Hiruzen Sarutobi placed a hand on Shimura Danzō's shoulder.
Scorching Lightning Release Chakra crackled over it.
Even Shimura Danzō, a seasoned ninja, instinctively shrank his neck, his body unconsciously sensing danger.
But the unease in his body was nothing compared to the unease in his heart.
When had Hiruzen trained Kumogakure's Nintaijutsu to such a degree?
From Blue B's corpse being sent to the Analysis Division to the report being completed, even if the Hokage could get it early, it had only been ten days at most!
You still had talent like this?
Shouldn't you have been buried beneath mountains of documents and seas of meetings? The pressure of being the Hokage should have crushed you. Even if you used a secret technique to maintain the appearance of a man in his prime...
But in essence, with all the effort you put into balancing and winning over the ninja clans, and all the systems you came up with, shouldn't you have been even more overworked?
How did you still have time to train?!
Shimura Danzō's thoughts sank into unease and confusion. His eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, he did not even respond to Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, as though he had frozen.
"Once, Konoha had many geniuses, but they all called me a genius."
Wasn't Hiruzen Sarutobi's remark clearly aimed at him?
He had been called the genius of the Shimura Clan since childhood. That was, until he met Hiruzen Sarutobi. No matter how many times they sparred, he had never beaten him...
His thoughts gradually drifted away.
"Don't let my appearance fool you. I'm confident I'm the strongest among you. I'll stay behind." The conversation surrounding Senju Tobirama's death, buried deep in his memories, surfaced as well.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not rush him. The lightning around his body slowly faded away.
He rested both hands on the back of Shimura Danzō's chair, shook his head with a smile, and said to everyone attending the meeting, "Our advisor has worked too hard. He should get some proper rest..."
"On that trip to Kumogakure, he personally led the team to capture prisoners and plant spies. Living rough out in the elements couldn't have been easy!"
Everyone laughed good-naturedly.
And upon hearing those words about making him rest...
Shimura Danzō abruptly snapped back to his senses. "No, I don't need rest!"
Forget resting. If he grew even a little more slack, he would only fall farther and farther behind!
Would he eventually be unable to even see Hiruzen's back?
That was even harder for Shimura Danzō to accept than the certainty that he would never become Hokage in this lifetime...
"You should rest when it's time to rest. Only by balancing work and rest can you go far."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a chuckle, "I'm still counting on your Wind Release to temper my Nintaijutsu..."
"So, how about we find a day to have a long-overdue spar, just the two of us old men?"
Shimura Danzō ground his back teeth. Temper your Nintaijutsu?
I'd rather blow you to death with a Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves!
On the surface, he still forced out a strained smile. "Heh heh, Hiruzen, you were indeed called a genius by many people in the past. Even Lord Tobirama said so."
"But my Wind Release isn't bad either. You'd better be careful. Maybe I'll win..." Shimura Danzō dryly tried to salvage some dignity for himself, attempting to preserve a bit of face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not let the words fall flat. He nodded. "Naturally. In my heart, you are the strongest Wind Release ninja in the Shinobi World. Those people from Sunagakure are far inferior to you."
Shimura Danzō was stunned by those words.
He was actually speaking up for him? Hiruzen, what exactly are you trying to do...
Setting aside the fact that Hiruzen had used him to establish authority, perhaps he should not have plotted against him?
And honestly, he had been the one to provoke Hiruzen first...
At that moment, Shimura Danzō was surprised to discover that a faint trace of regret had actually emerged in his heart.
"Danzo, during this mission, I saw your ability to coordinate and organize."
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not return to his seat. With both hands braced against Danzo's chair, his expression relaxed, he said, "You will be the Anbu Chief. Work hard, and don't disappoint the village or me."
Shimura Danzō unconsciously straightened his back. "Yes, Third!"
Jiraiya chuckled and unconsciously rolled his eyes.
This uncle-disciple's bones were not that hard after all?
The teacher insulted him once and praised him once, and he could not hold on anymore?
He was not even as good as Jiraiya!
Previously, because of the so-called "Anbu training department," namely Root, the positions of Anbu Chief and Deputy Chief had remained vacant for a long time.
The Anbu mainly operated through the Squad Captains.
After all, Root was nominally an Anbu squad, but its captain was the Hokage's advisor. That made things difficult...
In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, Shimura Danzō possessed outstanding talent for Anbu work.
There was no problem with him serving as chief. The issue was that his desires and ambitions were too inflated.
Therefore, what Hiruzen Sarutobi needed to do as Hokage was firmly control the appointments for the four Squad Captains and the leaders of every smaller team.
"Hizashi, I've seen your recent performance. Do you have the confidence to take on a heavier burden?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
Lord Hokage had naturally noticed Hizashi Hyuga's earlier attempt to play along with him.
The young man had sufficient ability, the right attitude, and valuable status. There was no reason not to use someone like him.
As for experience...
He could simply have Sakumo guide him more.
"Lord Hokage! Your will is the direction Hizashi advances in. I would not hesitate even to die!" Hizashi Hyuga shot to his feet, his voice sonorous and forceful.
"Not my will, but for the village." Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed lightly and corrected Hizashi Hyuga's wording.
"By order, Hizashi Hyuga is appointed captain of the Anbu Second Squad."
"Koharu, Hono, Danzo, do you have any objections?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked very democratically.
All three stated that they had no objections.
On any other day, they might have discussed Hizashi Hyuga's qualifications as a newcomer to the Anbu.
After all, although he worked hard, his seniority was still lacking.
But given today's situation and atmosphere, it truly was not suitable for anyone to raise objections.
Orochimaru sat further down the table, watching Hiruzen Sarutobi handle everything with effortless ease. His long tongue unconsciously licked the corner of his mouth.
As casually as chatting about household matters, he had completely taken the Anbu into his grasp.
And looking at Shimura Danzō's expression, there was even the faintest trace of gratitude?
"That must be an illusion, right? How could that man have such an expression..."
"But one thing is certain: Teacher's words carry more and more weight." Orochimaru thought this to himself as he studied Hiruzen Sarutobi's methods.
When he became the Fourth Hokage in the future, these would all be practical methods!
"During this period, pay special attention to the village's security. Kumogakure will definitely send a large number of spies to investigate the source of the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki incident."
"Crush them all outside the village!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Hatake Sakumo, "How is the Patrol Force coming along?"
Sakumo, who had not participated in the Kumogakure operation and had silently listened throughout the meeting, rose and answered, "It has already entered trial operation. Ninjas from the Inuzuka Clan, Aburame, and Uchiha have all participated enthusiastically."
"Following your instructions, I selected a group of experienced ninjas with old injuries, or those unable to handle the high-intensity demands of the front lines because of their age. They are all grateful for this stable work."
"The Inuzuka Clan's sense of smell, the Aburame's insects, the Uchiha's perception, and Hizashi's Byakugan support."
"I am confident that we can raise the village's security strength by another level!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly and teased Hizashi Hyuga with a smile. "Hizashi, you truly are a busy man..."
Hizashi Hyuga smiled as well. This feeling of being needed by the village was wonderful!
Moreover, he had caught the unspoken meaning in Hatake Sakumo's words.
—One pair of Byakugan was not enough.
And in the Anbu, Hizashi, who was practically Sakumo's disciple, also knew that several positions in the Patrol Force remained vacant.
Who they were being reserved for was obvious without saying.
"Brothers of the Branch Family, wait for me!" Such a thought flashed through Hizashi Hyuga's mind.
After the meeting ended.
Orochimaru stayed behind and sought out Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He took out a small piece of Eight-Tails Gyuki tissue. "Teacher, look at this!"
Before you continue