Idiot.
To the extent that even the Root appeared somewhat foolish!
Uchiha Sasuke quietly watched Shimura Danzo being scolded harshly by the two Hokage advisors, and couldn't help but grit his teeth.
"The position of Hokage should be handed over to the young people..."
"Danzo, you are quite old now. Even when the Monkey was alive, he often felt lacking in energy, let alone you, who haven't been involved in village affairs for a long time..."
"Now, it's only because the village's affairs are so numerous that we had to ask you to come out of retirement. We're already uneasy about disturbing your peaceful retirement, so how can we burden you with the role of Hokage? At your age, you lack the energy to handle so many issues..."
"..."
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado swiftly rejected Danzo's ambition to become Hokage. They genuinely believed Danzo was unsuitable for the position, not just making excuses.
"..."
Danzo could only reluctantly give up for the time being.
To him, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had always been his supporters, allies he needed to win over, so naturally, he couldn't oppose them.
"Is there anyone more suitable to become Hokage than Danzo-sama?"
Uchiha Sasuke, standing beside Danzo, glanced at Koharu and Homura, showing the ignorance of youth: "Right now, it should be Danzo-sama..."
"Hmm?"
Homura's gaze immediately became suspicious, and his attitude turned stern: "This is not a place for a kid like you to speak!"
"Danzo..."
Koharu didn't look at Sasuke, instead fixing her gaze on Danzo: "Are you trying to use this kid's power to usurp the position of Hokage?"
"Shut up, Sasuke!"
Danzo glanced at Sasuke and rebuked him coldly: "I am talking to my old friends. This is no place for you to speak!"
"Yes."
Sasuke obediently stepped back half a step.
"..."
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances.
Unexpectedly...
Danzo had already managed to control Uchiha Sasuke so quickly, even making the boy so obedient. It seems he truly is adept at dealing with the Uchiha!
Danzo squinted his eyes at his two old friends: "I'm just worried that the village being without a Hokage for too long will attract others' covetousness..."
"Rest assured."
Koharu nodded slowly and continued: "A suitable candidate will be found soon. Jiraiya has already gone to find the right person. There's no one more suitable than her."
"Her?"
"Indeed."
Homura nodded lightly and continued: "The granddaughter of the First Hokage, one of the legendary Sannin, the finest medical ninja in the ninja world. No matter how you look at it, she is the most suitable candidate."
"Tsunade..."
Danzo frowned, wanting to argue: "Tsunade hasn't returned to the village for a long time..."
"But she still holds high prestige."
Koharu mentioned the village affairs softly: "The Jonin squads in the village all respect her greatly. Many of the village's clans have had good relations with the Senju clan and would choose to support her..."
"I see..."
Danzo frowned tightly, unable to find a way to refute the suggestion, feeling that if he said more, it would only displease his old friends.
Forget it.
There's no rush.
Opportunities will arise.
Danzo knew Tsunade's character well. His old friends would realize he was the most suitable candidate for Hokage.
After leaving the Hokage building.
As usual, Danzo looked back at the now vacant tall building. It was a habitual gesture, reflecting his ongoing ambition.
"Hmph..."
Danzo turned around, a hint of regret still on his face, and began lecturing Sasuke: "Sasuke, Koharu and Homura are village elders. You should show a bit of deference in their presence..."
"Yes."
Sasuke nodded and suddenly asked: "Danzo-sama, do you also wish to become the village's Hokage?"
"Which ninja in this village doesn't want to become Hokage?"
Danzo snorted, not hiding his ambition from Sasuke, knowing the boy, under Kotoamatsukami, would be loyal to him.
"..."
Sasuke shook his head, looking at Danzo with eyes full of nostalgia for Akihara Kagura, trying to show a touch of admiration on his face: "I only wish to become someone like Danzo-sama, staying in the dark base of Root, protecting Konoha in the shadows..."
"..."
Danzo shook his head, no longer speaking.
If he could...
Who would want to remain hidden in the darkness?
He, too, wished to stand in the sunlight like Sarutobi Hiruzen, overlooking the village that obeyed his every command, leading the ninjas who followed the Hokage's orders.
Danzo continued walking slowly, saying casually: "If one day I become Hokage, I'll let you lead Root..."
After all...
Root is just a training ground for ANBU.
In the future, he could use Root to fill ANBU with his own people, ensuring his commands in Konoha would be smoothly executed without opposition!
"What a pity..."
Danzo sighed.
"Should I help you kill Tsunade-sama?"
Sasuke frowned, trying to show his loyalty by suggesting a devious plan: "If Tsunade dies, Danzo-sama would certainly become Hokage, right?"
"!!!"
Danzo's eyes suddenly turned sharp!
The old man's heart surged with boundless desire, for he knew this pawn could indeed be used against Tsunade, with a high chance of success!
If Tsunade were to die...
He would undoubtedly succeed as Hokage!
However...
The risk was also great...
If Sasuke failed, he would become the target of all criticism, and Koharu and Homura already knew Sasuke was part of Root!
After all, Tsunade's strength was certainly not weak...
"The legendary Sannin is not that impressive..."
Sasuke stood behind Danzo, speaking with cold contempt: "I met Orochimaru in the Forest of Death. That man tried to attack me but was easily defeated. I even effortlessly grasped his power..."
"Oh?"
Danzo's eyes brightened.
This matter...
Danzo happened to know about it.
Because Uchiha Sasuke reported to him that he had discovered Orochimaru's whereabouts and was confident in his ability to deal with Orochimaru, it proved that Uchiha Sasuke indeed possessed the power to defeat one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha.
However...
This old man's eyes soon dimmed again. Defeating a member of the Legendary Sannin was one thing, but killing one was another. Moreover, if Jiraiya was looking for Tsunade, the two of them together were not something Uchiha Sasuke could handle alone. At least, Shimura Danzo did not believe Uchiha Sasuke could achieve that...
Even if he was a wielder of the Mangekyo Sharingan...
Facing two of the Legendary Sannin from Konoha, it was hard to say he had any chance of winning...
"Abandon this idea."
Shimura Danzo felt regret again in his heart, but his face remained stern and righteous: "In the future, do not act so extremely. I am the guardian of Konoha's roots, and I will not send people to clean up ninjas in the village unless they have harmed Konoha..."
"..."
Uchiha Sasuke lowered his head, squinting his eyes as if he was obeying Shimura Danzo's order: "Yes, I understand."
This old man...
How can he be so cowardly!
If he just showed a little ambition to become Hokage, I could support him with my power to become Hokage, instead of him sighing with regret here! Fortunately...
I never expected this old man to have that kind of courage...
In the end...
One can only rely on oneself.
Uchiha Sasuke took the initiative to contact Hatake Kakashi and informed him of Shimura Danzo's ambitions: "Danzo wants me to help him become Hokage. If the village's Jonin votes for him, Kakashi-sensei, you must not vote for him..."
"!!!"
Hatake Kakashi's eyes widened.
Indeed...
Something was going to happen...
On the first day Uchiha Sasuke joined the Root, he brought him shocking news: Shimura Danzo wanted to rely on Sasuke's power to become Hokage!
"The Jonin won't approve of it."
Hatake Kakashi shook his head, confident about this matter: "The Jonin in the village won't believe Danzo can take on the responsibility of Hokage..."
Not to mention...
At least their peers wouldn't choose Danzo!
"But..."
Uchiha Sasuke raised a critical question: "What if Danzo orders me to kill those who do not comply and demands everyone support him as Hokage?"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi's expression changed dramatically, quickly advising: "Sasuke, don't follow him down a wrong path. Hokage is not a position that can be attained through power alone!"
That Shimura Danzo guy...
Really might do such a thing!
When Hatake Kakashi first encountered Shimura Danzo, Danzo even tempted him to assassinate the Third Hokage. That old man hidden in the shadows might indeed resort to violence if others did not support him!
This kind of thing...
Shimura Danzo is definitely capable of it!
Hearing Uchiha Sasuke's words, Hatake Kakashi already believed it because Danzo even dared to plot against the Hokage and had previously attempted to harm him, a talented Jonin. Killing those who did not support him would be no different...
"Sasuke..."
Hatake Kakashi looked at his student in silence, his heart sinking: "You won't help him, right? Attacking your comrades in the village recklessly is equivalent to betraying Konoha. We must report this to the higher-ups..."
"Kakashi-sensei..."
Uchiha Sasuke shook his head and said softly: "If I wanted to help him, I wouldn't have come to see you. But I also need the power he can provide. The higher-ups in the village won't believe us; they will just lightly let Danzo off..."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi fell silent.
When the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, discovered Danzo's sinister deeds, he also let Danzo off lightly, never severely punishing him. If anyone else had committed even a fraction of Danzo's crimes, they would have been dealt with by the ANBU!
Yet...
Shimura Danzo still lived.
And he had regained power.
"Kakashi-sensei..."
Uchiha Sasuke spread his hands, speaking honestly: "I don't want to be his killing tool, nor do I want someone like him to become Hokage. The one who truly deserves to be Hokage is someone like Naruto..."
"Naruto is still too young..."
Hatake Kakashi found himself amused, the tension easing away. At least, knowing Sasuke constantly thought of his old friend, Uzumaki Naruto, reassured him that Sasuke wouldn't turn too extreme...
"Alright."
"Don't worry."
"The Jonin trust vote will not pass."
Hatake Kakashi collected his thoughts and spoke seriously again: "I'm just worried you'll be deceived by his lies..."
"I understand."
Uchiha Sasuke extended his hand, revealing a curse mark. His voice turned heavy: "He made me his personal guard, probably to monitor me and to use my power for his protection..."
"But..."
"I discovered something..."
"Shimura Danzo might be colluding with Orochimaru, the one who killed the Third Hokage. This power was demonstrated by Orochimaru, but I found records of it in Danzo's office..."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi's eyelids twitched.
This...
How many years ago was this?
Hatake Kakashi already knew about this, having dealt with the aftermath of Danzo and Orochimaru collusion himself...
To be honest...
Hatake Kakashi even suspected that Orochimaru and Danzo conspired to kill the Third Hokage, but he had no evidence and couldn't take down Danzo, who was theoretically one of Konoha's leaders...
"Kakashi-sensei, you already knew!"
Uchiha Sasuke seemed to see through Hatake Kakashi's thoughts: "You already knew Danzo and Orochimaru were colluding?"
"...Yes."
Hatake Kakashi did not deny it, simply explaining: "When Orochimaru defected from the village, Danzo did maintain contact with him. I thought their contact had ceased, but it seems..."
"Then we must not let him become Hokage..."
Uchiha Sasuke retracted his curse mark, calmly discrediting his superior: "This time, Danzo is very determined to become Hokage. I have learned he is ready to target the Jonin, and I am just one of his tools..."
"Perhaps..."
"The opponent is already in the village..."
"It is said that Shimura Danzo has contacted an organization called Akatsuki to eliminate the Jonin who stand in his way of becoming Hokage…"