Danzo: Hiruzen, a Thick Wall Now Stands Between Us

"I'm terribly sorry, but we're full."

With a standard fake smile, the owner of a snack shop sent away Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō, who had wanted to eat there.

This was already the fourth place. This owner's temper was fairly good—at least he had been somewhat polite.

At the previous place, the owner had cursed at them and even spat at their feet. If Hiruzen Sarutobi had not stopped him, Shimura Danzō would have started a fight with the man.

"Aren't there seats over there?"

Shimura Danzō was seething as he pointed at the empty tables.

A proud Konoha jonin and the Hokage's shadow guard, yet he was being driven from place to place just for a meal.

Even a clay figure had some temper, let alone him. I'm bringing you business. In times like these, only ninja lords can afford to eat out every few days. How could ordinary civilians dare be so extravagant? They're lucky if they can fill their stomachs.

"Those seats are reserved. The guests will be here shortly."

The snack shop owner was already growing impatient. These two had abandoned the Hokage, leading to the Hokage's death. They were cowards, deserters, unworthy of being Konoha ninja.

And they still wanted to eat here?

They could go eat shit!

"I'll wait right here and see when these guests you mentioned arrive!"

Shimura Danzō shoved aside Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was still trying to stop him. He was determined to get justice here.

"Enough! Do I have to spell it out for you?"

"I don't want your business!"

"You're all deserters and cowards, unworthy of being Konoha ninja!"

"You're the ones who got Lord Hokage killed!"

"Get the hell out!!"

The snack shop owner no longer wanted to waste time with them and began cursing outright.

"What did you say?"

"I'll teach you a lesson today!"

Shimura Danzō was hopping mad. These lowly civilians, who only knew how to enjoy Konoha's protection, had no idea how dangerous the situation had been. They knew nothing of the greatness of Teacher Tobirama's Will of Fire!

Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly held Shimura Danzō back. Konoha had rules—ninja were not allowed to casually attack civilians.

Anyone who broke them would have to pay a visit to the Security Force. The Uchiha were not softhearted people; no one got out without losing a layer of skin.

Especially not at a time like this. Once they entered Uchiha territory, they might never come back out.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could not let Shimura Danzō act recklessly.

"What, you want to hit someone?"

Seeing that Shimura Danzō wanted to make a move, the snack shop owner immediately raised his voice.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō were far too conspicuous now. People had long been watching them from nearby, and in an instant, a crowd of spectators gathered.

The indignant villagers began verbally attacking Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō.

Cowards!

Traitors!

Deserters!

Those words filled their ears. Some even insulted their parents and clans. The crowd had strength in numbers and was not afraid of Shimura Danzō losing his temper.

The Uchiha had given special instructions: if any of them dared to make a move, they were to be arrested immediately and thrown in prison. Once they entered the Uchiha Security Force, they definitely would not get out. There was no need to worry about retaliation afterward.

Shimura Danzō's eyes turned bloodshot. He was so furious he wanted to kill someone. Hiruzen Sarutobi was not feeling any better, his face dark as iron, but he still retained his reason.

There was no benefit in clashing with the villagers now. It would only make things difficult for Mito Uzumaki and lower her opinion of him.

They were merely villagers bewitched by public opinion. There was no need to get angry with them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gripped Shimura Danzō's hand tightly, afraid Danzo would lose control and fire a few Wind Style: Vacuum Spheres at them.

"Let's go, Danzo. Don't waste time with them."

Hiruzen Sarutobi dragged Shimura Danzō out of the crowd. They jogged all the way to an open area.

"Damn it, damn it!"

"These lowlifes!!"

Shimura Danzō picked up a branch and wildly lashed at the weeds, venting his anger. Only after dozens of strikes did he finally calm down.

"Hiruzen, aren't you angry?"

Shimura Danzō looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi standing beside him. Hiruzen Sarutobi had endured the villagers' abuse just now, silently taking their barrage without uttering a word.

Leaving Shimura Danzō alone to battle them with his tongue, only to suffer a regrettable defeat.

Angry?

Of course he was angry. Anyone would be angered by being cursed at by a crowd, especially when they dragged in one's parents and clan.

But anger was useless. The more you explained, the more excited they became, convinced that you were panicking!

Hiruzen Sarutobi was no fool. Mito Uzumaki had already warned him that the Uchiha would use public opinion to crush him.

Having been warned, Hiruzen Sarutobi would not be easily provoked by ignorant villagers and fall into the Uchiha's trap.

For all he knew, Uchiha ninja were hiding somewhere near the crowd, watching them from the shadows and waiting for an opportunity to arrest them and throw them into the Uchiha Security Force.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had guessed right. The Uchiha really had sent people to watch him, though they were not the only ones watching.

The Senju, Hyuga, Ino-Shika-Cho, and others had all sent people as well.

"Now isn't the time to be angry."

"I have more important things to do. The leader of a village won't be brought down by something like this."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had begun holding himself to the mindset of a Hokage. To become a qualified Hokage, he had to possess a Hokage's way of thinking.

It was only some insults. To become Hokage, he would gladly wipe off spit from his face and pretend nothing had happened.

As Shimura Danzō looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's confident, spirited appearance, an inexplicable fire rose in his heart.

Had the gap between him and Hiruzen Sarutobi become this vast?

A difference in strength could still be overcome through hard training, but a gap in mindset and vision was not something effort could easily bridge.

A sorrowful, thick wall now stood between Shimura Danzō and Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen, I won't lose to you!

Seeing that his best friend Hiruzen Sarutobi had already pulled far ahead of him in vision, he would not admit defeat so easily.

Shimura Danzō, who believed he had never been inferior to Hiruzen Sarutobi in his life, still felt that all he lacked compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi was an opportunity.

If Tobirama Senju had chosen him back then, he would not have been worse than Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Regret and unwillingness filled his heart.

"Danzo, let's train."

"We can't waste such a perfect day."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had not forgotten Mito Uzumaki's advice. She could help him deal with the Uchiha, but Senju Touma was still waiting as an opponent.

He had to train hard and improve his strength as much as possible during this time. Mito Uzumaki was still buying time for him. Once Lord Tobirama's body was brought back to Konoha, the real test would arrive.

I can't let Teacher Tobirama down, Hiruzen Sarutobi silently swore.

At that moment, a young man stood before Konoha's gates.

He had black hair and handsome features, with a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to Hashirama Senju.

Senju Touma stared at Konoha's gates. He should have been delighted to return to the village, yet unease filled him instead, as though some enormous disaster had struck Konoha.

What could have happened for Mother to urgently summon me back to the village?