---
Chuff, chuff!
The Third Hokage puffed away at his pipe, filling the office with smoke in no time. It was like a fairyland, and Danzo and the two Hokage advisors felt a little lightheaded, as if they were floating in the clouds.
Cough, cough, cough!
The three of them coughed. Danzo waved his sleeve, and a gust of wind blew out, hitting the window, just enough force to open the two sections of the window.
The strength of the darkness of the ninja world was truly powerful.
"Hiruzen, can't you smoke a little less?"
Danzo couldn't help but complain. Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane nodded in agreement. They couldn't stand Hiruzen's terrible smoking habit.
The Third Hokage glanced at his three friends, ignoring them. He continued to puff on his pipe and said calmly, "Anything else?"
"What do you mean, Hiruzen?"
Danzo's face changed, and he asked anxiously, "Are you still going to indulge the Uchiha clan like before?"
Homura and Koharu also became anxious, repeatedly asking the Third Hokage what he meant. Didn't they make it clear enough? If this continued, your position as Hokage would be in real danger.
The Third Hokage remained calm, smiled faintly, and said, "You only see my position as precarious, but you don't see the civilian ninjas and ninjas from the smaller clans approaching me."
Crisis, crisis.
Where there is danger, there are also opportunities.
The Uchiha clan's propaganda about last night's incident could indeed undermine his authority as Hokage, but at the same time, the Uchiha clan's arrogance and tyranny would also be deeply imprinted in the hearts of many of Konoha's ninja clans and civilian ninjas.
No one would like a Hokage who possesses terrifying power but also has a heart that disregards Konoha's rules and even tramples them.
Today, the Uchiha, who are not yet Hokage, dare to challenge the Hokage and trample on the Hokage's authority.
Tomorrow, if the Uchiha become Hokage, who can guarantee that they won't seize more of the other ninja clans' interests?
The more arrogant the Uchiha are, the more it highlights how reassuring the Third Hokage's policy of rallying civilian ninjas is.
As more civilian ninjas and ninjas from smaller clans approach the Third Hokage, his position as Hokage becomes more secure.
The Uchiha's arrogance is only temporary.
As long as they don't rebel, they will eventually destroy themselves.
The Third Hokage knew this very well.
As long as he obtained the technique of immortality, he was confident that the Second Hokage's plan would not fail, and that the Uchiha clan would eventually be eliminated.
So he wasn't in a hurry. At least until the technique of immortality was secured, he didn't want to cause too much commotion.
Facing the Third Hokage, who didn't want to do anything, Homura and Koharu Utatane were also helpless. After all, they were just advisors. As long as Hiruzen was healthy, they were truly just advisors, only having the right to offer suggestions, they had no other authority.
They could only sigh helplessly and not say anything more about the Third Hokage's decision not to deal with the Uchiha clan.
Danzo, however, was so anxious that he wanted to curse.
"Hiruzen, listen to me. The Uchiha clan has become a major threat. Even if you let them off this time, they won't be grateful. They'll only think you're weak and incompetent, and they'll ride roughshod over you even more."
"They won't stop until they control Konoha."
"Even if you don't want to deal with the Uchiha clan now, you should at least be prepared."
"I think..." Danzo cleared his throat and suggested, "At least we should establish an organization specifically for weakening the Uchiha clan..."
"Cough!"
The Third Hokage's eyes narrowed, and the pressure in the air increased. Danzo coughed and quickly changed his explanation, "I'm talking about an organization specifically for dealing with things that even the Anbu can't handle. I've already thought of a name, it's called Root."
"The root that nourishes the towering tree of Konoha, ensuring its healthy growth in the sunlight. The root that silently protects Konoha in the darkness, only acting in the shadows."
"No fame or fortune, everything for the sake of Konoha's interests. This is the philosophy of Root, and it's Root's determination to give everything for Konoha."
The meaning of Root was very good. As Danzo spoke with passion, a halo of light seemed to surround him. Danzo thought that Hiruzen must have been moved by his heart, which was willing to sink into darkness for the sake of Konoha.
The Third Hokage was indeed moved.
He was so moved that he wanted to stab his friend with his eyes. You're still obsessed with seizing my position as Hokage!
The Third Hokage glared at Danzo with disdain and sarcastically said, "You've even come up with a name. It seems like dealing with the Uchiha is just a pretense, you really want to establish Root."
"Cough..." Danzo was a little embarrassed. His little secret had been exposed, but he was thick-skinned, and he said with a righteous face, "It's all for Konoha."
Homura and Koharu Utatane also reacted at this time, their eyes lit up simultaneously. They looked at this thick-browed, big-eyed old fellow, Danzo, and immediately turned their fiery gazes to the Third Hokage.
"Hiruzen, we also agree to establish Root." Homura said.
"Don't worry, the three of us will definitely manage Root well for you." Koharu Utatane said matter-of-factly.
"What do you mean?" Danzo raised an eyebrow, turning his head to glare at his two friends, Homura and Koharu Utatane, who wanted to steal his credit and enjoy the benefits.
"Homura, Koharu Utatane, you're Hokage advisors, don't forget your responsibility. Assisting the Hokage is your duty."
Danzo said, "Leave Root to me. I'm the one who's most suitable to lead Root and silently protect Konoha."
Homura retorted, "Leading Root for Hiruzen is the best way for us, Hokage advisors, to assist Hiruzen. On the contrary, you're not in any of the Hokage's high-level departments. You're just a registered ordinary Jonin. Root, a ninja department with the same attributes as the Anbu, should be directly under the Hokage's jurisdiction. You're not qualified. Only the two of us, Hokage advisors, are qualified to lead it for Hiruzen."
Homura and Koharu Utatane argued their case. Even against their old friend, Danzo, they didn't show any mercy.
They had to get control of Root.
They hadn't thought of this way to seize power before!
What is power?
Having the authority to command others is called power?
Advisors only have the right to offer suggestions.
They had always wanted to have their own ninja squad.
Unfortunately, the Anbu was the Hokage's exclusive force, firmly controlled by Hiruzen, and no one could intervene.
As for the ninjas in other departments, they were just advisors, and they didn't have the authority to mobilize them.
The Root organization proposed by Danzo perfectly met their desire to seize power.
They were all very clear that whoever controlled this hidden organization, comparable to the Anbu, would be able to gain more benefits for themselves and their families within the Konoha interest group.
At the same time, the power to control the life and death of others was fascinating, and they were unwilling to give it up.
"You..."
Danzo pointed at Homura and Koharu Utatane. He was angered by their shameless faces, and he couldn't help but resent Hiruzen. As a friend, he hadn't even gotten a decent position.
"What about us?"
Homura and Koharu Utatane smiled triumphantly. They were about to say something else.
Slap!
The sound of the Third Hokage's palm hitting the table echoed. Looking at his three friends, who were arguing about the ownership of Root, completely ignoring him, the Hokage, and with the scene of being humiliated by the two Uchiha brats last night replaying in his mind, his anger flared up, and the Hokage's aura suddenly erupted.
A wave of anger descended upon Homura and Koharu Utatane, the smiles on their faces instantly disappearing. They felt the awe-inspiring power of the Hero of the Ninja World.
Hiruzen was angry. The two of them lowered their heads, not daring to say anything more.
Danzo also lowered his head, not daring to challenge the Hokage's authority.
"Do you still have any respect for me, the Hokage?"
The Third Hokage glared at the three of them and continued, "We'll talk about Root later. You can all leave now."
"Hiruzen..."
Danzo looked up, meeting his sharp gaze. The words he wanted to say to plead his case disappeared.
"You'll regret this."
Leaving behind a threatening remark, Danzo glared at Homura and Koharu Utatane again, and angrily turned to leave.
"I am the Hokage." The Third Hokage unconsciously added.
Danzo, who had already reached the door, heard these familiar five words, and his figure paused slightly. Then, his eyes blazed with fire as he walked out.
Yes!
Hiruzen is the Hokage!
Everything is the Hokage!
As long as he is the Hokage, none of this would have happened today.
Just wait, Hiruzen.
One day, I will also say these five words, "I am the Hokage," in front of you, and make you feel the humiliation they bring.
As Danzo walked out of the Hokage's office, the flame of ambition for the Hokage's position burned fiercely in his heart.
Establishing Root was just the first step.
There would be a second step, a third step, and finally, he would step by step reach the top, reaching the position of Hokage.
---
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