Sora proposed to Danzo that they establish a new department, similar to the Konoha Military Police Force, through which they could continue to target the Uchiha clan.
Danzo lowered his head slightly, considering the feasibility of this suggestion.
Sora's proposal had given Danzo a new perspective.
If a new department could truly be established, it would be impossible for Sarutobi Hiruzen and Namikaze Minato to allow him to monopolize power within it.
But this problem was actually simple to solve.
The Uchiha clan placed great importance on the Konoha Military Police Force because, in their eyes, it was their family's department.
All Danzo needed to do was work a little and let the Uchiha clan discover that this newly established department was specifically designed to target them. Then the Uchiha would definitely go to the Hokage Tower to confront Namikaze Minato and apply pressure.
Since things had reached the point of creating a new department, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Namikaze Minato must have already decided to adopt a softer approach toward the Uchiha clan.
So when the Uchiha came to apply pressure, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Namikaze Minato would most likely compromise and agree to shut down the new department.
At that point, Danzo would only need to firmly oppose this decision, then appear to reluctantly accept splitting the department, ensuring the new division fell under his control.
However, there was still one problem.
Danzo asked, "If a new department is established, what about the shinobi who would be assigned to join it? No one in Konoha wants to offend the Uchiha. If they learn we're specifically targeting the Uchiha, it's very likely no one will join, or those who do will eventually opt out."
Sora replied, "That's not a problem at all. As long as the pay is high enough, and Lord Danzo stations some Root shinobi there, the Root can bring in new people. Once these new shinobi arrest Uchiha clan members with their own hands, they'll realize there's nothing to fear about the Uchiha, and no one will want to quit.
The newcomers led by Root shinobi can also be partially absorbed as unofficial members of Root.
Of course, these people wouldn't be allowed to fully join Root.
The Third Hokage and Namikaze Minato would definitely not agree to expanding Root.
They would only give these shinobi an honorary status.
Let them know they were once connected to Root.
Doing this would effectively strengthen Root in disguise, allowing more people to know Lord Danzo's name.
This way, whatever Lord Danzo does in the future, there will be supporters to stand behind him.
I firmly believe that Lord Danzo's greatest disadvantage is having too few supporters.
Lord Danzo, I don't know why the Second Hokage chose the Third Generation to become Hokage, but in my opinion, the position of Hokage is obviously more suitable for you. Being indecisive as the shadow of a village is truly inadvisable."
Sora's words struck at Danzo's heart.
As someone working in the shadows, being indecisive was indeed a serious flaw.
For example, when the Five Great Nations were initially established, Senju Hashirama, the strongest shinobi in the world, could have made Konohagakure the most powerful hidden village, but he gave up this opportunity.
For the sake of Senju Hashirama's so-called peace, he hoped that through the Five Kage Summit, the tailed beast would be distributed equally and the five major powers would form an alliance.
However, this alliance was merely a "false peace" maintained by Senju Hashirama's strength alone. Shinobi from all countries feared only Senju Hashirama's power. Once he died, the countries lost all restraint, and the First Shinobi World War broke out.
If all the tailed beasts had been concentrated in Konoha at that time, many subsequent problems could have been avoided.
In contrast, Senju Tobirama's methods could be described as iron-blooded.
During his tenure, Senju Tobirama devoted all his efforts to building the foundation of the village.
To resolve both internal and external threats, Senju Tobirama demonstrated superb political skills. He established the Anbu directly under the Hokage to consolidate the authority of the leadership.
The Konoha Military Police Force was created with its main positions held by members of the Uchiha clan. This not only expressed trust in the Uchiha but also allowed surveillance of their every move.
Externally, Senju Tobirama established Anbu under the direct command of the Hokage to strengthen centralized power.
The members of Anbu were all exceptional shinobi selected from the village by Senju Tobirama himself.
They were primarily responsible for protecting the Hokage and preventing foreign enemies from infiltrating Konoha.
Sometimes they were also responsible for tasks such as reconnaissance and assassinations.
Its members all wore white animal masks during missions.
The masks, mission details, and all other information were kept strictly confidential.
At that time, it was the first intelligence organization among the five major countries.
Simultaneously, to ensure the inheritance of the Will of Fire, Senju Tobirama established the Konoha Ninja Academy. Many outstanding shinobi today graduated from this academy.
It could be said that while Senju Hashirama merely founded Konoha, Senju Tobirama was the one who nurtured it from a seedling into a mighty tree.
Danzo believed he was the person most similar to Senju Tobirama.
However, the position of Hokage had been given to Sarutobi Hiruzen. Although Danzo had been timid during the initial test, he had truly wanted to volunteer as bait at that crucial moment.
Because of this, the position of Hokage fell into the hands of Sarutobi Hiruzen, which had always been a thorn in Danzo's heart.
Danzo was confident that if he were Hokage, he would definitely perform better than Sarutobi Hiruzen—more than twice as well!
If he had been the Hokage, there would not have been a Third Shinobi World War, giving other hidden villages a chance to invade them.
And Konoha would certainly have become more prosperous.
But all these thoughts were futile because he was not the Hokage, and his ambitions remained unfulfilled.
After listening to Sora's answer, Danzo understood what he meant.
Sora had seen through him—Danzo wanted to be Hokage more than anyone.
And it seemed that Sora wanted him to be Hokage too.
The strategy provided by Sora was to let Root gradually emerge from the shadows into public view and gain the support of Konoha's villagers.
Danzo tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, thinking carefully.
After a while, Danzo said to Sora, "I will consider what you've suggested carefully. You may leave now."
This matter was too important for Danzo to decide immediately.
Sora nodded and said, "Yes, Lord Danzo."
Sora turned and left the Root headquarters.
He took a deep breath after seeing sunlight again.
He wasn't worried about Danzo's disapproval, as long as Danzo maintained his desire to become Hokage.
If Danzo didn't want to be Hokage... but that was impossible.
As for the Uchiha clan, Sora simply wanted to kick them while they were down.
Sora would never forget the bullying he had received from the Uchiha clan and what had happened to his parents.
It was clear that his parents had done nothing wrong, yet they were forced out of Konoha, treated as traitors, and hunted down. After he returned to Konoha, he wasn't treated as a human at all and was bullied mercilessly. These memories remained vivid in Sora's mind to this day.
Although the Uchiha clan would be exterminated in the future, Sora had to settle some scores before that happened.
Moreover, how could he possibly be absent on the night when the Uchiha clan was to be exterminated!
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