Root.
In a dark room, Shimura Danzo, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane, along with a person wearing an Anbu mask, were sitting at a table. Surprisingly, the high-ranking officials of Konoha, excluding the Third Hokage, gathered in Root's secret chamber, discussing something unknown.
First was a mysterious Anbu ninja wearing a mask, and although it was evident that she was a female ninja, she was familiar to the three. She was recently promoted as the head of Anbu, and her identity was the Third Hokage's daughter-in-law.
The four were seated around a low table. Shimura Danzo squinted and sipped his tea, creating an eerie atmosphere. Finally, Koharu Utatane narrowed her eyes and said softly, "The village is becoming more stable now."
The light-hearted statement interrupted the eerie atmosphere. Homura Mitokado heard it and lowered his head, saying softly, "Yes, the village's stability cannot withstand any more turbulence."
Watching the two old folks acting all superior, Shimura Danzo snorted disdainfully and said darkly, "The Second Hokage's forbidden jutsu data has been given to Orochimaru. With Orochimaru's obsession with forbidden jutsu, he won't resist studying it."
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado couldn't help but frown, showing a hint of dissatisfaction with Shimura Danzo's direct words. It was as if they were thinking, "Danzo, we are all high-ranking officials. How can you speak so bluntly? It's just lowering the standard."
The Anbu head, who was also the Third Hokage's daughter-in-law, heard and saw the tense atmosphere and lowered her voice, saying solemnly, "The three of you are indispensable elders of Konoha and crucial for the village's stability. The village has gone through three wars and the Nine-Tails disaster. We can't afford any more turbulence."
"Although we haven't officially announced the Fifth Hokage yet, rumors about Orochimaru-sama becoming the Fifth Hokage have been spreading due to the village's stability."
As she spoke, the Third Hokage's daughter-in-law showed a grave expression in her eyes and looked directly at the three of them, saying in a serious tone, "Orochimaru-sama has substantial support, with the Uchiha and Hyuga clans behind him, not to mention Inuzuka and other families. Once he becomes the Fifth Hokage, Konoha's peace will be disrupted."
The message was clear. They all belonged to the political forces of the Third Hokage, and their positions were already solidified. Once Orochimaru took office, the interests of Konoha would be greatly affected, and the major clans behind Orochimaru would likely seize their resources. This raised a problem.
Hearing this, Shimura Danzo's single eye showed a grave expression. Though he didn't like Sarutobi Hiruzen, at least when Hiruzen was in power, Danzo's authority in Root was more substantial, and he could even use some intimidation against the major clans.
But if Orochimaru were to take power, Danzo was well aware of Orochimaru's nature—a person driven by self-interest. Coupled with Orochimaru's backing, Danzo feared that Root's influence would be severely restricted.
When Shimura Danzo thought about this, he revealed a hint of fear. During the time of the Fourth Hokage, he sided with Orochimaru because most of Orochimaru's influence was among civilians. Although some clans had some involvement, it wasn't deep. However, the current Uchiha and Hyuga clans are determined to climb to the top.
After all, the Fourth Hokage election took place not long after the White Fang incident. At that time, White Fang was almost unanimously considered the future Hokage. It was only five or six years ago, which led to a strange situation during the Fourth Hokage election, where major clans didn't have enough time to take a stand. After all, no one expected the Third Hokage to take responsibility and step down.
"Orochimaru's power has grown, and he's not someone who cherishes his reputation." Koharu Utatane furrowed her brow, raising a crucial point that Orochimaru is not as easy to deal with as White Fang.
White Fang was easy to handle because he valued his reputation highly, evident from Orochimaru's nickname, "The Cold Lord".
Other clans don't want Orochimaru to take over because they fear the political power behind him. This is the crucial point.
Homura Mitokado squinted his eyes, observing the situation. Witnessing this, the Third Hokage's daughter-in-law silently cursed the three cunning individuals. However, she had to speak up to gain the most from the situation.
"Three Elders, I remember the Second Hokage studied a forbidden jutsu after the First Hokage's sacrifice. In the future, regardless of who becomes the Hokage, what Konoha needs the most is stability - a stability that can last for decades."
At this moment, the ANBU Commander wanted to take the position of the Hokage's wife. He presented a tempting offer and a promise that Konoha would remain stable for the next few decades, preserving everyone's interests.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado squinted their eyes, content with their current positions. They wanted both the village's peaceful development and the preservation of their clan's interests. They looked at Shimura Danzo, pondering their options.
Shimura Danzo remained calm, with one eye fixed on the three. He couldn't help but sneer at the cunning plan. If the Third Hokage's eldest son took the position, the ANBU Commander/Head of Anbu would secure the prestigious position of the Hokage's wife. With a young Hokage ensuring stability for decades to come, Shimura Danzo saw an opportunity to strike, just as he did with White Fang. With Orochimaru in power, he can't do that.
He understood that the Sarutobi clan desired hereditary succession, but he believed they should consider their strength. Considering Sarutobi Shinzo's current age, it would be challenging for him to make significant progress in strength. If the Fifth Hokage lacked the strength to match the position, Shimura Danzo saw a chance to manipulate the situation, causing the young Hokage to reveal his true strength. This would be a blow to his reputation, similar to what he did with the White Fang.
By that time, Orochimaru would have a notorious reputation, and Jiraiya and Tsunade would not be in Konoha. The Third Hokage wouldn't come out of retirement again, right? Even if he did, he would lose face, and no one would agree to it. Did they really think Konoha's Hokage position belonged to the Sarutobi clan?
Understanding this logic, Shimura Danzo nodded slightly with a gloomy expression and said in a low voice, "Indeed! The village needs stability, and the Uchiha clan is too dangerous."
Shimura Danzo also presented his thoughts. He could agree with them, but in the future, they would have to deal with the Uchiha clan together. He coveted the Uchiha's power but also feared it. He saw an opportunity to use a future Hokage who lacked strength but had the support of the people to deal with the Uchiha clan.
However, this plan came with the risk of carrying an infamous reputation and potentially leading to both sides suffering losses. Even if they won impressively, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage.
~~~
Patreon.com/Bleam
— 50 Advance Chapters!
Discord Server:
— https://discord.gg/JPwBJPcUzR
(I post Trial Chapters of FanFic I think I would post or not in Discord. We also have Minecraft Server for "Reborn with Steve Stand")