Different Paths

"Danzo, the Kurama Clan matter ends here! You are absolutely forbidden from interfering. I order you, in my capacity as Third Hokage!" the Third Hokage said, his tone extremely firm.

Shimura Danzō's one visible eye narrowed slightly. He looked at the Third Hokage, whose expression was resolute, but said nothing. He simply turned around slowly.

"Hmph, Hiruzen. I hope you won't regret this one day!" As soon as he finished speaking, Shimura Danzō's figure disappeared into the shadows of the room.

Watching Shimura Danzō's figure slowly fade from sight, the Third Hokage furrowed his brow slightly. He knew exactly what kind of man his old friend was.

It seemed as though he had given up for now, but the Third Hokage knew perfectly well that he had only said those things because Hiruzen was Hokage. If an opportunity arose, the Kurama Clan would...

The Third Hokage shook his head helplessly. Never mind; he could deal with the future when it came. Besides, this matter hadn't caused much of a stir, so it would be relatively easy to handle. Otherwise, no matter how much Shimura Danzō respected the Third Hokage's position, he wouldn't have given up so easily. The Uchiha incident was clear proof of that.

"The Uchiha, the Hyuga, the Kurama... Sigh. First, Second Hokage..." The Third Hokage sank into his memories.

"Minato, I'm an old man with one foot in the grave. You, in the end, still..."

Meanwhile, after leaving the Hokage Office Building, Shimura Danzō went straight back to Root's headquarters. In truth, Root in Konoha had been directly separated from the Konoha Anbu.

It hadn't existed before the Second Hokage's time. Shimura Danzō had founded it himself: an organization operating outside Konoha's forces, answering not to the Hokage but only to Shimura Danzō.

Its members were more extreme and cold-hearted than those of the Hokage's Anbu. To better control Root, Shimura Danzō had selected its members from childhood and brainwashed them.

He had also placed Sealing Jutsu on Root's members to ensure his complete control over them. If the Third Hokage hadn't turned a blind eye to this, and if the Third Hokage's other two teammates hadn't condoned Danzō's actions, things wouldn't have reached this point.

And just as the Third Hokage had expected, Shimura Danzō hadn't abandoned his resolve just because of a few simple words from him. He had merely adjusted his plans slightly.

Sure enough, as soon as he returned to Root, Shimura Danzō immediately summoned its senior officers to his room.

Several people dressed in standard Konoha Anbu uniforms received Danzō's order and hurried over at once. Each immediately dropped to one knee.

"Greetings, Lord Danzō," they said solemnly, bowing to Shimura Danzō, who sat at the head of the room.

Shimura Danzō's one visible eye narrowed slightly. "Withdraw the people we sent out and abandon the original plan. But keep a close eye on the Kurama Clan. If anything happens, hm? You..."

"Yes, we understand!" the Root members in the room replied in unison, their voices solemn.

"Good. Also, call off the surveillance on that brat. Hmph, since Sarutobi has gotten involved, we'll leave it at that for now."

"Yes!"

"Then I'll wait, Sarutobi. I'll wait for that day to come!" Shimura Danzō opened his eyes slightly and murmured in a voice only he could hear.

The next day, at Training Ground 2 in the Forest of Death, Konoha.

As the first rays of morning sunlight had just reached the ground, a faint silhouette appeared beyond the training ground's fence.

It was Ueno Kei, who had been discharged from the hospital the previous evening. After the medical ninjas at Konoha Hospital had examined him thoroughly and confirmed there was nothing wrong, he had been discharged that night. Afterward, he had spent the evening arguing and carrying on with Uzumaki Naruto at his own home, until Naruto had finally staggered home.

Only then had Ueno Kei felt truly at ease and gotten a good night's rest. The next morning, before daybreak, he had opened his eyes, gotten up, and washed.

That was why Ueno Kei had appeared here just as the sun rose above the horizon.

Ueno Kei had come to Training Ground 2 alone. Even Uzumaki Naruto didn't know. The previous night, when Naruto had insisted on staying over, Ueno Kei had made up an excuse and sent him home.

After all, Ueno Kei didn't want anyone else to know about his visit here that morning. Not yet.

When Ueno Kei arrived at Training Ground 2, someone was already standing there. He steadied himself, took a deep breath, and strode inside with firm steps.

When he was a few steps behind the figure, Ueno Kei dropped to one knee and said respectfully, "Ueno Kei greets Lord Hokage!"

The Third Hokage slowly turned around. His face was stern, without the slightest trace of a smile. He only gave a small nod. "Mm, Kei."

The reason Ueno Kei had come here was the Third Hokage. The Third Hokage's final words in the hospital room had left Ueno Kei completely stunned.

That was what had brought Ueno Kei here to meet the Third Hokage today.

"Kei, have you made up your mind? Will you become my fourth disciple?" The Third Hokage looked at Ueno Kei, who was kneeling with his head bowed, and didn't tell him to rise. He simply asked the question in a calm voice.

That was right. The last thing the Third Hokage had said in the hospital room was, "How would you like to become my disciple?"

Honestly, at that moment, Ueno Kei had felt as though the heavens had dropped a pie into his lap. Whether in his previous life or this one, Ueno Kei had never believed in such a stroke of luck. Yet here he was, faced with undeniable proof that it had happened to him!

What did it mean to become the Third Hokage's disciple? It was like a president or chairman of a country in his previous life asking, "Would you like to be my student?" Or like an emperor in ancient times making the same offer. It was that kind of thing.

The disciples and protégés he had learned about in his previous life had probably been in a similar position.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Hokage, hadn't never taken on disciples. Just as he himself had said, if Kei agreed, he would only be his fourth disciple. There had been three before him, but Sarutobi Hiruzen had taken all of them before becoming Hokage.

After becoming Hokage, he hadn't taught anyone else. As for who the Third Hokage's three disciples were, the other students in the same year at Konoha Ninja Academy might not know, but Ueno Kei knew very well. They were the three people recognized throughout the Ninja World as the Sannin.

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade!

They were three Kage Level ninjas whose fame resounded throughout the Ninja World. There was no way Ueno Kei didn't know who they were. So when Ueno Kei heard the Third Hokage was considering taking him on as a disciple, he could hardly believe his ears.

Even after the Third Hokage had left the hospital room, Ueno Kei had been in a daze, unable to come back to his senses.

It had taken until now, after a whole night, for Ueno Kei to calm down a little and suppress the excitement in his heart.