"Unfortunately, no. It's just that people in the village have recently been discussing it, so you need to be careful."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in agreement. "It does need attention. The Chunin Exams are coming up soon, so I'll promote the Will of Fire during the Chunin Exams briefing!"
"The Chunin Exams..."
Danzo's eyes flickered. However, Hiruzen Sarutobi had always controlled the Chunin Exams, so he had no reason to get involved.
"Danzo, is there anything else?"
Seeing that his old friend was still standing there, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. He knew this guy had to be plotting something.
"Hiruzen, you should know Hyakawa Yamei quite well by now, shouldn't you?"
Hearing Danzo mention that name, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately turned and stared at him, his gaze growing sharp.
"You've taken an interest in him?"
Danzo narrowed his eyes, his voice low. "He is a rare talent! And he possesses such tremendous power! He is perfectly suited to be cultivated into Konoha's deterrent weapon!"
"Hand him over to me. I guarantee that Yamei will become Konoha's thickest, most vigorously growing root!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent. After glancing at him hesitantly, his eyes hardened.
A deterrent weapon?
The thickest root?
Hand him over to you? Whether he became your weapon or mine afterward was still anyone's guess!
"Danzo, Yamei is someone I have chosen! He is also an inheritor of the Will of Fire!"
"I have been watching his performance all along. He is not suited for your Root!"
"He will become a towering tree of Konoha beneath the sunlight, not a root buried underground!"
There was not the slightest trace of politeness in Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone.
When he learned that Yamei had sealed the Source of Life, he had indeed considered how he might control him.
But after seeing Yamei's relationship with Naruto, Shikamaru, and the others, he seemed to have figured it out.
Why control him? The bonds between companions were the best source of unity, weren't they?
As long as Naruto and the others remained in the village, Yamei would be the village's future guardian!
He was already old!
The title of Hokage would eventually be passed on to someone recognized by both him and the villagers!
When that time came, they would need powerful people like Yamei to lend their support!
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi reject him so bluntly, Danzo's expression darkened as he jabbed his cane against the floor. "Hiruzen! You'll regret this! Hmph!"
Danzo snorted coldly and turned to leave.
You make yourself sound so righteous. If I didn't know what kind of person you were, I might have actually believed you were that kind and approachable Third Hokage!
If it weren't for me, could you have sat so securely as the Third Hokage? The Uchiha alone would have been enough to give you a headache!
You've always treated me like a tool. Now that you're done with me, you toss me aside!
Just you wait!
After returning to Root, Danzo picked up Yamei's scroll again and examined it carefully.
"Source of Life... terrifyingly powerful vitality..."
"Torune, send two people to secretly watch Yamei! Report to me immediately if anything unusual happens!"
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
The next day, Yamei, who was personally teaching Tenten taijutsu, suddenly paused mid-motion.
"W-what's wrong, Yamei? D-did I do something wrong?"
Tenten's face was bright red as Yamei held her hand. Tilting her head to look at his profile, she could not help spacing out for a moment before asking in confusion.
"No, your movements are very standard. Come... let's continue."
"Mm... mm-hmm, okay!" Tenten lowered her head shyly, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
Yamei did not pay much attention to Tenten's shyness. His terrifying perception swept over the surroundings. Originally, aside from himself and Tenten, only Neji had been nearby.
But just then, three more people had suddenly appeared nearby. Their Chakra levels belonged to one Jonin and two Chunin!
They did not seem to be Anbu, so there was only one answer.
"Root? It looks like that old bastard Danzo has finally set his sights on me."
Yamei's eyes turned cold inwardly. He had never intended to hide the fact that he had sealed the Source of Life, and he knew that an old man like Danzo would definitely keep an eye on him.
Still, he had not expected it to happen so soon!
"I hope you don't do anything stupid. Otherwise..."
A fierce glint flashed through Yamei's eyes, after which he directly ignored the three Root ninja and continued teaching taijutsu.
That afternoon, Yamei switched locations and taught Ino, Naruto, and the others. Only at night did he return home and lie down.
Bang
A shadow clone suddenly appeared beside Yamei. Then Yamei's original body instantly vanished, reappearing at the border of the Land of Fire.
Flying Thunder God Technique!
When Yamei appeared again, he was in a huge courtyard.
"Lord Yamei!!"
The moment he appeared, several delighted voices rang out.
Yamei turned to look and saw a four-person group led by Pakura, together with Izumi, Mikoto, and Karin.
"Why are you all still awake...?"
Yamei gave a bitter smile.
"We couldn't sleep. We haven't seen you for more than a month." Pakura stepped forward, pulled Yamei along, and brought him into the living room.
Mikoto immediately brought over some hot water, Izumi presented a plate of fruit, and Karin diligently began massaging Yamei.
Seeing those familiar motions, Yamei skillfully leaned against Pakura's lap and enjoyed himself.
It had already been three years since he sent Izumi, Mikoto, and the others to the Land of Waves!
Over the years, Yamei had come to the Land of Waves almost every so often to participate in political discussions or carry out certain operations.
The intervals varied in length, with the longest being around a month.
This courtyard was his residence in the Land of Waves. Originally, he lived here alone, with several maids and the like.
However, after Pakura, Izumi, and the others found out, there were no more maids. Instead, the four of them moved in.
Although every visit here brought him the utmost enjoyment, it was also an enormous torment.
Fortunately... in another two years, he would be considered an adult in the ninja world!
It seemed... adulthood here began at sixteen?
Ahem, that was how it was!
"Yamei, what have you been doing for the past month?" Izumi looked at Yamei with gentle eyes.
The other women were curious as well. They all wanted to know more about Yamei.
"Nothing much, just carrying out some missions..."
Yamei briefly described his trip to the Land of Rivers. When he mentioned sealing the Source of Life, tense expressions appeared on all their faces.
"Hey, hey, hey... Mikoto, why are you pulling at my clothes?"
As he spoke, Yamei suddenly saw Mikoto pull open his clothing, her eyes fixed on the unusual sealing runes on his body.
"Such terrifying power is sealed here... Will it affect you? Isn't it too dangerous...?" Mikoto asked worriedly.
Pakura and the others stared at him as well, their concern impossible to dispel.
"Don't worry, it's fine! You need to trust in my strength."
Feeling the girls' sincere concern, warmth filled Yamei's heart.
But when he saw Mikoto, Yamei felt somewhat uncomfortable again.
At first, there had been nothing between him and Mikoto... But after they had spent so much time together over these past few years... Mikoto had gradually become shaped by him as well.
He had no idea how he was supposed to face Sasuke when Sasuke learned that Mikoto was alive and had become like this...
Sorry, Sasuke.
Before you continue