With the help of Water Baby's ability, Danzo successfully squeezed out two streams of tears.
"Eight years ago, after our teacher died, Torifu fought Iwagakure in your place, then went home to retire. The excuse was simply that he couldn't handle administrative affairs, and that you, Hiruzen Sarutobi, didn't want the Pig, Deer, and Butterfly clans to decline after his death."
At those words, Torifu Akimichi's expression turned complicated. Looking at this teammate, who in his eyes had perfectly inherited their teacher's ideals, he felt deeply moved.
Seeing Kakuzu and the others turn toward him, he closed his eyes and nodded gently.
He had kept this buried in his heart for eight years. He hadn't even told his son.
He had only happened to meet a very interesting child one day and shared a few of his troubles with him.
But he also knew that Danzo couldn't possibly have any connection to that child.
So he didn't think Danzo had learned about this through some other channel.
He must have known back then!
Having this old teammate, who had always done nothing but shout about fighting and killing, suddenly bring it up eight years later left him rather embarrassed.
After all, retiring at home while still in his prime was hardly something to be proud of...
But more than anything, he felt vindicated!
Danzo had no idea he had nearly given himself away. He continued, "Kagami and I went to Kirigakure on a mission, only to find ourselves inexplicably surrounded and hunted down by Mist Ninja. I should have died that day, but Kagami took the blow for me."
"Before he died, he asked me to look after his wife and son. He told me I had to help improve the Uchiha's relationship with the village."
Tears streamed down Danzo's