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"Iam The Hokage Of Konoha".
A familiar yet distant voice echoed in Danzo's ears. His pupils tightened, and he subconsciously glanced to the side.
Hiruzen... you...
Danzo's heart trembled. He realized that he had missed the most crucial opportunity of his life.
After returning to Konoha Village, Hiruzen had taken office as the Third Hokage. Back then, Hiruzen was too young, and the Sarutobi clan was only considered a second-tier family in Konoha. They couldn't compare to powerful clans like Senju, Uchiha, or Hyuga, and certainly couldn't command absolute obedience.
It wasn't just the great clans. Even the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance didn't fully submit to the authority of the newly crowned Hokage.
"Let me be the Darkness of Konoha," Danzo had said, finding Hiruzen and sharing his thoughts.
"Konoha needs leaves that shine in the sun and roots buried deep in the earth. You should be the leaf, Hiruzen, and wherever the leaf flies, the fire grows. I will be the root, hidden beneath the surface, protecting the village from the shadows."
With Hiruzen's approval, Danzo became the leader of Root, a covert branch of ANBU tasked with carrying out the darker missions the village needed.
Together, these old friends began their silent war against the ninja clans of the village.
The ninja clans had a complex network of relationships. Their influence reached every corner of Konoha, making them difficult to control. Fortunately, Sarutobi Hiruzen was Hokage. Even if questioned by the clans, he remained the most powerful person in the village. No clan could openly challenge him.
Through their cooperation, Danzo and Hiruzen gradually suppressed the resistance from the clans. Those who had most strongly opposed Hiruzen's rise to power either died, were injured, or stepped down from key positions.
At the same time, Hiruzen trained civilian ninjas, strengthening the Hokage's office.
Danzo played a significant role in all of this. Without his help, Hiruzen wouldn't have succeeded so smoothly.
Over time, Hiruzen's reputation as Hokage grew.
Danzo, meanwhile, sank deeper into the shadows. As the root of Konoha, he no longer had the chance to bask in the light. He could only hide in the darkness, watching as Hiruzen became respected by the villagers, acknowledged by the clans, and trusted by the civilian ninjas.
But he himself felt like a ball of mud, rotting away day by day.
"This isn't the life I wanted! I wanted to be Hokage. That was my dream!"
Danzo had never abandoned his ambition. He had one goal: to become Hokage.
Though he lived in darkness, he longed for the light. He dreamed of one day replacing Hiruzen and becoming the most celebrated figure in Konoha.
"So, cooperate with me. I'll help you fulfill your dream and make you Hokage."
Sasuke's voice echoed in Danzo's ears.
Danzo bit his tongue hard.
"Get out of my head!" he roared, and the illusion shattered in an instant.
His body collapsed to the floor, completely drained of strength. Sweat poured from his brow, and his back was soaked.
After gasping for breath, Danzo raised his head and glanced around.
He was in a lavishly decorated room, and there were two other people present.
"Sasuke Uchiha…"
"Congratulations on waking up. How was the spiritual journey? Did it help you understand yourself better?"
"Hmph. I've never lost sight of my goal…" Danzo muttered, slowly pushing himself up from the floor.
"Then you should know this well: A Hokage isn't recognized after taking the position; only those already acknowledged by everyone can become Hokage. You've been lost in the shadows for too long. How will you gain the villagers' trust if you ever step into the light again?"
Sasuke adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Even if you manage to become Hokage, how long could you hold that seat without their approval? Do you want to truly be Hokage, or do you only desire the title?"
Danzo growled, "I don't need you to worry about me. I have my own plans."
Of course, Danzo understood this. But the problem was that he had sunk so deep into darkness, and Hiruzen had no intention of letting him return to the surface. That was his greatest fear—he couldn't see a way to achieve his dream of becoming Hokage.
"That's why I'm offering to help you," Sasuke pressed.
"On the basis of genocide?" Danzo sneered.
"Yes, on the basis of the Uchiha massacre. Hatred is irrelevant if there's enough to gain. Even with the animosity between us, we can still cooperate."
Sasuke nodded.
"I've already told you, I won't betray the interests of Konoha Village," Danzo said, his face darkening.
"I understand," Sasuke replied, his voice smooth. "All I want is for Sarutobi Hiruzen to step down. He was the real cause of the Uchiha massacre. If he had protected the Uchiha, you wouldn't have had the chance to strike. My only goal is to see him removed from power. As far as I'm concerned, you are more useful than any political interest."
Sasuke's tone sharpened. "And Assistant Danzo, you keep bringing up the massacre, but you underestimate me."
"What do you mean?" Danzo asked, confused.
"The Reanimation Jutsu—I heard about it from Orochimaru."
Danzo's eyes widened.
"So you see, there's no true hatred between us. I'll help you become Hokage. You don't have to betray Konoha's interests. All you have to do is help me remove Sarutobi Hiruzen from power. No one else in this village can give you that opportunity."
Sasuke's words hung in the air, laced with the promise of power. Danzo could feel the weight of the offer, the final chance to achieve his lifelong ambition.
(End of the Chapter).
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