A Disagreement

"Understood. I'll be ready whenever you need me."

Looking at the exhausted old man before him, Aburame Keiichi replied solemnly.

"Although I no longer serve in Anbu, whenever you call, I'll still be your subordinate and junior."

"Good... Such a good boy, Keiichi. You're far more dependable than those two useless disciples of mine."

The old man's eyes twitched, and his tone grew grave.

"You flatter me. How could I compare to the Konoha Sannin?" Aburame Keiichi hurriedly waved his hands.

"All right, all right. I was just saying. Look how scared you are." The old man laughed helplessly.

"That's all. Go back and get some rest. Taking care of a child isn't easy work."

As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned a little strange, as though he'd remembered something from the past.

"Then I'll take my leave, Lord Hiruzen."

With that, Aburame Keiichi bowed slightly, then turned and headed for the door.

"Cre-eak—" The office door was suddenly pushed open, its hinges groaning.

Aburame Keiichi furrowed his brow and looked over, wanting to see who was so rude as to barge into the Hokage's office without even knocking.

The door swung open, revealing the newcomer.

Half his face was wrapped in bandages, his short black hair was disheveled, and his arrogant face was etched with contempt. There was no mistaking who he was.

The Root leader, the Pot Kage, the most scheming man in the Shinobi World—Shimura Danzō.

The moment Aburame Keiichi recognized him, his already sour expression darkened completely.

The next second, the man walked straight out of the Hokage's office as if Danzō were nothing but empty air, not sparing him a single glance.

"..."

Faced with Aburame Keiichi's undisguised hostility, Shimura Danzō said nothing. His pupils merely contracted as he watched him leave with a chilling look.

The door closed softly, hiding Danzō's ugly expression.

"Hmph! He's getting more and more insolent..."

Shimura Danzō spoke in a sinister tone.

"Hiruzen, is that how you teach your subordinates?"

"If one of my men dared to be so disrespectful, I'd make sure he had an experience he'd never forget..."

Shimura Danzō's face was dark as he voiced his displeasure with Aburame Keiichi.

At that, Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze sharpened as he looked at his former close friend.

"Danzō, watch your words," Hiruzen Sarutobi said gravely.

"Keiichi is one of the village's elite, a member of the force silently protecting Konoha, and a Jonin!"

"He isn't some person's or some department's servant! Don't make me spell it out any more bluntly." He paused.

"Understood?"

"Tch..." Shimura Danzō's face turned livid, but he didn't dare argue.

"Besides, why did Keiichi treat you that way?"

"You know perfectly well." Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone carried a note of warning.

"You went over my head and tried to take a child from the Aburame Clan. You're getting more and more brazen... If Root hadn't achieved so much over the years..." Hiruzen Sarutobi crossed his hands over his chest.

"Those voices of discontent would have torn you to pieces by now!"

Hiruzen tapped the desk, his warning unmistakable.

"Hmph! Everything I do is for the village. How could those shortsighted clan supremacists possibly understand?" Shimura Danzō retorted, unconcerned. He didn't think he'd done anything wrong.

"Let's hope that's true..." Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Shimura Danzō and spoke quietly.

"Enough. Tell me what trouble you're here to cause this time."

Before he finished speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned back in his chair and massaged his temples with both hands.

"Everything I do concerns the village's development. How can you call it trouble?" Shimura Danzō replied with a cold snort.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored him and remained silent.

"Tch... It's nothing else, just—" Danzō changed his tone, braced both hands on the desk, and stared fixedly at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Kakashi Hatake—why was he nominated for Jonin so soon? It's against the rules!"

Danzō demanded sharply, clearly displeased.

"Rules? What rules? Konoha has always rewarded merit. We judge by accomplishments alone. Kakashi has distinguished himself in battle and carried out many missions flawlessly. He deserves the rank of Jonin."

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes and glanced sideways at Danzō.

"Or are you suggesting we should promote people based on seniority?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone turned pointed.

Danzō's face darkened, and he hurried to explain.

"Hiruzen! You know what I mean."

"He's far too young to be a Jonin. It's too soon to let him near Konoha's inner circle!"

Hearing Danzō's argument, Hiruzen Sarutobi replied expressionlessly.

"Too soon? I don't think so. The rank of Jonin belongs to those capable of holding it. The strong rise and the weak step aside. That's how the old generation gives way to the new..."

The old man drew out his words, speaking each one slowly.

"You!" Danzō was at a loss for words for a moment.

"Are you trying to create another White Fang?" Danzō cried urgently.

"Watch your words, Shimura Danzō!" Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at him, his tone hostile.

"Sakumo was a hero of the village. Think before you speak!"

"What happened back then is over. The fact that I haven't investigated the suspicious circumstances surrounding it is already the greatest restraint I've shown you!"

As he spoke, the old man's aura surged higher and higher. The one seated behind the Hokage's desk was no longer a man growing old by the day.

He was the man who had dominated the Shinobi World for years and carried Konoha through an entire era—

the "Ninja Hero."

"Don't push me..."

A terrifying wave of Chakra swept through the room. Danzō's eye twitched wildly. Feeling the still-frightening presence of his old friend, even he, known as the Darkness of the Shinobi World, felt a shiver of unease.

"Monkey... You still refuse to admit you're getting old..." Danzō's tone eased.

"Hmph! That's because you lot never let me have any peace," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a long sigh.

"Every last one of you—you, En, and Koharu..."

"Anyway, I've made my decision. If that's why you came, you can go back. The result won't change."

The old man settled the matter with a single sentence, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Heh... In that case, I have nothing more to say." Danzō shook his head.

"There's one more thing. You can't stand in my way this time."

Danzō relaxed his tone as he continued.

"Oh? Go on."

"I want someone."

"Someone? Who? You just took a promising youngster from the Aburame Clan, and now you want someone else?" Hiruzen said in a low voice.

"You know how it is. We're short on manpower during wartime, and clashes inevitably lead to losses. Root has lost many good men recently, so..."

Before Danzō could finish, Hiruzen tapped the desk and cut him off.

"Watch your words... What do you mean, your Root? Don't forget why it was created. Root is only a department for training Anbu!"

"Yes... Yes, Lord Hokage." Danzō turned his head aside and answered through gritted teeth.

"The person I want isn't anyone important, just a freshly graduated Genin." Danzō spoke casually.

"Uchiha Kai—that's his name, right?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head and fixed his gaze on Danzō.

"Are you joking, Danzō?"

"Of course not. That kid just conspired with members of the Military Police Force to frame my subordinate, then abused his authority to torment them!" Danzō's voice was sinister.

"I'm only asking him to serve me and learn some discipline. What's wrong with that?"

The ugly man remained hidden in the shadows.