Chapter 68: Will of Fire

Danzo stood to the side, savoring the complex expression of shock and anger on the Third Hokage's face.

The Third held a thick report, extracting a ninja list from within, and rare for him, lost his composure and roared:

"Has the promotion system for ninjas in the village decayed to this extent?!"

"There's even significant involvement from the Anbu, what's going on, I need an explanation!"

"Get the Anbu leader here as quickly as possible!"

In the shadows, an Anbu member swiftly left upon hearing the Third's command. However, no one saw that behind the mask, his face was already drenched in cold sweat.

"Has the boosting exercise finally been exposed?"

Danzo watched the furious Third Hokage beside him, secretly sneering and began calculating how to extract the greatest benefit from this incident.

Currently, although Danzo still controlled the Root in reality, because of the issue of falsely transmitting the Hokage's orders, he had been stripped of his position as the Hokage's advisor.

Danzo needed the position of the Hokage's advisor to ensure that at crucial moments, he was the person closest to the Hokage's seat.

"Hiruzen, we have underestimated Uchiha Hanma. Using such a vicious method to disrupt the village's operations."

"For Uchiha Hanma's actions, I believe we must strike harshly!"

Danzo observed the Third Hokage's face, speaking in a deep voice. After this war, the Third immediately assigned Danzo to investigate the cause of Konoha ninja's declining combat effectiveness. As the Hokage, he was extremely concerned and sensitive about this matter.

The Third Hokage vaguely sensed a large dark curtain within the village, but he was kept in the dark.

Danzo swiftly captured many suspicious ninjas based on past mission reports, even using genjutsu for interrogation.

Soon, the entire underground boosting network was dug out by Danzo, formed into a detailed report along with a list of participating ninjas, and delivered to the Third Hokage's desk.

"What's going on, Father?"

"Smack!" 

Sarutobi Shinnosuke rushed over aggressively, only to receive a resounding slap from the Third as soon as he opened his mouth.

The Third Hokage, in a fit of rage, pressed the list against Shinnosuke's face, sternly questioning:

"Tell me, what's going on?!"

The Third was exceptionally furious, in his heart, the seriousness of this matter was no less than the Uchiha clan staging a rebellion.

This was a challenge to the Will of Fire, an attempt to undermine Konoha's roots, a malicious plan to cause internal collapse.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke took the list, understood immediately, and remained silent.

"I made you the Anbu leader to protect the village, not to send money to the Uchiha clan!"

"Do you understand what Anbu is? Anbu is a team directly under the Hokage, the only weapon in my hand to balance those ninja clans!"

"You as the Anbu leader, might as well just go be an elder of the Uchiha clan, you managed to deceive me for five years!"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke remained silent, the Third Hokage's anger burned even hotter, and he kicked Shinnosuke down.

"What do you think Anbu is? The Daimyo's bureaucracy? This is Konoha, the ninja village founded by Hashirama and Tobirama!"

"Tell me, why did you do it, what is the meaning of all this!"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke looked at the furious Third Hokage, surprisingly smiled in relief, and slowly stood up, saying:

"I've had a question for a long time, wanted to ask you, the Third Hokage."

The Third was momentarily stunned, not expecting his son to ask such a basic question.

Before the Third could say anything, Sarutobi Shinnosuke answered himself:

"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns eternally."

"This means the younger generation is the hope for the future, and the older generation should trust and protect them. The sacrifices of the older generation are not in vain, but will inspire the young to become the pillars of the future."

Seeing Shinnosuke's unusual reaction, the Third exchanged glances with Danzo, seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke's mouth formed a hint of a mocking smile, and he continued:

"Therefore, Uchiha Hanma sacrificing himself to pass his merits onto the younger generation of ninjas, isn't that an embodiment of the Will of Fire?"

The Third Hokage was furious, even showing a hint of killing intent towards his son in his eyes.

But Sarutobi Shinnosuke remained unmoved.

"Though Uchiha Hanma sold his merits, they were all earned through genuine feats."

"And the reason he did this, I think both you, Third Hokage, and Lord Danzo, know very well, don't you?"

"As the Anbu leader, how should I placate such a high-powered, meritorious but unrewarded subordinate?"

"Should I use the Will of Fire to tell him that as an Uchiha, he should selflessly burn to illuminate the leaves of this village?"

The Third Hokage stared dumbfounded at Sarutobi Shinnosuke, and even Danzo was astonished.

They never expected that as the son of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Shinnosuke would say such rebellious words.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke showed a relaxed smile and continued:

"I grew up under the education of the Will of Fire, and it became my life creed, but I was also confused because of it."

"If it weren't for Asuma, I might still be lost."

The Third Hokage frowned, Asuma was his youngest son, merely a child who just joined the ninja academy.

"Asuma told me, the Will of Fire means those with merit are rewarded, those who err are punished, the strong help the weak, and the weak also assist the strong."

"I think Asuma is right, don't you think, Third Hokage?"

The Third Hokage's face darkened, he spoke in a deep voice:

"You still don't understand the affairs of the village, your thoughts are too naive."

Before the Third could finish, Sarutobi Shinnosuke tore off the Anbu leader's armband from his shoulder and gently placed it on the Third's desk.

"Third Hokage, I will bear all the mistakes alone. I will leave Konoha to join the Twelve Guardian Ninja in the Land of Fire. I hope there, I can truly understand what the Will of Fire is."

Saying this, Sarutobi Shinnosuke bowed deeply to the Third Hokage and left without looking back.

Watching his son's departing figure, the Third Hokage collapsed weakly into his seat, his heart in turmoil.

He never thought that even his own son would question the Will of Fire, even wanting to run to the Daimyo's residence to seek the truth.

Danzo handed over another dossier, mockingly saying:

"There are also serious issues with Orochimaru, he has embezzled a significant amount of research funds for his own experiments."

In this war, Hanma, Sakumo Hatake, and Orochimaru were the three brightest new stars.

But Danzo knew clearly that among these three, only Orochimaru had the potential to succeed the Hokage.

As long as Orochimaru was brought down, the Hokage's hat would be within his reach.