Calm Anger

What kind of Uzumaki Katsuki give the Senju Clan to make the Senju of the Forest so eager to help? This question lingered in the minds of the high-ranking leaders for a long time.

"Don't worry about what kind of deals they make, as long as it doesn't harm the overall interests of the village, let them do what they want!"

The Third Hokage said this, but the confusion in his eyes had not faded. Accustomed to controlling everything in the village, this feeling of bewilderment made him very uncomfortable, but he still forcibly suppressed the doubts in his heart.

"Now that the Mist Ninja no longer has the ability to wage war, can the troops assembled on the eastern border be recalled?" Orochimaru skillfully changed the subject.

Orochimaru's intelligence is not only reflected in his training and political abilities, but also in his unparalleled ability to understand people's hearts. He can easily discern changes in other people's moods through subtle changes in their words, actions, and facial expressions.

Consider that Orochimaru, who was almost driven mad by his pursuit of immortality, was able to persuade Sasuke to flee the village and gather so many loyal followers. One has to admire his ability to manipulate people's hearts. The Third Hokage, his very familiar teacher, had already seen through him.

"Recalling the troops... let's wait and see. We'll decide after the three clans return. In any case, the number of people recalled is not large for now. Although the Mist Ninja don't have the spare strength to attack, it's hard to say what decision the Land of Water make." The Third Hokage wisely shifted his attention to the matter, so as not to keep worrying about it and feeling unhappy!

"Then let them stay put for now," Orochimaru replied nonchalantly.

"Hiruzen, what do you think of the Uchiha Clan's proposal at the meeting?"

Xiaochun, who Utatane Koharu, suddenly changed the subject and brought up an extremely sensitive issue.

"Are you talking about the Police Force?"

Hiruzen frowned; this was yet another headache.

"Inviting the Uzumaki, Yuki, and Kaguya clans to join the Police Force... Is this an attempt to bind all three clans to the Uchiha's side? What a huge appetite!" Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses, his voice turning cold.

"However... isn't it also an opportunity? As long as we can use this opportunity to resolve the Uchiha Clan's resentment towards the village..."

"Hiruzen!!"

The cold voice swept through like a chilling wind. Danzo's face Danzo as black as the bottom of a pot. The Anbu guards huddled in the corners shrank back, inwardly groaning, "We're doomed! The black-faced guy's about to unleash his fury again..."

"Resolve the Uchiha's grudge against the village? Hiruzen, did a donkey kick your brain? Or did you get your head stuck in a door? You're so old, why are you saying such naive things?" Danzo roared, pounding his cane on the floor so hard it almost punched holes in the tiles.

"Danzo, you..."

"The Uchiha are an inherently evil clan. Have you forgotten what Teacher Tobirama said? Hiruzen, they don't have any grudges against the village. The power of the Sharingan is the root of the Uchiha Clan's unrest. Excessive power is the reason for the disruption of the balance..."

Danzo's mouth flew off so fast that the Third Hokage couldn't get a word in edgewise. His face was long and his eyes were full of hostility as he looked at Danzo.

However, Danzo, who had Danzo the Third Hokage's mindset, was not intimidated at all. If it were just the two of them in private, he wouldn't have launched such a direct personal attack on the Third Hokage. But now that Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Orochimaru, the Third Hokage's disciple, were all Hiruzen, with his pride, wouldn't stoop to his level.

It has to be said that Danzo and Orochimaru are actually quite similar in many ways. They are both good at understanding people's hearts and can persuade even stones with their silver tongues, gathering a large number of loyal subordinates. Now, they have accurately grasped the Third Hokage's intentions, which is why they are criticizing him so openly.

"... The Sharingan destined the Uchiha Clan to never be peaceful. Even if they behave well now, it cannot change their inherent danger. They are like those counterfeit Uchiha Clan Explosive Tags, which might explode in one's waist one day, leaving one crippled even if they don't die."

Danzo's metaphor also sounded very sarcastic.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu pretended to be deaf and dumb, remaining silent. In their hearts, they agreed with Danzo's view. Strictly speaking, they were the true disciples of the Second Hokage, inheriting the Second Hokage's ideals. Hiruzen, on the other hand, possessed both the Second Hokage's political skills and some of the First's benevolence.

Although they inwardly agreed with Danzo's opinion, Danzo's mouth was too Hokage. Danzo, after all, the Hiruzen, and this guy just kept spewing insults without giving them any respect, making it difficult for them to speak up. If they expressed support for Danzo now, what would Hiruzen think?

Regardless of what happens in the future, Hiruzen is currently an extremely powerful Hokage. As advisors, they are merely advisors and cannot interfere with the Hokage's choices.

"... The Police Force is under the control of the Uchiha. This was a promise the Second made to the Uchiha Clan. Even I can't go back on the Second's promise. If I insist on interfering, wouldn't that be disregarding the Second's words?"

The Third Hokage's voice was steady and straight, without a single tremor. His face was ashen, and his cold gaze seemed capable of freezing one's consciousness.

The Third Hokage, when truly enraged, is terrifying!

At least Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were taken aback; it had been a long time since they had seen Hiruzen with such an expression.

"Hiruzen..."

"Enough with the nonsense." The Third Hokage waved his hand to Utatane Koharu speaking, then stared intently at Danzo. "The Anbu's logistics department's accounts have been a bit messy lately. Danzo, go and check them out. Hand over Root to Orochimaru for now."

With a single order, Danzo was stripped of all his power and relegated to auditing accounts in the logistics department. The Root organization he had built also fell into Orochimaru's hands.

This is the authority of the Hokage; a single word can decide the fate of a powerful figure like Danzo.

"Hiruzen, you..."

"What? Don't want to check the accounts? Then go fill out a registration form at the gate? Or do you want to become a warehouse manager?" the Third Hokage said coldly.

Danzo stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening as he stared at the Third Hokage for five seconds before turning away, shutting his mouth, picking up his cane, and storming out, slamming the door behind him.

"Hiruzen, why are you doing this? Danzo was only thinking of the village..." Utatane Koharu didn't finish her sentence because the Third Hokage looked over.

"Alright, Hiruzen, you go ahead with your work. We'll be leaving now."

Mitokado Homura tactfully invited Utatane Koharu leave together, and in the blink of an eye, only the Third Hokage and Orochimaru remained in the room.