Danzo's Overheating

Three days later.

The front lines of the battlefield.

The negotiation team led by Utatane Koharu finally arrived.

Konoha and Iwagakure engaged in fierce negotiations regarding the war, and Uchiha Aoba was fortunate enough to participate.

However, he was there only as a guard, watching from the back as a group of people turned red in the face arguing over trivial interests.

He could see it clearly.

Even though Iwagakure had conceded, Ōnoki was still deeply unwilling.

He even seemed to regret surrendering so quickly.

In the words of the other side, they had surrendered voluntarily to avoid further casualties and to maintain peace in the ninja world, so Konoha shouldn't demand such heavy reparations.

This was hardly the stature expected of the number one ninja village in the world.

What a high-sounding moral pedestal, what a grand and official excuse.

Uchiha Aoba found it laughable. If he were the one at the negotiating table, he wouldn't have bothered with Iwagakure; he would have flipped the table and kept fighting.

If there is no sincerity in negotiations, there is no point in continuing; it is a complete waste of time.

Yet, to Uchiha Aoba's surprise, faced with such shameless rhetoric from Ōnoki, Utatane Koharu actually agreed to their demands after a series of "careful deliberations."

Was she blinded by the hollow reputation of being the number one ninja village?

Or was it simply senility?

How could Sarutobi Hiruzen agree to such a decision? Did the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire have no objections?

Just when Uchiha Aoba thought Utatane Koharu had reached the limit of her absurdity, the move that truly left him breathless was yet to come.

When the negotiations concluded, Konoha, as the victor, not only failed to receive any war reparations but also took the initiative to propose an alliance with Iwagakure, claiming it was to preserve the hard-won peace of the ninja world.

After the Iwagakure delegation departed, the group learned from Utatane Koharu that these were actually the wishes of Sarutobi Hiruzen, and they had been approved by the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire.

Uchiha Aoba could only say it was laughable.

A victor acting as humbly as the defeated—he had never been so speechless.

But none of this had anything to do with Uchiha Aoba anymore.

As the negotiations ended, he followed Namikaze Minato back to Konoha.

Looking at the villagers lining the gates to welcome them, Uchiha Aoba wondered to himself what their reaction would be once they learned the outcome of the negotiations.

It was highly likely that these easily fooled villagers would express "understanding" for Sarutobi Hiruzen's "difficult position."

After successfully returning to the village.

He had intended to say goodbye to Namikaze Minato and go home as usual, but to his surprise, he was taken along by him and Jiraiya to meet with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Hokage Office.

"Old man."

"Lord Third."

"Lord Hokage."

Three different forms of address, indirectly indicating their respective levels of closeness to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Yet, they reached a consensus on one aspect.

They all simultaneously ignored the man standing in the corner, radiating a gloomy aura: Shimura Danzō.

Namikaze Minato had actually wanted to greet him, but seeing Jiraiya act as if he didn't see him, he, as a student, naturally made the same choice.

This undoubtedly stirred Shimura Danzō's dissatisfaction, and he gripped his cane in annoyance.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt helpless about this.

He knew very well how unpopular his old friend was; no one would take the initiative to approach him.

So, he simply acted as if he hadn't noticed this actually quite rude behavior.

He smiled at the three people before him and said, "You have all worked hard during this war with Iwagakure."

"Enough, old man, there's no need for these pleasantries."

Jiraiya wouldn't stand on ceremony with Sarutobi Hiruzen, stating bluntly, "This war had me running to Sunagakure to support Orochimaru, then to Iwagakure to serve as the front-line commander; it has truly worn me out."

"I'll say this first: don't arrange any more missions for me for a while. I need a good rest."

"That goes without saying."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded quickly.

"You can rest as long as you like. I guarantee that unless there is something of vital importance, I will never disturb you."

Jiraiya was satisfied, then pulled Uchiha Aoba forward and said, "Old man, you really need to reward this kid properly. If it weren't for him, our war with Iwagakure wouldn't have ended so quickly."

"Besides, Aoba is now Minato's student, so by seniority, you are his direct elder. You shouldn't be stingy with your own people."

"If you ask me, why not just take out the Sealing Scroll and let him pick one or two ninjutsu from it?"

Seeing Jiraiya speak up to request a reward for Uchiha Aoba, Namikaze Minato remained silent, merely watching with a smile; however, his attitude made everything clear.

Sarutobi Hiruzen saw it all, and his heart was filled with joy.

Was this not exactly the scene he had hoped to see most after learning that Uchiha Aoba had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan?

Did this also mean that the worry in his heart was purely baseless anxiety?

To have Jiraiya take the initiative to ask for a reward and acknowledge this bond of master and student.

Although Namikaze Minato did not speak, his expression was one of agreement.

Based on his understanding of these two, if Uchiha Aoba were not walking on the correct path, they could not possibly have this attitude, so Sarutobi Hiruzen would not refuse, nor could he refuse Jiraiya's proposal.

However, just as he was about to agree to let Uchiha Aoba choose a ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals.

Shimura Danzō, who had been standing to the side with a gloomy face, finally could not hold back and spoke up, interrupting the harmonious and pleasant atmosphere in the Hokage Office.

"No! I do not agree!"

"Danzō!"

The smile on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face stiffened, and he said irritably, "If you have nothing to do, go back and sleep."

He was terrified that the man would say something earth-shattering.

After all, Uchiha Aoba was still in the office, and he did not want his Hokage Office to need renovations.

Besides, they were a lineage of teacher, student, grand-student, and great-grand-student discussing rewards in a friendly atmosphere; what place did an outsider like Shimura Danzō have to speak?

He had absolutely no sense of the situation.

However, Shimura Danzō clearly did not realize this and eagerly tried to speak again: "Hiruzen, listen to me!"

"I don't want to hear you speak right now!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen raised a hand to cut him off, frowning, "I have only one request right now: please leave."

"..."

Shimura Danzō was left speechless, his face flushed red with anger.

Someone was overheating.

Uchiha Aoba wore a smile at the corners of his mouth, a hint of anticipation hidden in his eyes, waiting for the man to utter that famous quote.

Who would have known that this time, Shimura Danzō did not say a word and simply left in a fit of rage.

Disappointing.

Truly disappointing.

What happened to the promised 'You are the shadow, I am the one who repents'?

Uchiha Aoba naturally did not know that this very scene had played out in the office just a few days prior.

He could only regret not witnessing it with his own eyes.

What a missed opportunity.