Is This Also Within Your Calculations, Sarutobi?

Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally did not believe Xu Fan's claim that he had been terrified at the time.

Back at the Hyuga Clan, he had said the same thing, yet it was the Hyuga Clan who had ended up terrified.

This time was probably no different. After witnessing Xu Fan's terrifying Wood Release, perhaps Danzo was the one who had been terrified.

However...

Where there was light, there was darkness. The world could not function properly without either side.

Konoha needed genius ninja like Xu Fan to inherit the Will of Fire, but it also needed ninja like Danzo to inherit the will of Root.

If Danzo had died at Xu Fan's hands, that would not have been good news for him.

He needed Danzo, not only for the village, but also because someone had to bear everything he himself could not bear.

"Kakashi."

Looking at the towering tree before him, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood that this must have been the ninjutsu Xu Fan had used while fighting Danzo.

Xu Fan had used this move to kill Danzo.

To turn him into true root.

"Lord Hokage."

Kakashi stepped forward and responded to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Go settle Xu Fan in first." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice did not carry the slightest trace of emotion.

Danzo had not only been the root that bore Konoha's burdens, but also his childhood playmate and his rival in their youth.

All his life, Danzo had wanted to surpass him and become Hokage.

Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi would not blame Xu Fan, much less hold him accountable for killing Danzo.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew perfectly well.

Danzo had struck first and harbored the intent to kill first. Xu Fan had merely defended himself.

Besides, the power Xu Fan possessed was far greater than even Tenzō's.

He needed him, and Konoha needed him as well.

Thus, after a brief moment of thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi merely instructed Kakashi to take Xu Fan away and help arrange a new residence for him.

After all, the Senju Clan's grounds had been completely destroyed by Tree World Descent.

Even if this entire forest were cut down, it could not be rebuilt in a short time.

Perhaps...

It was time for the Senju Clan's grounds to disappear from Konoha as well.

"Yes." Kakashi answered crisply, then walked over to Xu Fan and gestured for him to follow.

Xu Fan looked at the Third Hokage, then at Kakashi, and finally nodded to show that he understood.

I thought Sarutobi would ask me a whole bunch of questions. Looks like Danzo still holds quite an important place in Sarutobi's heart.

Xu Fan could not help grumbling inwardly before following Kakashi away.

"Tenzō."

Only after confirming that Kakashi and Xu Fan's Chakra signatures were gradually moving farther away did Hiruzen Sarutobi speak again.

"Lord Hokage."

Tenzō responded as he dropped to one knee.

"Detain Root for now. We'll deal with them later." Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in a commanding tone.

Of all the Anbu members, Tenzō understood Root best. Hiruzen Sarutobi was very much at ease leaving the matter to him.

"Yes."

Tenzō answered cleanly, then looked toward his former companions. Unlike him, these people had no emotions.

Perhaps, in their hearts, I was never a companion from the very beginning.

Tenzō could not help mocking himself inwardly. Then, together with the Anbu Ninja, he took all the Root members away.

Before long, only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained on the Senju Clan's grounds.

He took off his Hokage's hat, revealing his graying white hair, and stood before the towering tree.

Then, at that moment, Danzo, who had chosen to perish together with Xu Fan, suddenly separated from the towering tree and fell to the ground with a thud.

He had lost an arm, but the wound on his chest was gradually healing. Panting heavily, he used all his strength just to lean against the tree trunk behind him.

He struggled to raise his head and discovered that the person standing before him was not Xu Fan, but the Third Hokage.

"Sarutobi..."

Danzo was in a wretched state, weakened to the extreme.

"You don't seem... all that surprised..."

Danzo swallowed before barely forcing out a complete sentence.

This time, he could be said to have truly fallen flat on his face. Not only had Xu Fan taken Shisui's eyes from him, but he had nearly lost his life here as well.

Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi stood here like a victor.

Could it be...

Was this also within your calculations, Sarutobi...?

"I simply thought you would not die so easily," Hiruzen Sarutobi said lightly.

In Konoha, no one understood Danzo better than he did.

Xu Fan might indeed be powerful, but killing Danzo would never be easy.

It was no exaggeration to say that if Danzo had truly died here, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have found that regrettable.

"So, that was your secret weapon."

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Danzo's right arm. Though it had already been mangled beyond recognition, Lord Hashirama's face could still vaguely be made out on it.

If he was not mistaken, after Tenzō's human experiment had succeeded, Danzo had also implanted Hashirama's Cells into himself.

At the same time, because this power could not be exposed to the light, Danzo had kept his right arm hidden in darkness.

It had to be said, that fit his style perfectly.

"Still, an imitation is only an imitation. Danzo, after this battle, you should understand, shouldn't you? Xu Fan is the one who has truly inherited Lord Hashirama's power. Therefore... from this day onward, I hope you will never again entertain thoughts of assassinating him."

Danzo raised his head and stared straight at the man before him.

After learning that Xu Fan had inherited Lord Hashirama's Wood Release, he had no longer thought of killing him. He had merely wanted to use Kotoamatsukami to control him.

Just as you took Tenzō away from my side, I will take your Xu Fan away from you.

Unfortunately, he had failed.

Before Xu Fan's terrifying power, his preparations had not been sufficient.

If he had not discovered the Sharingan's greatest secret while taking Shisui's eyes, then implanted the Sharingan collected during the Third Shinobi World War and activated Izanagi at the crucial moment, he probably really would have died here.

"And I will continue keeping the secret of your arm."

Seeing that Danzo remained silent, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued.

"Where there is light, there is darkness. The world cannot function properly without either side."

"I need you, Danzo, so I will not tell anyone else about what happened today. But on one condition."

"You must relinquish your position as Hokage advisor and forfeit your qualification to attend Konoha leadership meetings."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was low.

Although Xu Fan and Danzo's clash had shocked him, as far as the outcome was concerned, he felt it benefited him.

Most importantly, Danzo's greatest weakness was now in his grasp. From this day onward, Danzo would no longer have the ability to resist him.

That was enough.

Danzo's gaze narrowed as he looked at the man who had defeated him time and time again in their contests.

Xu Fan had forced him into a dead end, and then Hiruzen Sarutobi had appeared at precisely the right moment.

"Sarutobi, was all of this... within your calculations?"

Thank you to Su Erjun and Little Soldier Opens Fire for the support and tips~