Orochimaru's Defection

In the spacious office of the Hokage Building.

Danzo reclined comfortably in the Hokage's chair. The soft cushion seemed ready to melt around him, and through the wide floor-to-ceiling windows, all of Konoha lay spread out before his eyes.

Was this what it felt like to become Hokage?

The moment he sat in that chair, Danzo suddenly felt as though the whole of Konoha beyond those windows rested in the palm of his hand. A surge of pride and delight rose within him.

He spun around in the chair, his smile brighter and happier than it had been in decades. That innocent smile made him look like a child who had received his favorite toy.

Until, after one turn, the strange figure that had appeared in the room made the smile on his face stiffen before vanishing entirely.

Third stared at Danzo expressionlessly, his pipe held between his lips as he exhaled a faint cloud of smoke.

Danzo remained silent. Perhaps he had known that the people he sent had little chance of successfully assassinating Third, but when he truly saw Third appear, all hope in his heart turned to ash—though he also felt strangely relieved.

Why?

Why were you so unwilling to give me the Hokage's seat?

He raised his head without the slightest intention of explaining himself, prepared to accept whatever judgment Third handed down.

Yet Third merely watched him quietly for a while before turning and standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at Konoha.

"You saw it just now too, didn't you?"

"W-what?"

"Konoha."

Inside the office, Third spoke at length about how darkness existed wherever there was light, and how Konoha's future required the two of them to work together. Even if someone in the village wanted him dead, he would not pursue that person's responsibility—though only this once.

Naturally, Danzo repeatedly voiced his agreement on the surface. He was even somewhat moved inside, but after leaving the room, his backside felt a little cold.

At least he had warmed up the Hokage's chair.

After his suicidal operation failed, having gone through a transformation from death to life, Danzo had changed a little.

For example.

He had become a little crazier.

He fell into thought, first considering whether what he had done was right.

Then he decided that it was not.

He had neither been certain he could complete the plan nor certain he could take the position after Third died, yet he had acted rashly. Put bluntly, his longing and desire for the Hokage's position had driven him mad. The pressure and jealousy born from doing Third's dirty work for so long, from living in the shadows, had made him lose his reason. In the end, he had chosen an almost suicidal way to seek release.

Even though Third had forgiven him and spared him from death, Danzo had permanently left a weakness in Third's hands. If Third wished, he could make Danzo pay for what he had done today at any time.

Therefore, this operation had undoubtedly been the wrong choice.

Would that make him weep with gratitude and serve Third wholeheartedly until death?

He was a little grateful, but whether he wished to serve him wholeheartedly was another matter.

Danzo had thought it through completely.

Third was not the greatest obstacle to his becoming Hokage.

Strength was.

Third would die sooner or later. The longer he sat in the Hokage's seat, the faster he would die—either someone would kill him, or he would work himself to death.

Couldn't Danzo simply outlive the old man?

Wouldn't it be enough to live longer than Third?

Once Third died, Danzo's qualifications would be the best. As long as he possessed enough strength to make others submit and controlled a force no one could ignore, couldn't he openly take the position of Fifth Hokage?

Beyond that, he needed to eliminate in advance the other capable people in the village who could compete with him, those most likely to prevent him from becoming Hokage. As long as he found a suitable reason, even if he acted first and reported afterward, Third would only tacitly approve.

Danzo understood Third far too well, just as Third understood him.

So, what should he do now?

Danzo wore a grim expression as he slowly made his way alone toward the dark Root, a plan gradually taking shape in his heart.

The Uchiha Clan. If I can obtain more of the Sharingan's power and eliminate the Uchiha Clan along the way, then given the village's current situation, no one will be able to oppose my becoming Fifth Hokage.

Orochimaru's research may also need to stop. If that matter is exposed, it will become a stain on my future.

With Kō already serving as the next focus, I should turn my attention to the Uchiha Clan.

Yes, I'll start with that brat Kakashi's Sharingan. That won't alert the Uchiha, but this matter cannot be handled carelessly, and I certainly cannot provoke Third at such a critical time.

And that brat on his team, Yuzuru Hyuga, needs closer attention as well.

If I cannot control the power of this new generation, then I must find something capable of keeping them in check. I absolutely cannot allow them to become obstacles to my becoming Hokage.

His dark calculations grew ever more extreme, until a bold idea suddenly sprang into his mind.

Could I, Shimura Danzō, the next Fifth Hokage, subdue Yuzuru Hyuga?

The moment that thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed.

As Danzo carefully analyzed the benefits he might gain from subduing Yuzuru Hyuga, his heart could not help but pound.

Plant a nail beside Third.

Gain the Hyuga Clan's support.

A genius ninja destined to shine brilliantly in the future.

No matter how he considered it, as long as he could subdue Yuzuru Hyuga, there would be only benefits and no drawbacks.

But that brat did not look easy to win over.

No matter.

As long as someone was human, they would have weaknesses and a dark side. Besides, he belonged to the Branch House—how could he possibly harbor no resentment in his heart?

Whether love or hate, both were nothing more than useless obstacles.

Danzo could not help quickening his pace.

As for Third.

Did he truly not know what dangers might arise from letting Danzo go like this?

He knew.

But someone who had grown accustomed to wearing gloves and a mask while dealing with matters would eventually become bound by those gloves and that mask. In the end, he no longer had the courage to face others barehanded, with his true face exposed.

Third had become too deeply immersed in the role of letting Danzo act out the darkness in his heart.

After the matter between Third and Danzo came to a temporary end, Third soon set out once more to assume his post at the Daimyo's residence.

After a brief period of calm.

Beginning with a sudden incident of a ninja's defection, Konoha plunged deep into a vortex.

"An S-rank mission."

"Capture the defecting ninja—Orochimaru!"

Thank you all for your support. The new book has now entered its second round of PK. If I can hang on for about another month, I should finally make it through, right? Please keep reading, bookmark it, recommend it, and give me the full set of support!

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