But even knowing that Danzo would not launch an armed rebellion, Nawaki could never let him off easily this time.
Nawaki had long known about Sarutobi, Danzo, and the two advisors' plan to join forces and restrict his authority. That was why, during the last war, he had deliberately used Kirigakure's attack plan as an excuse to confront them, directly causing Sarutobi to resign in disgrace and step down as Hokage, leaving him unable to interfere in political affairs any longer.
With Sarutobi gone, the threat posed by the older generation of higher-ups had greatly diminished. Nawaki would not be nearly sidelined like Minato had been in the original story, but Danzo and the two advisors still formed a formidable force when united—one that remained a thorn in Nawaki's side.
During the time Nawaki and Orochimaru had been conducting cloning experiments together, the three had even joined forces to extend their reach throughout the entire Land of Fire, further strengthening Nawaki's resolve to eliminate the threat.
Of the three, the two advisors belonged to the civil official faction. Though they held high positions and great authority, they had no military power. If a true conflict broke out, Nawaki could suppress them with a wave of his hand. Danzo, however, was different. Root was an independent armed division, and he had the means to resist.
And when the three joined together, they had both money and manpower. Even Nawaki had to be wary of them.
Nawaki had always been secretly using the Will of the Forest to gradually win over and erode Root's influence. But ever since Danzo gained the support of the two advisors, Root had been expanding faster and faster, far outpacing Nawaki's efforts to undermine it. If this continued, things would eventually spiral out of control.
So Nawaki