Akihara Kagura, this child is a bit abnormal.
Shimura Danzo never imagined that taking care of a child could be so difficult.
After all, the way Shimura Danzo had always raised children was to throw a group of mentally stable kids together, let them grow up, and then let them kill each other off to become somewhat mentally unstable assassins...
But now, faced with an overly abnormal child, Shimura Danzo suddenly felt a bit troubled, afraid that this child would cause some disaster.
But...
Shimura Danzo couldn't bring himself to criticize.
Because this child was always defending him.
"I have to go out for a bit."
Shimura Danzo pondered for a moment, decided to go to the Hokage Tower to gauge Sarutobi Hiruzen's intentions, and looked at Akihara Kagura: "Jia, you rest at the base."
"Huh?"
The young man seemed a bit surprised, and couldn't help but look up at the elderly man: "Lord Danzo, didn't you say you wanted me to be your guard? I can definitely ensure your safety!"
"Follow orders."
Shimura Danzo greatly appreciated the child's loyalty.
However, this old man still overruled the young man's suggestion with one sentence.
Shimura Danzo knew full well that if he went to the Hokage Tower, there was a good chance he and the monkey would argue. He was a bit afraid that this child might attack the Hokage on the spot.
Hokage Tower.
Shimura Danzo hurried here, mainly to explore Sarutobi Hiruzen's desire for Akihara Kagura and prepare early.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen really intended to use the opportunity of the Chunin exams to take Akihara Kagura, then Shimura Danzo would have to... endure it.
Of course!
He definitely planned to have a good argument with him!
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen understood his old friend very well. When he saw Shimura Danzo walk into the Hokage Office, he directly handed Danzo a list of participants for the Chunin exams.
"What does this mean?"
Shimura Danzo took the list and quickly glanced over it, his eyes landing on one name: "Uchiha Itachi? Participating in the Chunin exams alone?"
This name...
Had been on Shimura Danzo's radar for a long time.
After all, Uchiha Itachi graduated early from the Ninja Academy and was known as the most talented child in peacetime, undoubtedly attracting much attention.
Especially since Uchiha Itachi once had a conflict with the Root Organization and easily defeated a member of Root, which left a deep impression on Shimura Danzo!
Back then...
Uchiha Itachi was only eight years old!
Now, at ten, Uchiha Itachi was undoubtedly even more exceptional!
Shimura Danzo quickly calmed down and went into work mode: "I've heard of this child. With his strength, passing the exam alone shouldn't be difficult..."
"But this child is an Uchiha. Once he passes the Chunin exams alone, this is unprecedented in Konoha, those Uchiha folks..."
"Danzo!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted Shimura Danzo, slowly taking a puff from his pipe: "We can't harbor malice towards others just because of a surname..."
"But..."
"We also can't ignore the meaning this surname represents."
Sarutobi Hiruzen never spoke directly, he just turned to the window, gazing deeply at Konoha: "The village is becoming more and more restless, conflicts between the Uchiha and the villagers are increasing, and their relationship with the village is becoming more and more tense..."
"Hmph, they should have been dealt with long ago."
Shimura Danzo snorted coldly, disdainful of his old friend's leniency: "You should carry out our teacher's will and completely eradicate the evil Uchiha..."
"Danzo!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice immediately turned stern, loudly saying: "The Uchiha are also part of Konoha. Among them are some who embrace the Will of Fire... have you already forgotten the name of Kagami because it's been too long since he passed away?"
Uchiha Kagami.
He was once their teammate, even helping them escape danger multiple times during crises, and everyone considered him an excellent Konoha ninja.
Even the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, who was once quite hostile to the Uchiha Clan, had to acknowledge Uchiha Kagami's excellence, believing that he had transcended the narrow-mindedness of his clan.
It's a pity.
Uchiha Kagami died young.
Even though Uchiha Kagami had passed away years ago, the will he left behind still influences the Uchiha Clan, and his descendants are as loyal to the village as he was.
The current top expert of the Uchiha, Uchiha Shisui, is a descendant of Kagami and, like his ancestor, strives to ease tensions between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha, while spreading the Will of Fire within the Uchiha Clan.
When Shimura Danzo heard Sarutobi Hiruzen mention his old friend's name, he immediately fell silent. Even he couldn't forget the old friend who had saved him multiple times.
After a long time.
Shimura Danzo still did not choose to change his stance.
"Kagami..."
"In the end, he's just a minority."
"You should have understood one thing long ago..."
"The village cannot afford the risk of an Uchiha uprising."
"Just because a small flame can provide warmth, doesn't mean you should ignore the risk of a wildfire. This isn't a decision a Hokage should make. You've become weak..."
"Hiruzen, you will regret this."
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned back coldly, looking at the advisor who seemed earnest in his counsel and calmly said: "Even if there's a slight hope for peacefully resolving the conflict, it shouldn't be abandoned... and now, your task is to follow orders."
"Hmph... what order?"
"Doesn't Root still have a Wood Release Bloodline Ninja?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze turned sharp, steadily glaring at his old friend, and said in a deep voice: "Rest assured, it's just to let him participate in a Chunin exam. I won't have him removed from Root..."
"Hmph..."
Shimura Danzo grunted, but his expression relaxed.
Originally, Shimura Danzo was somewhat furious at Sarutobi Hiruzen's lenient attitude towards the Uchiha, but upon learning of Sarutobi Hiruzen's similarly lenient stance on him hiding a Wood Release bloodline...
Actually...
This old friend being soft-hearted isn't so bad either.
Shimura Danzo, now certain he could keep Akihara Kagura, the Wood Release bloodline holder, under his command, suddenly felt very pleased and optimistic about the future.
"I understand."
Shimura Danzo was very satisfied with this trip and proactively planned: "I'll mentor him well, and have him participate in the Chunin exams alone. This way, that brat Uchiha Itachi won't steal the spotlight in the exam, and hopefully, it will make the Uchiha Clan a bit more restrained..."
"Arrange it as you see fit."
Sarutobi Hiruzen neither nodded nor shook his head, nor did he say anything further, as if he hadn't just said anything.
"Then I'll be off."
Shimura Danzo, leaning on his cane, was about to leave.
"Wait..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly called him, calmly asking: "When did that child with the Wood Release Bloodline appear? Is someone still illegally conducting Hashirama Cell transplantation experiments in the village, or is it Orochimaru again..."
"That child was sent from the orphanage!"
Shimura Danzo's eyes involuntarily widened, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "That child awakened Wood Release long ago, and I've kept him in the Root base for training..."
"Oh."
Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to accept this explanation, sighed faintly, and said: "Then teach the child well, to protect Konoha, and ensure the child doesn't take the wrong path..."