Sarutobi Hiruzen angrily said, "Then remove the Curse Seal!"
"What tasks does the Root carry out? If it can be easily removed, wouldn't enemy ninja villages be able to extract information from the Root Ninja?"
Danzo retorted confidently, "I can't do it, the Curse Seals on Root Ninjas are irreversible."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened, immediately guessing that Danzo did this intentionally. However, he then looked at the calm Orochimaru beside him and asked, "Orochimaru, can you continue to create Wood Release Bloodline Ninjas?"
Upon hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Danzo sneered inwardly; just moments ago he mentioned desecrating the predecessor Hokage's remains, and now he plans for the Anbu to have the Wood Release Bloodline too.
"It can be done, but the expenditure is huge. Also, the Wood Release Ninja from the Root doesn't fully inherit the Wood Release from the First Generation Hokage. I'm conducting new research..."
Orochimaru smiled and said, "If Teacher Sarutobi supports me, I think I can research an even stronger Wood Release Bloodline. But if Teacher Sarutobi is content with the status quo, I can replicate the experiment once more..."
"How much support do you want?"
"An allocation of two hundred million, plus the Sealing Book. The rest I can find on my own."
Orochimaru's mention made Sarutobi Hiruzen fall silent; two hundred million is too much, even if the village can provide it, it will be debilitating.
After a while, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "I will give you thirty million first, you continue the research, and I'll assign two Anbu Ninjas to assist me with inheriting the Wood Release Bloodline... As for the Sealing Book, you can select one Jutsu from it."
At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen paused briefly, glanced at Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, then continued, "These two Anbu inheriting the Wood Release Bloodline will be responsible for overseeing the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki in the future, which will be beneficial for the village..."
Upon hearing this, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura nodded approvingly. Although Kushina can now control a part of the Nine-tailed Chakra, having a Wood Release Bloodline as a guard is reassuring.
Even if Orochimaru said that this Wood Release isn't like the one of the First Generation Hokage, it should still be sufficient to suppress a Tailed Beast. Especially since Sarutobi Hiruzen saw the power of the Root Ninja's Wood Release through the Crystal Ball, which wasn't bad.
"Understood, just have the Anbu contact me directly."
Orochimaru said in a flat tone, though internally he felt his teacher Sarutobi Hiruzen was stingy. Danzo provided two hundred million, yet his teacher only offered thirty million, probably not intending to give more afterward.
The Sealing Book was given very sparingly too; he hadn't even seen it yet, but Jiraiya's apprentice has already mastered the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
After discussing for a bit more, Orochimaru found an excuse to leave the Hokage Office. Not long after he departed the Hokage Building, Danzo caught up.
"Orochimaru, using Root's funds to research Wood Release Bloodline, and now assisting Hiruzen!"
Danzo asked with an unpleasant expression when he caught up, Hiruzen was practically freeloading the research results.
Most importantly, Orochimaru hadn't handed the Wood Release Bloodline to him yet, which Danzo couldn't accept; there's a big difference between using Wood Release himself and having a subordonate with Wood Release.
"Give me the method to fuse Hashirama Cells, and we can call it even. Otherwise, I'm not to be trifled with."
"Impossible, Lord Danzo; before you arrived, Teacher Sarutobi already strictly warned me not to give the method of Hashirama fusion to anyone, he's guarding against you."
Orochimaru chuckled and said, "At most, I can help with one fusion experiment, but you need to give me more Hashirama Cells. That's the limit I can do behind Teacher Sarutobi's back."
"Hiruzen...."
Danzo's face turned ashen. He knew his threats were of little use on Orochimaru, especially after Hiruzen had spoken.
"Since that's the case, I'll send someone to find you later."
After speaking, Danzo turned and left.
Orochimaru chuckled dryly, surprised that Danzo actually believed him, before proceeding home.
No doubt about his teacher; acquiring two Wood Release Bloodlines without offering much benefit.
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"Gentlemen, I am Hatake Sakumo, and this is the Uchiha Clan Leader. We are here to visit Lord Daimyo."
Hatake Sakumo arrived at the gate of a secluded courtyard. The vicinity houses the Daimyo and nobles of various countries, a designated area created by Konoha Village for them.
Initially it was the area of the Senju Race, but as the Senju Race diminished, these vacant houses were repurposed by Konoha.
Though the area is remote, the security is strong. Besides the guards brought by the Daimyo and nobles, there are Security Team Ninjas and Anbu patrolling.
"Please wait a moment."
The guards at the Daimyo Mansion have heard of the names Uchiha and Hatake Sakumo. After reporting, they returned shortly and said to Hatake Sakumo, "Hatake Ninja, Uchiha Clan Leader, please come in."
Once inside, after passing through the corridors guarded by the Daimyo Mansion's guards, they soon met the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
A middle-aged man, upon seeing Hatake Sakumo, smiled and said, "Mr. Hatake, it's been a while."
"Your Excellency, you seem as robust as ever."
Hatake Sakumo replied with a blatant lie, and even the medically untrained Uchiha Yoichi beside him could tell.
This Daimyo, with dark circles and drowsiness, was clearly a regular customer of their Uchiha Pharmaceuticals.
"This is Uchiha Yoichi, the Clan Leader of the Uchiha Race. He asked me to introduce him to you."
Once seated, Uchiha Yoichi said, "Your Excellency, I am Uchiha Yoichi... Hmm, the Viagra product is mainly produced by the Uchiha Pharmaceutical Factory."
"Oh, so it's yours. Hmm…"
The Daimyo nearly coughed hearing this, and then hid his face behind a folding fan.
Subsequently, Uchiha Yoichi romantically concocted some business talks with the Daimyo, leading Hatake Sakumo voluntarily to step out and wait outside.
But once outside, Uchiha switched the topic to the matter of the next Hokage.
The development for the Fourth Generation Hokage, the expansion for the Fifth; that is Uchiha Yoichi's plan.
The two conversed in the room for two or three hours before Uchiha Yoichi finally left the Daimyo's quarters, inviting Hatake Sakumo to leave.
After departing, Hatake Sakumo wondered why the discussion lasted so long, but he restrained from asking.
Upon reaching the intersection, the two parted ways and to thank Hatake Sakumo for the introduction today, Uchiha decided to invite him for hot pot a few days later.
But upon hearing this, Hatake Sakumo gave a few other reasons, skipped the hot pot matter, and directly turned to leave.
After Hatake Sakumo left, Uchiha Yoichi smiled as he walked towards the clan grounds.
Today's discussion went very smoothly, the Daimyo was also a greedy person. He originally favored Hatake Sakumo becoming the Fourth Generation Hokage. With the first condition aligning, subsequent conversations went smoothly.
The Daimyo, during the selection of the Sixth Generation Hokage, wasn't necessarily intimidated by Danzo's rhetoric. Perhaps it was drawn to Danzo's martial style.
Constant victories in warfare, yet continuous concessions in signing peace treaties; perhaps the Daimyo grew tired of this.
Thus, after hearing Uchiha Yoichi's words, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire began deep consideration and agreed to it; the Daimyo has experienced three Hokages inheriting the peace ideology, so changing a Hokage might bring different prospects to the Land of Fire.
However, while nearing the clan grounds, the Strategy Guide screen suddenly popped up in front of Uchiha Yoichi.
[Please immediately approach Strategy Target (Tsunade) and inquire about her return reason.]
"Tsunade returned?"
Uchiha Yoichi pondered as he observed the directional guidance, which only reacts when a target is within a thousand meters.
Currently, the direction pointed by the ability seems to be around the Uchiha Race's supermarket area.