Hiruzen, I Am the Hokage!

The Third Hokage had awakened; for everyone in the know, this was a cause for great celebration.

For Hiruzen Sarutobi, however, who had transmigrated into the body of Danzo within the Root base, it was a bolt from the blue!

I've awakened? Then who am I? And who is the one in the hospital room?

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up abruptly. "We are going to the Konoha Hospital, now."

"Understood!" Shiraishi, who had come to report the news, replied instantly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi practically bolted out of the room; he could no longer spare a thought for anything else. He only wanted to figure out exactly who the "himself" that had awakened in the hospital room really was.

Shiraishi followed behind him, and the two hurried all the way, quickly arriving at the top floor of the hospital.

"I want to see the Third Hokage!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shoved aside the Anbu ninja blocking his path and strode forward, charging into the hospital room.

Compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi's brute force, Shiraishi, who had followed as a guard, could not be so overbearing—especially since his provocation in the hallway three days ago had already incurred the dissatisfaction of the Anbu.

At this moment, he received special treatment; three Anbu ninjas blocked his way, their gazes scraping against him like blades.

"Fine, I won't go in." Shiraishi said with a smile, voluntarily stepping aside to lean against the wall, making a show of closing his eyes to rest.

Seeing this, the Anbu ninjas relaxed their vigilance slightly and returned to their respective positions.

But what they didn't know was that, under the cover of resting his eyes, Shiraishi's spiritual sense had already probed into the hospital room.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, having rushed into the room, was intercepted by Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. His gaze remained locked tightly onto "himself," who was sitting up in bed.

Danzo sat on the hospital bed, watching the suddenly intruding Hiruzen Sarutobi. The corners of his mouth curled up uncontrollably, his eyes filled with a faint mockery.

As their gazes met, a silent, earth-shattering collision erupted into invisible sparks under the watchful eye of Shiraishi's spiritual sense.

At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was absolutely certain that the one who had awakened in his own body was Danzo!

Likewise, Danzo was absolutely certain that Hiruzen Sarutobi had realized that the one resurrected in his body was him.

Neither of them spoke; at this moment, silence spoke louder than a thousand words.

Mitokado Homura's voice broke the stillness of the room. "Danzo, enough! What else are you trying to do? Hiruzen is the Hokage!"

Utatane Koharu followed up, "Danzo, don't be ridiculous! The peace talks are starting in three days; Hiruzen cannot afford any more trouble at this time."

Their persuasion felt like two sharp blades piercing Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart; he had never felt such helplessness and grievance.

He desperately wanted to tell them both that he was the real Hiruzen Sarutobi, that the one sitting on the bed was Danzo, and that this was all Danzo's conspiracy.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew very well that speaking while wearing Danzo's identity would convince no one.

Especially at this juncture, no one would believe him.

Hearing the two advisors, especially Mitokado Homura's remark that Hiruzen was the Hokage, the mockery in Danzo's eyes grew even more intense.

Hiruzen, you never thought this day would come, did you?

Danzo's mind flashed back to what Shiraishi had said to him in the early hours of the morning; he couldn't wait to show Hiruzen Sarutobi his status as the victor.

"Homura, Koharu, you two go out first. Let me have a private chat with Danzo."

Hearing this, the two looked at Danzo with concern.

Mitokado Homura said with care, "Hiruzen, your body is still very weak."

Danzo revealed a gentle smile and said in a calm tone, "I trust Danzo. No matter what, he has been our comrade-in-arms for decades. I believe he would never harm me."

After speaking, Danzo paused deliberately before looking back at Hiruzen Sarutobi, putting on a magnanimous air. "Right, Danzo?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's right hand, hidden in his long sleeve, clenched tight. He felt an indescribable rage rising from the depths of his heart, surging straight to his crown.

Danzo's direct provocation was like adding fuel to the fire, making Hiruzen Sarutobi's fury nearly impossible to contain.

"Yes, Hiruzen!" Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, enunciating every word.

The two advisors, unaware of the truth, felt that the situation had eased; after all, the dynamic between Danzo and Hiruzen had always been this way—one gentle, one cold.

"Danzo, have a good talk with Hiruzen. You made a grave mistake this time." Mitokado Homura walked to Danzo's side and warned him in a low voice.

"Danzo, think of the big picture," Utatane Koharu added in a low, soothing tone.

Once they finished speaking, they walked out of the hospital room and closed the door, signaling the Anbu to step back and leaving space for the two to talk.

Inside the room, only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo remained. Neither spoke first, simply staring at each other in silence, colliding in the invisible space between them.

After a stalemate of several seconds, Danzo, believing himself the victor, spoke up. "Danzo, do you have nothing you want to say to me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, slowly stepped forward to the bedside, leaned in close, and asked in a low, furious voice, "Danzo, what exactly are you trying to do?"

At this, Danzo wore an expression of surprise and confusion. "Danzo? Have you lost your mind? You are the one who is Danzo!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's entire body trembled—not from fear, but from rage.

"Danzo, do you know what you are doing? What kind of conspiracy are you plotting?" Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded again.

Danzo laughed triumphantly. "It seems you really are sick. Why don't you put down your work and stay here to recover properly? After all, didn't you say that the future belongs to the young?"

Danzo deliberately emphasized the last sentence; it was what Hiruzen Sarutobi had said to him in the Root base.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows knitted together, his gaze, laced with the thunder of his fury, falling heavily upon Danzo.

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

Danzo's smile grew increasingly joyful; not since he had parted ways with teacher Tobirama had he felt such happiness.

"That is hardly the tone one uses to ask a question," Danzo said with a smile.

The thousands of words Hiruzen Sarutobi had been holding back stalled in his throat. He looked at the Danzo before him, constantly trying to steady his own emotions.

He knew all too well that in the face of Danzo's schemes, and given the current situation, anger would solve absolutely nothing.

Even if only for the sake of the village, he could not afford to completely burn bridges with Danzo or resort to violence inside the hospital room right now.

After several dozen seconds of silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi gradually regained a measure of composure. He straightened his back and looked down at the Danzo who was controlling his body.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and spoke calmly: "Hiruzen, what is it you want to do?"

Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a smile. "It seems you have finally recovered your senses, Danzo."

Having gradually calmed down, Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to ignore Danzo's provocation. He stared at Danzo, roughly guessing what this fellow intended to do.

"Hiruzen, you cannot sabotage the peace talks between the village and the Hidden Stone. The village no longer has the strength to continue the war." For the sake of the village, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke up to persuade him.

Danzo stood up, his expression solemn as if he were performing some sacred ritual. He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with gravity and then spoke.

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

The moment those words left his lips, Danzo felt a sense of satisfaction he had never known before; decades of pent-up frustration vanished in an instant.

"You!" The composure Hiruzen Sarutobi had struggled to maintain was swallowed by rage. His entire body began to tremble, and he extended his right index finger, pointing shakily at the Danzo before him.

Danzo leaned forward slightly, a mocking smile on his face, and whispered: "Hiruzen, I am the Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt his head spin and his vision go dark. His body swayed, and he nearly fainted from the sheer fury of it all.