Different Paths

"Danzo, the matter of the Kurama Clan ends here! I absolutely forbid you from interfering in this affair. As the Third Hokage, I am ordering you!" The Third Hokage spoke with an extremely stern tone.

The eye that Shimura Danzo kept exposed narrowed slightly. He looked at the Third Hokage, whose expression was resolute, but Danzo said nothing, merely turning around slowly.

"Hmph, Hiruzen, I hope you won't regret this later!" As soon as the words fell, Shimura Danzo's figure vanished into the shadows of the room.

Watching Shimura Danzo's figure gradually disappear, the Third Hokage's brows furrowed slightly. He knew exactly what kind of person his old friend was.

It seemed as though he had given up for now, but the Third Hokage knew very well that he was only hindered by the fact that he was the Hokage. Once there was an opportunity, the Kurama Clan would...

The Third Hokage shook his head helplessly. Forget it, he would deal with future matters when they came. Moreover, this incident hadn't caused much of a stir, making it relatively easier to handle. Otherwise, even with Danzo's reservations about his position as Hokage, he wouldn't have given up so easily; the Uchiha incident from back then was a perfect example.

"Uchiha, Hyuga, Kurama... sigh, First Hokage, Second Hokage..." The Third Hokage became immersed in his memories.

"Minato, I'm already an old man with brittle bones. You, in the end, still..."

On the other side, having left the Hokage Office Building, Shimura Danzo headed straight back to the headquarters of the Root. In truth, the Root within Konoha Village was simply a branch stripped directly from the Konoha Anbu organization.

Before the Second Hokage's time, this organization did not exist. It was founded by Shimura Danzo himself, operating outside the scope of Konoha's military power, not taking orders from the Hokage, but only from Danzo.

Its members were more extreme and cold-blooded than those in the Hokage's direct Anbu. To better control the Root, besides raising members from childhood and brainwashing them, Danzo also applied sealing jutsu to them to ensure absolute control. If it weren't for the Third Hokage turning a blind eye to such matters, coupled with the fact that the Third and Danzo's other two teammates did not oppose his actions, the current situation would not have come to pass.

Just as the Third Hokage had anticipated, Shimura Danzo did not abandon his resolve because of a few simple words from the Hokage; he merely adjusted his plans slightly.

Sure enough, as soon as he returned to the Root, Shimura Danzo did not hesitate to summon the key cadres of the Root to gather in his room.

Several individuals wearing standard Konoha Anbu uniforms received Danzo's order and rushed over swiftly, all immediately kneeling on one knee on the ground.

"Greetings, Lord Danzo." They bowed toward Shimura Danzo, who sat in the main seat, and spoke in deep voices.

Shimura Danzo's exposed eye narrowed slightly, and he said coldly, "Withdraw the original personnel and abandon the original plan. However, keep a close watch on the Kurama Clan for me. If there is any sign of movement—hm? You all..."

"Yes, we understand!" The several direct members of the Root in the room replied in unison with deep voices.

"Good. Also, withdraw the surveillance on that brat as well. Hmph, since Sarutobi has intervened, let it be for now."

"Yes!"

"Then, Sarutobi, I will wait. I will wait for that day to arrive!" Shimura Danzo opened his eyes slightly and whispered in a voice only he could hear.

The next day, Konoha Village, Training Ground 2 within the Forest of Death.

Just as the first rays of the morning sun hit the ground, a faint figure appeared outside the fence of Training Ground 2.

This person was Ueno Kei, who had just been discharged from the hospital the previous evening. After a detailed examination by the medical ninjas at Konoha Hospital, it was determined that there were no issues, and he was discharged that very night. Afterward, he spent the night in his own home bickering with Uzumaki Naruto until Naruto finally wandered home.

Only then did Ueno Kei truly feel at ease and get a night's rest. The next day, before dawn, Ueno Kei woke up, washed, and got ready.

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

Ueno Kei had come to Training Ground 2 alone; even Uzumaki Naruto didn't know. When Naruto insisted on staying over the night before, Ueno Kei had made up an excuse to send him home.

After all, regarding his visit here this morning, Ueno Kei didn't want anyone else to know just yet.

When Ueno Kei arrived at Training Ground 2, a figure was already standing inside. Ueno Kei steadied himself, took a deep breath, and stepped inside with firm footsteps.

When he reached a distance of a few paces behind the figure, Ueno Kei knelt on one knee and said respectfully, "Ueno Kei greets Lord Hokage!"

The Third Hokage turned around slowly. His face was very serious, without a hint of a smile, and he merely nodded slightly. "Yes, Kei."

Come to think of it, the reason Ueno Kei had come here was because of the Third Hokage. That day in the hospital room, the Third Hokage's final words had left Ueno Kei completely stunned.

That was what led to Ueno Kei coming to see the Third Hokage today.

"Kei, have you considered it? Will you become my fourth disciple?" The Third Hokage looked at Ueno Kei, who was kneeling on the ground with his head bowed. He didn't tell him to stand up, merely uttering those words indifferently.

That's right, that day in the hospital room, the last thing the Third Hokage had said was, "How about becoming my disciple?"

To be honest, Ueno Kei's feeling at that moment was like a pie falling from the sky. One had to know that whether in his past life or his current one, Ueno Kei had never believed in such good fortune, yet it had actually happened to him—a concrete, undeniable fact!

Becoming the Third Hokage's disciple? What kind of concept was that? It was like the president or chairman of a country in his past life saying, "Be my student," or an emperor in ancient times saying, "Be my student." It was the same concept.

The "disciples" Ueno Kei knew from his past life were likely of this caliber.

As the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't failed to take on disciples. Just as he himself had said, if Kei agreed, he would only be his fourth disciple. There were three before him, but those three were taken on by Sarutobi Hiruzen before he became Hokage.

After becoming Hokage, he had never taught anyone else. As for who those three disciples of the Third Hokage were, perhaps other students at the Ninja Academy didn't know, but Ueno Kei was very clear: those three were recognized by the ninja world as the "Sannin."

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade!

Those were three Kage-level ninjas whose fame resonated throughout the ninja world. It was impossible for Ueno Kei not to know them. Therefore, when Ueno Kei heard that the Third Hokage intended to take him as a disciple, he simply couldn't believe his ears.

Even when the Third Hokage left the hospital room afterward, Ueno Kei was still in a daze, unable to collect his thoughts.

It wasn't until a night had passed that Ueno Kei finally calmed down slightly and suppressed the agitation in his heart.