If Danzo could appoint him as Guard Captain, Youhu felt that joining Root Ninja would not be impossible.
In any case, he was currently an Anbu Ninja. Anbu only swore allegiance to the Hokage, so it did not matter who held the position.
Unfortunately, Danzo was always just a little short of becoming Hokage. Even if he took advantage of Tsunade's coma and forced the Daimyo of the Land of Fire to submit, at most he could only obtain the title of Acting Hokage.
"You want to become Guard Captain?"
The corner of Danzo's mouth twitched slightly. This brat really has the nerve to ask for the moon.
The Guard Captain was no ordinary position. In the village, his status was second only to the Hokage and several Elder Advisors. The Ninja he could mobilize directly even outnumbered those under Danzo, the Root Leader.
Still, ambition was not necessarily a bad thing. As long as someone had desires, they could be manipulated.
With that thought, Danzo began painting a rosy picture for Youhu. "Join Root Ninja first. Once I become Hokage, I'll promote you to Guard Captain..."
"..."
Youhu looked at Danzo with sympathy in his eyes and spoke in a distant tone.
"Uncle Danzo, if I remember correctly, you and the Hokage are from the same generation. You were working hard to compete for the position of Hokage decades ago, and decades later, you're still trying to become a Hokage Candidate."
"If I follow you, won't I still only be a Chunin by the time my beard turns white?"
"It's not that I don't believe you. I just can't see what qualifications you have to become Hokage."
"To become Hokage, you at least have to stand in the sunlight and let your comrades in the village get to know you. Uncle Danzo, can't you be a little braver? Why do you always hide behind the Hokage?"
"You..."
After hearing Youhu's words, Danzo's face visibly flushed.
He had seen that Youhu was a promising talent, so he had lowered himself to recruit him, hoping to cultivate him into Konoha's sharpest sword. Otherwise, he would never have spared a second glance at an Uchiha.
But Youhu had not only rejected his good intentions, he had humiliated him again and again.
First, he had mistaken him for a vagrant in the village and given him food as charity. Then he had deliberately offered a condition Danzo could not accept, using it as an opportunity to mock him.
What Danzo found most unbearable was Youhu's final remark.
What did he mean by saying that Danzo had worked hard to compete for Hokage decades ago, and was still working hard to become a Hokage Candidate decades later?
What did he mean by saying Danzo was not brave enough and could only hide behind Hiruzen, lacking even the qualifications to become Hokage?
Since Teacher Tobirama had sacrificed himself while holding off the enemy, Danzo had never received such an insult. Even when he and Hiruzen had argued endlessly over their political views, Hiruzen had only ever said, "I am the Hokage."
Youhu's imitation of Teacher Tobirama's tone and his condemnation of Danzo's actions made Danzo feel deeply offended.
"You evil Uchiha brat, how dare you insult me? I'll follow Teacher Tobirama's example and bring you to justice right now!"
No longer suppressing the anger in his heart, Danzo decided to teach Youhu a lesson he would never forget.
But just as Danzo prepared to attack Youhu, he discovered that during the time he had spent thinking in a red-hot rage, Youhu had already reached the alley's exit and was wearing an innocent expression.
"Didn't you want to attack me? Go ahead and do it in the street. Show everyone the might of the Hokage Assistant."
Youhu did not say a word, but Danzo understood perfectly, imagining the mockery Youhu was directing at him.
Danzo was furious, but with so many pedestrians nearby, he finally backed down. He flicked his sleeve and left through another exit.
He had indeed wanted to teach Youhu a lesson, but publicly disciplining a Chunin would unquestionably make the Hokage Assistant lose face.
If the matter reached Hiruzen, Danzo would also be reprimanded for bullying someone weaker and younger.
He had no idea what Youhu had said to Hiruzen to make the boy so arrogant. Perhaps this would affect the village's plans to deal with the Uchiha in the future.
From this perspective, Uchiha Youhu was even more difficult to deal with than Uchiha Clan Elders like Fugaku and Yachiyo.
Watching Danzo turn and leave, Youhu could not help exclaiming loudly.
"An Assistant is just an Assistant. He can never become Hokage. No wonder Uncle Danzo runs to the Hokage Office every day. It turns out that this is the only way Uncle Danzo can get closer to becoming Hokage..."
In the distance, Danzo froze when he heard this. Failing to watch where he was going, he nearly fell flat on his face.
I already let you off, and you still dare slander me? I must report this brat's arrogance to Hiruzen and let him see what Uchiha Ninja look like once they gain power.
After Danzo left, Youhu also headed toward the clan grounds.
He had run into Danzo first thing in the morning, and Youhu felt as though he had stepped in a pile of shit.
After first toying with Danzo by pretending to pledge allegiance to him, then ruthlessly mocking him in the tones of Tobirama and the Third Hokage, Youhu's mood finally improved considerably.
Danzo was the Hokage Assistant of Konohagakure. He controlled Root Ninja, the Anbu training class, and possessed a private army under his direct command.
But Danzo was forever the loser in the competition for Hokage, and his status in the village was forever inferior to that of the Third Hokage.
And he still hid in a dark corner to recruit me?
Go ahead and attack me. Why don't you dare do it in front of everyone?
Are you afraid of the Third Hokage's rebuke? Are you worried that you can't bear the Uchiha's fury?
Following Obito into the Akatsuki would be more promising than joining Root Ninja. The Akatsuki had a dream of bringing peace to the Ninja World, while Root Ninja had been reduced to the Tongue-Cutting Root Seal and brainwashing.
Just look at what had happened to Itachi and Shisui after they were brainwashed. They had been sold off and still helped count the money.
Rather than letting Old Thief Danzo take advantage of the two of them, it would be better for Youhu to take advantage of them himself. Leaving everything else aside, Tsukuyomi and Kotoamatsukami were extremely delicious ocular techniques.
The former would be highly beneficial for him in obtaining System Rewards, while the latter was a brainwashing divine tool.
With these things, why would he need to worry about becoming stronger?
"Kyahahaha."
At this thought, Youhu revealed a sunny, healthy smile.
After a while, Youhu returned home.
After taking a hot bath, Youhu did not go to sleep immediately. Instead, he went to his desk and picked up paper and a pen.
Having rejected Danzo's recruitment, and wanting to work better under the Hokage, Youhu knew that before Jiraiya and Tsunade returned from their travels, the Third Hokage was Konoha's only sun.
Youhu would find a way to maintain Konoha's stability and protect the Fragile Balance between the Uchiha and the Hokage Faction.
Outside Konoha, Youhu was a spy Obito had only just recruited, an unaffiliated member who did not yet know of the Akatsuki's existence.
His mission was to collect intelligence on Konoha for Obito and stand ready to assist the Akatsuki in collecting the Tailed Beasts.
"Brother Obito's mission for me is too easy. I have to advise Brother Obito and repay his kindness."
Youhu rubbed the Wood Style Ring on his hand. While muttering about Obito's kindness, he began writing a mission report, along with some plans and suggestions for collecting the Tailed Beasts.
After spending half an hour finishing his suggestions, Youhu removed the ring and poured a massive amount of Chakra into it.
At that moment, an unexpected change suddenly occurred.
After absorbing Youhu's Chakra, a white spot appeared on the ring. The spot rapidly expanded and soon transformed into a sinister White Humanoid.
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