"Who's there?"
Outside the Root base, two Root shinobi assumed alert stances, eyes wary as they looked toward the three approaching figures.
"Watch yourself, this is the Hokage-sama!"
The ANBU leading the group, tasked with Hiruzen's protection, stepped forward quickly and barked out a reprimand.
"Hehe, it's fine."
Wearing a kind smile, Hiruzen showed no sign of being offended. Instead, he stopped in his tracks and addressed the Root shinobi in a calm voice.
"Go inform Danzō that his old friend has come to see him."
Of course, Hiruzen could have forced his way into the base using other methods, but that would go against the purpose of his visit today.
...
Inside the base, Danzō—who had just been planning to head out and destroy evidence at the last two locations—looked visibly shocked upon receiving the news.
What a coincidence. He had just been preparing to leave, and Hiruzen showed up immediately afterward. Could this bastard have learned the Yamanaka clan's mind-reading techniques?
Taking a moment to compose himself, Danzō masked his shock and responded in a cold tone to the subordinate who had delivered the report.
"If the Hokage himself is here, then let him in."
Upon receiving Danzō's orders, the Root shinobi at the entrance allowed Hiruzen's group to enter the base.
...
"Hiruzen, I'm busy. If this isn't something important, I suggest you get on with it and leave quickly."
Danzō, who had come to greet him in the base's main hall, immediately issued a not-so-subtle dismissal.
"What, Danzō? An old friend comes to visit, and this is how you welcome him?"
Hiruzen acted as if he didn't notice the irritation in Danzō's voice and put on the air of an old companion, making no mention of his true intentions.
"You..."
Frowning as he examined Hiruzen, Danzō couldn't quite pin down the Hokage's motives. Judging by his demeanor, though, it didn't seem like he was here to accuse anyone.
After a moment, Danzō eased his tone slightly and gestured for Hiruzen to follow him.
"Fine. Come with me."
"You two, wait here."
Seeing that Danzō intended to lead the way, Hiruzen softly instructed the ANBU beside him.
"Hokage-sama, this—"
The ANBU didn't feel comfortable leaving the Hokage unguarded and started to speak up, but Hiruzen was already following Danzō deeper into the Root base.
...
After leading Hiruzen into his office, Danzō dismissed the surrounding personnel, leaving only the two of them in the room.
"So you've hung that calligraphy piece here. No wonder I didn't find it at your house."
Hiruzen glanced around the office, finally stopping in front of a scroll inscribed with large characters written by his own hand.
"You came here just to admire your own work?"
Seeing Hiruzen avoiding the subject, Danzō—who had worked with him for many years—immediately sensed that he must want something, and that this wasn't about any hidden secrets. With that realization, he felt a bit more confident.
He walked over to his desk and began working, no longer bothering to even look at Hiruzen.
"Hehehe, Danzō, come on now. We've been friends for years—no need to act like strangers."
Seeing that Danzō had likely guessed his real purpose, Hiruzen didn't keep playing coy. He was about to sit down when he realized Danzō's office only had one chair—his own.
As the Third Hokage, he was actually being made to stand during a conversation with his subordinate...
"Summoning Technique."
Naturally, this sort of thing wouldn't trouble the Third Hokage. With a crisp pop, Hiruzen summoned his own seat and sat down right in front of Danzō.
Next time, I'm setting up a sealing barrier in this base.
Watching Hiruzen's smug expression, Danzō's face remained cold. Though he said nothing aloud, he was already planning a sealing technique to block summoning inside the base.
...
"I heard from Jiraiya—Takeshi has a lot of talent, even more than his old man," Hiruzen said as he sat down, lighting his pipe and puffing away. He ignored the sour expression on Danzō's face.
"Hmph. So what, you're proud just because my son is being taught by one of your students?"
To Danzō, it felt like Hiruzen was flaunting the excellence of his disciples—so much so that even his own son had to learn under them.
Truth be told, if it weren't for the fact that Minato was the only person in Konoha with high-level talent in space-time ninjutsu, Danzō never would have taken the initiative to approach Jiraiya.
...
"Hehe, you always think the worst of me. Remember when we were kids—"
Just as he was getting into the story, Hiruzen noticed Danzō's expression turning darker and cut himself off.
"I've been thinking of finding Asuma a talented Wind Release instructor."
At last, Hiruzen got to the point.
"I'm busy, Hiruzen. The war is about to—"
Danzō began refusing without a second thought, but stopped himself when he heard what Hiruzen said next.
"I believe Takeshi has excellent potential. I intend to take him as my student."
...
It was well known that Danzō had long hoped to find Takeshi a teacher from the Hokage lineage, to pave a smooth path for succession in the future.
Hiruzen's proposal meant that Danzō no longer needed to search. The Hokage himself would personally endorse Takeshi's legitimacy. And the cost? Barely anything.
Whether or not Hiruzen would actually have time to teach Takeshi was irrelevant.
As long as Hiruzen publicly acknowledged Takeshi as his student among the Jōnin, then Takeshi would be seen as a proper inheritor of not just the Third, but the First Hokage's lineage.
...
Danzō was annoyed.
He was annoyed because, once again, Hiruzen had gotten ahead of him—understood exactly what he wanted, and used it against him.
"You bastard..." Danzō stared coldly at Hiruzen, resisting the urge to blast him with a Wind Release jutsu then and there. In the end, he chose to compromise—for Takeshi's sake—and also because he could sense sincerity in Hiruzen's proposal.
"Tell that brat Asuma to come tomorrow. I'll make time to train him."
"Haha, excellent. And tell Takeshi to meet me at the Hokage Tower tomorrow morning."
Hiruzen stood up cheerfully.
"Don't worry. I'll pass on everything I know to that boy."
"Let's hope so."
Danzō didn't even bother to glance at him as he resumed his work.
Seeing that Danzō didn't believe a word he said, Hiruzen gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
...
Though he had trained the legendary "Three Sannin," in Hiruzen's eyes, none of them had truly inherited his teachings.
Orochimaru was obsessed with research, Tsunade's techniques largely came from the Senju clan's legacy, and Jiraiya... well, he had inherited one aspect of Hiruzen's teachings at best.
Hopefully, Takeshi wouldn't let him down.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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