Three Ninjas (Please Read On! Please Invest!)

Yesterday, Konoha had been a sea of celebration.

Because, in a remarkably rare occurrence, nearly all the high-ranking Ninja and clan Ninja deployed outside had returned to the village.

Although some Konoha orphans who had learned the jonin-version Blut Vene were still stationed along the borders as sentries, the vast majority of Konoha's ninja forces and jonin had returned to Konoha.

In these tense times, this return had, in a sense, greatly boosted the morale of all Konoha. Only now had many people realized just how powerful and terrifying the village they lived in truly was.

One Kekkei Genkai clan after another arrived, and Ninja who possessed secret techniques and powerful forbidden jutsu were everywhere. There were even countless Medical Ninja capable of bringing the dead back to life. Combined with the development of Blut Vene and the promise of Blut Arterie, the atmosphere within Konoha had been deeply stirred by this mighty military force.

After all, who would think such a powerful village could possibly be defeated? The jonin alone were as countless as mountains and seas, not to mention the chunin and genin. As the world's greatest nation and most powerful village, merely revealing a fraction of its foundations and strength was enough to put everyone at ease—and make every hidden spy tremble in fear.

Yet as the morning sun rose, Konoha's three great figures stood in a triangular formation within the Hokage's Office.

Shimura Danzō had called this meeting. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had been excluded on the grounds that they needed to maintain Konoha's normal operations. Only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Sosuke Aizen were present.

For minor matters, hold a large meeting. For major matters, hold a small one.

Looking at Shimura Danzō's grim face, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had awakened from his former extravagant Dream Shatter, now realized exactly what he had done.

He had actually trusted a one-sided notice and recalled Konoha's entire army into the village, leaving countless outposts outside to operate empty, all because he believed Iwagakure and Sunagakure would go to war. Such a thing would never have happened in the past.

But as cold sweat trickled down Hiruzen Sarutobi's back and he reviewed his own state of mind, he was shocked to find that his thoughts truly seemed different from when he was young.

When he had gathered everyone in his youth, it had been to discuss problems. But now, he often called meetings simply for the sake of calling meetings.

Countless Konoha Ninja ran themselves ragged everywhere, often only because he wanted to do things that looked impressive. The Hiruzen Sarutobi of the past would have despised such behavior.

Yet after several years had passed, he had reached middle age. His original lofty ambitions had been worn away by the endless petty frictions among the Five Great Nations, leaving him as he was now. He had changed this much in only a few years—what would he become after several decades?

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi began to reflect on himself, Shimura Danzō stepped forward with a grim expression.

"I asked Orochimaru about the situation in the Land of Rain, Hiruzen. Did you dismantle the entire Land of Rain defense line?"

"...Yes."

"There cannot be any problems in the Land of Rain. I will take Root and persuade Hanzō. At the very least, we must ensure that the Land of Rain absolutely does not side with Sunagakure and Iwagakure."

Then go do it, Danzo.

"I will not permit you to act independently, Danzo."

Almost instinctively, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke. The words came even faster than his thoughts.

Even after saying them, Hiruzen Sarutobi froze in place, unable to believe those words had come from his own mouth.

He did possess the authority to control everything, but he should also have been a good leader who accepted and listened to advice—not someone so arbitrary and stubborn. But why had he spoken those words without thinking?

Shimura Danzō was also stunned by the Third Hokage's instinctive rebuttal. After a moment, he said with a grim expression:

"I am not seeking your permission. This must be done for Konoha! You know how important the Land of Rain's strategic position is! You also know what dangers may arise from recalling them! I am cleaning up your mess!"

"You do not need to lecture me. I know exactly what I am doing, Danzo."

"You do not understand what you are doing at all. You do not even know who you are anymore!"

"Danzo, you are the one who must stop overstepping your bounds! Remember, I am the one who makes the decisions in this village!"

"You will regret this, Hiruzen!"

"I am the Hokage, Danzo!"

"Hmph!"

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi already somewhat beside himself with anger, Danzo gave a cold snort, slammed the door, and left.

Sosuke Aizen, who had just been playing deaf and mute at the side, stepped forward at precisely the right moment and respectfully bowed to the Third Hokage.

"Third Hokage, I will go calm Elder Danzo down. Please ease your anger. Only you are the Hokage, and only by remaining calm can you lead the village back onto the proper path."

"Ah, I know... I just... Forget it. Go. If Danzo wants to do something, do not stop him."

"Do not stop Elder Danzo? Yes. I understand."

After bowing to the Third Hokage, who stood in the hall looking deeply remorseful, Aizen, dressed in a White Haori, swiftly made his way through the Hokage's Office building.

It could only be said that Shimura Danzō and the Third Hokage truly shared a certain tacit understanding. Even after their argument, Danzo had not gone far. He was merely smoking silently in the exterior corridor outside the Hokage's Office building, looking out over Konoha beneath the sunlight.

Before Sosuke Aizen could walk up to him, Danzo's intact arm extended in a stopping gesture as he silently smoked.

After a long while, the cigarette burned out. Danzo narrowed his eyes at sunlit Konoha, then curled himself back into the shadow beneath a corridor pillar. Without even looking at Aizen amid the interwoven light and shadow, he said in a low voice:

"Hiruzen is the Hokage. There are many things he cannot say or do directly. I understand that. But now, he seems to have changed."

Beneath the shadow of the pillar, Danzo stared blankly at the cracks in the floor, his voice hoarse and heavy.

"You may already be twenty, but you have never experienced that kind of situation. After he stepped down from the battlefield, he never returned to it. The reason was not fear of death, but because Konoha needed a Hokage to hold the center."

"It was a kind of confidence, the source of our strength. You may have exhausted every method at your disposal, yet Konoha's Hokage has not even appeared. That proves we hold an absolute advantage. After the Second Hokage died, we went through a difficult period, but afterward, this method was always effective."

"With the Hokage stationed at the center, Konoha's absolute safety was guaranteed. Other ninja units were stationed throughout the smaller buffer nations, able to advance and attack or retreat and defend. We were always the strongest nation. No petty enemy dared invade us, and no one dared act against us. Even the arrogant Cloud Ninja had to unite with others before they could do anything."

"But now, confidence seems to have become arrogance. The Land of Rain defense line absolutely cannot be abandoned. Whatever means are necessary, they must be used."

"Hiruzen sent you here because he told you to let me do whatever I need to do, correct?"

"Yes, just as Lord Danzo predicted."

Standing in the middle of the corridor where light and shadow intertwined, Sosuke Aizen, dressed in a White Haori, respectfully nodded.

"Afterward, the Third Hokage showed remorse, then instructed me to catch up to you and grant you the authority to do whatever you wished."

"Hmph. That fellow at least knows to mend the fence after the sheep are gone. I did not clean up his mess for nothing."

Hearing his old friend's decision, Danzo sneered and slowly rose to his feet.

"In the Land of Rain, I will do my utmost to contact Hanzō. If necessary, I will grant him the right to independence."

"Must we truly pay such an enormous price, Lord Danzo?"

"What else can we do?"

Seeing Sosuke Aizen's slight hesitation, Shimura Danzō snorted coldly, somewhat repulsed by Aizen's innocence and compassion.

"Hiruzen slapped his head and made a decision; the rest of the garbage is ours to clean up. But this is also an excuse. It gives us the perfect opportunity to show Hanzō our sincerity."

"Yes. I will do everything I can to cooperate in terms of material exchanges."

"Also, it seems Jiraiya has taken in three disciples in the Land of Rain. The details are unclear, but we can support them as well when the time comes."

"We should not put all our eggs in one basket...?"

"That is exactly it. We cannot support only one force. Compared to Hanzō, an organization that follows the Will of Fire and has close ties with us would be the better choice."

At that point, Danzo paused, his expression still somewhat worried.

"Though Jiraiya has a personality I dislike, his judgment is indeed accurate. If those children grow up, they will certainly become thorns in Hanzō's side. Then we can create two cards to secretly control the Land of Rain."

"However, those children are too closely tied to Jiraiya. That could be disadvantageous when bringing them in and spreading their influence. If necessary, simply send someone to contact them under the identity of a sympathizer from Amegakure."

"They will not know what Amegakure and the other Ninja are truly like. Let them retain their innocence. That is what suits us best."

"Yes, I understand."

Standing in the middle of the dazzling, interwoven corridor, Aizen, dressed in a White Haori, respectfully nodded.

"I will have the relevant departments and regions fully cooperate with the Elder's actions. And if possible, I will request a Hokage order to assist you."

"Mm. Go back and calm Hiruzen down. I will make some preparations."

Shimura Danzō nodded at Sosuke Aizen in satisfaction.

Bright without being rigid, quick to understand, and devoted entirely to the village—if his combat ability were a little better, perhaps all of Konoha could truly be entrusted to him.

Still, being an Advisor was not bad either. At least, many matters could be resolved with Hiruzen in a more tactful manner. That was the best possible outcome.

As for why Danzo knew the entire front line had collapsed, as well as so many deployment details and updates, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not ask, and neither did Sosuke Aizen. That was the trust between an Advisor and the Hokage.

As long as it helped the village, that was enough. Just like Aizen.

Watching Shimura Danzō leave, Aizen pushed up his glasses and turned toward the Hokage's Office.