"Is it done?"
"...It's done!" Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated in his wheelchair, slightly raised his head and looked at his old friend Danzo, who stood by the window with a cane, his back to him.
That figure draped in a cloak of justice... calm and unruffled, yet carrying a faint trace of confidence.
A flicker of hesitation and reluctance over their years of friendship involuntarily passed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, but in the end, he said evenly, "Jiraiya and Tsunade agreed not to interfere with your decision. They only came to the Navy to kill time, hold official positions, and collect salaries, so we don't need to worry about them!"
As soon as those words fell.
Hearing his old friend's words, the corner of Danzo's lips curled up slightly. With his back still turned to Hiruzen, he answered without hesitation in satisfaction, "Good~"
However.
Seeing Danzo still so full of confidence, Hiruzen Sarutobi ultimately could not help feeling reluctant.
No matter what...
He and Danzo had been old friends for many years!
From childhood until now... they had walked this road together for so many years. They had trained together, studied under the same master, managed Konoha together... from the ninja world to the seas.
They had braved wind and rain together, experiencing all manner of hardships.
Though he had an agreement with Homura and Koharu, and knew that his old friend would never give up so easily, their bond made it impossible for him to simply stand by and watch!
So, after letting out a sigh, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for a moment before saying, "Do you think you... we can win?"
His tone shifted slightly, filled with melancholy. "To be honest, with Navy Headquarters in its current state... Jiraiya and Tsunade may not interfere, but Navy Headquarters' current strength