"And what's your opinion, Danzō?"
In the end, the Third Hokage turned his gaze toward Shimura Danzō. He removed the pipe from his mouth and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Hmph!"
Choosing those two brats to be Hokage?
What a joke.
I am the most suitable candidate!
Everyone looked at Danzō, yet all they heard was that single cold snort—nothing more.
When the expected answer failed to come, the smile on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression.
"You may leave and attend to your duties. Danzō, stay behind."
"Yes."
"Understood."
Nara Shikaku was the first to leave. Homura Mitokado and Koharu hesitated for a moment, but seeing the expressions on Hiruzen's and Danzō's faces, they swallowed their words and departed as well.
Once-close comrades had long since drifted far apart.
After the three left, the office sank into an unbearable silence.
"Sigh…"
"Danzō, I know you're dissatisfied with my decision to strip you of your position. But you truly made a mistake back then. The Uchiha clan didn't need to suffer losses that severe. Shisui had already—"
"The Uchiha can never be trusted!"
Danzō finally broke his silence, his face showing not the slightest trace of hesitation.
"That's exactly what Teacher Tobirama taught us!"
"Starting with Uchiha Madara, that clan has never been worthy of trust! I personally devised the plan and eliminated them—this was a necessary sacrifice for the village!"
"We all knew the Uchiha were planning a coup! You never outright rejected my plan!"
"How much have I sacrificed for the village?! You never see any of it!"
The fury he had long suppressed finally erupted. Danzō poured out all of his resentment without restraint.
Hiruzen, meanwhile, looked at him with equal seriousness and replied in a firm voice:
"I never rejected your plan! But I did tell you to wait!"
"There was still room for a peaceful resolution! Yet you acted on your own and carried it out regardless!"
"Heh heh…"
Danzō laughed—but the sound was harsh and unpleasant.
"Wait? Wait for what? How long was I supposed to wait?"
"If you had listened to me earlier and not been so indecisive, the Uchiha situation would never have escalated that far. I was the one who cleaned up everything for you!"
As if he had caught an unspoken implication in Hiruzen's words, Danzō's resentment deepened even further.
"You've become too obsessed. You can't listen to anyone anymore."
Hiruzen shook his head. He knew their relationship could never return to what it once was. Danzō wanted far more than before.
"No matter what you intend to do, Danzō…"
"Konoha's newly grown leaves have already reached toward the sun. They have the brightest future ahead of them. We must believe in them."
"Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire shall—"
"Save that speech for the Ninja Academy, Hiruzen!"
Danzō cut him off directly. Did Hiruzen really think he was some naïve child who could be placated with slogans?
"This is my final warning to you, Danzō!"
"A new Hokage will emerge. If I discover you stirring up trouble again, don't blame me for discarding old sentiments!"
"Konoha—the village built by the previous Hokage at the cost of everything—will never be allowed to fall into chaos because of you!"
Hiruzen delivered his final ultimatum, the decisiveness in his tone unmistakable.
"Hmph! Hiruzen—you'll regret this!"
Danzō flung his cloak aside, leaned on his cane, and turned to leave.
"Danzō, remember this—I am the Hokage of Konohagakure!"
Hiruzen declared firmly, staring at Danzō's retreating back.
Bang!
The door slammed shut, and Danzō's figure vanished beyond it.
"Sigh…"
Hiruzen let out a long breath. He knew he had still gone easy on him. The older one became, the softer one's heart grew.
What had just transpired in the Hokage's office was witnessed by no one. As a result, no one in Konoha knew that two of its highest authorities had just clashed so fiercely.
After leaving the Hokage Tower, Danzō quickly sought out Homura Mitokado and Koharu.
"Danzō, you shouldn't have spoken to Hiruzen like that. After all, he is the Hokage of Konoha."
The moment they met, Homura's restrained reproach greeted him. Danzō's face darkened completely—he especially couldn't tolerate hearing the word Hokage right now.
Koharu raised a hand to stop Homura. She sensed the rage brewing within Danzō and immediately changed the subject.
"So—has Hiruzen truly decided to nominate Hokage candidates?"
"Hmph! He decided long ago! Asking for our opinions was nothing more than a formality—he was just notifying us!"
Danzō snorted coldly. Their relationship was beyond repair, but he knew Hiruzen far too well. He could already tell that Hiruzen's mind was made up.
Koharu frowned, hesitation appearing on her aged face.
"Then… Hatake Kakashi and Kusunoki Naraku…"
"Kusunoki Naraku cannot become Hokage!"
"Absolutely not!"
Homura and Danzō spoke at the same time.
If Kusunoki Naraku truly took that seat, they would suffer massive losses.
Even Danzō, confident as he was, didn't believe that once Naraku became Hokage, he himself would still be able to contend with him.
"Then choose Hatake Kakashi!"
In his younger days, Homura Mitokado had been an outstanding shinobi as well. When it truly mattered, he did not lack resolve.
"Hatake Kakashi…"
Danzō frowned. This choice was troublesome for him too.
After all, he had played a role—however indirect—in Hatake Sakumo's suicide.
Back then, the White Fang of Konoha had been too influential. Even the rising Sannin were considered juniors compared to him.
Strength, seniority, prestige—Hatake Sakumo had been flawless in every regard.
Especially during the war, Sakumo had rendered tremendous service to the village.
If Danzō hadn't acted at that time, there would have been no need to choose a successor at all—they could've just handed the Hokage's hat to the White Fang.
So Danzō intervened.
Hatake Sakumo committed suicide.
Otherwise, with Sakumo's reputation and accomplishments, even failing a critical mission wouldn't have driven him to such an end—especially when the comrades he had chosen to save ultimately turned around and condemned him.
Very few people in Konoha could stir up such waves.
But now things were complicated.
Watching Hatake Kakashi ascend to the Hokage's seat—if Kakashi were to ever learn the truth, would he let Danzō off?
Perhaps, after all these years, Kakashi had let go.
But Danzō didn't believe it.
Judging others by himself—paranoid, suspicious, and excessively cautious—he could never abandon his doubts.
Still, if forced to choose between Kusunoki Naraku and Hatake Kakashi…
He would rather see Kakashi become Hokage.
But who said those were the only two options?
The title of Hokage had long since become an obsession buried deep within Danzō's heart—one he would never relinquish unless he died.
…
Inside a pitch-black, hidden base, Shimura Danzō stood silently, gripping his cane, deep in thought.
"Send the information out."
"Yes!"
A shinobi answered from the darkness and departed.
Before long, that intelligence made its way to the Land of Grass.
"Hiss—hiss—"
Hearing the familiar sound, Orochimaru lowered his head. A small white snake was coiled at his feet.
Though it was barely thicker than a pair of chopsticks, the little snake spat out a scroll the size of a human palm—how it fit inside was anyone's guess.
Orochimaru picked up the scroll and read it.
Aside from the usual inquiries about experimental progress, the remaining information made his eyes light up.
"Hehehe… they're already preparing to choose the next Hokage? Time truly flies. I wonder if my teacher misses me."
"Things are starting to get interesting."
"How very exciting…"
"Hehehehehe…"
Orochimaru's long tongue slid across the corner of his mouth as his cold, eerie laughter echoed through the underground base.
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