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The Yūhi family was holding a family meeting.
At the same time, inside the Hokage Office, two people were arguing.
Danzo, currently serving as Advisor Elder, leader of Root, and the Hokage's assistant, spoke bluntly in a low voice. "Hiruzen, hand Seiryū over to me. Only by letting him join Root can we ensure he won't do anything harmful to Konoha. Only then can he become the perfect Jinchūriki!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe, slowly exhaled the smoke, and rejected the proposal. "He is not suitable for Root."
However, his heart tightened slightly.
He had deliberately suppressed the news that Seiryū was a descendant of the Uzumaki clan. Very few people knew about it.
How did Danzo find out?
But the other party was the Hokage's assistant and an Advisor Elder. This kind of information could not be kept secret forever.
Moreover, that child had become quite famous recently. It was inevitable that he would attract the attention of people with ulterior motives.
After a long silence, Danzo frowned and raised his voice slightly. "Soft methods won't work. Uzumaki Kushina's inability to perfectly control the Nine-Tails proves that this approach has failed. A Jinchūriki who cannot fully control their Tailed Beast will bring enormous losses to Konoha!"
Glancing at his old comrade, Hiruzen remained calm. "It's too early to say that. Kushina is an Uzumaki recognized by Lady Mito. She simply hasn't fully matured yet."
"Hmph!" Danzo snorted heavily. "Even if what you say is true, and Kushina can suppress the Nine-Tails in the future, she will only completely seal it like Lady Mito. She still won't be able to wield the Tailed Beast's power!"
"Tailed Beasts are the most powerful weapons. Other villages already have Jinchūriki who can control their power. We have already fallen behind!"
"Hand Seiryū over to me. I will train him into a perfect Jinchūriki, one who can use the Nine-Tails' power. You should know that I can do it!"
The root of the issue was Seiryū himself, a child who possessed the bloodline of the Uzumaki clan.
He was the most suitable candidate for the next Jinchūriki.
Danzo naturally understood what a Jinchūriki represented. He wanted Seiryū, who carried Uzumaki blood, to join Root.
To cultivate, from the very beginning, a Jinchūriki who could perfectly control the Nine-Tails' power.
As for how Danzo knew Seiryū was from the Uzumaki clan, it was because of Seiryū's reputation as a genius, his hair color, and Kushina's contact with him.
That was the deduction.
Hearing these words, Hiruzen remained unmoved. He took another puff of smoke, exhaled, and shook his head. "I know what you're thinking, but this method is not suitable for Seiryū. His talent surpasses Kushina's. He is Konoha's future."
Danzo immediately interrupted him, frowning. "Precisely because his talent is greater, only I can fully draw it out!"
Being cut off mid-sentence made Hiruzen feel a trace of displeasure. Who was the Hokage here?
His tone grew heavier. "Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
"…" Choked by those words, Danzo's expression darkened.
He wanted to argue, but at this moment, any words felt weak and meaningless.
The Hokage was Konoha's leader.
He was merely an assistant and Advisor Elder.
Hiruzen smiled inwardly but showed no change in expression as he said calmly, "There is no need to discuss Seiryū any further. I already have my own arrangements."
Suppressing his emotions, Danzo spoke in a low voice, his face grim. "His background is still questionable. He's displayed far too much talent. And that problem set, this is simply not something a six-year-old child could…"
"Enough." This time, it was Hiruzen who interrupted him. His expression remained unchanged. "His background is clean. I have already investigated it thoroughly."
"There's also no issue with that problem set. If you understood the solution method, you wouldn't be misled."
"Besides, geniuses are all different. It reminds me of Orochimaru back then."
Geniuses could not be judged by ordinary standards.
Orochimaru had also been an undeniable genius in the past, graduating from the Ninja Academy at the age of six. He was once described as a genius that appeared only once every few decades.
From childhood, Orochimaru displayed extraordinary talent, not only in ninjutsu but also in scientific research.
Some of the questions Orochimaru had asked back then, even he, as Hokage, could not answer.
The same was true for Seiryū.
The problem set Seiryū created was indeed difficult, but once the solution method was known, it suddenly became clear how it could be solved.
It was a difference in thinking and approach. The questions were too tricky, almost deliberately guiding people down the wrong path.
The reason other Jōnin could not solve them was because the solution method had not been released.
If one could not change their way of thinking, solving those questions would naturally be difficult.
Geniuses could not be judged with common sense. In Hiruzen's eyes, Seiryū's talent was even greater than Orochimaru's had been.
This was because he had already learned about Seiryū's situation from Yūhi Shinku.
Extracting chakra in just over ten seconds, developing a chakra application technique similar to Monster Strength, and having natural compatibility with all five elemental natures.
If that was not a genius, then what was?
"He can be compared to Orochimaru?" Danzo narrowed his eyes. He had not expected Hiruzen to hold the boy in such high regard.
He even brought up Orochimaru.
There must be things he did not know, things that made Hiruzen trust the boy's genius completely.
Even after those problem sets, he still thought it was normal.
What else was he unaware of?
Damn it. If he were the Hokage…
"You only need to know that his talent surpasses everyone you have ever seen," Hiruzen said calmly. "So put those thoughts away, Danzo."
"He is Konoha's future. He already has bonds here. As long as those bonds are firm enough, he will not do anything harmful to Konoha. Go back and reflect on the Will of Fire."
Although he had not personally met Seiryū, Hiruzen paid close attention to him.
Even the matter of buying the problem set and its solution was not a whim. He had his own considerations.
Money might be vulgar, but it was undeniably useful.
The reason the boy wanted to become a shinobi was to take on missions and support his family. He was a grateful child. Someone like that, if treated well, would naturally return that kindness.
Bonds formed from the heart were far more reliable than brainwashing or cursed seals.
Moreover, although his own son often complained about Seiryū when he came home, talking about beating him or surpassing him, he still regarded Seiryū as a friend and comrade.
Actions went both ways, and so did bonds.
Hiruzen believed that Seiryū also saw his son as a friend and comrade, and that their bond had quietly taken shape.
"Hmph!" With the conversation reaching this point, Danzo already understood Hiruzen's stance. There was no changing it. Especially the remark about reflecting on the Will of Fire, which displeased him greatly.
In the end, he merely snorted coldly. "Hiruzen, you will regret this!"
After saying that, Danzo inexplicably felt much better. He flicked his sleeve and left.
"…" Watching Danzo depart, Hiruzen simply shook his head and paid it no mind.
Without his permission, the other party would not dare overstep.
Because he was the Hokage.
(To be continued.)
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