Hiruzen, I'm the Hokage!

The Third Hokage had awakened. For everyone who knew about it, this was wonderful news.

But for Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been reincarnated into Danzo's body at the Root Base, it was like a bolt from the blue!

I'm awake? Then who am I? And who's the person in the hospital room?

Hiruzen Sarutobi sprang to his feet. "We're going to Konoha Hospital. Now."

"Yes!" Shiraishi, who had come to report the news, answered.

Hiruzen Sarutobi practically charged out of the room. He couldn't spare a thought for anything else. All he wanted was to find out who the person who had awakened in the hospital room really was.

Shiraishi followed close behind. The two hurried all the way to the top floor of the hospital.

"I want to see the Third Hokage!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shoved aside the Anbu Ninja blocking his way and strode into the hospital room.

Unlike Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had barged in without a care, Shiraishi, accompanying him as a guard, couldn't be so overbearing. His provocation in the hallway three days earlier had already earned him the Anbu Ninja's displeasure.

Now he received special treatment: three Anbu Ninja blocked his way, their gazes raking over him like blades.

"Sure, I won't go in," Shiraishi said with a smile. He stepped aside of his own accord, leaned against the wall, and pretended to close his eyes and rest.

Seeing this, the Anbu Ninja relaxed their guard a little and returned to their posts.

But they didn't know that, shielded by his feigned rest, Shiraishi had already sent his spiritual sense into the hospital room.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rushed into the room, where Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stopped him. His gaze fixed on the "himself" sitting propped up in bed.

Danzo sat on the hospital bed. Watching Hiruzen Sarutobi burst in, the corners of his mouth lifted uncontrollably, and his eyes held a faint trace of mockery.

Their gazes met. Under Shiraishi's watchful spiritual sense, an earth-shattering collision went unnoticed by everyone else, sending invisible sparks flying.

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

Likewise, Danzo was certain that Hiruzen Sarutobi had realized the person revived in his body was himself.

Neither spoke. Their silence said more than a thousand words.

Mitokado Homura broke the quiet in the room. "Danzo, enough! What are you trying to do? Hiruzen is the Hokage!"

Utatane Koharu chimed in. "Danzo, don't make trouble! The peace talks begin in three days. Hiruzen can't have anything else happen to him now."

Their words felt like two sharp blades piercing Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart. He had never felt so helpless and wronged.

He wanted to tell them both that he was Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the person sitting on the bed was Danzo. This was all part of Danzo's scheme.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi knew all too well that no one would believe him if he spoke while wearing Danzo's identity.

Especially at a time like this. No one would believe him.

Hearing the two advisors' words—and Mitokado Homura's assertion that Hiruzen was the Hokage in particular—only deepened the mockery in Danzo's eyes.

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

Danzo recalled what Shiraishi had told him in the early hours of the morning. He could hardly wait to show Hiruzen Sarutobi that he was the victor.

"Homura, Koharu, please step outside. Let me talk to Danzo alone."

The two exchanged worried looks at Danzo's words.

Mitokado Homura said with concern, "Hiruzen, you're still very weak."

Danzo gave them a warm smile and spoke in an even tone. "I trust Danzo. No matter what, he's been our comrade for decades. I'm sure he'd never hurt me."

After speaking, Danzo deliberately paused before turning back to Hiruzen Sarutobi and putting on a magnanimous air. "Right, Danzo?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi clenched his right hand beneath his long sleeve. An indescribable fury welled up inside him and shot straight to his head.

Danzo's blatant provocation only added fuel to the fire, making Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger almost impossible to contain.

"Yes, Hiruzen!" Hiruzen Sarutobi answered, each word deliberate.

The two advisors, unaware of the truth, actually felt that things were calming down. After all, Danzo and Hiruzen had always been like this: one gentle, the other cold.

"Danzo, talk things through with Hiruzen. You've made a serious mistake this time," Mitokado Homura said, stepping beside Danzo to warn him quietly.

"Danzo, think of the greater good," Utatane Koharu murmured reassuringly.

After speaking, they left the room and closed the door. They signaled for the Anbu to move back, giving the two of them space to talk.

Only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo remained in the room. Neither spoke first. They simply met each other's gaze, clashing in silence.

After several seconds of stalemate, Danzo, convinced he was the victor, spoke. "Danzo, don't you have anything to say to me?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and slowly stepped closer to the bed. Leaning in, he demanded in a low voice, his face full of fury, "Danzo, what are you trying to do?"

Danzo put on a look of surprise and confusion. "Danzo? Have you lost your mind? You're Danzo!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi trembled all over—not with fear, but with anger.

"Danzo, do you know what you're doing? What are you plotting?" Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded again.

Danzo laughed smugly. "It seems you really are ill. Why not put down your work and come here to recuperate? After all, didn't you say the future belongs to the young?"

Danzo put special emphasis on the last sentence. It was what Hiruzen Sarutobi had said to him in the secret passage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows drew together. Fury flashed in his eyes as he glared at Danzo.

"What are you trying to do?"

Danzo's smile widened. Ever since parting ways with Teacher Tobirama, he had never been this happy.

"That's no way to ask a question," Danzo said with a smile.

The countless words on Hiruzen Sarutobi's tongue caught in his throat. He looked at Danzo before forcing himself to calm down.

He knew all too well that anger would solve nothing in the face of Danzo's scheme.

Even if only for the village's sake, he couldn't completely fall out with Danzo and start fighting him in the hospital room.

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for several dozen seconds, gradually regaining some of his composure. He straightened up and looked down at Danzo, who was controlling his body.

After taking a deep breath, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke calmly. "Hiruzen, what are you trying to do?"

Danzo smiled at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Looks like you've finally pulled yourself together, Danzo."

Now that he had gradually calmed down, Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored Danzo's goading. He stared at him, more or less guessing what the man was planning.

"Hiruzen, you can't sabotage the village's peace talks with Iwagakure. The village can't keep fighting this war," Hiruzen Sarutobi urged, for the village's sake.

Danzo stood up, his expression solemn, as if taking part in some sacred ceremony. He stared gravely at Hiruzen Sarutobi, then spoke.

"Danzo, I'm the Hokage!"

The moment those words left Danzo's mouth, he felt more elated than ever. Decades of pent-up resentment vanished in an instant.

"You!" The anger swallowed most of the composure Hiruzen Sarutobi had fought so hard to maintain. Trembling with rage, he raised his right hand and pointed at Danzo.

Danzo leaned forward slightly, a mocking smile on his face. He spoke softly. "Hiruzen, I'm the Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt his head spin and his vision go dark. His body swayed, and he nearly fainted from rage.