Danzo

Houka sat in the office recovering his chakra, a light sheen of sweat visible on his small face.

The attentive Yakushi Nonō gently wiped it clean for him, then stepped out, returning shortly with a fish on the verge of death.

At this moment, Houka opened his eyes, immediately feeling that this scene was very familiar.

In the original story, when Sakura learned medical ninjutsu from Tsunade, it seems there was a scene just like this.

"Houka, come, try to see if you can save this fish." Yakushi Nonō placed the fish in front of Houka.

Houka extended his hands, then looked at Yakushi Nonō, feeling a bit at a loss, and said aggrievedly, "Sister Nonō, give me a hint."

"Gather chakra in your hands."

Houka did as he was told.

"Close your eyes and feel the flow of chakra in your hands."

"Place your hands on the fish's belly and feel the cells inside the fish."

Yakushi Nonō guided Houka step by step, occasionally speaking up to correct his mistakes.

As the process continued, Yakushi Nonō's eyes brightened slightly.

Perhaps Houka truly had a pair of perfect hands; in any case, his control over his hands was exceptional, and he carried this feeling over when using medical ninjutsu. Soon, Houka sensed the cells inside the fish and, following Yakushi Nonō's instructions, stimulated these cells slightly to make them radiate vitality once more.

But...

BOOM!

Houka got too excited, his chakra instantly became chaotic, and he blew the fish to smithereens.

Houka opened his eyes, looking embarrassed.

The white coat of the Yakushi Nonō opposite him was already covered in fish scales, blood, and flesh.

"I am very sorry, Sister Nonō." A wise man knows when to retreat; Houka immediately apologized honestly.

Yakushi Nonō reached out and flicked Houka's forehead hard, telling him to be more careful next time.

After studying here for over half an hour, Yakushi Nonō had matters to attend to and had to leave, so Houka could only come back to ask for guidance another time.

"Take this money, and pay attention to your health when training taijutsu!"

Before leaving, Yakushi Nonō once again generously lent Houka a sum of money.

"Thank you, Sister Nonō!"

Holding the money, Houka became even more determined to change the fate of Yakushi Nonō.

Although doing so would easily put him at odds with that old schemer, Shimura Danzō.

But it was also exciting, wasn't it?

Having come to the world of the Hokage, wanting to live a plain and simple life was no different from seeking one's own death.

"I must become strong as quickly as possible, become stronger and stronger!"

After returning home, Houka trained frantically, even compressing his nightly sleep to four hours.

Refining chakra, practicing hand seals, training taijutsu, and now, he had to add the practice of medical ninjutsu!

A few days later, Houka went to Konoha Hospital again to find Yakushi Nonō to learn medical ninjutsu.

Yakushi Nonō had already told Houka all the basic knowledge of medical ninjutsu; the rest was practice. With Yakushi Nonō guiding him from the side, Houka's experience grew day by day. Half a month later, he was already able to successfully save fish on the verge of death. Afterward, Yakushi Nonō prepared chickens, ducks, and even small lambs for Houka to treat.

Late at night, in a secret underground base somewhere in Konoha, a man shrouded in shadows was staring gloomily at the woman kneeling before him.

This woman had long golden hair and wore round-rimmed glasses; it was none other than Yakushi Nonō.

"Nonō, what have you been doing lately?" the man in the shadows asked slowly. His words seemed gentle, but his tone was extremely cold and rigid, as if a venomous snake were coiled up, flicking its tongue and staring coldly at its target.

Yakushi Nonō knelt on the ground, head bowed, and said calmly, "Lord Danzō, I am lying low at Konoha Hospital, getting close to the princess of the Senju Clan, Lady Tsunade, to extract intelligence on the movements of the Senju Clan."

"Is that so?"

The man in the shadows took two steps forward, revealing his gaunt face. His eye bags were heavy, and his skin was loose, but the most striking feature was his chin, which bore two intersecting scars.

This person was the founder of Konoha's Root, Shimura Danzō, who was also one of the elder advisors of Konoha, holding a high and powerful position!

"The situation of the Senju Clan is already clear. Apart from their princess, Tsunade, the talents of the rest of the clan are all dull and incompetent, unable to shoulder heavy responsibilities. Their exit from the stage of Konoha is inevitable!" Danzō bent down, his eyes staring coldly at Yakushi Nonō like a wolf. "Moreover, because of the death of Dan Katō, Tsunade has developed hemophobia. Even if she is honored by the ninja world as one of the Sannin, such a Tsunade can only stop here; there is no need to pay attention to her!"

"Yes, Lord Danzō!" Yakushi Nonō dared not show the slightest defiance.

"I know that deep in your heart there is still kindness, so you will surely like the next mission!" Danzō's eyes narrowed, and he said coldly, "The Second Great Ninja War has ended, but the Land of Fire is still in turmoil. You are to take people and set out immediately to find orphans with talent and bring them back, do you understand!"

"Yes, Lord Danzō!"

Yakushi Nonō replied blankly. At this moment, she had none of the gentleness she showed in front of Houka; she was as cold as cold iron, having lost all emotion.

"Then, I won't go and trouble that child." A cruel smile curled at the corners of Danzō's mouth. "Set out!"

"Yes!" A trace of a tremor finally appeared in Yakushi Nonō's voice, but she still dared not defy Danzō's order.

A few minutes later, the figure of Yakushi Nonō had already disappeared.

"Someone!" Danzō suddenly barked.

In the next instant, a figure flashed at high speed in front of Danzo and knelt respectfully.

"Yes!" This person was dressed in Anbu attire, wearing a Hummingbird mask on his face.

"Go and investigate Uchiha Houka!"

"Yes!"

"Also, I have heard that another genius child has appeared in the Uchiha Clan, named Uchiha... Shisui!"

"I understand, Lord Danzo!" The ninja with the Hummingbird mask acknowledged the order and then vanished from the spot.

"Hehehe, the Uchiha Clan..."

Danzo had been deeply influenced by the Second Hokage, and he had never held any affection for the Uchiha Clan. Even toward his former teammate Kagami Uchiha, he had harbored a sense of resistance deep down, though he had hidden it well at the time. But now, as many things had changed, Danzo's mindset had finally shifted as well.

The Senju Clan was ultimately going to exit the stage of Konoha, and behind the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, only the Sarutobi Clan would remain!

A single hand cannot clap alone; at this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was at his weakest point in terms of controlling Konoha!

Danzo had to achieve great "merits" during this period to demonstrate his existence and to... compete for the position of Hokage!

Coupled with the historical origins of the Uchiha Clan, Danzo naturally set his sights on this clan for the sake of Konoha's stability and his own position as Hokage.

And besides...

"The Sharingan, such a powerful and heaven-defying Kekkei Genkai, is something I must obtain as well!"