The Schemes of Danzo

As Yuhi Kurenai finished speaking, the Hokage's office, which had been silent moments ago, erupted into chatter. The team leaders began whispering among themselves, debating the matter.

Only Danzo's expression was exceptionally grim.

Naturally suspicious and jealous of the talented, he had already begun to feel a trace of murderous intent toward Chiya.

And he had already found a reason to justify it.

For one thing, Chiya was involved with a young girl from the Uchiha Clan. Danzo seriously suspected that Chiya had secretly defected to the Uchiha Clan—or was even planning to marry into it.

For another, Chiya might well become a second Namikaze Minato.

The members of the Konoha F4 were all getting old. Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, might have reclaimed the Hokage Position, but he would step down in at most ten years—perhaps even seven or eight.

Then it would be time to elect the Fifth Hokage.

Given Chiya's talent, clean background, and admiration for Sarutobi Hiruzen, when Hiruzen reached the age where he had no choice but to step down, he might well groom Chiya as a second Namikaze Minato in order to hold on to power.

He would support Chiya's rise to the Fifth Hokage.

If Chiya gained Sarutobi Hiruzen's support, then the Ino-Shika-Cho families and the other clans that had traditionally supported the Hokage would surely answer the call.

And because of Chiya's relationship with a young girl from the Uchiha Clan, the Uchiha might also step forward and offer their support.

They had finally endured the Third Hokage's departure, only for Namikaze Minato to take power.

Then they had finally endured Namikaze Minato's death, only for the Third Hokage to return.

And if Chiya came along too...

The cycle would go on and on.

Wouldn't that mean Danzo-sama's own ascension to the Hokage Position would remain out of reach forever?

That was something he absolutely could not tolerate.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had no idea that Danzo had thought so far ahead in such a short time.

He was equally astonished by Chiya's progress, and couldn't help feeling a trace of wariness.

Then he remembered that Chiya wasn't a member of the Uchiha Clan and had no Kekkei Genkai. He came from a thoroughly ordinary background.

His potential was limited. At most, he would become another Kakashi or another Yuhi Shinku.

That put Hiruzen's mind at ease.

He exchanged glances with Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. The two nodded in silent understanding and were about to speak.

Danzo, watching from the side, grew anxious. He didn't want to give Chiya the chance to build up his reputation in Konoha.

So he immediately resorted to the same old trick he'd used against Uchiha Itachi.

Overpraise him until he fell.

While Chiya's worldview was still taking shape, Danzo would guide him a little.

Ideally, he could steer Chiya into darkness and gradually turn him into a member of Root.

Danzo spoke first. "Since Jonin Yuhi Kurenai believes Fujiwara Chiya already has strength comparable to a Jonin, I think he needn't take part in this Chunin Ninja Exam."

He turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Hiruzen, how about this? We, the leadership, can devise a special assessment for him. If he passes, he can be promoted directly to Chunin. What do you think?"

"That might work, but there hasn't been a precedent since the Chunin Ninja Exams began."

As usual, Sarutobi Hiruzen was indecisive.

But Danzo's suggestion undoubtedly matched what he had in mind.

The Uchiha Clan was becoming more and more troublesome.

The situation was even worse than it had been while Uchiha Shisui was alive.

If civil war broke out, it would be a disaster for Konoha.

That made sending another spy into the Uchiha Clan an urgent necessity.

"Someone has to set a precedent eventually, don't they? Just like Uchiha Itachi. Even in peacetime, he graduated from the Ninja Academy after only a year, and went on to become one of Konoha's mainstays."

When old foxes talked, every word was laced with calculation.

Danzo could tell Sarutobi Hiruzen was tempted. He'd deliberately brought up Uchiha Itachi to imply that he supported making Chiya a spy in the Uchiha Clan; all Hiruzen had to do was promote him to Chunin early.

"Koharu, Homura. What do you think?" Sarutobi Hiruzen had already agreed, but still made a show of asking the two Hokage Advisors for their opinions.

As usual, the two fence-sitters, who wavered between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo, naturally had no objections.

And so the matter was settled.

After leaving the Hokage Office Building, Yuhi Kurenai found the three of them and explained the arrangements for the Chunin Ninja Exams.

"That's the situation. Chiya, you don't need to take the Chunin Ninja Exams a month from now. In a few days, Lord Hokage will arrange a separate assessment for you. As for Airi and Pang Ci, Lord Hokage will assign them an experienced Genin to form a three-person team."

So, they're trying to overpraise me until I fall. Those old geezers are finally getting impatient. But that's exactly what I want. Now, every one of you will become a captive of my Kyoka Suigetsu. Chiya sneered inwardly.

Hearing this, Akizuki Airi pulled Chiya into her enormous, soft embrace and burst into tears. "Waaah... Chiya, I can't bear to part with you!"

After more than half a year together, the three of them had grown at least a little fond of one another. Chiya was usually cold and rarely spoke to them, but whenever it mattered, he was unexpectedly dependable, saving them from danger time and again.

Deep down, Akizuki Airi really liked this little boy, who was several years younger than her.

Of course, it was the kind of love between an older sister and a younger brother.

After all, in this dog-eat-dog world of Naruto, only a handful of people were hopeless romantics.

Most people were focused on staying alive, not thinking about romance all day.

Otherwise, they would have died hundreds of times over.

Feeling the girl's softness and faint fragrance, Chiya was both suffering and enjoying it. His old face couldn't help turning red.

Yuhi Kurenai, watching from the side, ground her teeth in anger.

She recalled the first time she'd met Chiya, when he'd confessed to her, and all the time they'd spent together over the past six months. Don't be angry. Don't be angry.

Suddenly, the air seemed to fill with the sour smell of jealousy.

Akimichi Pangci, meanwhile, kept playing the part of the spectator, shoveling handful after handful of potato chips into his mouth.

Noticing that something was off with Yuhi Kurenai, Chiya gave up enjoying himself and hurriedly slipped out of Airi's embrace. "Airi, you don't need to do that. It's not like we won't see each other again."

"Waaah... I still can't bear to part with you!"

Only when Yuhi Kurenai spoke did Airi finally end the farce. Then she suggested, "How about this? Once Chiya gets promoted to Chunin, we can all celebrate at our family's barbecue restaurant."

"Barbecue?" At that, Akimichi Pangci's eyes lit up. His round little eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Your family runs a barbecue restaurant?" Chiya asked, surprised.