Outside Konohagakure, at Daimyo's room.
Daimyo had finally roused from his coma, the Genjutsu broken. Yet, being an ordinary man with zero training, the aftereffects lingered despite the Medical Ninjutsu treatment. His head throbbed with a heavy, dizzying sensation that refused to subside.
He sat up in bed, rubbing his temples and letting out a groggy yawn.
"Don't I recall watching a match? Between Rara? What's-his-name? And who was the other kid?"
He thought for a long while but couldn't summon Gaara's name, settling on "What's-his-name" as a substitute.
However, the moment he woke, Danzo, who had already received the news, hurriedly rushed in.
"Terrible news! Terrible news! Daimyo-sama, you have finally awakened," Danzo announced, entering with a tone of exaggerated distress.
"Danzo-san? What happened?"
Daimyo listened, looking utterly bewildered. 'What do you mean 'terrible news'? Is it terrible that I finally woke up? Would you be happier if I hadn't?'
At that moment, Daimyo's trusted aides also rushed over, whispering urgently into his ear.
Once Daimyo grasped the basics of the situation, Danzo began his exclusive performance.
He claimed the venue had been attacked by a swarm of ninjas, and that he, Danzo, had barely managed to save Daimyo with his subordinates, escorting him here at the risk of their lives.
Then came the heavy blows: Sunagakure had betrayed their agreement with Konoha, conspiring with Konoha's S-rank missing-nin, Orochimaru, and uniting with Otogakure to launch a sneak attack. The entire village was engulfed in the flames of war. Even Hiruzen, the acting Hokage, had died in battle.
One piece of news after another hammered Daimyo, leaving him unable to react for a long time.
He fell into deep contemplation, pondering a very serious issue. 'Sunagakure? Where are Sunagakure ninjas from again? The Land of Water? Or the Land of Earth?'
Danzo had to explain from the sidelines for quite some time before Daimyo finally understood the gravity of the situation.
Konoha had been breached, the Hokage, Hiruzen, was dead, and a new Hokage had to be selected immediately. Otherwise, Konoha might fall completely.
The situation was critical.
"Daimyo-sama, regarding the candidate for the Fifth Hokage..." Danzo looked at Daimyo eagerly, awaiting his reply.
He had accompanied Daimyo from start to finish, attending to him as carefully as a fragile treasure. Aside from his interactions with Naruto, this was the first time Danzo had ever been so servile.
After all, this man was the key to seizing the Hokage position.
As for leading Root to support the front lines? What a joke. The more miserable the battle on both sides, the better. Ideally, there wouldn't be many people left by the time he returned, allowing him to ascend as the Fifth Hokage without resistance.
He didn't care what state Konoha was beaten into.
As long as he successfully became the Fifth Hokage.
He believed that with Konoha's foundation, crushing a mere Sunagakure was not even worth mentioning. He believed that once he became Hokage, under his leadership, Konoha would surely become the strongest village in the ninja world.
This was the truth Danzo had believed in for so many years.
"Danzo-san. Even so, there are quite a few people who meet the requirements, right? For instance, that Kakashi is quite good." Daimyo answered while fanning himself, letting a maid massage his aching temples.
As Daimyo of the Land of Fire, he really didn't care who became the Hokage, as long as they were strong enough.
"Although Kakashi has outstanding talent, he is too young. He simply cannot convince the masses," Danzo interjected hurriedly. How could he possibly hand over the position that was practically in his grasp to Kakashi?
If Kakashi dared to accept, Danzo would formulate the 'Kakashi Assassination Plan' that very day.
"Danzo-san, what do you think of Asuma? He is Hiruzen's son and one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja."
"He is too weak to shoulder the heavy responsibility of Hokage."
Daimyo proposed again: "Then how about calling Tsunade back..."
"It is inappropriate. Putting aside that no one can track Tsunade's whereabouts, by the time she returns, Konoha will likely have been conquered by Sunagakure." Danzo continued to apply pressure.
This was his only chance. He had prepared so much for this day, how could he let Tsunade take it? Since she had left Konoha, she shouldn't think about coming back.
"Right now, we require someone who is powerful, can command respect, and possesses the qualifications to serve as Hokage."
Danzo was just short of thumping his chest, grabbing Daimyo by the collar, and screaming: 'Pick me! Pick me! Pick me! The Fifth Hokage is standing right here! It has to be me!'
"Then... then..." Daimyo hemmed and hawed, unable to come to a conclusion.
He had selected several people, all of whom Danzo had rejected. He racked his brains, but he really couldn't remember what other powerful ninjas were left in Konoha.
Jiraiya? Sorry, Daimyo drew a blank.
To Daimyo, wasn't Jiraiya just The author of Icha Icha series?
What? He's a ninja? And from Konoha?
It wasn't that Daimyo deliberately didn't want Danzo to be Hokage, he simply didn't care who held the title. As long as the Hokage was strong enough to allow him to continue his life of pleasure, that was fine. The main issue was that Danzo's presentation was simply too poor.
Not only did he look ancient, but with his arm in a sling, one eye missing, and bandages wrapped everywhere, he looked like cannon fodder.
He didn't project the image of a powerhouse at all. How could this make Daimyo feel at ease?
Especially now, Daimyo was terrified that Danzo might get too excited and accidentally drop dead right in front of him.
If Danzo died too, wouldn't that be a slap in Daimyo's face?
At any rate, he was a Konoha Elder and the leader of Root. But in terms of appearance, Danzo was even worse off than Hiruzen, whose face had been covered in liver spots.
However, even if Daimyo was unwilling, there was no choice, a Hokage had to be confirmed.
In terms of seniority, if he didn't choose Danzo, he would be left with those two advisors who had run away faster than Danzo the moment they sensed the war breaking out.
It was better to choose Danzo, at least he could still fight, which was better than those who fled directly.
Under Danzo's persistent badgering, Daimyo finally agreed to his request.
"Ohohohoho~ Danzo-san, then the heavy responsibility of the Fifth Hokage is entrusted to you." Daimyo spoke while waving his Fan. At the moment those words left Daimyo's lips, that large, silly Fan atop the ruler's head looked infinitely cute in Danzo's eyes.
What Daimyo was thinking was: 'I need to hurry up and raise a puppet Sixth Hokage soon.'
"Rest assured, Daimyo-sama. Leave Konoha to me." A brilliant smile bloomed on Danzo's face, which would have terrified many people.
What Danzo was thinking was, 'Rest assured, I will sit in this position for at least thirty years.'
While Daimyo was thinking, 'I need to start looking into Konoha for replacements soon preferably Asuma, I doubt Danzo would last more than a couple years.'
"Thank you for your trust, Daimyo-sama. I will lead the Konoha ninjas and drive all those Sunagakure forces out." Having received the answer he craved, Danzo hurriedly stated his position. "Under my leadership, Konoha will become increasingly prosperous, rising to become the number one village in the ninja world."
As he spoke, both Daimyo and Danzo turned toward the direction of Konohagakure.
Precisely at that moment, under their astonished gazes, a massive Mushroom Cloud slowly rose from Konoha's location. Immediately following it, a colossal shockwave whipped up a sandstorm that blotted out the sky and sun. Even the earth beneath their feet trembled.
Konoha was gone.
Daimyo started rubbing his eyes, "..."
Danzo "Gah?" was so stunned, Shisui's eye almost popped out.
Like a duck being strangled, his voice came to an abrupt halt. "Where is my massive Konoha?"
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