Chapter 17: Hiruzen Sarutobi

After speaking, Uchiha Hikaru stood still, waiting for a response from the Anbu.

The three Anbu exchanged glances. Eventually, the same one who had just spoken to Uchiha Hikaru stepped forward.

"I'll go inform Lady Mito. My comrades will escort you to the Hokage."

Uchiha Hikaru nodded.

"Alright, then let's head out."

Seeing him agree, the speaking Anbu gave a slight gesture and disappeared instantly using Body Flicker.

The remaining two led Uchiha Hikaru, walking ahead to guide the way.

Once they had gone, Uchiha En finally snapped out of it.

Humiliated in front of the Anbu, Uchiha En clenched his teeth in frustration.

"That little brat!!"

But reason told him this matter was no longer something he could handle.

To be suppressed by someone with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan—and that person turned out to be a child who looked so young…

What had just occurred also made it seem like Uchiha Hikaru trusted the Hokage more than the clan.

'A genius like this only appears in the Uchiha Clan once in a thousand years. We can't let the Hokage brainwash him.'

With that thought, Uchiha En scrambled to his feet.

Regardless of his disheveled state, he hurried off.

It was currently the busy hours of the morning. The Hokage Building bustled with people coming and going.

On the top floor, inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage held a kiseru pipe in one hand, puffing away while watching an old friend's performance.

"Hiruzen, the Great Ninja War has only just ended. This is when spies from other nations are the most active. The village cannot be without the Root."

"My Root has suffered heavy losses during this time—not just in personnel, but also in funding."

"As the Hokage, you must take responsibility for the Root. Reallocate some of the Anbu's manpower and funding to me. Everything I do is for the sake of the village!"

Danzo, as Hiruzen Sarutobi's friend, hadn't yet turned into the snake he would one day become. At this stage, he still stood on Hiruzen's side.

That didn't mean he wasn't already fighting for power. From his long-standing ambition to become Hokage, it was clear: Danzo had a strong thirst for authority.

The Root was the result of Danzo's power grab. As a student of the Second Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi simply didn't possess the same decisiveness.

Unable to carry all the sins alone, he needed someone who could stand in the shadows and take the blame.

At that time, Danzo appeared before him.

As close friends, Hiruzen naturally understood Danzo's character.

And just then, he happened to need a scapegoat. One was willing to strike, the other willing to take the fall—and so the "Root" came into being.

Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, exhaled slowly, and gave Danzo a long look before finally speaking:

"No. You won't get any Anbu personnel or funding."

"Allowing you to recruit freely was already a huge concession. If both your people and finances are in trouble, then perhaps it's better to disband Root entirely and reintegrate it into the Anbu."

"Remember, Root is just a training base under the Anbu—not your personal fiefdom, Danzo."

While Hiruzen needed a white-gloved assistant, he also had to keep Danzo from developing dangerous ambitions.

As a younger ninja still full of boldness and sharp instincts, he certainly wouldn't hand over power easily.

As for the future, where Danzo grew too powerful and even sent assassins after Hiruzen Sarutobi—that's another tale, the story of the so-called "Strongest Hokage."

To put it bluntly:

In the First War, he made bold declarations.

In the Second, he spouted nonsense.

In the Third, he said nothing at all.

After becoming Hokage, Hiruzen never set foot on the battlefield again.

Despite being the Hokage, he did not participate in the Second Great Ninja War—he merely sent his three disciples into that hell.

If Hanzo hadn't shown mercy, the Legendary Sannin would've died right there.

As for the White Fang, who performed exceptionally in the Second War, Hiruzen tacitly allowed the public to drive him to suicide.

Even during the Third War, although Konoha was the actual victor, they received no reparations.

The direct consequence: Hiruzen had to step down. Indirectly, it also allowed the Root to grow stronger.

After all, a cowardly Hokage was bound to breed discontent. And Danzo, as the figurehead of the Hawk Faction, attracted many followers.

Whether his idea of unifying the Five Great Nations was feasible or not, it certainly drew attention.

But that was then. Right now, only a fool would give Danzo more power.

The young Hiruzen still carried enough gravitas to suppress Danzo.

Though fury flared within him, Danzo knew this was Hiruzen putting him in check, and dared not retort.

Just as he was about to soften his tone and make another appeal, a knock at the door drew both men's attention.

"Hokage-sama, Anbu Tanuki and Lizard have brought a young Uchiha. They say there's a matter to report."

Hiruzen furrowed his brow. This didn't seem simple.

Normally, anything not threatening the safety of the village would be reported directly to the Anbu commander.

If every minor issue came to the Hokage, not even Shadow Clones would be enough to handle it all.

'Still… since it involves the Uchiha, I suppose it's worth a listen.'

With that, Hiruzen spoke:

"Let them in."

He glanced at Danzo but didn't ask him to leave.

To him, minor matters didn't require keeping secrets from an old friend.

Little did he know—he'd soon regret that decision.

A short while later, the two Anbu led Uchiha Hikaru into the office.

Hikaru looked up. The famed Ninja Hero and the infamous Scapegoat of the Shinobi World still looked young.

Right now, both of them were vibrant and truly powerful. As the Hokage and the leader of Root, they already carried the aura of authority.

That kind of presence would make most people nervous, but for someone like Hikaru—who understood the truth of the Shinobi World—it meant nothing.

The truth of the Shinobi World:

Might makes right.

When Hashirama Senju wanted something, the whole world had to listen.

Now that Hikaru had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, even if he couldn't win outright against the two before him, he could certainly escape unscathed.

With that level of power, confidence came naturally.

What's more, his backup plan was nearly in motion. There was no need to be deferential to these two.

The two Anbu knelt before Hiruzen and reported in low voices:

"Anbu Tanuki and Lizard reporting, Hokage-sama!"

"Roughly twenty minutes ago, a battle broke out on the outskirts of the Uchiha compound."

"We found only the ruins of a house and this Uchiha boy at the scene. No sign of other ninja."

Hearing this, Hiruzen turned to the young boy who had just been examining him.

"And you—what's your name, little one?"