Conspiracy

"I have already heard Kazumi's report. According to her, your performance was quite excellent. It makes me, as your teacher, feel a bit ashamed that I haven't taken better care of you all this time."

"However, you must understand that this is the way of life for a ninja."

Danzo turned his head toward Sosuke, his voice somewhat raspy.

At this moment, his half-lidded eyes were fully open. He looked at Sosuke with somewhat murky eyes, though he seemed to be gazing at something else entirely, and continued in a deep voice.

"I am very different from Sarutobi. Whether it concerns decisions for the village or the definition of a ninja, we have vast differences. Sarutobi is far too soft; a Konoha Village like this will gradually lose the prestige it deserves."

Upon hearing this, a slight flicker appeared in the eyes behind Sosuke's lenses. He had not expected Danzo to speak to him about such private and sensitive matters here.

But it mattered not. From beginning to end, his face maintained a respectful and gentle expression; one could say he had perfected the posture of a disciple.

Danzo, failing to notice the sharp glint flashing in the depths of Sosuke's eyes, continued on his own.

"At this time, certain villages have begun to slowly bare their fangs. The Iwagakure of the Land of Earth, the Sunagakure of the Land of Wind, and the Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning—the Kage of this generation are no mere mediocrities. Under such aggressive posturing, Konoha's cowardly development trend is bound to be coveted by others."

"Fortunately, Konoha still has time, and Root still has the opportunity to develop. And you, my disciple! Sosuke, are the key to Root being able to represent Konoha's rise among these monsters and demons."

Having said this, Danzo narrowed his eyes slightly to stare at Sosuke, speaking with righteous indignation.

A glimmer of sharpness leaked from his murky eyes, as if he were brewing a truly astonishing plan!

Sosuke, on the surface, displayed an expression perfectly suited to the situation—one of extreme astonishment—and asked in a faltering voice.

"Teacher! What does all of this have to do with me?"

Danzo caught the look of shock on Sosuke's face and felt quite satisfied, though he answered with a very serious expression.

"Konoha needs a strong person to lead the village to its peak! Clearly, Sarutobi lacks such mettle, and I must remain hidden within Root, silently serving as the village's final line of defense. As my disciple, you possess that potential."

Sosuke looked slightly puzzled.

"Potential?"

Hearing his words, Danzo's expression grew heavy, and he uttered a single sentence in a low voice.

"The potential to become the Fourth Hokage..."

Upon hearing this, the delicate face behind Sosuke's frames showed an expression of shock, and he blurted out again.

"The Fourth Hokage!! How is that possible! How could I ever reach such a level!"

Although he performed this astonishment on the surface, Sosuke was sneering inwardly.

As expected, as the leader of Root, you suddenly take me on as a disciple. Behind this violation of common sense lies an astonishing plan. I suppose pushing me to become the Fourth Hokage is a lie, and your true intention is to seat yourself in that position.

However, becoming the Fourth Hokage is something I also wish to do. Let me listen quietly to your plan; it is not yet certain who will be the one to reap the rewards in the end.

Thinking of this, a smile curled at the corner of Sosuke's mouth, unnoticed by anyone.

Across from him, Danzo now revealed a slight smile, looking at Sosuke with one eye as he said.

"Rest assured, Sosuke! As your teacher, I fully recognize your potential, and I believe that your character and reputation will add a few points of support in the future competition for the Fourth Hokage!"

Although Sosuke appeared hesitant, Danzo did not doubt him. He waved a hand to stop him from speaking and continued seriously.

"Although you have great potential and I, as your teacher, think highly of you, there is one thing I must require you to do at this time."

Hearing this, Sosuke quickly focused his attention on the matter Danzo spoke of, asking with confusion.

"Teacher, what is it that you need me to do?"

Danzo's eyes flashed with a cold light, his voice raspy.

"Uchiha..."

The moment he heard the word Uchiha, Sosuke's first reaction was the memory of those blood-red eyes he saw when he fought Tokino. Thinking that Danzo could not have brought up this clan without a reason, he quickly reacted.

Could it be that he wants me to become an irreconcilable enemy of the Uchiha clan, so that I can never again escape the protection of Root!?

Indeed, just as Sosuke had anticipated, Danzo's next words were intended to leave him with no way out.

"Your negotiations regarding the conflict with Uchiha Tokino failed. That arrogant and foolish bloodline clan wants to destroy you. Root once tried to exert effort on your behalf in this matter, but it seems the Uchiha clan does not appreciate it. Now, there is an opportunity for you to successfully cast all of this aside."

Sosuke performed slightly on his face and asked in return, though his heart was certain of Danzo's intentions.

"What opportunity!?"

Danzo said in a deep voice.

"Living in the village for so long, you must have a general understanding of the conflict between the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha clan."

"In a while, the Uchiha clan and the Hyuga Clan will form a small squad. Root will also insert someone into it to form a special three-man Genin team."

"During one of your secret missions, you will need to collude with the member of the Hyuga Clan to quietly eliminate the brat from the Uchiha clan."

"If the mission succeeds, Root will gain the assistance of the Hyuga Clan, and you will provide the Hyuga Clan with protection and friendship in certain aspects."

"This mission is very important, both for you and for Root! Do you understand, Sosuke?"

After hearing these words, Sosuke instantly understood Danzo's true thoughts.

I suspect Danzo himself wants to use my conflict with the Uchiha clan to approach the Hyuga Clan, and then obtain their support through certain games of strategy.

Colluding with someone from the Hyuga Clan to kill a member of the Uchiha clan is likely one of the terms of the contract.

When the time comes, they will shift the hatred of the Uchiha onto me. After all, the Hyuga Clan is a well-deserved major clan in Konoha Village! Even the Uchiha clan cannot easily wage war against them.

He would have no way back, forced to rely on the support of the Hyuga Clan and Root, perhaps one day becoming nothing more than a puppet Fourth Hokage.

Though he sneered coldly in his heart, Sosuke wore a look of solemn contemplation on his face, speaking in a deep voice only after appearing to struggle with the decision for a long time.

"I understand, Teacher!"

Only upon hearing these words did the corners of Danzo's mouth lift into a faint smile, his narrowed eyes seemingly glinting with a glimmer of expectation.

On the way home.

Sosuke wore a relaxed smile as he greeted every well-meaning villager he passed, while inwardly, he sneered repeatedly at Danzo's scheme.

The eyes behind his frames flickered slightly as he carefully considered the plan, calculating how to seize the greatest possible benefit for himself.

After a long while, having slowly mapped out a strategy, a wicked, cold smile curled the corners of his lips.

Come now... I can hardly wait to see the chaos that will be wrought by this slight manipulation...

Isn't that right... Kyoka Suigetsu...