Chapter 60 Sarutobi, you will regret this.
Konoha Village, Root.
Danzo had been in a good mood lately, feeling that the position of Hokage was getting closer and closer to him, which made all the funds he spent to win over Orochimaru worthwhile.
"Hmph, Hiruzen, that guy, can't even see through his own disciple, and still wants Orochimaru to monitor me in Root. Hiruzen, you're old!"
Danzo had noticed Orochimaru's ambition a long time ago; this Sannin had no will of fire in his heart, and with a little Induction, he got Orochimaru to research hashirama cells for him.
And in just a few months, there were already results!
"Just wait, Hiruzen, in the future even Wood Release Ninja will support me to become Hokage. Let's see how you'll contend with me."
Danzo thought of many ways to become Hokage, the most important of which was the Wood Release Ninja.
Wood Release, in Konoha, was a symbol with strong appeal.
The First Hokage, relying on Wood Release, pacified the chaotic world, captured eight Tailed Beasts. In the hearts of all the older generation Konoha Ninja, Wood Release was a powerful force; and Wood Release represented the Senju Clan, a name that held a very high position in Konoha Village.
Among the Sannin, no one was more arrogant than Tsunade. Jiraiya left the village for three years and, upon returning, had to complete many S-rank and A-rank missions as punishment. Tsunade, however, left whenever she pleased, and even Hiruzen Sarutobi dared not say anything, only offering gentle persuasion.
Tsunade was able to do this, not because of her Medical Ninjutsu or strength, but because her great-grandfather was the First Hokage, her great-uncle was the Second Hokage, her grandmother was the first Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, and her clan was the Senju Clan.
Her background was too formidable. Fortunately, Tsunade left Konoha after developing hemophobia. If she had run for Fourth Hokage, with her halo and achievements combined, no one could have beaten her.
"Lord Danzo, a battle report from the front lines has arrived."
A Root member reported the news, then, after placing the detailed intelligence, exited the room.
"A battle report already? Sand Ninja are truly too arrogant!"
Danzo hadn't even read the battle report, but he said coldly; he was very clear about the movements of the Sand Ninja, knowing that there were about a thousand Sand Ninja in Baosha Town, and Orochimaru had just arrived with the first wave of support troops. A battle report from the front lines so soon probably meant that the Sand Ninja didn't want Konoha to build a defensive line, so they launched a surprise attack.
"However, with Orochimaru there, repelling the Sand Ninja should be… Haha, well done, as expected of Orochimaru."
After Danzo read the battle report from the front lines, he thought about how it was he who recommended Orochimaru to the front lines; otherwise, there wouldn't be such a splendid outcome now.
With fewer than thirty casualties, they had killed approximately two hundred Sand Ninja and destroyed more than half of the enemy's military supplies stockpiled in Baosha Town. For such a brilliant tactical victory, Danzo admitted that even if he had gone to the front lines, he probably couldn't have done better than Orochimaru.
Moreover, they had learned that Elder Chiyo was participating in the battle, and the Fourth Kazekage would soon arrive on the battlefield. This news was extremely important for Konoha.
"Hiruzen probably doesn't know this news yet, but once he does, hmph hmph…"
Danzo sneered; he knew this teammate too well.
If one were to say that before becoming Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi was absolutely a reliable and trustworthy teammate, but after becoming Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi's political methods became more seasoned day by day, sometimes even he, the hidden world of shinobi, found it difficult to deal with.
After a long while, another Root Ninja arrived outside to report to Danzo: "Lord Danzo, the Third Hokage sent someone to inform you to come over."
"I understand."
Danzo said, then got up and walked towards the Hokage Building.
When Danzo arrived at the Hokage Office, he found he was the last one; Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were already there.
"Hiruzen, did you call me here because of the battle situation in the Land of Wind?" Danzo asked directly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi deeply looked at Danzo upon hearing this, then slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and said: "It seems you already know, Danzo; Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu also know about this. Tell me, what should be done about this matter?"
"What do you mean, 'what to do'?"
Danzo frowned slightly and said directly:
"Immediately dispatch the second wave of reinforcements, along with corresponding military supplies. Orochimaru used nearly eighty percent of his Exploding Tags to launch the surprise attack on Baosha Town, and they need to be replenished immediately."
"Danzo, Orochimaru unilaterally initiated the war, and the Land of Wind will definitely send envoys to rebuke this matter. At that time, we will be very passive." Homura Mitokado coughed and reminded Danzo.
"Passive about what? Everyone can see the intentions of the Sand Ninja Village. Orochimaru's preemptive strike delivered a heavy blow, perfectly delaying the Sand Ninja Village's timing to launch the war. Now, as long as we send reinforcements to Orochimaru, we can defeat the Sand Ninja Village on the front lines and force them to sign a subordinate treaty!"
Danzo said with considerable excitement in his voice, walking step by step towards Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hiruzen, give the order. Dispatch the second team of reinforcements. While the borders of the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning are still stable, let's first break up the Sand Ninja Village. This will lighten Konoha's western defense line, allowing us to withdraw troops and concentrate on dealing with the two countries of Lightning and Earth."
"Danzo!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his pipe on the table and roared at Danzo.
"Orochimaru initiated the war, which will put the Land of Fire's reputation in an awkward position. The current peace was earned by every Konoha Ninja, one by one, at the cost of their lives."
Danzo said without yielding, "Sarutobi, the Sand Ninja Village first had the intention of starting a war. They blamed Konoha for the disappearance of the Third Kazekage."
"But the Sand Ninja Village hasn't actually made a move yet. According to intelligence gathered by the Anbu, the Wind Country Daimyo has already dispatched envoys to protest to the Fire Country Daimyo. This will put Konoha in a very passive position."
Utatane Koharu, who was standing by, agreed with Hiruzen Sarutobi's words. She said, "If the Daimyo knows that we made the first move, it might affect the upcoming budget allocations, especially since once war breaks out, it will also have a considerable impact on the nobles and merchants in the capital."
Danzo said with a chilling tone, "Then let the Land of Wind's envoys be unable to protest."
"Don't act recklessly, Danzo. Root is not allowed to lay a hand on the Land of Wind's envoys."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was filled with unquestionable authority as he warned Danzo.
"Although Orochimaru achieved impressive results, he initiated the war without authorization, so I will not credit him. Afterwards, a second wave of reinforcements will be dispatched, but I will send a front-line deputy commander to ensure Orochimaru doesn't act so recklessly in the future."
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu nodded in agreement after hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words: "That's good. With an extra person to advise him, Orochimaru can be more cautious when dealing with the Sand Ninja, lest he accidentally fall into an enemy's trap next time, which would be risking the lives of Konoha Ninja."
"Hiruzen, you…"
Danzo was almost amused by these two; Orochimaru impulsive?
Back on the Land of Rain battlefield, Orochimaru's tactics accounted for three-tenths of the credit for defeating the Sand Ninja, almost comparable to Tsunade's achievement in neutralizing all of the Sand Ninja's poisons.
Now these two have almost forgotten Orochimaru's talent during the Second Shinobi World War and have become Sarutobi's echo chambers!
"Hmph! Sarutobi, you will regret this!"
After uttering these words, Danzo immediately turned and left.
"Danzo, your Root must not make any unauthorized moves! I am the Hokage!"
Before Danzo had even left the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi loudly reminded Danzo.
After not being called Yanzu, the votes suddenly dropped by half!