Hiruzen's hand rested on Danzō's shoulder.
Upon it burned scorching Lightning Release chakra.
The heat made Danzō—an experienced shinobi—instinctively draw his neck back, his body subconsciously feeling uneasy.
Yet the unease in his body was far less than the unease in his heart.
When had Hiruzen trained Kumogakure's Lightning Release body technique to such a degree?
From the time Blue B's corpse was sent to the analysis division until the report came out—even if he, as Hokage, could obtain it in advance, at most it would have been only ten days!
Could you really still possess such talent now?
Shouldn't you have been immersed in mountains of documents and seas of meetings, crushed by the pressure of being Hokage—even if you used secret techniques to make your outward appearance resemble that of a man in his prime…
But in essence, balancing and drawing in the ninja clans, devising so many systems—shouldn't that have exhausted your mind and body even more?
How could you possibly still have time to train?!
Danzō's thoughts sank into unease and doubt. His eyes widened slightly, and for a moment he did not even manage to respond to Hiruzen's words, as if he had been stunned.
From childhood, he too had been called the genius of the Shimura clan—until he encountered Hiruzen. No matter how they sparred, he had never once defeated him…
His thoughts gradually drifted farther away.
"Don't look at me like this—I'm confident I'm the strongest among you. I'll stay behind and cover the rear." The dialogue from deep within his memories—of Senju Tobirama's death—also surfaced.
Hiruzen did not press him either; the lightning on his body slowly faded away.
With both hands resting on the back of Danzō's chair, he shook his head and laughed, saying to everyone attending the meeting, "Our esteemed advisor is too tired. We should let him get a good rest…"
"That trip to Kumogakure—he personally led the team to capture tongues and plant spies. Living rough out in the wind and rain wasn't easy!"
Everyone let out good-natured laughter.
And upon hearing those words about letting him rest, Danzō suddenly snapped awake: "No, I don't need rest!"
Forget rest—if he grew even a little lax, he would be left farther and farther behind!
Was he supposed to end up unable even to see Hiruzen's back?
That—more than the certainty that he would never become Hokage in this life—was something Danzō found even harder to accept…
"If you should rest, then rest. Only by balancing work and rest can you go farther in the long run."
Hiruzen said with a genial smile, "I'm still counting on your Wind Release to temper my Lightning Release body technique…"
"How about it—find a chance sometime, and let the two of us have a spar again, like old times?"
Danzō ground his back teeth in the dark. Temper your body technique?
I truly wish I could blow you to death with a Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!
On the surface, he still had to force out a strained smile. "Hehe, Hiruzen—you really were called a genius by many people back then. Even Tobirama-sensei said so."
"But my Wind Release isn't bad either. You'd better watch out—maybe I'll win…" Danzō said stiffly, trying to preserve some dignity.
Hiruzen did not let the remark fall flat. He nodded and said, "Naturally. In my heart, you are the strongest Wind Release shinobi in the ninja world. Those people from Sunagakure are far inferior to you."
As soon as those words came out, even Danzō was stunned.
He actually spoke up for me? Hiruzen, what exactly are you trying to do…
Setting aside the fact that Hiruzen used him to establish authority—was it really right to scheme against him?
And, to be fair, it was indeed he who had provoked things first…
At that moment, Danzō was surprised to discover that a trace of regret had actually surfaced in his heart.
"Danzō, in this mission, I saw your ability to coordinate and organize."
Hiruzen did not return to his seat. With both hands braced on the back of Danzō's chair, his expression relaxed as he said, "The position of ANBU commander will be yours. Do the job well. Don't let the village—or me—down."
Danzō unconsciously straightened his back. "Yes, Third Hokage!"
Jiraiya chuckled softly and instinctively rolled his eyes.
So he's not all that tough after all, huh?
The sensei criticizes him once, praises him once, and he can't hold up anymore?
Not like me!
In the past, because of the so-called "ANBU training department"—that is, the existence of Root—the posts of ANBU commander and vice commander had long been vacant, with operations mainly maintained by squad leaders.
After all, Root was nominally an ANBU sub-unit, but its commander was the Hokage's advisor—making the situation tricky to handle…
In Hiruzen's view, Danzō did possess outstanding talent in ANBU-related work.
There was no problem with him serving as commander; the problem lay in his expanding desires and ambitions.
Thus, what he, as Hokage, needed to do was firmly keep in his own hands the authority over the four candidates for sub-unit commanders, as well as the personnel appointments of each squad leader.
"Hizashi, I've been watching your recent performance. Do you have the confidence to take on a bit more responsibility?" Hiruzen said.
The Hokage naturally noticed Hizashi's earlier attempt to support him.
The young man was capable enough, his attitude was right, and his status also carried value—there was no reason not to make use of someone like that.
As for experience…
He could simply have Sakumo guide him more.
"Hokage-sama! Your will is the direction of Hizashi's advance—I would not hesitate even unto death!" Hizashi sprang to his feet, his voice ringing with resolve.
"It's not my will, but the village's," Hiruzen coughed lightly, correcting Hizashi's phrasing.
"By order: Hyūga Hizashi is appointed captain of ANBU's Second Sub-Unit."
"Koharu, Homura, Danzō—do you have any opinions?" Hiruzen asked in a very democratic manner.
All three indicated that they had no objections.
On another day, there might have been room to discuss Hizashi's capabilities as a new ANBU member.
After all, despite his diligence, his seniority was still shallow.
But given today's circumstances and atmosphere, it was simply not appropriate for anyone to raise objections.
Orochimaru, seated below, watched Hiruzen's effortless composure. His long tongue unconsciously licked the corner of his mouth.
As casually as chatting about household matters, he had completely taken ANBU into his grasp.
And looking at Danzō's expression, there was unexpectedly even a faint trace of gratitude?
'Must be an illusion, right? How could that guy show an expression like that…'
'But one thing is certain—the weight of Sensei's words is growing heavier and heavier.' Orochimaru thought this to himself, while also studying Hiruzen's methods.
When he became the Fourth Hokage in the future, these would all be practical techniques!
"For this period of time, pay special attention to the village's security. Kumogakure will definitely dispatch large numbers of spies to trace the source of the Eight-Tails jinchūriki incident."
"They must all be strangled outside the village!"
Hiruzen turned to Sakumo and asked, "How is the formation of the patrol units coming along?"
Sakumo—who had not participated in the Kumogakure operation and had been quietly listening during the meeting—stood up and replied, "They've already entered a trial run. Ninja from the Inuzuka, Aburame, and Uchiha clans have all been participating very actively."
"Following your instructions, I selected a group of experienced ninja who have old injuries, or who, due to age, can no longer shoulder high-intensity frontline missions. They're all very grateful for this stable position."
'Inuzuka scent tracking, Aburame insects, Uchiha sensory abilities, plus Hizashi's Byakugan support.'
'I'm confident I can raise the village's security strength to a new level!'
Hiruzen nodded slightly and, with a smile, teased Hizashi, "Hizashi, you really are a busy man…"
Hizashi also laughed. This feeling of being needed by the village felt good!
And he also caught the implication in Sakumo's words.
—One pair of Byakugan is not enough.
And within ANBU, Hizashi—whose position was roughly akin to Sakumo's disciple—also knew that several slots in the patrol units were still vacant.
Who they were being reserved for went without saying.
'The members of the branch family—wait for me!' Such a thought flashed through Hizashi's mind.
And after the meeting dispersed, Orochimaru stayed behind and sought out Hiruzen.
He took out a small piece of tissue from the Eight-Tails. "Sensei, take a look at this!"
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