"What, you're not satisfied?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen disdainfully retorted, leaving Shimura Danzo, who came to question, dumbfounded.
Shimura Danzo, full of anger, was ready to stand on the moral high ground and fiercely criticize Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Who would understand, family?
Worked hard for a lifetime to climb to the position of Hokage Assistant, but at the age of forty-eight, standing at Lady Mito's funeral, still feeling like a nobody...
Aomi carrying the coffin for Uzumaki Mito stirred the emotions of many Ninja Clans and ninjas in Konoha.
But the one affected most intensely was none other than Shimura Danzo.
He was about to go insane...
For a long while, Shimura Danzo believed that as the Hokage Assistant, he was already infinitely close to the position of Hokage.
He had accomplished great deeds for Konoha, shed blood for the Will of Fire, and led Root to make significant contributions to the village, even more than Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, whom Danzo believed paled in comparison.
Without Root's heavy sacrifices, where would Konoha Village's peaceful days come from?
To truly get things done, it had to be him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was all about hollow actions and surface work, with no substance...
In Danzo's view, the reason why Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't designated a candidate for the next Hokage, while watching Tsunade's hemophobia recovery, and Jiraiya and Orochimaru's minor conflicts without timely intervention, had a lot to do with him...
Without the reshuffling of military achievements brought by war, Sarutobi Hiruzen indeed found it difficult to establish the next Hokage candidate.
After all, with such a capable Hokage Assistant like him around, Sarutobi Hiruzen needed some justification to persuade others.
And war was the opportunity Danzo was waiting for. As long as he outshone Sarutobi Hiruzen's disciples in the next ninja war, he'd have a chance to overtake!
But Aomi's presence and performance at Uzumaki Mito's funeral shattered the illusions in Danzo's heart.
This is not about not confirming the next Hokage anymore!
This is already determined two generations ahead!
Shimura Danzo was incomparably furious; Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions were too excessive.
Privately experimenting with Tobirama-sensei's cells, deceiving Lady Mito, excluding him from significant funerals, and not consulting on paramount decisions like the future Hokage, deciding everything on his own!
"I'm not satisfied?"
Danzo's face was extremely dark. Since Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't yield, he was ready to rip apart the facade.
The Hokage seat seemed increasingly distant; Danzo could not tolerate it.
"How could you expect me to be satisfied!"
Danzo's eyes were fierce as he abruptly waved his hand, pointing to the photo of Senju Tobirama in the Hokage Office, and roared, "Do you know what you've done, Monkey!"
"At Lady Mito's funeral, you allowed an Uchiha to bear the pall for her. Have you lost your mind!"
"Look at the teacher's photo, look at him!"
"Tell me, have you forgotten the teacher's instruction to stay vigilant of the Uchiha Clan?!"
Hearing the name Senju Tobirama, Sarutobi Hiruzen was evidently startled, and his gaze turned to the photo on the wall.
There, was a picture of Senju Tobirama wearing the Hokage Kasa.
Sarutobi Hiruzen gazed with deep emotion for a moment, shook his head, "Danzo, I have never forgotten the teacher's instructions..."
"I have found the best way to resolve the Uchiha Clan issue, but you simply don't understand."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone was very earnest.
In his view, Aomi was a product of Senju Tobirama's Kinjutsu, with Chakra representing Tobirama-sensei's will inside...
Even though Uzumaki Mito firmly believed that Aomi's will was his own, seemingly convincing Tsunade too, Sarutobi Hiruzen was not entirely convinced and recently developed new thoughts and conclusions.
Since becoming Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen observed Senju Tobirama's previous, somewhat outrageous—no, rather fanciful—Kinjutsu ideas, and his perspective on this teacher grew more multi-faceted and profound.
In Sarutobi Hiruzen's view, no one understands Senju Tobirama better than him!
Although Aomi appears normal now, and Uzumaki Mito stated that if Senju Tobirama could have possessed Aomi, he would've done it already, advocating for nurturing Aomi with love…
It sounds very much like the Will of Fire, but Sarutobi Hiruzen privately believed Uzumaki Mito's view on Senju Tobirama was too conservative, and Aomi's behavior was likely just a temporary façade!
His teacher would undoubtedly want to possess an Uchiha, rather than merely influencing with Chakra alone!
Aomi's outbursts were likely due to Senju Tobirama's Chakra exerting its influence...
Sarutobi Hiruzen vividly remembered Aomi's way of throwing the Flying Thunder God Jutsu was very similar to Senju Tobirama, how could that be no problem?
Even though Uzumaki Mito confidently assured Sarutobi Hiruzen that Aomi was just Aomi.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen already made an unprecedented decision, thinking Aomi would gradually become more like Senju Tobirama, even potentially becoming him one day!
Especially recently, there was irrefutable evidence that Uzumaki Mito couldn't have seen...
While preparing for the funeral, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Aomi if he needed to provide a special stand for the Uchiha Clan?
In such occasions, the arrangement of positions for each ninja clan was quite significant.
After all, Aomi seemed on good terms with some members of the Uchiha Clan, and as Hokage, offering some consideration to Aomi for favoring the Uchiha and winning their hearts was something Sarutobi Hiruzen was willing to do.