At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, deep within a certain mountain range.
Root Base No. 3.
Even after living here for some time, Hiruzen Sarutobi still could not get used to it.
It was not because the environment was too harsh. On the contrary, it was precisely because the conditions here were too good that he found them unsettling!
A luxurious, fully equipped training ground, standardized dormitories, bathhouses, a cafeteria...
Every facility he could imagine was available here!
Did he not know exactly how much Danzo earned?
Even if the Anbu took on private jobs, it would have been impossible to build a place like this.
Which made the hidden dealings behind it well worth pondering.
"Sarutobi, it's time for the meeting."
Danzo brushed past him, leaving behind only those words without even stopping to look at him.
To Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi was no longer the radiant Third Hokage. His only remaining value was his combat power and his influence among the Konoha ninja who had defected with them.
"Ah... forget it."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. No matter where Danzo had obtained such a vast sum of money, whether through embezzlement or corruption, it was all in the past. There was no point in bringing up old matters again.
When he arrived at the conference hall, he found that many people were already there.
Shiranui Genma, Yamashiro Aoba, Namiashi Raidō, Morino Ibiki, Ebisu, Gekko Hayate...
Yamato, Sai, Yamanaka Fu, Aburame Torune, Terai...
"Looks like everyone is here."
Danzo clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
Feeling the gazes of the ninja converge on him, the corners of Danzo's lips rose slightly, only for him to deliberately suppress the expression.
He enjoyed this feeling, but he did not want to appear impetuous or pleased.
"We have