Danzo's Step-by-Step Climb to the Top

Smack, smack!

The Third Hokage puffed out smoke mouthful by mouthful. Before long, the office was filled with a thin haze, like some immortal realm. Danzo and the two Hokage advisors were practically floating too—choked by the smoke.

Cough, cough, cough!

The three of them burst into coughing. With a sweep of his sleeve, Danzo sent out a gust of wind that struck the window, opening exactly two panes.

The Darkness of the Ninja World was quite formidable as well.

"Hiruzen, can't you smoke a little less?"

Danzo could not help complaining. Homura and Koharu nodded in agreement; neither of them could stand Hiruzen's terrifying smoking habit.

The Third Hokage glanced at his three old friends and ignored them completely. He continued puffing smoke as he said blandly, "Is there anything else?"

"What do you mean, Hiruzen?"

Danzo's expression changed as he urgently asked, "Are you still going to indulge the Uchiha Clan as you did before?"

Homura and Koharu grew anxious as well, repeatedly pressing the Third Hokage about what he meant. Had they not made themselves clear enough? If this continued, your position as Hokage would truly be in danger.

The Third Hokage remained calm. Smiling faintly, he said, "You only see that my position is in jeopardy, but you fail to see that civilian ninja and ninja from smaller clans are drawing closer to me."

Crisis, crisis.

Where there was danger, there was naturally opportunity for him as well.

The Uchiha Clan's publicity regarding last night's events could indeed damage his authority as Hokage. But at the same time, the Uchiha Clan's arrogance and tyranny would be deeply imprinted in the hearts of Konoha's many ninja clans and civilian ninja.

No one would like a Hokage who possessed terrifying power while also having a heart that disregarded Konoha's rules and even trampled on them at will.

Today, before the Uchiha Clan had even become Hokage, they already dared to provoke the Hokage and trample upon the Hokage's authority.

If the Uchiha Clan became Hokage tomorrow, who could guarantee that they would not swallow up the interests of even more ninja clans?

The more arrogant the Uchiha Clan became, the more it highlighted just how reassuring the Third Hokage's policy of winning over civilian ninja was.

The more civilian ninja and ninja from smaller clans drew closer to the Third Hokage, the more secure his position as Hokage would become.

The Uchiha Clan's arrogance was only temporary.

As long as they did not rebel, sooner or later, they would destroy themselves.

The Third Hokage understood this clearly.

As long as he obtained the Immortality Technique, he was confident he could ensure that the Second Hokage's plan would not fail and that the Uchiha Clan would ultimately perish.

So he was in no hurry. At the very least, before there was any progress with the Immortality Technique, he did not want to cause too great a commotion.

Faced with a Third Hokage unwilling to act, Homura and Koharu could only feel helpless. In the end, they were merely advisors. As long as Hiruzen remained healthy, they truly were only advisors, with nothing but the right to make suggestions and no other authority whatsoever.

Since the Third Hokage did not wish to deal with the Uchiha Clan, they could only sigh helplessly and say no more.

At this moment, Danzo was so anxious he felt like cursing.

"Hiruzen, listen to me. The Uchiha Clan has already become a great threat. Even if you spare them now, they will not be grateful. They will only think you weak and incompetent, and climb even further onto your head."

"To take control of Konoha, they will not let this go."

"Even if you do not want to deal with the Uchiha Clan right now, you should at least make preparations against them."

"I think..." At this point, Danzo cleared his throat and proposed, "At the very least, we should establish an organization specifically meant to weaken the Uchiha Clan..."

Cough, cough!

The Third Hokage's gaze sharpened, and the pressure in the air abruptly increased. Danzo coughed several times and hastily changed his explanation. "I mean an organization specifically for handling matters that even the Anbu have difficulty dealing with. I have already thought of a name for it: Root."

"Roots that supply nutrients to Konoha, a towering tree, ensuring it grows healthily beneath the sunlight—roots that move forward in the darkness alone, protecting Konoha."

"Seeking neither fame nor profit, placing Konoha's interests above all else. That is the philosophy of Konoha's Root, and Root's resolve to give everything for Konoha."

The meaning behind Root was excellent. As Danzo spoke more and more passionately, it was as though a holy light surrounded him. Danzo felt that the Third Hokage had surely been moved by his willingness to sink into darkness in order to protect Konoha.

The Third Hokage truly was moved.

Moved enough that his eyes practically wanted to carve up his old friend. You still refuse to give up coveting my position as Hokage!

The Third Hokage shot Danzo an irritated glare and sneered, "You have even picked out the name already. Dealing with the Uchiha Clan is a lie; what you truly want is to establish Root, isn't it?"

"Cough, cough..." Danzo was somewhat embarrassed that his little scheme had been seen through. Still, he had a thick skin, and he said with a righteous expression, "It is all for Konoha."

Homura and Koharu finally reacted at this moment. Their eyes lit up at the same time. After glancing at Danzo, that old man with thick brows and big eyes, the two immediately turned burning gazes toward the Third Hokage.

"Hiruzen, we also agree to establish Root," Mitokado Homura said.

"Rest assured, the three of us will certainly manage Root well for you," Utatane Koharu said as though it were only natural.

"What do you mean?" Danzo raised his brows, turning to glare furiously at Homura and Koharu, the two friends who wanted to snatch his prize and reap the benefits without effort.

"Homura, Koharu, you are Hokage advisors. Do not forget your responsibilities. Assisting the Hokage is where your duty lies."

Danzo said, "Leave Root to me. I am the one best suited to lead Root in silently protecting Konoha."

Mitokado Homura retorted, "Leading Root for Hiruzen would be the finest expression of us Hokage advisors assisting Hiruzen. On the other hand, you hold no post in Konoha's upper departments. You are merely an ordinary jonin registered as living at home. A ninja department like Root, with the same nature as the Anbu, ought to fall directly under the Hokage's authority. You are not qualified. Only we two Hokage advisors are qualified to lead it for Hiruzen."

Homura and Koharu argued their case, showing Danzo, their old friend, not the slightest bit of leniency.

They had to seize command of Root.

They had never considered that power could be controlled this way before.

What was power?

The ability to command others to do things was called power.

Making suggestions was merely what advisors did.

They had always wanted to command a ninja squad of their own.

Unfortunately, the Anbu were the Hokage's exclusive forces, tightly controlled by Hiruzen. No one could get a hand in.

As advisors, they had no authority to mobilize the ninja in other departments either.

The Root organization Danzo proposed perfectly met their desire to control power.

They all understood clearly that whoever possessed such an organization, hidden in the shadows and comparable to the Anbu, could obtain greater benefits for themselves and their clans within Konoha's web of interests.

At the same time, the power to control others' lives and deaths was intoxicating, and they were unwilling to relinquish it.

"You..."

Danzo pointed at Homura and Koharu. Their shameless faces enraged him, while inwardly, he could not help resenting Hiruzen. As his friend, Hiruzen had not even secured him a proper position.

"What about us?"

Homura and Koharu wore victorious smiles, and the two were about to say more.

Bang!

The Third Hokage's palm slammed violently against the desk. Watching his three friends argue over who Root belonged to as though no one cared about him, the Hokage, the scene of being humiliated by two Uchiha brats last night resurfaced in his mind. Rage immediately surged within him, and the imposing presence of the Hokage abruptly erupted from his body.

A wave of fury descended upon Homura and Koharu. The smiles vanished from their faces as they felt the blazing majesty brought by the Hero of the Ninja World.

Hiruzen was angry. The two lowered their heads, not daring to say another word.

Danzo lowered his head as well, not daring to challenge the Third Hokage's edge.

"Do you still have any regard for me as Hokage?"

The Third Hokage glared angrily at the three of them and continued, "We will discuss Root another time. Leave first."

"Hiruzen..."

Danzo looked up, only to meet the Third Hokage's sharp, concealed gaze. The words he had wanted to use to fight for it were immediately swallowed back down.

"You will regret this."

After throwing out those words, Danzo glared furiously at Homura and Koharu once more before turning away in anger.

"I am the Hokage," the Third Hokage reflexively added.

Danzo, who had already reached the door, paused slightly upon hearing those familiar five words. Then, with fire blazing in his eyes, he walked out.

That was right!

Hiruzen was the Hokage!

Everything came down to the Hokage!

As long as he was Hokage, none of this would have happened today.

Just wait, Hiruzen.

One day, I too will say the words, "I am the Hokage," before you and make you experience the humiliation those words bring.

As Danzo left the Hokage's office, the flames of his desire for the Hokage's position burned fiercely in his heart.

Establishing Root was only the first step.

There would be a second step, then a third. In the end, he would climb step by step to the very top, to the position of Hokage.