Danzo: "What did you say?"

The front line between Konoha and Sunagakure.

The one commanding operations here is none other than Danzō, leader of Konoha's Root.

He does not understand why everyone is debating whether Orochimaru or Minato Namikaze should become the next Hokage.

What about him?

He, Shimura Danzō, is also a formidable contender with his eyes set on the Hokage position.

As news of Minato's numerous military achievements poured in, this man, who had aspired to be Hokage since the first year of Konoha, grew anxious.

And in his anxiety...

A small accident occurred.

The battle between Konoha and Sunagakure collapsed entirely.

Sunagakure, the weakest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, had beaten Danzō into a state of constant retreat.

The current campaign is the defense of Kikyo Pass.

Kikyo Pass is located in the hinterlands of the Land of Fire, right at the heart of the nation. If this place were to be captured by Sunagakure, they would be only one step away from Konoha.

In other words, the enemy has reached Konoha's doorstep.

Not only is Danzō bewildered and Hiruzen Sarutobi bewildered, but the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, is even more bewildered; he never imagined that Sunagakure could push all the way to the outskirts of Konoha.

Rasa is also feeling incredibly bold, having achieved what no previous Kazekage could.

If things go well, he might even be able to take a commemorative photo on the Hokage Rock.

Ever since Zhengyi tricked Hiruzen Sarutobi in the office that day, he has been feeling a bit uneasy.

Killing Sarutobi Hayate, reminding Orochimaru to vie for the Hokage seat, helping Orochimaru seize the Hokage seat...

Most importantly, he heard that ever since that day, Hiruzen Sarutobi has been sleeping in the Hokage Building and hasn't returned home; the couple had a falling out.

Clearly, Hiruzen Sarutobi's choice at the time was not firm.

Zhengyi is terrified that Hiruzen Sarutobi will make things difficult for him, perhaps assigning him an S-rank mission to assassinate the Raikage, with no permission to return to Konoha unless he completes it.

As it happened, Dai was arranged to return from the front lines for rest.

After Zhengyi hired him to be the manager of his gym, he applied to head to the front lines to escape.

The front line of Kumogakure is where most of Orochimaru's old subordinates are; Hiruzen Sarutobi would never let him go there.

So, after obtaining Orochimaru's consent, Zhengyi ran off to join Danzō.

No one can stop an angry Hiruzen Sarutobi, except for Danzō.

In less than a day, Zhengyi arrived at Danzō's camp. He was a bit puzzled as to why it was so fast, but after checking the map, he realized—isn't this Kikyo Pass?

Inside Danzō's tent.

"You say you offended the Monkey, so you came to me for protection?" Danzō knows Zhengyi.

He, as the leader of Root, is crystal clear about the affairs in the Land of Lightning.

In the past, Orochimaru often had Zhengyi deliver human research results to Danzō.

The Hashirama Cells the two of them researched a while back were all obtained by a pre-awakened Zhengyi, who had run off to dig up the First Hokage's coffin.

"Yes..." Zhengyi explained how he had offended Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Oh? He hesitated when choosing between saving me or Biwako if we both fell into the water." Danzō kept a straight face, though he actually wanted to laugh. But whenever he thought about Hiruzen, who was always wallowing in romantic sentimentality, becoming Hokage, he felt a surge of irritation.

"Hmph, this Monkey is truly narrow-minded. I don't know what the First Hokage ever saw in him."

He slammed his hand on the table.

Teacher Tobirama treated all his students equally, but the First Hokage always loved to take the Monkey everywhere. It stands to reason that when the teacher made his final decision on the Hokage, he largely considered the First Hokage's judgment.

He refuses to accept it!

Therefore, he inherited the teacher's will and lived his life by it, forming a sharp contrast with the Monkey who inherited the First Hokage's will.

But the Monkey, in the end, lacks the First Hokage's breadth of mind!

The Monkey wants to make things difficult for someone?

He, Shimura Danzō, will protect them!

"Rest assured, with me here, the Monkey cannot touch you." Danzō is boasting, at least to some extent.

"Uncle Danzō, you are a good man. I'll treat you to some protein powder."

"Uh." Danzō had been wondering what those bottles and jars Zhengyi had hauled over on a small cart were; so it was protein powder.

Protein powder is currently a hard currency in Konoha, difficult to obtain even with money; it can practically be used as legal tender.

This brat is actually quite generous.

"How has Orochimaru been lately?" Danzō accepted the items, but he would have to let his subordinates drink it for a few days before he would dare to touch it himself.

"The Third Hokage said he intends to pass the position of Hokage to Teacher, and Teacher is currently working in his office."

Zhengyi locked eyes with Danzo, and Danzo locked eyes with Zhengyi.

In this moment, the two of them reached a certain consensus.

Orochimaru had been deceived.

Danzo was a man who cared only for profit; unless the prize was already within his reach, he would never lift a finger.

Looking at the situation from the outside.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had merely dangled a carrot in front of Orochimaru while piling on the workload.

Orochimaru had gained absolutely nothing in terms of influence or supporters under his command.

"Fool, Orochimaru is a fool who belongs in a museum!!"

Danzo felt a sense of frustration at his inability to mold him; what exactly was Orochimaru trying to do? Was he yearning for the light?

In his dreams!

A stinking snake in the gutter should not delude itself into thinking it can return to the shore by being picked up by others!

Orochimaru should be doing exactly what he was doing! Returning to the shore through force and through schemes!!

"Orochimaru has already become immersed in the phantasmagorical dream the Third has woven for him."

"It seems that on the path to overthrowing the Third's regime, I am the only one left."

Previously, his own influence combined with Orochimaru's could have leveraged this Ninja War to topple the monkey.

What a pity...

"Uncle Danzo, you still have me." Zhengyi extended the back of his hand toward Danzo, signaling for him to place his hand on top so they could cheer each other on.

Danzo: "..."

A person like Zhengyi should not be in their ranks.

This guy lacked darkness in his heart.

"Earn my approval first, then we shall see." Danzo put on that expression again, as if someone owed him tens of millions of ryo.

"My Root does not lack the assistance of a mere Chunin like you."

After leaving the protein powder behind, Danzo had someone show him the door.

"Two fools who belong in a museum." Zhengyi was escorted out of Danzo's command tent.

He couldn't even bear to look.

No wonder Hiruzen Sarutobi sat firmly as Hokage for decades; it turned out his opponents were just too incompetent.

One would swallow any empty promise dangled in front of him.

The other was even more ridiculous; he had let Sunagakure push the defensive line right to their doorstep, just one step away from a battle for the defense of Konoha.

The worst part was that neither of them would listen to reason.

"My Root does not lack the assistance of a mere Chunin like you." Zhengyi mimicked him in a sarcastic tone.

What was wrong with being a Chunin?

Acting as if he could look down on a Chunin.

Uniting all forces that can be united—did he not understand the weight of that phrase?

He deserved to be the scapegoat for a lifetime.

"What did you say?" Danzo happened to be coming out, heading to the front lines to oversee the battle.

"I said the enemy is still on the move."