Danzo's Emotions Were Exceptionally Complicated

Beneath Konoha lay a secret base belonging to the Root Organization.

Ever since the Nine-Tails' power had erupted not long ago, Danzo had rushed back here at once.

Although his Root had nominally been disbanded by Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, and even his position as an advisor had been revoked, that was only in name. The existence of the Cursed Seal ensured the absolute loyalty of Danzo's subordinates.

It was just that he no longer had as much funding as before.

At this moment, all the men he had scattered among various Anbu squads had gathered together, kneeling on one knee before Danzo as they awaited his orders.

Looking at his many subordinates, Danzo was in an excellent mood.

The eruption of the Nine-Tails' power was a tremendous crisis for the entire village, but for Danzo, it was also a great opportunity.

From what he had seen in Sarutobi Hiruzen's crystal ball earlier, it was clear that the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki's seal had been completely opened. There was no longer any way to suppress it before the Tailed Beast broke free.

A bloody battle was certain to follow.

As time passed, the aura belonging to the Nine-Tails that permeated the air grew increasingly intense.

This phenomenon further confirmed Danzo's suspicions.

Danzo believed he understood his old friend Sarutobi Hiruzen quite well.

In his youth, Hiruzen's mastery of Five Elements Ninjutsu had been nothing short of extraordinary. After the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and Madara had passed away, he had been considered the strongest Kage in the Shinobi World.

But over the years, he had grown old, and his strength had declined far too much. He was no longer worthy of the title Shinobi Hero.

Although Sarutobi Hiruzen still possessed strength worthy of his title as Hokage, he no longer had the ability to confront the Nine-Tails head-on.

If he wanted to save the village from the Nine-Tails' threat, there was only one method left: the Reaper Death Seal.

And whether Sarutobi Hiruzen succeeded or failed, he would lose his life.

That would be the moment for Danzo to step forward and turn the tide.

Though he was nearly the same age as Sarutobi Hiruzen, he possessed the vitality provided by Hashirama Cells, the Mangekyō Sharingan, and the immense Pupil Power granted by the Sharingan embedded in his arm. It would be more than enough to suppress the Nine-Tails.

I may not be able to deal with Hiruzen, but with the Sharingan that restrains Tailed Beasts, could I really not handle a mere Tailed Beast like you?

At this moment, Danzo was filled with ambition.

He was already imagining his long-cherished wish coming true: becoming the Fifth Hokage, making his Konoha prosper under his rule, and ultimately destroying the other ninja villages to unite the Shinobi World.

And as the Nine-Tails' killing intent in the air grew ever more intense, that fantasy seemed as though it was about to become reality.

This made Danzo even more exhilarated.

Then, at a certain moment, the intense killing intent in the air abruptly vanished.

The oppressive atmosphere of an approaching storm dissipated completely in an extremely short time.

Not long afterward, a Root Ninja who had gone out to gather information hurried back and appeared before Danzo.

Kneeling on one knee, he reported, "Lord Danzo, the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki's loss of control has stopped. Moreover, a golden Chakra covering his entire body has appeared, making him look as noble as a sage.

"Now, the Hokage has dismissed the Jonin who had gathered earlier, and the evacuated villagers are returning to their homes."

Upon hearing this, Danzo's expression changed.

He had been among Konoha's upper ranks for a very long time, and there were few secrets within Konoha that he did not know. How could he not recognize this as the sign of a Jinchuriki entering Nine-Tailed Chakra Mode?

The earlier phenomenon of the seal shattering had merely been Chakra leakage caused by Naruto, as the Jinchuriki, wrestling with the Nine-Tails for its Chakra.

And that meant that all his wonderful fantasies had been shattered.

At this very moment, Danzo's face looked exceptionally ugly, and his feelings were exceptionally complicated.

However, before he could process that indescribable feeling, another Root Ninja soon appeared before him.

This Root Ninja had previously been part of the Sealing Team that had followed Sarutobi Hiruzen to intercept the rampaging Jinchuriki.

"Lord Danzo, the Hokage ordered me to relay this command: you are to publicly apologize to the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, Naruto, for spreading the rumor years ago that he was the Demon Fox."

Sarutobi Hiruzen knew this ninja's identity. After calming Naruto down, he had sent him to deliver his order to Danzo.

The ninja remained kneeling on one knee after relaying the message, his head lowered as he did not dare speak.

He could feel the astonishing killing intent erupting from Lord Danzo, who stood not far before him.

If Danzo lost control, he might very well lose his life.

Danzo's state was no longer something as simple as complicated emotions. He felt so utterly miserable, as though he had eaten shit.

Not only had his plans fallen through, but Lord Danzo, the great Darkness of the Shinobi World, now had to apologize to that brat?

What kind of joke was this?!

Yet anger was anger, and Danzo understood the meaning behind Sarutobi Hiruzen's order.

A Jinchuriki who, at such a young age, could already wield the Nine-Tails' power and possessed outstanding talent would inevitably become a powerful ninja comparable to a Kage in the future.

Even surpassing a Kage would only be a matter of time.

Even if the future Naruto could not reach the level of the First Hokage and Madara, there was absolutely no doubt that he would reach the level of the First Hokage's wife, Mito Uzumaki.

As it happened, Danzo had once witnessed Mito Uzumaki's formidable strength.

Such a person would undoubtedly become a pillar of the village.

Even if Shimura Danzō became Hokage and took control of the village, he would still have to win Naruto over.

And even now, before becoming Hokage, it would be better for Danzo to ease the relationship between them, if only for the sake of his own life.

He could indeed choose to eliminate the danger that was Naruto while it was still in the cradle, but Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Fourth Hokage's old subordinates would never allow it. Besides, Danzo himself was reluctant to do so.

After pondering for a long time, despite feeling as though he had eaten shit, Danzo ultimately did not lash out.

With an ugly expression, he said to the messenger before him, "I understand. Go back and tell Hiruzen that I will personally write a letter of apology to the Jinchuriki."

Danzo's pride would not permit him to apologize to the Jinchuriki face-to-face, and Sarutobi Hiruzen would not allow him to get too close to the Jinchuriki either.

Personally writing Naruto a letter of apology was already Danzo's limit, and it had also been Sarutobi Hiruzen's intention from the start.

The Anbu ninja felt as though he had been granted a pardon. He acknowledged the order and hurriedly used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

Danzo was simply too terrifying at this moment, like a demon ready to devour someone.

After the Anbu ninja left, Danzo spent a long time mentally preparing himself before he barely managed to calm down.

Then he sat before his desk and began, in the most sincere manner possible, to apologize to Naruto for what he had done.