Shimura Danzo watched Aomi's departing figure, his eyes full of unwillingness.
He had truly grown more fond of Aomi.
Even after all that, nearly kidnapped, he still spoke well of him?
This kind of extremely foolish Uchiha, yet possessing such combat talents, was just suitable to be manipulated by Shimura Danzo and become the best blade for him to ascend the Hokage position!
But in an instant.
Sarutobi Hiruzen walked up to him silently, looking at him with a blank expression.
Shimura Danzo's heart trembled.
Though in terms of height and build, Shimura Danzo was bigger than Sarutobi Hiruzen...
But their lives growing up, and their current status, the Hokage Assistant could never raise his head in front of the Hokage.
"Danzo, do you have anything you want to say?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen squinted his eyes, his tone cold:
"To control Aomi, you moved the Root set up to protect the village and shielded my perception. Are you, the Hokage Assistant, so afraid of being seen by me, the Hokage?"
"How many things do I not know? Hiding from me, hiding from the village, hiding from Lord Tobirama's Will of Fire?"
Shimura Danzo frowned, retorting:
"Hiruzen, I just wanted to prevent a commotion in the village, you saw it too, Uchiha Aomi isn't a ninja who follows the village's orders without question, he even refused my command as the Hokage Assistant."
"I still suggest, although he is Kagami's descendant, we still shouldn't take him lightly!"
"Leave him to me, I promise you, Hiruzen, I won't roughly train him into a tool for the Root but seriously cultivate him into the next Kagami..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen scoffed in his heart.
You want to train Aomi into the second Kagami?
Do you mean you're a great ninja like Lord Tobirama? Or that you're the Hokage of Konoha?
Do you think it's your place to train Aomi?
That's mine, mine! The ninja I, the Hokage, can have!
Thus.
Sarutobi Hiruzen rudely interrupted Shimura Danzo's chatter, sternly pointing at him:
"Aomi's path and future are directly connected to me, the Hokage, not for you, the Hokage Assistant, to meddle!"
"You secretly used the Root in the village to obscure my perception and acted against the village's gifted ninjas, causing severe injuries..."
"In the past, when you extorted the Yamanaka, Aburame, and other clans' ninjas, at least with words and negotiations, I, the Hokage, could calm things in the name of strengthening the Root to protect Konoha."
"Currently, you're becoming more and more arbitrary, utterly reckless!"
"Danzo, you're too presumptuous!"
Shimura Danzo's eyes went dark.
In fact, he hadn't heard what Sarutobi Hiruzen said afterwards.
Only hearing "I am the Hokage", "you, the Hokage Assistant", his blood pressure began to rise.
Again!
Always!
Hokage Assistant has just two more words than Hokage, but it's an insurmountable chasm!
With just a word from Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo is powerless to resist, unable even to keep his position.
This is the Hokage, Konoha's sole existence...
"Why, Hiruzen?"
Shimura Danzo's gaze burned with anger, saying fiercely:
"You reprimand me for a kid from the Uchiha clan, have you forgotten how Teacher Tobirama viewed the Uchiha clan?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sneered: "Danzo, that's why I'm the Hokage."
"Lord Tobirama was able to cultivate ninjas like Kagami, not relying on the Root's brainwashing and cursed seals but on the Will of Fire that unites people."
"Root should remain buried in darkness, doing what's necessary, not vying with the leaves for nourishment."
Shimura Danzo's gaze instantly turned dangerous.
He didn't want to be a Root forever; he wanted to climb step by step to the top and become that blazing leaf!
But Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't afraid of his gaze and even spoke words that left him shuddering:
"You and Orochimaru are secretly conducting human experiments, you think I don't know?"
"Danzo, I've been waiting for you to confess to me, but now it seems you want to hide it..."
Shimura Danzo's dangerous gaze quickly became doubtful.
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned out to know his Root so well!
How many days have passed since his subordinate awakened the Wood Release talent, and here Sarutobi Hiruzen comes?
For a moment, Shimura Danzo didn't even trust the Root.
The Root must have been infiltrated by Sarutobi Hiruzen, surely there's a dark line!
"Removing your position as Hokage Assistant, confined at home for three months, reflect on it, Danzo."
Sarutobi Hiruzen mercilessly ordered Danzo, summoning with a gesture.
Instantly, countless shadows appeared from all directions, crowding around, half-kneeling before this Hokage.
Hokage's direct Anbu!
And one of Konoha's strongest forces today, Hatake Sakumo.
"Sakumo, lead a team to thoroughly investigate the Root."
Sarutobi Hiruzen coldly said: "The members of Root also need a sweeping examination from inside out; even if you encounter Orochimaru, don't mind it."
"The darkness in the village cannot grow without restraint."
Shimura Danzo gritted his teeth tightly.
This is not only losing a Wood Release ninja; even his Root may suffer severe damage!
Hatake Sakumo nodded, didn't even glance at Shimura Danzo, and turned away decisively.
"Hatake Sakumo..."
Shimura Danzo stared at his back, one he already held a grudge against, not only an obstacle to his Hokage aspirations but also Sarutobi Hiruzen's loyal hound.
If he can't directly offend Sarutobi Hiruzen, then he'll just have to clip his wings first!
"Treating Root like this is of no benefit to the village!"
Shimura Danzo was making a final effort, roaringly shouted: "Hiruzen, you'll regret it!"
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand smoothly in response.
This conversation has played out countless times between the two throughout decades.
Shimura Danzo turned away angrily.
But after a few steps, he felt something was off.
This wasn't the Hokage Office; there's no door for him to slam...
Without slamming something, he really couldn't vent this pent-up rage!
"Bang!"
Thus, Shimura Danzo forcefully slammed his cane on the ground, snorted defiantly, and left swiftly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the tantrum-prone Shimura Danzo, instead shook his head and chuckled.
"Still so straightforward, Danzo. Still, without progress, how will you surpass me?"
"However, he did remind me to consider the teacher selection for Asuma and Aomi... Asuma suggested Tsunade, which is a good choice, but still needs deliberation..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered.
Selecting teachers for Asuma and Aomi isn't simple, under the backdrop of Hokage's lineage in master-disciple inheritance...