Danzo Always Had All Kinds of Plans

Konoha, Root.

Hanma, Danzo, and Orochimaru sat around a low table beside a pot of tea, silently savoring it.

The sight of these three together made Root's atmosphere even stranger. Even Root operatives, known for obeying orders without question, wore troubled expressions and felt waves of discomfort. Seeing the three gathered together caused a double dose of unease, both psychological and physical.

Shimura Danzō was a man who moved like a ghost through Konoha's shadows. Because of his utterly unscrupulous methods, he was known as the Shadow of Shinobi.

Orochimaru was still relatively normal in temperament, but to ordinary people, he was already a pervert. His increasingly apparent snake-like tendencies showed signs of spiraling out of control.

Uchiha Hanma possessed a body like that of an evil demon. When he fought, Hellish Blood Qi wrapped around him, and in the eyes of other villages' Anbu, he had always been a figure who symbolized death.

With these three gathered together, the atmosphere had reached this point. If they did not discuss massacring some village today, it would almost feel impolite.

Hanma sampled the clear, crisp tea. Its lingering flavor and sweet aftertaste suggested that it was Mother Tree Flame Tea specially supplied to the daimyo.

It seemed Konoha's Root drew upon quite abundant nourishment. At the very least, it had not wronged his palate.

The atmosphere sank into an indescribable silence. No one wanted to speak first.

Hanma drank his tea with evident relish, seemingly immersed in the sweetness of fine tea.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes as he read the Body Physiology text Hanma had compiled, utterly engrossed.

Danzo held a stack of documents, reviewing and revising them, displaying fairly capable administrative skills.

Twenty meters away, the spy who had infiltrated Konoha's market earlier was nailed to a cross and undergoing inhuman torture.

After roughly the time it took to burn several sticks of incense, the Yamanaka clansman from Root stopped his technique and jogged over to report.

"Lord Danzo, we have compared it with the intelligence provided by the Anbu. They match."

Danzo grunted, flipped through the report, and passed it to Hanma and Orochimaru.

Although the Anbu had already cracked this spy's mind once, Danzo no longer trusted their abilities. That incompetent Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with that son of his who looked stupid just standing there, had actually allowed a mere Amegakure Ninja to infiltrate Konoha.

If Shimura Danzō had been the Hokage, Konoha would never have allowed something like this to happen!

"The rats in the sewers can no longer sit still. They have provoked Konoha, and we must make them pay."

Hanma waved the intelligence in his hand and asked with a smile, "Calling them rats seems a little inappropriate, doesn't it? Hanzo of the Salamander is still quite troublesome, judging by his current strength."

Danzo snorted and said in a commanding tone, "A Summoning Beast like Ibuse is practically useless against your speed. If you infiltrated Amegakure, could anyone stop you?" Hearing that condescending tone, Hanma merely smiled and did not argue with him.

He simply tapped the table lightly, indicating that he was listening.

Danzo continued outlining his plan. "We can infiltrate Amegakure, kill Hanzo through a Decapitation Strike, then annex Amegakure in one stroke!"

Orochimaru gave Danzo a surprised glance and put down his book. He had not even looked at the intelligence just now. His snake-like vertical pupils narrowed as he asked, "That is not Sarutobi-sensei's intention."

At the mention of Sarutobi, Danzo's expression immediately became agitated. Just as he was about to speak, Hanma interrupted him.

"Exactly, Elder Danzo. There is still quite a gap between the Hokage's Assistant and the Hokage."

The word Hokage seemed to be some sort of secret technique to Danzo. The moment those two syllables were spoken, he entered a state of confusion.

He waved a hand and glared viciously at Hanma. "No matter what, This Old Man's plan is what benefits Konoha the most."

Hanma reclined halfway on the sofa and poured himself another cup of tea. This Danzo truly did not possess even a trace of political sense.

I am supposed to ignore the Hokage and listen to you? The Uchiha Clan might as well rebel outright. It would even save us from getting stabbed in the back by you.

After reiterating his stance and making it clear that he would only act under the Hokage's orders, he continued drinking tea.

Orochimaru also looked at Danzo with open disdain and said:

"Assassinating the leader of an enemy shinobi village during peacetime will certainly draw condemnation from the other villages. If it triggers a full-scale war throughout the Shinobi World, you cannot bear that responsibility."

Danzo's expression had completely darkened. He said in a low voice, "Dedication and sacrifice are a shinobi's duty. So long as it is for Konoha, there is nothing that cannot be done."

Watching Danzo sink deeper into his delusion, Hanma could not help but mock him.

He had held these words in for over ten years.

"Elder Danzo, then why did I hear that the ones who stayed behind and sacrificed themselves back then were the Second Hokage and my father?"

"If you had possessed the courage to stay behind as well, would the Second Hokage and my father have had a chance to survive?"

Those words were like a blade through the heart. Danzo's face turned as dark as a Kumogakure Ninja's. He rose to his feet, swung his sleeve, and left directly.

Orochimaru showed a trace of sorrow and said softly, "So you still cannot let go of your father's death?"

Hanma gave a carefree wave of his hand. "I have already forgotten what my old man looked like. I merely wanted to remind him that he should not demand others do things he cannot do himself."

"However, he was right about one thing. Amegakure's actions are already a grave provocation. We need to respond."

Orochimaru remained silent. Having immersed himself in research, he found war increasingly dull.

Seeing Orochimaru's expression, Hanma's heart stirred. Had Orochimaru already conducted Wood Release experiments with Danzo at this point?

It would be better to give him a reminder. They might need to cooperate in the future.

"Working with that old man is highly dangerous. Be careful."

Orochimaru froze. Was Hanma warning him? Seeing Hanma's perfectly ordinary expression, he slowly nodded.

Konoha, Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage looked at Hanma with a kindly expression and patted his aching lower back.

"This is your first time leading students. It has not been easy, has it? When This Old Man taught those few back then, I was exhausted."

It had to be said that the Third Hokage possessed far better judgment and conversational skills than Danzo.

At least people were willing to listen to him, unlike someone who constantly wore a sour face and only knew how to issue orders.

Hanma nodded in deep agreement. "Yes, those children are all difficult to handle. What a headache."

He truly did not appreciate his good fortune. Minato, Nawaki, and Kushina were students countless people wanted to teach but could not get.

After chatting about everyday matters for a while, the atmosphere gradually warmed. The Third Hokage took out his pipe and drew deeply from it. Hesitation appeared on his face, as though there was something he wanted to ask but felt embarrassed to bring up.

Hanma was in no hurry. He gave the Third Hokage ample time to consider his words. At a moment like this, the initiative was his.

After sighing repeatedly, the Third Hokage put on an expression of deep apology, as though he had no choice but to ask.

"Hanma, can you level with this old man? Just how strong have you become?"