Chapter 70: Danzo's Ambition

"Spineless fool! Acting so conservatively—when will you ever restore the glory of Lord Hashirama, the First Hokage, or Lord Tobirama, the Second Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi?! You are unworthy of being Hokage! Under your leadership, Konoha will only continue to decline!"

As he exited the Hokage's office, Danzo Shimura muttered these words of resentment under his breath, his voice filled with hatred.

Six years had passed, yet Danzo remained as lean as ever, his posture still upright and rigid. His right eye was now covered in thick white bandages, leaving only his left eye, sharp and piercing like a hawk's, gleaming with malice and making his overall demeanor even more sinister and terrifying.

At that moment, a group of ninjas approached, likely heading to the Hokage's office to receive their missions. Danzo quickly restrained his gaze, reverting to his usual composed demeanor as a high-ranking official, and deliberately slowed his pace.

The passing ninjas, upon seeing Danzo, all bowed in respect. Danzo nodded slightly in return, his face devoid of any expression, and continued walking slowly toward his office in the Anbu headquarters.

Danzo's Rise During the Peaceful Years

Over the past six peaceful years, Shimura Danzo had gained significant influence in Konoha. On one hand, this was due to his reputation as a "hero" of the Second Shinobi World War, as well as his achievements in intelligence work while overseeing the Anbu. Internally, he kept the rebellious Uchiha Clan under tight control, using both coercion and suppression. Externally, he utilized experts like Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga, who were skilled in genjutsu, to uncover numerous spies and infiltrators from enemy nations hidden within Konoha.

On the other hand, his rise was also due to Hiruzen Sarutobi's deliberate promotion and indulgence of him, aimed at curbing the influence of the "Advisor Faction," represented by Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.

During the Iwa-Suna War, Homura Mitokado, acting as Konoha's mediator, successfully negotiated a resolution to a large-scale battle involving tens of thousands of troops. Following the second Five Kage Summit, he took charge of organizing the second "World Shinobi Tournament," achieving remarkable results and earning Konoha considerable wealth. His personal prestige in Konoha reached unprecedented heights, naturally elevating the status of the "Advisor Faction." Emboldened by their success, they began openly criticizing Hiruzen Sarutobi's policies, much to his displeasure.

"Advisors are meant to be consulted when I'm uncertain, not to act as 'living fathers' to hinder me!" Hiruzen thought to himself. However, his approach to political struggles was relatively mild. Instead of purging or suppressing dissent, he opted for a strategy of balancing power by supporting one faction while countering another.

Supporting Danzo proved to be an effective strategy. During Konoha's "Executive Council" meetings, Hiruzen gained an additional ally, quickly silencing the voices of the "Advisor Faction." Hiruzen was quite satisfied with this outcome and chose to turn a blind eye to some of Danzo's clandestine activities, such as smuggling and forming his own faction.

Danzo's Resentment and Ambition

However, what Hiruzen failed to realize was that Shimura Danzo's apparent cooperation and submission were merely a facade to conceal his deep-seated ambition.

From Danzo's perspective, he had never truly accepted Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Third Hokage.

Back in the day, he, Hiruzen, Kagami Uchiha, Torifu Akimichi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane were all classmates who graduated from the ninja academy together. Later, they served as bodyguards for the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, holding equal status and possessing comparable strength.

During the infamous ambush by the Kinkaku Force from Kumogakure, Tobirama posed a soul-searching question: "Who will stay behind to cover our retreat?" Danzo hesitated for just half a second longer than Hiruzen, and that half-second cost him the Hokage position forever.

Half a second! Just half a second!

"Lord Tobirama, was that really necessary?! That was the Hokage selection! The Hokage selection, for crying out loud! How could such an important decision be made so hastily, based on who spoke first?! I was just as willing to sacrifice my life for Konoha! I would have bled to the last drop for the village! My resolve and the Will of Fire were no less than Hiruzen's! I am no less capable than him!"

But that single moment of hesitation set off a chain reaction. No matter how many military achievements he accumulated on the battlefield or how much he contributed to the village, all the credit ultimately went to the "wise and capable Third Hokage." At best, he was just a capable high-ranking official in Konoha.

Even so, Danzo had initially resolved to dedicate himself to protecting the village. After all, that was his original intention—to uphold the Will of Fire and fulfill his mission wholeheartedly.

But Hiruzen's inconsistent and indecisive leadership disgusted him.

In Danzo's vision, after making peace with Sunagakure, Konoha's grand strategy should have been to ally with Sunagakure, suppress Iwagakure, contain Kumogakure, and isolate Kirigakure. By forging alliances with smaller nations, Konoha could maintain its dominant position in the ninja world.

But what did Hiruzen do? During the Iwa-Suna War, he betrayed an ally and stationed troops near Kumogakure instead. And the result? At the Five Kage Summit, Sunagakure grew distant, Kumogakure became increasingly defiant, and Iwagakure and Kirigakure no longer regarded "Konoha the Great" as a significant threat.

Six years later, the ninja world had drastically changed. Sunagakure focused on development, and Kumogakure strengthened its military. Both villages now posed a challenge to Konoha's dominance, and the era of Konoha's unchallenged supremacy was gone.

"If I were Hokage, I would never have let this happen!" Danzo thought bitterly. "As the Third Kazekage once said, 'A true man cannot remain subordinate forever!' I cannot allow Konoha to weaken under my watch!"

Danzo was well aware of why Hiruzen had been supporting him over the past two years—it was merely to suppress the "Advisor Faction." But Danzo was happy to play along. Publicly, he cooperated with Hiruzen, while secretly, he expanded his influence. He was biding his time, waiting for the right moment to step in and restore Konoha to its former glory.

The Rain Village Plan

However, Hiruzen seemed to have noticed Danzo's unchecked expansion and had begun to rein in his power by re-aligning with the "Advisor Faction."

Take, for example, the recent plan to manage Amegakure. As a strategic hub, Amegakure was crucial. Controlling it would provide a forward base against Iwagakure to the north, a means to suppress Sunagakure to the west, and a logistical base to counter Kumogakure to the east. Danzo had personally traveled to Amegakure multiple times to negotiate with Raikō Kinshō, the Rain Shadow, and had nearly finalized an agreement. The plan was to use the radical civilian organization Akatsuki to drive out Sunagakure's Sandglass Group and then lead Konoha's Anbu to assist the Rain ninjas in eliminating Akatsuki.

This would have turned Amegakure into a vassal state of Konoha, giving them a strategic advantage in future wars.

But this flawless plan was vetoed by Hiruzen with a single vote. His reasoning? "Konoha should not interfere in the internal affairs of other nations during peacetime. Besides, the Land of Rain is a battlefield for the Great Nations, and controlling it would bring no benefit."

"What nonsense! To suppress my influence, he is willing to sacrifice Konoha's interests!"

Danzo's Secret Orders

Sitting in his dark Anbu office, Danzo's face was grim. The masked Anbu members around him dared not speak.

Finally, one ninja wearing a cat-shaped mask stepped forward and asked cautiously, "Should we continue with the operation in Amegakure?"

Danzo did not lash out but replied coldly, "Continue, but make it more covert. Adjust the plan as needed. Shift our support for Raikō Kinshō from overt to covert. Also, find an opportunity to establish contact with the leader of Akatsuki."

"Yes, sir."

"And what about the experimental subjects?" Danzo asked.

"All 60 experimental subjects are dead," the ninja reported.

"Where is Orochimaru?"

"He went to Sunagakure."

Danzo paused for a moment and then said, "When he returns, arrange for him to meet me."

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