Chapter 268 Sarutobi Hiruzen: Danzo, you are very important to me! Seven more chapters!
The so-called mission submission!
Naturally, it was Fujiwara Tetsuya's fabricated excuse to escape the enthusiastic Konoha Villagers!
After successfully getting away!
Fujiwara Tetsuya first sent Uchiha Mikoto to the Uchiha compound.
After several months!
The Uchiha compound, compared to before, had not changed in the slightest!
Neither the war with Sunagakure nor the war in the Land of Rivers seemed to have affected the Uchiha Clan.
However, for Fujiwara Tetsuya personally, everything before him seemed a little different.
Compared to the cautious mindset he had every time he came to the Uchiha compound before, at this moment, he felt... he seemed to have the qualification to look the Uchiha Clan in the eye.
Even if there might be one, or even several, Quasi-Kage within the Uchiha Clan.
This was the confidence brought by the change in his strength!
"Mikoto! Then I'll see you off here!"
"Rest well these few days! Don't overthink things!"
"Mhm! Then Tetsuya-kun! I won't come to find you for the next few days!"
"You also pay attention to your rest!"
After watching Uchiha Mikoto leave, Fujiwara Tetsuya tidied his hair.
He turned and walked towards the commercial street in the center of the Village.
It had been a long time since he returned! Those little brats in the clan would surely be craving something again!
And Meihua! Kyoji!
What should he get them?
...Hokage Office!
On the night Fujiwara Tetsuya and Uchiha Mikoto returned, Danzo also followed closely, returning to Konoha.
However, just as Danzo returned to the Shimura Clan, and was about to go to sleep, he was again summoned to the Hokage Building by Anbu sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi! Is there anything that can't wait until tomorrow?"
Seeing his good plans interrupted by the Anbu sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo naturally had a belly full of suppressed anger.
Even his gaze towards Hiruzen Sarutobi gradually became unfriendly.
"Cough~ Danzo! I'm just concerned about you!"
"I heard you were ambushed on your way back! Now that I see you're alright, I'm relieved!"
"Is that what this is about!"
"My apologies, Hiruzen! I lost my composure just now!"
"I'm fine! But Owl and the others... all died there!"
"I couldn't even bring back their bodies!"
Meeting Hiruzen Sarutobi's concerned gaze, Danzo's mind paused, and his tone immediately softened considerably.
Indeed! In his heart, he still cares about me!
"I know! The deaths of Owl and the others must have been a great blow to you!"
"After all, you painstakingly trained them all yourself!"
"It's understandable that you feel sad!"
"But! The Village still needs you! Danzo, you must cheer up quickly!"
"Hiruzen! Don't worry! I'll adjust as soon as possible!"
After a moment of silence, Danzo seized the opportunity to show a sorrowful expression, greatly garnering Hiruzen Sarutobi's sympathy.
Fortunately, Fujiwara Tetsuya wasn't there; otherwise, he would surely have cursed, 'Shameless old scoundrel!'
"Phew~ By the way! Do you have any clues regarding the enemy's intelligence?"
"Intelligence, you say!"
"The enemy was well hidden! There are no precise clues!"
"However! It's not difficult to deduce!"
"Most of those who attacked me were skilled in Earth Release!"
"Amegakure just signed an alliance with us! It's clearly impossible for them to have made a move!"
"As for Kusagakure Village! After your warning, I doubt they have the guts!"
"Counting it all up! Those with influence and strength to appear in that location... and who fit the characteristics of those attackers! It can only be Iwagakure!"
To prevent his lie from being exposed, Danzo thought for a moment and decided to pin the blame on Iwagakure.
After all, Iwagakure's ambition to seize the Land of Fire was obvious.
Using them as a scapegoat was perfect!
"Iwagakure, huh? If that's the case, then it seems that intelligence is probably true!"
"Intelligence? What intelligence!"
Watching Hiruzen Sarutobi fall into thought, Danzo was slightly puzzled! Had he accidentally triggered some crucial plot point?
"According to intelligence sent back by our undercover agents in Sunagakure and Iwagakure!"
"The envoy sent by the Third Kazekage has already formally met with Ōnoki!"
"Since then, Iwagakure seems to be undergoing large-scale reorganization and has transported a large amount of Ninja supplies to the western border!"
"From the current situation, there are signs of war breaking out at any time..."
"They intercepted you, probably to pin the blame on Amegakure!"
"Thereby disintegrating our alliance with Amegakure!"
"Danzo! Fortunately, you survived! Otherwise... that would be a disaster for the entire Konoha, for the entire Land of Fire!"
Two against one!
Fighting Sunagakure and Amegakure!
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt he could still hold on!
But if you add Iwagakure, whose military strength is not inferior to Konoha's!
Just think of Iwagakure's two Jinchuriki, Kage-level experts, and various elite units!
If it was three against one!
Even if he could be invincible in a one-on-one fight, at the end of the war, he would inevitably be ganged up on and killed!
"Cough! Hiruzen!"
"Since Iwagakure has exposed its war intentions, we must prepare for war in advance!"
"Abandon the illusion of peace! Blind appeasement will never bring peace!"
"Only by defeating all the enemies who covet Konoha will Konoha usher in true peace!"
"It's just a pity! Root has suffered severe losses and probably won't be able to form effective combat strength for a short time!"
"Hiruzen! I may not be able to stand behind you like before!"
As a high-ranking official of Konoha and the leader of Root, Danzo always held himself in high regard.
But there was a limit to that!
At least, he had never considered himself as important as his old friend said, to the point of being crucial to the life and death of Konoha and the Land of Fire!
Could it be that Hiruzen had come to his senses?
Was he deliberately hinting that he would hand over the next Hokage position to me?
"Danzo! Cheer up! The Village needs you!"
"I... still need you!"
"You don't have to worry about manpower!"
"Because of the war with Amegakure, many Ninja in the Village have undergone a transformation after experiencing the tempering of fire and blood!"
"Coupled with the merits they gained on the battlefield!"
"They should be promoted!"
"Therefore! I plan to hold a large-scale Chunin and Jonin promotion examination in the near future!"
"At that time! You can go and see! If you find anyone suitable to join Root, you can give me a list! I will handle this matter as appropriate!"
Finally, Hiruzen Sarutobi still reserved some leeway for himself.
He was really afraid that the impoverished Root would take this opportunity to fleece them mercilessly!
If it were other small and medium-sized Shinobi Clans, it would be fine!
However! If Danzo set his sights on powerful clans like Senju or Hyuga, then that would be a huge problem!
"Cough~ Hiruzen! I want to ask you for someone?"
"Hmm? Who?"
"That brat from the Fujiwara Family..."
...Danzo! It's getting late! Biwa Lake is still waiting for me!
You've worked hard on this journey! Go back and rest early!