoha. I have never denied this. But their sacrifice is valuable! Their efforts brought… a victory in a decisive battle! And saved… more lives of Konoha ninjas!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “If I had given up the plan to pass on false information because I cared about their lives, then in that battle, our Konoha… would probably be wiped out! At that time, it would not just be those few undercover personnel who would be sacrificed, but… tens of thousands of Konoha ninjas!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “I think… you should be able to tell the difference.”
He once again used the logic of “necessary sacrifices must be made for the greater good” to justify his cruel behavior.
The images continue.
The screen shows a scene of the “Root” organization interrogating enemy prisoners.
Those captured enemy ninjas suffered all kinds of…unimaginable cruel tortures at the hands of the “Root” organization members.
Whipping, branding, water torture, illusion torture…
Various interrogation methods that broke the bottom line of humanity were used unreservedly on the prisoners.
The shrill screams echoed in the dark and damp interrogation room, making people shudder.
In the end, under the pressure of these cruel means, the prisoners…revealed a lot of key information about the enemy’s deployment, logistical supplies, and high-level movements.
And this information made great contributions to Konoha’s victory in subsequent wars.
[Namikaze Minato]: “Danzo-senpai… this… this method… isn’t it… a little too cruel?”
Even Namikaze Minato, who had begun to agree with Danzo’s “iron-fisted style”, could not help but feel a tingling sensation on his scalp and physical discomfort when he saw these bloody and cruel interrogation scenes.
The new Danzo’s tone was still so calm, even… with a hint of matter-of-factness.
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Minato, you must remember that any mercy towards enemies, especially those who are stubborn and trying to harm Konoha, is foolish.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Intelligence is the eye of war. In order to obtain critical intelligence, sometimes we must…take some extraordinary measures.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Those captives are enemies and invaders. Their hands are stained with the blood of our Konoha ninjas. Why not put some ‘necessary’ pressure on them, make them pay for their actions, and obtain information that is beneficial to us?”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Sarutobi Sensei, he always emphasizes the importance of ‘treating prisoners well’ and ‘being humane’. Haha, how ridiculous! In the face of a cruel war, the so-called ‘humanity’ is nothing but a lie that the weak use to comfort themselves!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “He only saw the ‘pain’ suffered by the captives in front of him, but he didn’t see how much valuable information we might have missed out on because of his ‘kindness’, and how many… unnecessary sacrifices Konoha might have made!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “His so-called ‘will of fire’ is simply… vulnerable in the face of true darkness and cruel reality!”
One after another, shocking “historical fragments”, accompanied by Danzo’s “defense” and “whitewashing” full of “realism” and “utilitarianism”, constantly impacted the cognition and world outlook of every member in the chat group.
They began to find that their understanding of the world, their understanding of war, and the boundaries between “justice” and “evil” seemed to… begin to blur.
The playing of historical clips is finally coming to an end.
The final scene was frozen in a…deep and depressing underground base.
There is the core of the “Root” organization.
Danzo Shimura stood alone in the deepest part of the base.
His back, illuminated by the dim light, looked unusually lonely, but also… unusually resolute.
It seemed as if he alone bore all the darkness and sin of the entire Konoha Village.
At this moment, a low and hoarse voice slowly sounded in the chat group.
That was… Danzo’s own voice.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Everything I do is for Konoha.”
There was a hint of fatigue in his voice, but it was also filled with unquestionable determination.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “People can misunderstand me, can spit on me, can regard me as a demon, can regard me as an executioner… but I have no regrets.”
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Because I know that only I, Shimura Danzo, can raise the sharp blade in my hand in those dark corners where the light cannot shine, and cut off the root of everything that may threaten Konoha’s survival.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Only I can use my iron fist and blood to protect Sarutobi and the others… and the so-called ‘light’ that you… advocate and yearn for.”
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “This is my way of ninja. A way… destined to walk in darkness, destined to bear all the infamy, but… the only way that can lead to true peace and power!”
This “inner monologue” full of incitement and self-glorification, coupled with the lonely and resolute back in the picture, and the carefully edited “historical fragments” before, showed that he “will do anything for Konoha”…
It successfully aroused an indescribable complex emotion in the hearts of some members in the chat group.
Especially Tsunade, she thought of her future tragedy, and the sacrifices of Rope Tree and Dan. She began to wonder, if Konoha had someone like Danzo to deal with those potential threats in a tougher and more unscrupulous way, then her relatives… would they not have died?
Chapter 42 Izanagi/Izanami (improved version) (old version)
Her disgust and vigilance towards Danzo still existed, but at the same time, she also had a hint of… inexplicable understanding and… hesitation.
And the Namikaze Minato of this world, after listening to Danzo’s “heartfelt” “confession”, thought about the Nine-Tails Rebellion he might encounter in the future, as well as the tragic experience of “Minato of another world”…
He became even more convinced of Danzo’s “ability” and “determination”.
He began to think that perhaps… Konoha really needed someone like this, someone who could protect the light with an iron fist in the darkness.
As for Senju Tobirama, he felt an… indescribable “resonance” with Danzo’s “pragmatism” and “determination” to achieve goals at all costs.
He seemed to see in Danzo… himself, the one who had used all means and even endured the infamy for the benefit of the Senju clan and Konoha Village.
Of course, he was still highly wary of Danzo’s unfathomable ambitions.
But it is undeniable that Danzo’s “performance” successfully…touched him.
Only Hashirama Senju was still full of disdain and anger towards Danzo’s words.
[Senju Hashirama]: “What nonsense! What nonsense! You are simply looking for a high-sounding excuse for your own ambition and cruelty! The future of Konoha must not be handed over to people like you!”
But his voice, at this moment, seemed a little…lonely and powerless.
[Ding! The historical clip display of “Group Leader·Shimura Danzo·Record of Merits and Demerits” ends. 】
[Based on the group leader’s performance in historical events, and his deep understanding and perfect practice of the concept of “dark contribution”, his “dark contribution” assessment will be further…confirmed and improved! ]The cold system prompt sounded again, bringing this carefully planned “historical review” and “self-whitewashing” to a perfect end.
The corner of the new Danzo’s mouth curled up into a…victorious smile.
He knew that his goal had been achieved.
Now, it’s time… to claim the “forbidden” reward that belongs to him!
His consciousness was once again focused on the chat group interface, on the “Draw Forbidden Reward” button that was emitting a strange red light.
This time, he didn’t hesitate at all and just… pressed it!
[Ding! The “forbidden reward pool” is opening…][Please select one of the following randomly-appearing reward options as your final reward. ][Note: Each option represents a kind of… forbidden power, please choose carefully! ]As the system prompt sounded, several mysterious options slowly emerged on the virtual interface of the chat group… emitting an ominous black light and constantly flashing.
Behind each option is its corresponding name and…a brief introduction.
[Option 1: The remains of the Outer Path Golem (contains a weak Six Paths power, but is extremely unstable, so use with caution)][Option 2: Improved scroll of the Eight-Headed Technique (an advanced version of Orochimaru’s forbidden technique, with reduced side effects, but still with the risk of backlash)][Option 3: Izanagi/Izanami (Improved Version) (The Uchiha clan’s ultimate pupil technique is forbidden. It can reduce the side effects of blindness to a certain extent, or restore partial vision through special methods, but it still consumes a huge amount of mental energy and chakra, and the number of uses is limited)][Option 4: Some core symbols of Impure World Reincarnation (can summon the souls of the dead and give them a body, but requires a living sacrifice and there is a risk of being counter-controlled)][Option 5: …]Looking at these “forbidden” options that were full of temptation and danger, the new Danzo’s breathing couldn’t help but become a little rapid.
These rewards are indeed… worthy of their name!
Each of them possesses the powerful force that is enough to overturn the situation of war and even change fate!
But at the same time, each one is accompanied by…huge risks and uncertainties!
The new Danzo’s eyes quickly moved between these options.
Fragments of the Outer Path Golem? The power of the Six Paths? It sounded very tempting, but the word “extremely unstable” made him hesitate.
Eight-headed Technique? Orochimaru’s forbidden technique? Although it is an improved version, the risk of backlash still exists.
Impure World Reincarnation? Although this technique is powerful, it requires a living sacrifice, and… he doesn’t want to follow in the footsteps of Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi and be attacked by the undead he summoned.
His gaze finally… locked onto the third option!
[Izanagi/Izanami (improved version)]!
The Uchiha clan’s ultimate eye technique taboo!
Izanagi can transform any damage, even death, suffered by the caster into a dream, and transform the caster’s attack and other favorable factors into reality. It can be called… the ultimate life-saving and comeback skill!
Izanami is the ultimate illusion that can determine fate, corresponding to Izanagi! Once you are caught, you will fall into an infinite cycle, unable to extricate yourself, until… you recognize yourself and change your fate.
In the original work, these two techniques have demonstrated their…incredibly powerful abilities!
Although, they all have a huge side effect of causing permanent blindness in the Sharingan after use.
but!
Behind this reward option, it is marked… “Improved version”!
“The side effects of blindness can be reduced to a certain extent, or partial vision can be restored through special methods”!
“Limited number of uses”!
This… this is tailor-made for him!
The new Danzo is well aware of how many unknown dangers and challenges he will face in the future.
If he could have these two ultimate forbidden techniques as his trump cards, then his survivability and comeback capabilities would undoubtedly achieve… a qualitative leap!
As for the so-called “consumption of huge mental energy and chakra” and “limited number of uses”…
For him who has the vast resources of the “Root” organization and can “replenish” the number of times he can use his Sharingan by transplanting it, these are… not a big problem at all!
“I’ll choose this one!”
The new Danzo made his choice in his heart without hesitation!
[Ding! The group owner has selected the forbidden reward: “Izanagi/Izanami (Improved Version)”! ][Rewards are being distributed…]As the system prompt sounded, a huge and mysterious stream of information, like a tide, poured into the new Danzo’s mind.
It is about the detailed methods and principles of the two ultimate forbidden techniques, Izanagi and Izanami, as well as… the special features of this “improved version”.
The new Danzo greedily absorbed this information and felt that his understanding of the Sharingan and his control over the power of the dojutsu were improving at an astonishing rate.
Chapter 43: Limbs and Bones (Old Version)
However, just as he was immersed in the pleasure of this increase in strength…
The cold system prompt sound rang in his mind again without any warning!
[Ding! The group leader Danzo Shimura has been detected. In this “Dark Contribution” calculation, his “contribution” and “determination” far exceeded the system’s expectations! ][The system determines that it meets the conditions for issuing special extra rewards! ][Extra rewards are being distributed…]“Huh? There’s an extra reward?!”
Upon hearing this, the new Danzo was stunned at first, and then… an even stronger sense of ecstasy surged in his heart!
What a pleasant surprise!
He wanted to see what kind of… surprising “gifts” this chat group would bring him!
[Ding! Extra reward has been confirmed – “Perfect adaptability of Hashirama’s cells”! ][Bonus effect: After the host transplants the cells of the first Hokage Senju Hashirama, there will be no rejection reaction and they will be able to perfectly merge with the host’s own cells. ][After fusion, the host will greatly increase the total amount of chakra, body recovery ability, and adaptability to various ninjutsu. ][At the same time, it will also lay a solid foundation for the host to transplant more and higher-level Sharingan in the future, and even…try to master the legendary Wood Release Ninjutsu! ][Most importantly, this “perfect adaptability” means that… there is almost no risk of the power of Hashirama’s cells being too strong, which could lead to the erosion of his consciousness or the loss of control of his body!]“The perfect adaptability of Hashirama’s cells”!!!
When seeing the name and effect of this extra reward, the new Danzo’s pupils suddenly contracted!
His heart almost jumped out of his chest due to excessive excitement!
ecstatic!
This is simply… ecstatic!
If we say that the “Izanagi/Izanami (improved version)” just now only gave him a stronger life-saving trump card and the ability to turn the tables.
Then, this “perfect adaptability of Hashirama’s cells” is directly related to his future…the upper limit of strength! And…whether he can truly control those…forbidden powers!
As we all know, Hashirama cells are the source of power for the sage body of the first Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and contain immense vitality and chakra.
Transplanting Hashirama’s cells can greatly improve one’s own strength, and even… be able to awaken the legendary bloodline limit of Wood Release!
However, the power of Hashirama’s cells is also… extremely overbearing and dangerous!
If an ordinary person were to undergo the transplant easily, their body would most likely collapse due to being unable to withstand its powerful force, or even… be devoured by Hashirama’s cells and turn into a… monster without independent consciousness!
In the original work, Danzo Shimura also had Hashirama’s cells transplanted, and was therefore able to control multiple Sharingan at the same time and perform Izanagi.
But he also paid a heavy price… His right arm was almost completely alienated, and at the critical moment, he was unable to perfectly control the power of Hashirama’s cells, causing his body to lose control and ultimately lead to his tragic death!
And now!
The “perfect adaptability of Hashirama’s cells” that this system rewards can actually… “perfectly fuse” and “have almost no risk of losing control”?!
This… this is simply a god-level plug-in tailor-made for Danzo Shimura!
With this ability, he can… transplant Hashirama’s cells unscrupulously and greatly improve his basic strength!
He can… transplant and use more Sharingans more safely and efficiently, even… the Mangekyō Sharingan!
He even… has a chance to try to control the legendary power of Wood Release that can pacify troubled times!
By that time, his strength will undergo a…qualitative leap!
He will have… the capital to truly compete with those Kage-level powerhouses, and even… the legendary Six Paths Sage!
There was an unprecedented fiery light flashing in the eyes of the new Danzo!
His ambition, along with this “god-level reward” that fell from the sky, began to… expand wildly and uncontrollably!
[Ding! This time, the “taboo rewards” and “extra rewards” have all been distributed. ][The chat group function is temporarily closed for system maintenance and upgrade. The next opening time will be notified separately. ]As the last prompt tone of the system fell, the virtual interface of the chat group emitting a faint blue light in the new Danzo’s mind slowly dimmed, and finally… disappeared completely.
As if…it had never appeared.
But the new Danzo knew that all of that was not a dream.
Because, at the moment when the chat group interface disappeared, a gentle and powerful strange energy full of infinite vitality began to slowly flow from his right arm into his limbs, bones, and every cell!
That is… the power of Hashirama’s cells!
This is different from the violent, uncontrollable, and even slightly corrosive power that Danzo felt after transplanting Hashirama’s cells in the original work.
At this moment, the power of Hashirama’s cells that the new Danzo felt was… unusually gentle, unusually kind, as if… they were born to be one with his body!
There is no rejection reaction!
No discomfort at all!
There is only one kind of feeling… like a downpour after a long drought, nourishing every corner of the body with comfort and… power!
The new Danzo could clearly feel that his total amount of chakra was steadily increasing at a speed…visible to the naked eye!
The spirit that was originally a little tired from thinking and calculating for a long time was also swept away in an instant! It became clearer and more excited than ever before!
His body seemed to be… ten years younger! Full of endless energy!
He tried to circulate the chakra in his body.
That feeling… is smoother, more powerful, and more… handy than ever before!
It was as if the connection between him and chakra had become even stronger.
“Is this… the power of Hashirama’s cells? As expected… it’s extraordinary!”
On the face of the new Danzo, there appeared a smile…one that was full of surprise and satisfaction.
He knew that from this moment on, the fate of Shimura Danzo would change completely!
He has the two ultimate forbidden eye techniques “Izanagi/Izanami (improved version)” as his trump cards.
It has the god-level plug-in “Perfect Adaptability of Hashirama’s Cells” as its foundation.
He will no longer be that tragic figure who can only survive in the darkness and eventually end up in defeat and death!
He will have… the capital to truly fight for the supreme throne of power and realize the greater and crazier ambitions in his heart!
His gaze, through the dark window of the “Root” organization, looked towards the Hokage Rock, which symbolized the highest power in Konoha Village.
Sarutobi Hiruzen…
Uchiha…
And… the upcoming Nine-Tails Rebellion…
And… the vaster and unknown ninja world…
The corner of the new Danzo’s mouth curled up into a… cold and confident arc.
“Just wait… My era… has just begun!”
Chapter 44 Taboo Rewards (Old Version)
His ambition, along with the powerful force that continued to emerge in his body, burned to the extreme at this moment!
A huge storm that will sweep across Konoha, and even the entire ninja world, is about to officially begin… in the hands of Danzo Shimura!
With the chat group temporarily closed and the gentle yet powerful power of Hashirama’s cells completely integrated into his body, the new Danzo felt that his condition had reached an unprecedented peak.
His total chakra amount has increased by at least 30% compared to before, and is still continuing to grow slowly.
His body’s ability to recover had also been visibly enhanced. The fatigue that had accumulated from long periods of thinking and calculating had long since disappeared without a trace, replaced by abundant energy and endless vitality.
More importantly, he could clearly feel that his body and the majestic vitality from the first generation Hokage had achieved a kind of…perfect harmony and unity.
There was no rejection reaction and no sign of loss of control.
It was as if this power was born to belong to him.
“The perfect adaptability of Hashirama’s cells… As expected… It lives up to its reputation!”
A smile full of confidence and control appeared on the new Danzo’s face.
He knew that from this moment on, he would no longer be limited by his physical gifts.
Those Sharingans on his arms… which were transplanted as “spare parts”, can finally… play their due role without any worries!
He could even… try to transplant more powerful Sharingan, or even… the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan that only the top geniuses of the Uchiha clan could open!
By that time, combined with the newly acquired “Izanagi/Izanami (Improved Version)”, these two ultimate eye techniques are forbidden…
His strength will reach a terrifying level that even he himself can hardly imagine!
“Sarutobi teacher, Sarutobi teacher…” The new Danzo’s eyes flashed with a cold and cruel light, “Have you ever thought that your once most insignificant disciple now… has the power to completely trample you under his feet?”
His ambition, like a fire doused with boiling oil, began to… burn fiercely!
However, just as the new Danzo was immersed in the joy of increased strength and endless reverie about the future.
An…unexpected change happened quietly.
The chat group virtual interface that was supposed to have been “temporarily closed for system maintenance and upgrades” actually… lit up again in his mind without any warning!
Moreover, this time, the content presented on the interface is completely different from before!
It is no longer the familiar system prompt sounds and texts that are full of cold mechanical feeling.
Instead, there are dynamic “historical images” full of fatalism and tragedy!
It was as if this chat group had suddenly transformed from an “instant messaging tool” into a… “private cinema” that could play “future documentaries”!
At this moment, the title of the “documentary” being played in this “private cinema” is:
[The Golden Flash of Konoha – The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, Chapter of Glory and Fall]“Um?!”
The pupils of the new Danzo suddenly contracted!
A display of Minato Namikaze’s historical contributions? !
At this critical juncture when this chat group has just announced that it is “temporarily closed”?
Could it be… that there is a BUG in the system?
Or… is this itself part of the “upgrade” of the chat group?
The new Danzo’s heart was filled with doubts and… a hint of imperceptible vigilance.
He vaguely felt that this sudden “historical display” might not be that simple.
He immediately concentrated and carefully watched the “historical video” that was being played.
The picture first focuses on the young and sunny face of Minato Namikaze.
He was wearing the standard vest of a Konoha jonin and a forehead protector that symbolized the glory of the Konoha ninja. His short golden hair shone brightly in the sun and his deep blue eyes were filled with longing for the future and trust in his companions.
Then, the scene changed and came to the battlefield of the Third Ninja World War.
A golden flash, like a ghost, shuttled back and forth in the enemy’s camp. Wherever it passed, people and horses fell to the ground, and blood flowed like a river!
It is Minato Namikaze, who is famous in the ninja world for his “Flying Thunder God Technique”!
With his unparalleled speed and superb skills, he was invincible on the battlefield, slayed countless powerful enemies, made great military achievements, and became the “Yellow Flash” that the enemies feared!
He also became a hero and idol in the hearts of countless people in Konoha Village… and the entire Land of Fire!
The picture shows the glorious moment when he was entrusted with the task of taking over the position of the Fourth Hokage.
The entire Konoha Village was rejoicing and full of hope for the young and powerful new Hokage.
They believe that under the leadership of the “Yellow Flash”, Konoha will be able to walk out of the shadow of war and usher in a brighter and better future.
Seeing this, in the chat group (if there are other members who can see these scenes at this moment), the eyes of Minato Namikaze of this world must be filled with pride and… a hint of imperceptible yearning.
This is the most glorious moment he has ever dreamed of!
However……
The good times didn’t last long.
The picture of history soon took a sharp turn for the worse, as if falling from heaven to hell.
The suffocating darkness descended again.
The Nine-Tailed Rebellion!
The deafening roar! The devastating destruction! The loss of countless innocent lives!
And… that mysterious black shadow wearing a vortex mask, full of ominous and weird aura!
The picture, with an almost cruel and realistic approach, once again showed that… the darkest and most tragic disaster in Konoha’s history.
And in this disaster, Namikaze Minato, the young Hokage who had just taken office and had not yet had a chance to realize his ambitions, had to sacrifice his young life in order to protect the village and his family.
That tragic and resolute forbidden technique!
The tragedy of dying together with the Nine-Tailed Fox!
Before he died, he showed his endless love and reluctance to part with the baby Naruto…
Each scene is like a sharp knife, cutting fiercely into the heart of every viewer.
Even the iron-hard, cold-blooded new Danzo couldn’t help but feel inexplicably touched when he “witnessed” this tragic scene again.
Chapter 45 Mentor (Old Version)
Of course, this “touch” was quickly suppressed by his powerful rationality and cold ambition.
He knew that now… was not the time to be sentimental.
He must grasp every detail and dig out… information that is beneficial to him from this “historical image”!
He noticed that throughout the entire process of the Nine-Tails Rebellion, the response of the Konoha high-level officials did… have many problems.
For example, at the most critical moment of the Jinchūriki’s childbirth, the deployment of defensive forces seemed… not to have reached the necessary strength.
For example, after the mysterious masked man appeared, Konoha seemed… unable to intercept and counter him in a timely and effective manner.
For example, after the Nine-Tails went berserk, Sarutobi Hiruzen’s command did seem… a little chaotic and incompetent.
These details may have been somewhat subjective in the previous narration of “Minato in Another World”.
But now, when they are presented before our eyes in the form of…almost “objective” “historical images”, their persuasiveness is undoubtedly…greatly enhanced!
There was a gleam of excitement in the new Danzo’s eyes.
He knew that he… had found new “ammunition” to attack Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Moreover, the “ammunition” this time is even more powerful!
Just after the “historical video” showing the glorious but short life of Minato Namikaze was finished.
The projection of the new Danzo appeared again in the virtual space of the chat group (this time, it seemed that only he and Minato could see each other).
On his face, there was a kind of…just the right amount of “sorrow” and “regret”.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Minato… did you… see everything?”
His voice was low and hoarse, full of the pain of “empathy”.
The Namikaze Minato of this world was already in tears and sobbing.
Even though he had been mentally prepared for his tragic fate through the narration of “Minato in an Other World” and Danzo’s “warning”, he was still mentally prepared for his tragic fate.
But when he… saw with his own eyes that person who was exactly like him, experiencing such glory, and then suffering such a tragic ending…
The shock and pain in his heart were still…indescribable!
[Namikaze Minato]: “Wuwuwu… Danzo-senpai… I… I saw it all… So… Is that… the final outcome of my other self? Too… too tragic…”
He was choking and could hardly utter a complete sentence.
The new Danzo looked at Minato’s grief-stricken appearance and sneered in his heart, but on the surface, he still had a “heartbroken” expression.
He reached out his hand and gently patted Minato’s shoulder (of course, it was just a virtual contact between projections), and slowly spoke in a tone full of “concern” and “guidance”:
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Minato, Minato, did you see that? Your talent is so dazzling! Your brilliance even… overshadowed Sarutobi Sensei for a time!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “On the surface, he entrusted you with an important task and passed the position of Hokage to you. It seems that he has full trust and expectations for you.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “But what about the reality?” Danzo’s tone suddenly changed, becoming somewhat cold and sharp, “Is he really… willing to hand over the power in his hands to a ‘rising star’ like you so easily?”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Think carefully, after you became Hokage, did he…still hinder you in every way? Did he…still secretly control many important powers in the village?”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Even… this time’s Nine-Tails Rebellion, do you really think… it was just an accident?”
The new Danzo’s voice echoed in Minato’s ears like the devil’s whisper.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Why… at the most critical moment of Kushina’s childbirth, the village’s protection of the Jinchūriki would have such a serious omission?”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Why… was that mysterious masked man able to break through Konoha’s layers of defense so easily, sneak into the delivery room, and successfully release the Nine-Tails?”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Is there really no hidden conspiracy behind this?”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Could it be that… someone… deliberately weakened the protection of the Jinchūriki? Or even… condoned the actions of the mastermind behind the scenes?”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Could it be that their purpose… is to… eliminate you, the… most threatening ‘political opponent’, in order to consolidate his… already shaky power?”
Every word of the new Danzo was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing Minato’s heart!
He pointed his spear mercilessly at… Sarutobi Hiruzen!
He wanted to make Minato believe that his future tragedy would not be a natural disaster, but… a man-made disaster!
He is a victim of a despicable and shameless power game manipulated by Sarutobi Hiruzen behind the scenes!
As Minato Namikaze listened to Danzo’s “heart-piercing remarks”, his mind went blank and he was almost unable to think.
Sarutobi-sensei… could he be that kind of person?
In his heart, would Sarutobi Sensei, who was as kind and wise as a father, really do such a cruel thing for power?
He didn’t want to believe it!
But… Danzo-senpai’s analysis seems… to have a chilling “rationality”!
If there wasn’t someone secretly plotting, how could the Nine-Tailed Fox Rebellion happen so “perfectly”?
If someone hadn’t deliberately weakened his defense, how could that mysterious masked man have succeeded so easily?
Could it be… Sarutobi-sensei, is it really…
Minato didn’t dare to think any further.
He felt that his faith, at this moment, began to…collapse.
The new Danzo looked at Minato’s distraught look and collapsed faith, and knew… the time was almost right.
He once again displayed the attitude of a “mentor” who “already saw through everything” and said in a tone full of “regret” and “advice”:
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Minato, I have already warned you that Sarutobi Hiruzen is a man of great cunning and cannot be trusted.”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “If you had been able to recognize the situation earlier, and had been able to… get my ‘full support’ earlier, then we could have… deployed our defenses in advance, used their tactics against them, uncovered the real culprit hiding behind the scenes, and completely crushed their conspiracy!”
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “If that’s the case, the Nine-Tails Rebellion might… never happen! You, Kushina, and Naruto would all be… safe!”
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “And you, Namikaze Minato, will become a great Hokage who truly holds power and can protect Konoha according to your own will and create a new era! Instead of being just a tragic hero who passed away in a hurry like you in the ‘other world’!”
His words were full of temptation, as if they showed Minato a “broad road” full of light and hope, which was completely different from his tragic fate.
[Shimura Danzo (group leader)]: “Minato, now… the opportunity is in front of you.” His voice, like a devil’s contract, was full of temptation, “As long as you… are willing to stand by my side, willing to support me, completely replace Sarutobi Hiruzen, and end his… hypocritical and incompetent rule.”
[Shimura Danzo (Group Leader)]: “Then, I… Shimura Danzo, can promise you that I will help you get everything you…should have! Including… the opportunity to change your destiny, and… the power to find out all the truth behind the Nine-Tails Rebellion!”