Danzo's Temper Is Growing Stranger by the Day

Konoha, Hokage's Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk, his expression extremely grim as he listened to the intelligence.

His heart, which had only just settled somewhat because of Jiraiya and Tsunade's safe return, was thrown into turmoil again by the new information from Kakashi...

"The Rinnegan? And Orochimaru?"

The Third Hokage had known that Uchiha Itachi was an undercover agent within Akatsuki...

But he had never imagined that this organization possessed the legendary Rinnegan!

How could a bloodline limit found only in myths and legends truly appear in the Shinobi World?

"What exactly does Akatsuki want?"

"What do they gain from destroying the Shinobi World? And what do they mean by making everyone feel pain?"

Kakashi fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "Akatsuki has been hiding in Amegakure. Perhaps it has something to do with the history of the Shinobi World Wars..."

The words sounded simple, yet they clearly laid out Akatsuki's nearly insane logic—destroy everything and exchange grief for so-called peace.

They also struck directly at the pain in Jiraiya's heart...

Jiraiya drew a deep breath...

For a moment, his gaze...

Seemed to cross through time...

And see the three children he had personally taught in Amegakure so many years ago—Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko.

Their young, innocent faces kept appearing one after another in his mind...

Then, in the blink of an eye, they seemed to twist into cold, anguished faces.

Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan had actually embarked on such a path...

Jiraiya was filled with guilt and self-reproach.

But he quickly came back to himself, his eyes turning clear once more.

"I'll go to Amegakure and find out for myself what is really going on."

Hiruzen Sarutobi froze, then hurriedly frowned. "Jiraiya, you..."

"Sensei, only I am suited to go there."

"The Rinnegan may be connected to those children... I must personally shoulder this responsibility."

"There's no one more suited than me to investigate Amegakure."

After speaking, Jiraiya forced out a smile, trying to ease the heavy atmosphere. "As for Tsunade... I think she'd be better off staying behind to succeed you as the Fifth Hokage."

"Hey! Don't make decisions for me on your own, idiot!"

Tsunade immediately shot Jiraiya an annoyed glare.

Though she protested aloud, she also knew that Konoha's current situation no longer allowed them to delay. Taking over as Hokage seemed to have become a responsibility she could no longer avoid.

Watching the oppressive atmosphere in the room...

Kakashi fell into a deep internal struggle.

He should have come clean about Obito's true identity at this moment...

Yet whenever the words reached his lips, he always hesitated and could not bring himself to speak.

He truly could not understand why he was trying so hard to protect Obito, even going so far as to lie to everyone and pin all the blame on Akatsuki of Amegakure.

He...

"Oh, right, old man. On the way here, Kakashi told us that he wants to become Hokage too."

Jiraiya's words interrupted Kakashi's thoughts...

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Kakashi, his eyes filled with gratification...

It seemed that, ever since the Fourth Hokage's death...

Kakashi, who had shut himself away, had finally let go...

Meeting the Third Hokage's gaze, Kakashi lowered his head somewhat guiltily.

He knew he was no longer pure...

That little essay had ignited his hope...

It had quietly taken root and sprouted in the depths of his heart, even filling him with an inseparable sympathy and understanding for his former comrade, Obito.

Kakashi lowered his eyes, heavily considering the true, hidden thought deep within his heart.

He did not believe that everything he had done was right, yet at this moment, he still could not stop himself from protecting Obito.

I only want to protect my comrade.

Missions and the village are important, but my comrades are equally important...

"Those who cannot protect their comrades do not deserve to be called shinobi."

This contradiction and struggle nearly tore his heart in two.

No matter what, now was not the time to reveal the whole truth to the public.

Meanwhile, since Jiraiya had already made up his mind to go to Amegakure, Hiruzen still agreed...

"You must be careful..."

Jiraiya burst into laughter upon hearing that. "Don't worry, old man..."

After making those arrangements, Hiruzen looked at Kakashi and smiled.

Kakashi was, after all, a direct descendant of the Hokage lineage.

If he, as a backbone of the new generation, was willing to pull himself together, that could only be a good thing...

"Kakashi, from now on, you will leave the Anbu and serve directly alongside Tsunade as my guard at the Five Kage Summit."

Kakashi might not have understood the significance of being the Hokage's guard, but Tsunade and Jiraiya knew it perfectly well...

The old man was bringing Kakashi into the Hokage succession pool for training.

"Yes!"

Everyone gradually dispersed, and silence returned to the office, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi alone.

For a moment, he felt somewhat weary...

The responsibilities of a Hokage had never felt so difficult.

The date for the Five Kage Summit had already been set—it would be held in the Land of Iron two days later.

This time, he had to go in person, face the leaders of the other ninja villages, and discuss the future course of the Shinobi World.

Hiruzen repeatedly ran through every possible scenario in his mind, ensuring each arrangement was thorough and proper so that Konoha could remain as steady as a rock amid the coming upheaval.

Just as he finished making these preparations, a familiar, chilling presence suddenly appeared in the room without warning.

"Hiruzen..."

A low, gloomy voice sounded. Danzo slowly emerged from the shadows, an indescribable chill showing in the half-bandaged face.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows drew together slightly, and a trace of impatience and wariness appeared in his eyes.

He did not turn to look at Danzo, merely speaking with annoyance. "What are you here for again?"

Danzo smiled faintly, though his smile carried a sinister chill. "Tsunade is back?"

At those words, anger immediately rose in Hiruzen's heart. "That has nothing to do with you, Danzo. Why did you come all this way to ask about it?"

Danzo's gaze abruptly sharpened...

He raised his head slightly. Scrutiny and dissatisfaction showed in his single exposed eye, while his tone gradually turned cold and hard.

"Do you truly believe Tsunade is fit to be Hokage?"

"Danzo, don't forget that I am Konoha's Hokage. You have no right to question my decisions."

"You?"

"Hiruzen, you are still too naive. The current situation requires an iron hand and decisive action, not your indecisive sentimentalism."

Hiruzen looked at Danzo with a mocking smile. "I have always known exactly what I am doing."

"Danzo, if you still have any sense left, you should reflect carefully on whether your current appearance suits a Hokage who stands beneath the sunlight."

The Hokage stood beneath the sunlight.

The implication was...

And you only deserved to exist in the darkness...

If this had been the Danzo of the past, he would have already been furious. Yet now, he continued to gaze coldly at Hiruzen.

"Hiruzen, sooner or later, you will regret today's decision."

The same exchange, yet spoken in entirely different tones...

Watching Danzo's departing back, Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered to himself, "Strange... Danzo's personality seems to be getting stranger by the day. Is it because he's getting old?"