I Am the Hokage!

There was something a little off about Akihara Kagura.

Shimura Danzō had never imagined that raising a child could be so difficult.

After all, Shimura Danzō's usual method of raising children was to throw a group of mentally healthy kids together, let them grow up together, then have them slaughter one another until they transformed into mentally unstable killers...

Now that he had encountered a child who was far too mentally unstable, Shimura Danzō suddenly found himself at a loss, terrified that this child might cause some kind of disaster.

However...

Shimura Danzō could hardly criticize him.

After all, the child had been defending him at every turn.

"I'm going out."

After thinking for a while, Shimura Danzō decided to visit the Hokage Building first and probe Hiruzen Sarutobi's intentions. He looked at Akihara Kagura. "Kou, rest at the base."

"Huh?"

The youngster seemed a little surprised. He could not help looking up at the old man. "Lord Danzō, didn't you say I was supposed to be your guard? I can definitely protect you well!"

"Follow orders."

Shimura Danzō greatly appreciated the child's loyalty.

However, the old man still rejected the youngster's proposal with a single sentence.

Shimura Danzō knew perfectly well that if he went to the Hokage Building, there was a ninety percent chance he would argue with Monkey. He was a little afraid that this child would attack the Hokage on the spot.

Hokage Building.

Shimura Danzō hurried over, mainly to find out whether Hiruzen Sarutobi coveted Akihara Kagura, so he could prepare in advance.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi truly intended to use the Chunin Ninja Exams as an opportunity to snatch Akihara Kagura away, Shimura Danzō could only... endure it.

Of course!

He would definitely have a good argument with him first!

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood his old friend very well. When he saw Shimura Danzō enter the Hokage's office, he directly handed Danzo a list of participants for the Chunin Ninja Exams.

"What does this mean?"

Shimura Danzō took the list and gave it a quick glance before his gaze settled on one name. "Uchiha Itachi? Entering the Chunin Ninja Exams alone?"

That name...

Had long been on Shimura Danzō's radar.

After all, Uchiha Itachi had graduated early from the Ninja Academy. He was considered the most talented child of the peaceful era and naturally drew enormous attention.

In particular, Uchiha Itachi had once clashed with the Root Organization and easily defeated one of Root's members. That incident had left a deep impression on Shimura Danzō!

At the time...

Uchiha Itachi had only been eight years old!

Now, ten-year-old Uchiha Itachi had undoubtedly become even more outstanding!

Shimura Danzō quickly calmed down and entered work mode. "I've heard of this child. With his strength, passing the exam alone won't be difficult..."

"But this child is an Uchiha. If he passes the Chunin Ninja Exams alone, it will be unprecedented in Konoha. Those Uchiha..."

"Danzo!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted Shimura Danzō, slowly raising his pipe to his mouth. "We cannot harbor malice toward others simply because of their surname..."

"But..."

"Nor can we ignore what that surname represents."

Hiruzen Sarutobi never said things outright. He merely walked to the window, gazing deeply over Konoha. "The village has become increasingly unsettled. Conflicts between the Uchiha and the villagers are growing more frequent, and their relationship with the village is becoming more strained..."

"Hmph, they should have been dealt with long ago."

Shimura Danzō snorted coldly, dismissing his old friend's soft-heartedness. "What you should do is carry out our teacher's will and completely purge the evil Uchiha..."

"Danzo!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice immediately turned stern as he rebuked him sharply. "The Uchiha are also part of Konoha. Some among them uphold the Will of Fire as well... Has Kagami been dead so long that you've forgotten his name?"

Kagami Uchiha.

He had once been their teammate and had even helped them escape danger many times during crises. Everyone had considered him an outstanding Konoha Ninja.

Even the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, who had once been deeply hostile toward the Uchiha Clan, had been forced to acknowledge Kagami Uchiha's excellence and believed he had transcended narrow clan loyalty.

Unfortunately.

Kagami Uchiha had died young.

Even though Kagami Uchiha had been dead for many years, the will he left behind continued to influence the Uchiha Clan, and his descendants were just as loyal to the village as he had been.

The strongest Uchiha of the present day, Uchiha Shisui, was Kagami's descendant. Like his forebear, he worked to ease the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha while striving to spread the Will of Fire within the Uchiha Clan.

When Shimura Danzō heard Hiruzen Sarutobi mention his old friend's name, he fell silent. Even he could not forget that old friend who had saved him so many times.

After a long while.

Shimura Danzō still chose not to change his attitude.

"Kagami..."

"Was ultimately only one of the few."

"You should have understood this long ago..."

"The village cannot bear the risk of the Uchiha launching a rebellion."

"To ignore the danger of a wildfire because even a tiny spark can provide warmth is not a decision a Hokage should make. You have become weak..."

"Hiruzen, you will regret this."

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned back coldly and looked at his loyal adviser, who seemed to be earnestly offering counsel. He spoke calmly. "Even if there is only the slightest hope of resolving the conflict peacefully, it should not be abandoned... Now, what you should do is carry out your orders."

"Hmph... What orders?"

"Doesn't Root still have a ninja with the Wood Style Bloodline?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze sharpened as he stared intently at his old friend. "Don't worry. I'm only sending him to participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams. I won't transfer him out of Root..."

"Hmph..."

Shimura Danzō gave a muffled snort, but his expression relaxed.

Originally, Shimura Danzō had been somewhat angered by Hiruzen Sarutobi's weak attitude toward the Uchiha. Now that he learned Hiruzen Sarutobi was equally weak when it came to his private possession of a Wood Style Bloodline...

Actually...

His old friend's soft-heartedness was not so bad sometimes.

Once Shimura Danzō confirmed that he could keep Akihara Kagura, this wielder of the Wood Style Bloodline, under his command, his mood immediately improved. The future suddenly seemed full of hope again.

"I understand."

Shimura Danzō was extremely satisfied with this trip and took the initiative to make plans. "I will teach him well and have him enter the Chunin Ninja Exams alone too. I won't let that brat Uchiha Itachi steal all the attention during the exams, and it will also make those Uchiha behave themselves a little..."

"Arrange it as you see fit."

Hiruzen Sarutobi neither nodded nor shook his head. He said nothing more, as if he had never said anything at all.

"Then I'll be leaving."

Shimura Danzō leaned on his cane and prepared to leave.

"Wait..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stopped him and asked calmly, "When exactly did that child with the Wood Style Bloodline appear? Is someone still conducting illegal Hashirama Cells transplant experiments in the village, or was it that Orochimaru..."

"That child was sent over from the orphanage!"

Shimura Danzō's eyes widened involuntarily, but he forced himself to answer calmly. "That child awakened Wood Style long ago. I have kept him at Root's base for training..."

"Oh."

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to believe the explanation. He let out a faint sigh. "Then teach that child well. Teach him to protect Konoha, and don't let him take the wrong path..."

First update. There will be another one later!

Thank you all for the tips! Thanks to the big boss Fatty ta for the tip—the new book has risen a few more places on the rankings...