"Is that Minato Namikaze?"
Beneath Kage Rock, in the open space before the Hokage Building, Shiraishi and Danzo stood in the shade of a tree at the edge of the square.
Ahead of them, on the steps by the entrance to the Hokage Building, a young blond man wore a humble, sunny smile as a group of young ninja enthusiastically surrounded him.
It looked less like colleagues meeting and more like a crowd of fans encountering their idol.
Danzo gave a slight nod in response to Shiraishi's question but said nothing.
Shiraishi stood to Danzo's right, holding an open paper bag in his left hand. It was filled with soft candies in assorted fruit flavors.
He had picked them up from a shop by the street while following Danzo to the Hokage Building. Danzo had paid.
Shiraishi pinched a green candy from the bag and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly. The sweet-and-sour taste of green apple made his eyes narrow with a foxlike grin.
Mm! Sweet and tangy—delicious!
"He's got good potential," Shiraishi commented.
Judging by a cultivator's standards, Minato Namikaze's potential was quite good, though still nowhere near as great as Shiraishi's in his previous life.
"If you reincarnate into his body, how confident are you?" Danzo asked calmly.
"One hundred percent." As he spoke, Shiraishi picked another candy and popped it into his mouth. This one was strawberry.
"Good." Danzo's lips curled slightly.
"However," Shiraishi continued, "Minato Namikaze is vigorous and brimming with vitality. After reincarnating, you'll need at least a year to master his body. During that time, you'll be in a daze, rarely fully conscious."
Danzo's lips, which had just begun to curl upward, quickly flattened. He turned to Shiraishi, displeasure in his eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. In the secret chamber, I only promised that the Reincarnation Technique would definitely succeed. I never said how long it would take." Shiraishi smiled as he reminded him.
"You!" Danzo was furious, but all his hopes of becoming Hokage now rested on Shiraishi. He didn't dare turn against him lightly, so he could only force down his anger and say, "A year is too long."
"Don't rush. There's still the Third Hokage, isn't there? Come on, let's take a closer look."
"Hiruzen!" Danzo said the name one word at a time. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes, but in the end, his resolve hardened.
"Put away your candy and wear the mask I gave you. Remember, from now on, you're my bodyguard."
"Understood." As he answered, Shiraishi folded the paper bag of candy shut and tucked it into the inner pocket of his shirt.
Shiraishi put on a Root mask and said playfully, "Shall we go, Lord Danzo?"
Danzo faced forward again and strode toward the Hokage Building.
Along the way, Danzo ignored Minato Namikaze standing by the entrance and the Konoha Ninja who greeted him. His face was frosty, and his whole demeanor warned people to keep their distance.
On the second floor, Danzo stopped in front of the Hokage Office door and glanced sideways at Shiraishi. Shiraishi blinked to show that he understood.
Seeing this, Danzo reached for the handle and pushed the door open.
"Hiruzen! I absolutely refuse to accept Iwagakure's insincere peace offer!" Danzo stormed into the room and marched up to the Third Hokage.
Shiraishi followed at an unhurried pace, closed the door, and leaned against the wall, watching the clash between Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi with interest.
Just as Shiraishi had predicted, the Third Hokage, already over fifty, had grown weak and frail after years of battle and the physical toll of ninja training. His health had begun to decline.
Against someone like him, Shiraishi could use his secret possession technique with ease, whether possessing Hiruzen himself or helping Danzo do so.
Of course, if Shiraishi prepared a formation in advance, helping Danzo possess Minato Namikaze downstairs and quickly master his body would also be effortless.
But why should Shiraishi do that?
Shiraishi had always believed in fair dealings. Since Danzo had provided a body with only average potential, the possession technique Shiraishi gave him would naturally be the most basic version.
Danzo had come here specifically to pick a fight, creating an opportunity for Shiraishi to observe Hiruzen up close. After berating the Third Hokage to his face, he left him with a final threat and prepared to turn away.
"Danzo, I'm the Hokage!" Hiruzen Sarutobi had been working peacefully in his office when Danzo suddenly barged in and berated him. Now, just as angry, he reminded Danzo sharply.
At those words, Danzo froze. Anger flashed across his face, but he quickly suppressed it.
Hiruzen! You brought this on yourself!
At that moment, Danzo felt no more guilt toward his old friend, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Danzo started forward again and quickly reached the door, motioning for Shiraishi to leave with him.
Without stopping, the two walked out of the Hokage Building and made their way to the Observation Deck above Kage Rock.
Standing by the railing, Danzo looked down at the village. Once more, his thoughts returned to decades ago, when Teacher Tobirama had led him and the others to Kumogakure for peace talks, only for them to encounter a revolt in the Hidden Cloud. Their teacher had asked who was willing to stay behind and cover their retreat.
Teacher Tobirama, you chose the wrong person!
"How is it?" Danzo asked, gathering his thoughts.
"With my help, you'll completely master the Third Hokage's body in just three days," Shiraishi answered honestly.
"Good! Tonight, I'll invite Hiruzen for a private talk. Then..." Danzo said coldly.
"Are you really sure you don't want to reconsider, Danzo? In your current spiritual state, you can only reincarnate once. Are you sure you want to waste this precious opportunity on a body as old and frail as yours?" Shiraishi's words sounded like a devil's whisper.
Danzo's resolve wavered, and a trace of hesitation crept into his heart.
Should he waste his one chance on Hiruzen Sarutobi's decrepit body, or reincarnate into a younger one and live another life?
A chance to be young again—a dream beyond the reach of so many—was now right before Danzo, within arm's reach!
"No need to think it over! I'm not looking to cling to life for another lifetime. I want to become Hokage of Konoha. I want to prove to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Teacher Tobirama that I'm the most qualified candidate."
"Under my leadership, Konoha will once again become the strongest in the Shinobi World!"
"I'll prove to everyone that I, Danzo, am the greatest Hokage in the world!"
Danzo looked at Shiraishi with an unwavering expression, a hint of fervor in his eyes.
"Even if you have to take on the Third Hokage's identity?"
"Even if I have to take on the Third Hokage's identity!" Danzo declared firmly.
Looking at Danzo, Shiraishi's face broke into a faint smile. He seemed to see the beggar he had supported in his previous life, the one who became the leader of a rebel army.
At that moment, Danzo really did have a certain charisma!
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