Danzo's Conspiracy

Night fell, and the city lights had just begun to glow.

As the sky darkened, filthy things always came with it.

Root.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, two old fools who refused to act their age, strode cheerfully toward Danzo's office.

"Danzo, why did you call the two of us here so late at night?" Mitokado Homura asked directly.

They had all been classmates in the past. Who didn't know the others inside out?

If Danzo had summoned them in the middle of the night for no reason at all, that would have been complete nonsense.

Mitokado Homura was old. He did not feel like beating around the bush, nor did he have the energy for it.

When Danzo's wrinkled old face saw his two former classmates, it bloomed into a brilliant chrysanthemum-like smile.

"Koharu, Homura, it's been a long time since the three of us gathered like this for a chat, hasn't it?"

Utatane Koharu narrowed her eyes. Looking at Danzo's chrysanthemum smile, she smiled as well.

"It certainly has been a long time. But isn't that because you're such a busy man in Root? Unlike Homura and me, we're merely elders with no real power, idling away every day."

At the mention of power, Mitokado Homura fell silent, his gaze turning wary as he watched Danzo.

If his guess was correct, Danzo had called the two of them here because of the Hokage's position.

"Isn't this all thanks to Tsunade's filial devotion?"

Danzo looked at Utatane Koharu with a smile and said meaningfully.

Though Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu appeared to be shrewd old hands, Koharu was the one who truly did the scheming behind the scenes. Homura merely worked alongside her.

Old women!

They loved calculating every petty detail.

"Yes, Tsunade is very popular this time. She'll probably secure her position as Hokage soon enough. Then it will be time to purge the Anbu," Utatane Koharu said with a chuckle.

Pah, you smiling old hag. Do you think you're still a young maiden?

Disgusting!

Koharu's laughter disgusted Danzo greatly.

But he still needed Koharu and Homura's help.

By the system's design, Root was a branch of the Anbu.

As Hokage, Tsunade held full authority over the Anbu. If she was determined to purge it, Root would inevitably be swept away as well. At that point, Danzo would be worse off in Hidden Leaf Village than Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu!

After all, Root's development depended on Danzo's ruthless methods. He had drawn in talented members from many clans. If he lost his position as Root's leader, he might one day suffer grave injuries and die without treatment—or choke to death on a mouthful of water.

Danzo did not want to die so miserably, nor did he want to lose the power in his hands.

"There's no need for the three of us to keep testing each other. Tsunade currently holds great power. Since the two of you came here, you must be unwilling to accept this as well, right?"

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu remained silent. They neither admitted it nor denied it.

Having grown accustomed to standing above everyone else, how could they possibly be willing to give up the power they relied on to live?

Two old foxes. If you still refuse to speak at a time like this, don't blame me!

Danzo wore a smile like a chrysanthemum, but his heart was black as coal, beyond saving.

"In the village, Tsunade's prestige is naturally unmatched. But the Daimyo is somewhat dissatisfied with her now. I heard he intends to cut Hidden Leaf Village's military funding. If that news comes true, do you think Tsunade can still sit securely as the Fifth Hokage?"

As soon as those words were spoken, Mitokado Homura's eyes lit up.

"Danzo, I knew you had a backup plan. So it lies with the Daimyo."

Danzo immediately denied it. "Not me. Don't talk nonsense. I merely heard a few rumors."

Such matters could easily be used against someone. Even if Danzo truly had done it, he could never admit it.

Mitokado Homura had only said that to set a trap for him.

Utatane Koharu smiled as well. "I hope these old bones of ours will still be useful when the time comes. After serving as Hokage Assistants for so many years, suddenly stepping down has been quite unfamiliar."

"You two are my old classmates," Danzo said. "I think you can still shine in your positions as Hokage Assistants. What do you think?"

"Of course," Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu said. They nodded to Danzo, then walked out.

There was no need to make everything too explicit. This was enough.

After all, this could be considered rebellion.

As he watched their backs, Danzo's gaze became incomparably deep. Those small eyes seemed filled with endless darkness.

The two old people slowly made their way home. Utatane Koharu took a turn and followed Mitokado Homura into his house.

Rest assured, the two old folks were not doing anything young people did. They had entered to reach a conclusion about what had happened today.

"Koharu, Danzo has an even tighter grip on power than Tsunade. Do you think the two of us would still have any room to maneuver if he became the Fifth Hokage?"

Utatane Koharu smiled. She was simply delighted by her companion's stupidity.

If not for Mitokado Homura's foolish brain, their partnership would not have lasted this long!

"Danzo naturally won't relinquish power. With Root's existence, he would seize control even faster than Tsunade. If he became Hokage, the village would become his personal domain. Every person we planted in the Anbu and the Hokage Building would be dug out by him."

Mitokado Homura felt as though his brain was no longer enough.

"Then why are you supporting him?"

Utatane Koharu shook her head. "I never supported him. I only want him to fight for it, so that person can reap the benefits in the end."

"You mean..."

"The Third Hokage's son, the teacher of the current Ino-Shika-Cho trio—Sarutobi Asuma!"

Mitokado Homura frowned. "Would Asuma alone really be enough to convince everyone?"

Utatane Koharu's face was full of admiration. "That was Hiruzen's brilliant plan. Asuma may not be able to become Hokage on his own, but doesn't he have a good woman?"

Mitokado Homura said, "You mean Kurenai Yuhi?"

Utatane Koharu nodded. "That's right, Kurenai Yuhi. Hinata Hyuga is Hyuga Hiashi's daughter, Inuzuka Kiba is the Inuzuka Clan's young patriarch, and Aburame Shino is Aburame Shibi's son. With the support of those three clans, do you think Asuma can become Hokage or not?"

Mitokado Homura was stunned.

"So Hiruzen had such a scheme all along. No wonder he became Hokage while we only became Hokage Assistants. That kind of planning is impossible not to admire!"

Utatane Koharu was very satisfied as she looked at Mitokado Homura's expression.

She had known this point from the very beginning.

Considering that Asuma would also rely heavily on the two of them if he became Hokage, she had not made it clear.

Unfortunately, the Third Hokage Hiruzen had been killed by Orochimaru, and his preparations could only be abandoned halfway through.

But today, they had become Utatane Koharu's trump card for reclaiming the Hokage's authority.

She could do without the title of Hokage, but she had to take back the power of the Hokage Assistant. They were disciples of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. For Hidden Leaf Village's glory, they had shed blood and poured out countless drops of sweat.

This was what they deserved.

No one could stop her from returning to power.