Sarutobi Hiruzen wore a warm, kindly smile as he chuckled. "I'm sure you know just how spectacular the war in the Land of Rain was!"
Shimura Danzo nodded without hesitation. "Of course I do. I have to say, your student Tsunade truly has the bearing of a great commander! She knows how to read the situation and weigh the pros and cons. Someone like her is more than qualified to serve as a deputy!"
As he spoke, he made no effort to hold back, openly voicing his assessment in front of everyone present.
Shimura Danzo went on to share his thoughts. "I've also heard that Jiraiya and Orochimaru performed admirably in that protracted campaign. I have no objections to either of them. However..."
At that, he abruptly changed tack and fixed Sarutobi Hiruzen with a piercing stare. "As for that kid from the Uchiha Clan, Hiruzen, what exactly do you mean by this?"
Shimura Danzo did not yet have Root as a source of intelligence, so he knew far less than Sarutobi Hiruzen.
For that reason, he still firmly believed that the victory had been won because Sarutobi Hiruzen's three beloved students had personally led the troops into battle.
Faced with Shimura Danzo's aggressive questioning, the three young ones standing nearby instantly flared with anger.
Tsunade, with her frank and fiery temperament, especially couldn't hold back. She was just about to snap back when she caught Sarutobi Hiruzen's stern look.
Despite her reluctance, Tsunade swallowed the words that had been on the tip of her tongue.
Uchiha Kō gently stroked Tsunade's waterfall of silky hair, his movements soft and tender, as if soothing a startled kitten.
His fingers glided lightly through her hair, carrying a reassuring warmth as he signaled for her not to get worked up and to stay calm.
As for Uchiha Kō, he remained completely composed, watching everything unfold with a placid expression, as if the commotion and tension around him had nothing to do with him.
His calm demeanor made him seem like an uninvolved observer, quietly watching the situation develop.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, seated nearby, took in the whole scene. He nodded faintly in approval, his admiration for Uchiha Kō growing all the while.
To remain so calm and collected amid such a complicated situation, handling it all without a hint of disorder—this young man truly was a rare talent!
Smiling broadly, Sarutobi Hiruzen reached out and pulled Danzo down beside him. Then he waved Uchiha Kō over and called warmly, "Uchiha Kō, come over here."
At Lord Hokage's summons, Uchiha Kō nodded without hesitation and walked toward Sarutobi Hiruzen with steady steps.
When he came closer, Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile grew even wider. Turning to Danzo, he said, "Danzo, did you know that the brilliant plans used in the war in the Land of Rain—the protracted-war strategy, cutting off the enemy's supplies, and the surprise attack on Rainy Clearing—all came from Uchiha Kō?"
Shimura Danzo, who had been somewhat distracted, jolted in surprise and sat bolt upright. His eyes widened as he stared at Uchiha Kō, disbelief and shock written all over his face.
Still, if Sarutobi had said it, it had to be true. With that in mind, Danzo took another look at the seemingly ordinary young man who clearly had more to him than met the eye.
What he couldn't understand was this: if Uchiha Kō had come up with all those plans, why hadn't he taken credit for them? Instead, he had given the credit to Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru.
Could he be plotting something? Danzo's gaze turned cold again as he glanced at Uchiha Kō. Noticing this, Uchiha Kō smiled faintly and nodded in reply, which irritated Danzo.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was curious, too. "Kō, tell us—why didn't you want to take credit?"
At that, Danzo looked at Uchiha Kō as well. Those eyes of his were as accurate as a measuring stick; he could tell at a glance whether someone was lying!
So, you wicked Uchiha brat, if you dare lie, I'll grind your bones to dust!
His gaze grew icy, and the corners of his mouth lifted, as though the person standing before him were a criminal rather than an ally.
"Danzo! Watch your eyes!" Sarutobi Hiruzen thought, exasperated. Why did his old friend always lose control of himself whenever he saw someone from the Uchiha Clan? What had the Uchiha ever done to him?
Uchiha Kō smiled faintly. So this really was Danzo. He sighed. "First, Lady Tsunade saved me after I had just awakened my Sharingan, during Lord Hokage's speech before the war."
"Later, Lady Mito also looked after me. At the time, I had some disagreements with the Uchiha Clan, and I didn't want to draw attention to myself, so I gave most of the credit to Lady Tsunade. She needed it more than I did."
"As for Lord Orochimaru and Lord Jiraiya, they put the strategies I suggested into practice thanks to their own skill at leading troops. So the credit belongs to them. I only made a few suggestions," Uchiha Kō said calmly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. What a good kid. A pillar of Konoha, and, most importantly, someone who knew when to advance and when to hold back, who cared not for fame but only for making a contribution.
Shimura Danzo was taken aback. Uchiha Kō seemed to be telling the truth. His expression and tone were perfectly calm, as if he were talking about something trivial.
Danzo was sure Uchiha Kō wasn't lying, and that he truly didn't care about the credit, just as he'd said. Danzo couldn't help wondering: if it had been him, he never would have given away the credit. He would have loudly proclaimed what he'd done.
Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed heartily. "Kō, your strategic genius is peerless throughout history! Looking back over the entire history of the Ninja World, no one has been better at leading and deploying troops!" Sarutobi Hiruzen praised him sincerely.
"I'm not worthy of that praise, Lord Hokage. Uchiha Kō will always be Konoha's Uchiha Kō, and will always stand by your side." Uchiha Kō took the opportunity to declare his loyalty, making Sarutobi Hiruzen even happier.
Shimura Danzo snorted and turned away. He had to admit that this Uchiha brat had some ability!
Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to Danzo. "My old friend, what do you think? Can Kō serve as your deputy?" His voice carried a teasing note.
Shimura Danzo choked for a moment. "Well, I suppose he'll do."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, then turned to Uchiha Kō. "Kō, in this war against Sunagakure, I hope you'll offer my old friend advice, just as you did in the war against the Rain Shinobi."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was calm. He had made his intentions clear: he wanted Uchiha Kō to help his good friend build up his record.
Shimura Danzo looked over, too. He knew Uchiha Kō was talented, and he also knew his old friend was trying to help him. He couldn't help feeling moved.
Uchiha Kō considered the current situation, then nodded. "I'll do my best to assist Lord Danzo."
Shimura Danzo was still the younger Danzo of this period, not yet the ruthless man he would become, with his eye-stealing and transplanting. For political reasons, the protagonist is helping him. I hope everyone won't get too worked up; every book has its own perspective.
Before you continue