Understand What?! (Seeking recommendations, collections, powering up for love!)

Shimura Danzō, having spent a month on pins and needles, finally received news that put his mind at rest.

The intelligence regarding the appearance of Wood Release had not yet spread throughout Konoha.

"Have you found out who is spreading these rumors?" Shimura Danzō asked, his expression cold.

"My investigation reveals that this information seemed to flood all of Konoha within a single day. Furthermore, I have learned that the Media Bureau of the Police Force is preparing to print the news of the Wood Release's appearance as tomorrow's front-page headline."

"The Police Force!" The sound of Shimura Danzō gritting his teeth made his current state of mind perfectly clear.

Now it was essentially confirmed: the previous incident really was the work of the Police Force.

I never expected that after the Uchiha Clan changed their clan leader, they would become somewhat different—they've grown a bit of a brain.

Given their past style, they never would have thought to strike back like this.

It's a pity, but my experience in spreading rumors is something you lot could never hope to match.

"Pass down the order. Tell our men to cooperate with the Police Force in spreading the news about Wood Release. Specifically, emphasize the chemical reaction between the Sharingan and Wood Release, and leak a portion of the data from our previous laboratory experiments."

"Understood."

Shimura Danzō's goal was simple: dump the blame for both the Wood Release experiments and the Sharingan experiments onto the Uchiha Clan. That way, even if someone reported him for conducting those experiments, he could logically claim it was a frame-up by the Uchiha Clan.

This would successfully prevent him from falling into a passive position once again.

"You're still too green to fight me," Shimura Danzō said calmly, though he felt a sense of smugness in his heart.

Still, I should touch base with Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others to avoid that old geezer flying into a rage at me later.

Hmm, I should also make preparations regarding Orochimaru; if things go south, I'll have to sell him out.

Sacrificing you to protect myself.

Doing this is all for the sake of Konoha.

I trust you can all understand.

"Understand my ass!" Sarutobi Hiruzen roared furiously.

"What did you tell me back then? That you'd disclosed everything that needed to be disclosed? Believe it or not, that's up to you." As he spoke, he even mimicked the expression Shimura Danzō had worn at the time.

"Hiruzen, I did this for Konoha. The suppression of Wood Release by the Sharingan is very obvious. This discovery was made inadvertently; it wasn't intentional." Shimura Danzō explained in a rush.

He certainly couldn't let Sarutobi Hiruzen know that this was an experiment conducted to balance the Hashirama Cells within his own body.

He had no choice but to push the blame onto the original Wood Release experiments.

A flash of resolve crossed Shimura Danzō's eyes; there was nothing wrong with what he had done.

"What about you two?! Did you know about this!?" Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly turned his head to glare at Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, who were sitting to the side.

The two of them had been doing their work at the Administration Department perfectly fine until Shimura Danzō suddenly appeared and insisted they accompany him.

They thought there would be some juicy gossip to enjoy, but they never expected the fire to almost burn them as well.

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's furious state, and knowing they were truly ignorant of the matter, they certainly weren't about to plead for Shimura Danzō now, so they quickly spoke up to state their own lack of knowledge.

"Danzō, oh Danzō, you've really grown bold, haven't you? You even lied to me!" Sarutobi Hiruzen paced around Shimura Danzō.

"Hiruzen, I just explained it to you. This matter was supposed to be sealed away permanently, but after I finished talking with you last time and returned to the Root Base, I discovered that the laboratory had been destroyed and the experimental data leaked. When you look at it that way, it's not my responsibility," Shimura Danzō said, his tone carrying a hint of grievance.

"So it's my responsibility? I shouldn't have pulled you aside for a talk last time, is that what you mean?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said with biting sarcasm.

"Hiruzen, that's not what I meant! I..." Shimura Danzō tried to continue his explanation, but he was cut off before he could finish.

"Shut up! We aren't here to discuss whose fault it is, but how to resolve this!" Sarutobi Hiruzen first cut off Shimura Danzō's words, then took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

"Indeed, coveting the Kekkei Genkai of a clan within the village is a major taboo. We must make a decision with the utmost caution," Utatane Koharu said, echoing Sarutobi Hiruzen's sentiment.

"Since Danzō is already prepared to shift the blame onto the Uchiha Clan, my suggestion is: see it through to the end. Use this opportunity to completely destroy the Uchiha's reputation within the village, making it impossible for them to ever become Hokage." Mitokado Homura spoke up, agreeing with Shimura Danzō's approach.

It was true; no one would choose someone who coveted the Kekkei Genkai of other clans to be Hokage. After all, doing so easily leads to the exposure of a clan's foundational secrets.

Once core secrets are leaked, it's equivalent to being a person wearing the Emperor's new clothes in the Ninja World—all your intelligence is exposed, and others will have targeted methods to deal with you.

In the Ninja World, intelligence is a crucial factor.

Especially a ninja's personal intelligence, which is always guarded tightly.

All of this is done to increase the probability of survival in the Ninja World.

This move was nothing short of venomous; it was intended to completely sever the Uchiha Clan's hopes of ever becoming Hokage.

Mitokado Homura's proposal made Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes light up. Not bad. If they operated this way, Shimura Danzō would be saved, and the Uchiha would never become Hokage. It was a win-win.

"Homura, Koharu, you two take charge of this matter," Sarutobi Hiruzen began assigning tasks. "But remember, be cautious. Don't let anyone else find any loose ends."

"What about me?" Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen assign tasks to the other two while leaving him out, Shimura Danzō grew anxious.

"You go home and stay there!" At the mere mention of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen could no longer contain himself and roared at Shimura Danzō.

"Don't you even think about running anywhere!"

"You are forbidden from interfering in this matter! Do you understand!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's barrage of shouts left Shimura Danzō completely stunned.

"You have changed, Hiruzen."

"Do you no longer believe in my abilities?"

Ignoring Shimura Danzō, who was still wallowing in self-pity, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to the other two and instructed, "You must remember to be cautious in all things. Do not be like certain people—you understand what I mean, don't you?"

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura understood exactly what the Third Hokage meant; they could only offer awkward smiles and agree, promising they would act with absolute caution.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction. These two old classmates had yet to cause him any major trouble, unlike Shimura Danzō; they were far more reliable.

Utatane Koharu seemed to recall something then and suddenly said, "Hiruzen, about the Fourth Hokage..."

"Leave Minato to me. Just focus on doing your own jobs."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's confident demeanor gave the two of them some reassurance, and they rose to take their leave of the Third Hokage.

Shimura Danzō had no desire to remain either and prepared to depart, only to be called back by Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Danzō, you truly have nothing else hidden from me this time, do you?"

"Nothing. You already know everything I have done," Shimura Danzō replied in a muffled voice without looking back.

But I haven't mentioned what your student has done yet.

If he gets exposed by someone else, you, the Third Hokage, won't fare any better.

Shimura Danzō thought to himself.