The Hokage's True Legacy Lies in Root

The Hokage's True Legacy Lies in Root

Danzo's expression didn't change. "Hokage-sama is in the Hokage Building, not Root."

"Sometimes, the Hokage in the Hokage Building isn't as useful as the Hokage in Root."

Danzo gave a cold snort and said scornfully, "Since you know something about Root, you should know it's an organization deeply rooted in the soil, drawing nourishment for Konoha, this great tree. Sarutobi and I have known each other since childhood. Later, we became fellow disciples under Lord Tobirama and supported each other for decades. That's how Konoha became as prosperous as it is today, so..."

Danzo turned around and fixed Hoshino Moku with the one eye exposed to the air. He enunciated each word. "Don't try to drive a wedge between us with such a clumsy trick."

"Of course. I've never doubted your wisdom or your loyalty to Konoha. May I sit down?"

Hoshino Maki pursed his lips. Danzo didn't answer; he merely glanced at the person outside the door. The man closed it and disappeared into the darkness.

Hoshino Maki sat down of his own accord, this time with his legs together and his posture perfectly proper.

"You're a powerful man with a keen sense of danger. You should know what problems Konoha is facing now. Sometimes, simply progressing more slowly than others is a kind of regression—especially when those catching up to you are hostile toward Konoha."

Hoshino Maki looked at Danzo's single eye and spoke sincerely. "I know you're wary of me because I'm a Sunagakure Shinobi. But as they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. We just fought a hard war against the Cloud Ninja, so I'm sure you understand our relationship. I'd love nothing more than to eat their flesh and gnaw on their bones!"

As he spoke, Hoshino Maki slammed his fist on the table, his face full of resentment. "The Elders were afraid of Kumogakure, so they used the Cloud Ninja I'd worked so hard to capture as bargaining chips to benefit themselves. And I'm the one who has to bear the shame of being called a coward!"

"How hateful!"

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

"Kumogakure is powerful. Looking across the Shinobi World, only Konoha can punish them. But Sarutobi is weak and incompetent. After thinking it over, I realized only you could help me avenge this grievance!"

"Do not disrespect Hokage-sama."

That was what Danzo said, but Hoshino Maki couldn't hear the slightest trace of outrage in his voice—not the indignation of a loyal subject whose lord had been insulted. If anything, he sounded a little pleased.

"I doubt you're doing all this just to vent your anger, though."

Danzo didn't believe someone who had risen to the position of Medical Corps Commander as a civilian in a place like Sunagakure would be willing to help another village just to avenge a grievance.

The candlelight flickered between them. Neither Hoshino Maki nor Danzo spoke, as if they were engaged in a contest of silence.

In the end, Hoshino Maki spoke first. "Every child in Sunagakure dreams of becoming Kazekage. I'm no exception. I hope to get your help."

"A sixteen-year-old boy wants to become Kazekage? I didn't expect the Elder Council of Sunagakure to have become so open-minded in the years since I last saw it!"

Danzo's retort sounded like mockery.

Hoshino Maki's expression didn't change. "If an old man with blood on his hands can become Hokage, why can't I become Kazekage?"

At that, Danzo's expression darkened instantly.

"This is an offer of cooperation, sir, not a request. You know better than I do how many unspeakable things Root has done over the years and how many people you've offended. It won't be easy to clear your name and win the support of most people."

"So what can you do for me?"

"War is the fastest way to make a hero."

Danzo began to laugh under his breath, and soon his laughter grew louder.

Hoshino Maki watched him laugh without the slightest change in his expression.

That's right. I came here to start a war.

Suddenly, Danzo's laughter stopped. His pupils gleamed with a murderous glint. "Do you think I'd let the village be dragged into a war?"

"A general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand soldiers. You're a shinobi who fought your way through the Ninja World War, so why ask me? If you aren't willing to be frank with me, I don't mind. I'm still young, after all."

Hoshino Maki lifted his teacup and took a sip, conveniently blocking Danzo's dark expression from view.

Silence fell over the room once more.

Hoshino Maki's words had struck his weak spot.

Sarutobi's prestige was growing by the day, and Minato was popular among the younger and middle-aged shinobi. Even someone like the Uchiha had people willing to rally behind them. But Danzo seemed to have been forgotten.

Had he sunk roots into the lightless earth only to be forgotten?

He had spent far too long abandoning his reputation, bleeding and sweating in corners where no one could see him. His longing for the sunlight was now strong enough to overpower reason and drive him to madness.

"Tell me your plan."

Danzo didn't say it outright, but Hoshino Maki understood that their cooperation had taken its first step.

"Within two months, Kumogakure will start a war against Konoha."

At that, Danzo's teacup trembled in his hand. Hot tea splashed onto the back of his hand, but he didn't notice. Their very first act of cooperation was this drastic? He hurriedly asked, "How could that be? How do you know?"

Seeing the other man's smile, an absurd idea flashed through his mind. The words slipped out before he could stop them. "You planned it?!"

Then he immediately rejected the idea himself. "Impossible! The Cloud Ninja wouldn't obey you."

"Of course the Cloud Ninja won't obey me. They don't need to. They only have to follow their instincts."

"I hate to admit it, but the Elder Council's greed accidentally led them to make a good move. Kumogakure is now suffering from an extreme shortage of supplies. Once their hatred of Konoha is stirred up, what do you think they'll do?"

The grudge between Konoha and Kumogakure could be traced back to the First Shinobi World War.

The Cloud Ninja, who were used to having everything go their way, were beaten badly enough to ask for peace talks. The Hawk Faction's Kinkaku and Ginkaku even abandoned Kumogakure's traditions. Instead of playing ball with their teammates, they took control of the ball themselves at a crucial moment. But they missed their chance to score the winning goal. Not only were they both sent off, but they took Second A down with them. Kumogakure lost three starters at once, and its elite forces suffered a devastating blow.

During the last Ninja World War, the Cloud Ninja hadn't directly participated in the three-nation conflict in the Land of Rain. They'd chosen instead to blow Ōnoki's chrysanthemums. But they hadn't given up infiltrating Konoha. Konoha was in dire straits at the time, and if Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't still been in his prime, the Cloud Ninja might really have rewritten history.

Unfortunately, the saddest thing about "what if" was that it was only a possibility.

The Cloud Ninja had left behind dozens of corpses as they retreated in a panic, while Konoha, the great tree, had stood tall through the storm.

Though the Cloud Ninja had been the ones to invade both times, invaders never reflected on their own actions. They only remembered how much blood their comrades had shed, and treated that hatred as nourishment, driving them to make their next invasion even more vicious and thorough.

But stirring the fury of all Kumogakure wasn't something that could be achieved with just any small incident.

Danzo couldn't think of anything Konoha had done that could enrage the entire Cloud Ninja village.

Hoshino Maki looked at Danzo's furrowed brow in surprise. "You didn't know? The news that Orochimaru attacked Fukai, the former Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and released the Eight-Tails has spread like wildfire among the Cloud Ninja. There are also merchants from the Land of Fire who took advantage of the Land of Lightning's financial troubles to sell supplies at a huge profit. Those two stories are the hottest topics in the Land of Lightning right now."

Danzo kept his face impassive, but his hand clenched beneath the table, veins bulging.

"Ryoma!"

At his furious shout, the door opened. A shinobi wearing a black cloak and dark sunglasses, with a purple mark on his right cheek, dropped to one knee.

"How long has it been since Kumogakure last sent back a report?"

"Five days."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Aburame Ryoma remained silent.

His informants had previously said that Kumogakure's security had suddenly tightened over the past few days and messages might not arrive on time.

He had already reported all of this to Danzo. Now Danzo had called him in to berate him. Either he'd forgotten, or he was just looking for an excuse to cover up his own mistake.

Neither possibility was something Ryoma could argue against.

Seeing the quiet atmosphere, Hoshino Maki spoke up. "Since things have come to this, Lord Danzo, you'd be better off thinking about what would benefit you most."

"I think that since a war is highly likely, we should prepare in advance. For example... you could take command."

Danzo looked at Hoshino Maki as though he were an idiot. "Do you want me dead?"

He didn't even know who would lead the opposing forces. If it were Third A or the AB Combo, then with his current body, he wouldn't stand a chance unless he used the Sharingan. But using the Sharingan would cause a lot of trouble.

After all, Kagami Uchiha hadn't seemed particularly willing when he'd "given" Danzo his Sharingan. It had been a passive, tacit, private gift—one that couldn't be spoken of.

Hoshino Maki spread his hands. "Sir, I'm only offering an idea. You know Konoha far better than I do. You're the one who knows how to steer the war in the direction you want."

Danzo thought for a moment, then narrowed his eye. "What do you want? Don't bring up becoming Kazekage. I don't have that kind of power right now."

The word "right now" was rather telling.

Hoshino Maki understood that Danzo had already accepted his proposal. How to carry it out was up to him.

"I'm curious about Konoha's forbidden books. I wonder if I could..."

Danzo shook his head. "You can't enter the forbidden books library. Tell me which one you want, and I can have a copy made for you."

"Flying Thunder God."

"No."

"The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu."

"I suggest you be more realistic."

Hoshino Maki drew a deep breath and furrowed his brow. "The Eight Inner Gates, then. Surely you can allow that, Lord Danzo? Our cooperation should be fair."

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

"Then I won't disturb you any longer."

Hoshino Maki stood and bowed slightly.

After Hoshino Maki disappeared, Danzo faced the doorway and asked in a calm voice that nonetheless carried the threat of thunder, "Orochimaru, is there something you'd like to tell me?"

A brown snake slithered out of the vase behind him, its tongue flicking. Then it transformed into a man.

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

"Worried, so you hid it from me? Orochimaru, you should know who's been supporting your research. Without me, you know what would happen to your research—and to you. I don't need to spell it out, do I?"

"Yes, sir."

Orochimaru said nothing more. He bowed respectfully to Danzo, then raised his head. "So, sir, are you really going to take part in the war against the Cloud Ninja?"

Danzo lowered his gaze. "If what he said is true, war between Konoha and the Cloud Ninja will be unavoidable. When that happens..."

"When that happens, Konoha will definitely be the one to initiate peace talks."

At Chiyo Mansion, Hoshino Maki's puppet was talking with Chiyo.

Xiao Mi made my morning miserable today, so this is a bit late.