The Hokage Succession Belongs to Root

Chapter 32: The True Hokage is in Root

Danzo's expression remained unchanged. "The Hokage is in the Hokage Building, not in Root."

"The Hokage in the Hokage Building isn't always as useful as the Hokage of Root."

Danzo snorted derisively. "Since you understand Root, you should know it's an organization deeply rooted in the soil, drawing nutrients for the great tree that is Konoha. Sarutobi and I have known each other since childhood, and later served under Lord Tobirama as fellow disciples. We've supported each other for decades, and only then did Konoha achieve its current prosperity. Therefore..."

Danzo turned his head, fixing his only exposed eye on Hoshino Maki. He spoke word by word, "Don't try to sow discord with me using such clumsy tactics."

"Of course, I never doubt your wisdom and loyalty to Konoha. May I sit down?"

Hoshino Maki pursed his lips. Danzo didn't answer, merely glancing at the person outside the door. The person closed the door and disappeared into the darkness.

Hoshino Maki sat down on his own, his legs pressed together formally this time.

"You are a lord with a sense of crisis, and you should know the current problems Konoha faces. Sometimes, being slower to progress than others is itself a regression, especially when the pursuer harbors hostility towards Konoha."

Hoshino Maki looked at Danzo's single eye and said sincerely, "I know you are wary of me because I am a Sand Ninja, but as the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Cloud Ninja and I just fought a major war; you must be aware of our relationship. I wish I could eat their flesh and drink their bones!"

As he spoke, Hoshino Maki slammed the table forcefully, his face filled with indignation. "The Elders, fearing Kumogakure, used the Cloud Ninjas I painstakingly captured as bargaining chips for their own gain, yet I had to bear the stigma of cowardice."

"How hateful!"

Danzo took a sip of tea before speaking, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Cloud Ninja is powerful. In the ninja world, only Konoha can punish them. But Sarutobi is weak and incompetent. After much thought, only you can help me vent this anger!"

"You must not be disrespectful to the Hokage."

Though he said this, Hoshino Maki detected no dissatisfaction in Danzo's tone, no hint of "a minister's insult means death." In fact, he sounded almost pleased?

"I suspect it's not just about venting anger, is it?"

Danzo didn't believe that someone who, as a civilian, could rise to the position of commander of the Medical Department in a place like Sunagakure, would be willing to help another village simply to vent his anger.

The candlelight flickered between them. Neither Hoshino Maki nor Danzo spoke, as if engaged in a silent contest.

Finally, Hoshino Maki broke the silence. "Every child in Sunagakure dreams of becoming Kazekage. I am no exception. I hope to receive your help."

"A sixteen-year-old wants to become Kazekage? I didn't expect that after so many years, the Elder Council of Sunagakure has become so enlightened?!"

Danzo's retort was laced with sarcasm.

Hoshino Maki's expression remained unchanged. "If an old man covered in blood can become Hokage, why can't I become Kazekage?"

Upon hearing this, Danzo's face instantly turned grim.

"Lord, this is a proposal for cooperation, not a request. You know better than I do how many unspeakable things your Root has done over the years and how many people you have offended. To clear your name and gain the support of the majority is not an easy task."

"So, what can you do for me?"

"War is a shortcut to establishing heroes."

Danzo let out a low chuckle, which then grew louder.

Hoshino Maki watched him laugh, his expression serene.

Yes, I came here to instigate a war.

Suddenly, his laughter stopped abruptly, a fierce glint flashing in his pupils. "Do you think I would drag the village into a war?"

"One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers. You are a ninja who fought through the Ninja World Wars, why ask me? If you are unwilling to be sincere, I don't mind. After all, I am still young."

Hoshino Maki lifted his teacup and took a sip, incidentally obscuring Danzo's dark expression.

Silence fell again in the room.

Hoshino Maki's words had struck his Achilles' heel.

Sarutobi's prestige was growing, Minato was popular among the middle and younger generations of ninja, and even people like the Uchiha had supporters cheering them on. But he, Danzo, seemed to be forgotten.

Was he rooted in the darkness all these years just to be forgotten?

He had spent too long in the shadows, bleeding and sweating unseen, shedding his reputation. The craving for sunlight was enough to overwhelm his reason and drive him to madness.

"Tell me your plan."

Danzo didn't say it explicitly, but Hoshino Maki understood that the cooperation between them had taken its first step.

"In two months at most, Kumogakure will launch a war against Konoha."

Upon hearing this, Danzo's hand holding the teacup trembled. He ignored the scalding tea spilling onto his hand. He hadn't expected their first cooperative act to be so audacious. He quickly asked, "How is that possible! How do you know?!"

Seeing Hoshino Maki's smiling face, an absurd idea flashed through his mind, and he blurted out, "You planned it?!"

After saying it, he quickly negated it himself. "Impossible! The Cloud Ninjas wouldn't take orders from you."

"Of course, the Cloud Ninjas won't take orders from me, nor do they need to. They just need to follow their hearts."

"Although I don't want to admit it, the Elder Council's greed has inadvertently played a good hand. Kumogakure is currently in a period of extreme material shortage. Once their hatred for Konoha is ignited, what do you think they will do?"

The enmity between Konoha and Kumogakure could be traced back to the First Great Ninja War.

The Cloud Ninjas, who had always had smooth sailing, were forced to sue for peace. The hawk-like brothers Kinkaku and Ginkaku even abandoned Kumogakure's tradition, not playing brotherly basketball, and chose to control the ball themselves at a critical moment. However, they missed the chance for a kill, not only getting themselves sent off but also dragging down the Second Hokage, A. Losing three starting players at once, Kumogakure's elite forces suffered heavy losses.

During the last Ninja World War, although the Cloud Ninjas did not directly participate in the three-way conflict in the Land of Rain, choosing instead to target Ōnoki's weak points, they did not give up on infiltrating Konoha. After all, Konoha was in turmoil at the time. If Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't been at his peak, the Cloud Ninjas might have rewritten history.

Unfortunately, the most regrettable thing is "if only."

The Cloud Ninja retreated in haste, leaving behind dozens of corpses. Konoha, like a great tree, still stood tall against the wind and rain.

Although the Cloud Ninja initiated both invasions, aggressors never reflect on themselves. They only remember how much blood their countrymen shed, using that hatred as nourishment to fuel a more brutal and thorough invasion next time.

However, inciting the wrath of the entire Kumogakure was no small matter.

Danzo couldn't fathom what Konoha had done to enrage the entire Cloud Village.

Hoshino Maki watched Danzo frown, a hint of surprise in his voice. "You don't know? The news that Orochimaru attacked the previous Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Fukai, and released the Eight-Tails has been spreading like wildfire among the Cloud Ninja. Also, merchants from the Land of Fire have made a fortune by profiteering while the Land of Lightning is in financial distress. These two pieces of news are currently the hottest topics in the Land of Lightning."

Danzo's expression remained impassive, but his hand, hidden beneath the table, clenched tightly, veins bulging.

"Ryoma!"

With a roar, the door was flung open. A ninja clad in a black cloak, wearing black sunglasses, and bearing a purple mark on his right cheek knelt on one knee.

"How long has it been since Kumogakure sent a message?"

"Five days."

"Why didn't you tell me!"

Aburame Ryoma remained silent.

His informant had previously reported that Kumogakure's security had suddenly tightened recently, and messages might not be delivered on time.

These were all things he had reported to Danzo before. Now, Danzo berating him either meant he had forgotten, or he was simply looking for an excuse to cover up his own mistake.

Neither option was something he could refute.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Hoshino Maki spoke up, "Since things have come to this, Lord Danzo, why not consider what would be most beneficial for you?"

"I believe that since war is highly likely, it would be better to prepare early, for example, with you as the commander."

Danzo looked at Hoshino Maki as if he were an idiot. "Do you want me to die?"

He didn't even know who the commander would be. If it were the Third A or the AB Combo, with his current physical condition, he would have no chance of winning without using the Sharingan. But if he used the Sharingan, the trouble would be immense.

After all, when Uchiha Kagami 'gifted' him the Sharingan, he didn't seem very willing. Therefore, this gift was passive, default, private, and unspeakable.

Hoshino Maki spread his hands. "Lord, I'm just offering a suggestion. You understand Konoha better than I do. You know better than I do how to steer the war in the direction you desire."

Danzo pondered for a moment, narrowing his eyes. "What do you want? Don't talk about the Kazekage matter. I don't have the ability for that right now."

The word "right now" was used quite cleverly.

Hoshino Maki understood that Danzo had already acknowledged his idea. How to execute it was Danzo's business.

"I'm curious about Konoha's forbidden scrolls. May I...?"

Danzo shook his head. "You can't enter the forbidden scroll library. If you want a specific forbidden scroll, I can have a copy made for you."

"Flying Thunder God."

"No."

"The Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques."

"I advise you to be more realistic."

Hoshino Maki took a deep breath and frowned. "The Eight Inner Gates, that should be acceptable, right, Lord Danzo? Our cooperation should be more equitable."

Danzo remained silent for a moment, then nodded. "Ryoma will deliver it to your residence later."

"Then I won't disturb you further."

Hoshino Maki stood up and bowed slightly.

After Hoshino Maki's figure disappeared, Danzo faced the door and spoke in a calm yet thunderous tone. "Orochimaru, do you have anything to say to me?"

From a vase behind him, a brown viper slowly emerged, flicking its tongue, and then transformed into human form.

"Lord Danzo, that was many years ago. The idea was too radical at the time, and I was worried..."

"Worried, so you hid it from me? Orochimaru, you should know, who is supporting your research? Without me, what would become of your research and yourself, I don't need to elaborate, do I?"

"Yes, Lord."

Orochimaru said no more, bowed respectfully to Danzo, then looked up. "So, Lord, are you really going to participate in the war with the Cloud Ninja?"

Danzo lowered his gaze. "If, as he says, the war between Konoha and the Cloud Ninja is unavoidable, then when that time comes..."

"When that time comes, Konoha will actively seek peace."

Meanwhile, at Chiyo's residence, Hoshino Maki's puppet was conversing with Chiyo.

I was disgusted by Xiao Mi all morning today, so I'm posting a bit late.