---
Let's not mention Danzo's efforts to become Hokage.
In the office, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane didn't leave immediately.
Unlike Danzo, who could give Hiruzen the cold shoulder and leave, they were Hokage advisors, and they would have to assist Hiruzen in handling matters in the future. It wouldn't be good for them if they made a big fuss with Hiruzen.
After all, their authority in front of other ninjas relied on Hiruzen's name as Hokage.
"Sorry, Hiruzen..."
The two of them sincerely apologized to the Third Hokage, saying that they had been too hasty and didn't mean to disrespect his position as Hokage.
The Third Hokage waved his hand and said, "It's alright, you two can go now. I want to be alone."
"Alright, call us if you need anything."
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane left. The large Hokage office was now empty, with only the Third Hokage alone.
"Should I establish Root?"
The Third Hokage was pondering. He hadn't completely rejected Danzo's proposal. The threat of the Uchiha clan had always existed, and even if Danzo hadn't mentioned it, he would have made preparations.
But... Danzo's ambition to replace him had always been obvious, and he was very aware of it.
The reason why Danzo hadn't gotten a high-ranking position in the Hokage's administration after he became Hokage was entirely due to the Third Hokage's intention.
Why didn't he let Danzo join the Hokage's administration?
It was because this guy, like the Uchiha clan, also wanted to overthrow him and become Hokage himself, so he didn't give him the opportunity to climb up.
If it hadn't been for this, he wouldn't have denied his old friend, who had shared life and death with him, a high-ranking position, and the benefits that came with being Hokage.
But after all these years, his position as Hokage had become more secure, and the Third Hokage thought that maybe he could give Danzo some power.
Moreover... the things that Root would do were destined to not bring Danzo any good reputation.
Without everyone's approval, Danzo wouldn't be able to replace him as Hokage.
Compared to Danzo, the Third Hokage felt that the current and future Uchiha clan posed a greater threat to his position as Hokage.
Thinking of this, the Third Hokage made a decision.
...
"Clan leader, you called for me."
The Shimura clan territory was located in the east of the village, close to the Sarutobi clan. At this time, in the clan's main hall, an Anbu ninja wearing a white, wavy-striped mask knelt on one knee in front of Danzo.
Danzo was now the clan leader of the Shimura clan.
Although the Third Hokage had forbidden Danzo from holding any positions in the Hokage's administration, many Shimura clan ninjas held positions in various departments in Konoha. These ninjas were all personally promoted by the Third Hokage.
Among them, there were three Shimura clan ninjas in the Anbu alone.
Given the special nature of the Anbu, a clan would usually only choose one person to join. More than that would weaken the Hokage's control over the Anbu.
Konoha, at this point, was essentially still an alliance of various ninja clans.
Konoha ninjas had the label of Konoha, but they also had the label of their clan, and in matters of interest, the clan label was more important.
So, to reduce the influence of other ninja clans on the Anbu, there wouldn't be more than two ninjas from the same clan in the Anbu.
But the Shimura clan had three members in the Anbu.
This showed how much the Third Hokage trusted the Shimura clan ninjas.
But it was also understandable. The Shimura clan and the Sarutobi clan had been allies since the Warring States Period, supporting each other all along, their friendship was deep.
The current clan leader, Danzo, and the Third Hokage had been close friends since childhood, their relationship was much better than that of Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and the Third Hokage.
So, Danzo, who wasn't a Hokage advisor, could freely enter and exit the Hokage's office without anyone stopping him. Now, he even called a family ninja who served in the Anbu to ask him questions.
"Who did the Anbu bring back last night?"
Just like the two Uchiha brats last night, or perhaps many people thought the same way. Someone who was escorted back to the Anbu headquarters by the Hokage himself, everyone wanted to know the reason.
Danzo was no exception.
"I don't know. It was Blast's squad that went on the mission last night. It was very short, maybe less than thirty minutes. When the culprit returned, they were sent to interrogation room number three, guarded by Blast's squad. Others were not allowed to interfere or transmit any information. Violators would be treated as rogue ninjas."
The Shimura clan Anbu ninja revealed everything he knew, not caring about the Anbu's confidentiality rules.
Or perhaps, he was more afraid of the terrible consequences of disobeying the clan leader's orders than being treated as a rogue ninja by the Hokage.
After all, being treated as a rogue ninja would only affect him.
But if he disobeyed the clan leader, it would affect his entire family of five.
Moreover, the concept he had always been taught was that family came first.
So, he didn't think there was anything wrong with revealing the Anbu's secrets to the clan leader.
This was the relationship between the ninja clans and the Konoha family in this era. Family came first.
"It seems this person is very important!"
After listening to the family ninja's words, Danzo's eyes flashed, and he thought to himself. The same squad was responsible for both capture and guarding, in order to prevent others from knowing the relevant information.
Such a level of confidentiality showed that the person in interrogation room number three had a big secret, a secret that Hiruzen was very eager to get his hands on.
Thinking of this, Danzo instinctively wanted to ask the family ninja to investigate the prisoner in interrogation room number three.
But he held back in the end.
Now was not the time to provoke Hiruzen. No matter what secrets the person in interrogation room number three had, once he established Root, all the secrets of the Anbu would be in his grasp.
"Go back. Don't deliberately investigate the matter of interrogation room number three. If you hear any relevant useful information, report back to me."
Danzo waved his hand, dismissing the family Anbu ninja. Then, he turned and went to his study, continuing to refine the organizational structure of his Root.
He had a feeling that Hiruzen would definitely let him establish and lead Root.
...
Hokage Office.
The Third Hokage, who was handling paperwork, looked up at the clock on the wall. The first class at the ninja school would be over in a few minutes.
"Hime, go to the ninja school..."
The Third Hokage spoke, asking his secretary, Chiyo Hime, to call the ninja teacher of Minato's class to come over.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The secretary, Chiyo Hime, twisted her mature peach-like buttocks, which were covered in a black and purple split short skirt, as she walked out. The Third Hokage's gaze followed the rhythmic swaying of the half-circle.
This is being Hokage!
How could I give it up!
The Third Hokage sighed in his heart. The joy of being Hokage is something you have to experience to understand. He was already deeply immersed in it, and no one could take his joy away.
In a short while.
The beautiful Hokage secretary, Chiyo Hime, with her perfect figure, came in with the ninja teacher of Minato's class.
(ShixT9: IDK if she's in the anime)
"Hokage-sama."
The ninja teacher was excited, his voice even trembled slightly. He looked at the Third Hokage with burning eyes, then quickly lowered his head slightly, not daring to look directly at the Hokage.
After all, this was the Hokage!
Seeing this, the Third Hokage smiled slightly, feeling secretly proud.
This was the confidence that even if the Uchiha clan was arrogant, they wouldn't be able to do anything to his position as Hokage.
He had the greatest prestige among the genin and chunin, the largest group in Konoha, and no one could approach him.
As long as he had this group, plus the support of the major ninja clans, the Uchiha clan, hmph, no matter how arrogant they were, they wouldn't dare to easily attack him.
His thoughts only lasted for a moment. The Third Hokage's eyes softened, as if they could warm people's hearts. He said, "Mokumura, I called you here to inform you of something."
Oh my God, the Hokage-sama knows my name!
Mokumura was excited. He didn't even pay attention to what the Third Hokage was saying. For a normal chunin like him, the Third Hokage was an unattainable dream.
Now, the dream seemed to be coming true. How could he not be excited?
"Mokumura." The Third Hokage called out, instantly awakening Mokumura. He realized that he had been spacing out while the Hokage was talking.
The ashamed and nervous Mokumura quickly apologized, "Sorry, Hokage-sama, I lost my composure just now."
"It's alright, don't be nervous." The Third Hokage smiled and continued, "Your classmate, Akemiya Kenshi, may have been upset last night because of his parents' situation. He had some health problems and is now in a vegetative state. The Anbu's medical team is working on it, and he might not be able to come to school for a long time."
Akemiya Kenshi... He wasn't... The ninja teacher's brow furrowed slightly. He thought that the child had been fine yesterday.
The Third Hokage continued, "I want you to tell Akemiya Kenshi's classmates not to worry too much. As the Hokage of Konoha, I won't abandon any child of Konoha."
"Yes, Hokage-sama, I'll explain it to everyone." Although the ninja teacher was still a little confused, he chose to believe the Hokage's words.
The reason why the Third Hokage said this was because Akemiya Kenshi's disappearance needed a reasonable explanation, otherwise, it would cause unnecessary rumors later.
Meanwhile.
Ninja School.
During the second theory class, the ninja teacher told Akemiya Kenshi's classmates about his situation, as instructed by the Third Hokage.
The classroom was instantly filled with voices expressing concern for Akemiya Kenshi.
Only Minato's heart sank, and bad guesses flashed through his mind.
He was very anxious, but he didn't go to the Hokage-sama immediately to ask for clarification.
He waited until after school in the afternoon before heading straight to the Hokage Tower.
The Third Hokage met Minato in his Hokage office.
"Hokage-sama, what happened to Kenshi?"
Minato got straight to the point, asking about his friend's situation directly.
The Third Hokage looked sad for a moment and decided to tell the truth, "I'm sorry, Minato. Akemiya Kenshi died a week ago. The Akemiya Kenshi you saw yesterday was not the original Akemiya Kenshi."
Died... Minato was stunned. Scenes from the past flashed through his mind, all the way to yesterday's events.
"Hokage-sama, can I know who killed Kenshi"
After a long silence, Minato finally spoke. His voice was filled with a deep killing intent. This was the first time he had felt such intense killing intent towards someone.
"The enemy has been caught."
The Third Hokage said, "I will make the enemy pay the price with their lives. You don't have to focus on that. You should focus on studying now."
The Third Hokage had high hopes for Minato, hoping that he would become an outstanding and powerful ninja in the future. He didn't want him to live with a heart filled with revenge at such a young age.
"I... I understand, Hokage-sama."
Minato took a deep breath. He wasn't an ordinary person after all. He quickly realized that the enemy's matter was confidential, something he couldn't touch now.
"Then I'll go home now, Hokage-sama."
Minato didn't continue the previous topic. He said goodbye to the Third Hokage and went home. He had realized that he wasn't strong enough yet, he couldn't even protect his friend. He didn't want to be so powerless anymore.
---
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