What was he lacking...
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the cigarette in his hand and smiled. "In what regard?"
Shimura Danzō froze.
What he had actually meant was in combat...
But since he had finally opened his mouth to ask Hiruzen, he might as well ask everything.
Opportunities to receive Hiruzen's guidance were rare. After all, the Hokage's aide had his pride too...
"All of it," Shimura Danzō said. He knew Hiruzen would understand what he meant.
"In combat, your current arsenal doesn't squander your natural talent." Hiruzen Sarutobi patted his old friend on the shoulder.
"Your mastery of Wind Release gives you coverage at long, medium, and close range. You idolized Teacher Tobirama from childhood, so your close-quarters combat is passable as well..."
"But if you encounter an enemy whose strength surpasses the ordinary, you lack room for error."
Shimura Danzō listened intently.
"Take the Kage of the major villages as examples."
"The Third Tsuchikage and Third Kazekage can both fly. The Kazekage's Iron Sand possesses exceptional defensive power and can gather a great deal of intelligence through probing attacks."
"The Third Raikage's physical strength and speed, our teacher's Flying Thunder God Technique..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi went through the extraordinary figures of each major village.
"The Second Tsuchikage and the Mizukage—you should remember them... Both possessed secret techniques for invisibility and stealth. One could split himself apart, while the other could create clones of tremendous power."
"The Jinchuriki of each village are the same. So-called Tailed Beast weapons essentially gain an extremely high margin for error through Tailed Beast Chakra, making it impossible for ordinary shinobi to contend with them."
"The Susanoo recorded in the Uchiha Clan's archives is the same."
"Without room for error, you lack the capital to contend with others. And you know how important intelligence is."
Shimura