"Lord Danzō, you have your way of doing things, and my teacher has his. It cannot be said that one must be right and the other must be wrong. People are simply like that. But in my view, my teacher's way is the closest to the First's. Certainly, my teacher can sometimes seem overly merciful, but that is precisely the embodiment of his pursuit of light and the true Will of Fire."
Ueno Kei spoke calmly.
"As for your methods, Lord Danzō, I cannot fully agree with them. I would not dare say that your way is wrong, but I believe more in my teacher's path, and I will follow him for the sake of his ideals."
"Hmph!" As Shimura Danzō listened to Ueno Kei's words, his expression darkened. He gave a cold snort, murderous intent gathering around him as the pressure he exuded grew heavier and heavier, his aura steadily rising.
Danzō had never expected Ueno Kei to deny his ideals to his face. It was something he absolutely could not accept.
"So you believe Sarutobi's weak approach is truly suited to Konoha?" Danzō asked, brimming with killing intent. Even his gaze had turned exceedingly gloomy.
Ueno Kei met Danzō's eyes without fear. His sharp gaze did not retreat in the slightest. This was a matter of ideals and position; there was no way he could back down.
Besides, Ueno Kei himself was not someone who liked to retreat.
The consequences of angering Danzō were severe? So what? Ueno Kei was eighty percent certain that Danzō would never make a move against him at this particular time. He had that confidence. Especially after that incident, Danzō always seemed somewhat weaker in presence whenever he faced the Third Hokage.
Of course, eighty percent was not absolute certainty, so Ueno Kei