Sarutobi Hiruzen wore a genial smile as he said cheerfully, "I'm sure you know just how spectacularly the war in the Land of Rain was fought!"
At this, Shimura Danzō nodded without hesitation. "Of course I do. I have to say, your student Tsunade truly has the makings of a great general! She knows how to read the situation and weigh the pros and cons. Someone like her is certainly qualified to serve as a deputy!"
As he spoke, he had no qualms about voicing this opinion in front of everyone else present.
Then Shimura Danzō continued, "I've heard that Jiraiya and Orochimaru also performed admirably in that prolonged campaign. I have no objections to either of them. However..."
At that, he suddenly changed tack. Fixing Sarutobi Hiruzen with an intensely hostile gaze, he demanded, "As for that brat from the Uchiha Clan, Hiruzen, what exactly do you mean by this?"
At this point, Shimura Danzō did not yet have Root as a source of intelligence, so the information he had was nowhere near as comprehensive as Sarutobi Hiruzen's.
For that reason, he still firmly believed that they had won the war thanks to Sarutobi Hiruzen's three beloved students personally leading the troops into battle.
Faced with Shimura Danzō's aggressive questioning, the three youngsters standing nearby were instantly incensed.
Tsunade, especially, was hot-tempered and straightforward. Unable to hold back her anger, she was just about to snap back when she suddenly caught the stern look Sarutobi Hiruzen shot her.
Though Tsunade was still unhappy, she forced herself to swallow the words that had been on the tip of her tongue.
Uchiha Xiao was gently stroking Tsunade's long, waterfall-smooth hair, his touch tender and delicate, as if he were soothing a startled kitten.
His fingers glided lightly over Tsunade's hair with a reassuring warmth, signaling for her not to get worked up and to keep calm.
As for Uchiha Xiao himself, he remained expressionless and calm as he watched everything unfold, as if the commotion and tension around him had nothing to do with him.
His demeanor was composed and unruffled, like that of an uninvolved observer quietly watching the situation develop.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, seated nearby, took it all in. He nodded slightly in approval, feeling even more impressed with Uchiha Xiao.
To stay so calm and collected amid such a complicated situation, keeping everything in order—this young man truly was a rare talent!
With a broad smile, Sarutobi Hiruzen reached out and pulled Danzō down beside him. Then he waved to Uchiha Xiao and called warmly, "Uchiha Xiao, come over here."
At Lord Hokage's summons, Uchiha Xiao nodded at once and walked toward Sarutobi Hiruzen with steady steps.
When he came closer, the smile on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face grew wider. Turning to Danzō, he said with a grin, "Danzō, did you know that the strategy of waging a war of attrition, cutting off the enemy's food supplies, and launching a surprise attack on Yuji—all those brilliant plans in the war in the Land of Rain—came from Uchiha Xiao?"
Shimura Danzō, who had been somewhat inattentive, jolted in surprise and sat bolt upright. Eyes wide with disbelief, he stared at Uchiha Xiao, his face full of confusion and shock.
But since the words had come from Sarutobi's mouth, they had to be true. Thinking this, Danzō scrutinized the seemingly ordinary yet unfathomable young man before him.
What he couldn't understand was why Uchiha Xiao wouldn't claim the credit for himself, instead giving it to Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru.
Could he be plotting something? At the thought, Shimura Danzō's gaze turned cold again as he glanced at Uchiha Xiao. Uchiha Xiao noticed and smiled faintly, nodding in response. This irritated Shimura Danzō.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was curious too. "Xiao, tell us—why didn't you want to take the credit?"
Danzō also turned his gaze on Uchiha Xiao. His eyes were like a measuring stick; he could tell at a glance whether someone was lying!
So, you naturally evil Uchiha brat, if you dare lie, I'll grind your bones to dust!
His gaze turned sinister and the corners of his mouth lifted, as though the person before him were a criminal rather than one of their own.
"Danzō! Watch your expression!" Sarutobi Hiruzen was speechless. Why couldn't this old friend keep his little prejudices in check whenever he saw someone from the Uchiha Clan? What had the Uchiha ever done to him?
Uchiha Xiao smiled faintly. As expected, Danzō was just as he remembered. He sighed. "First, Lady Tsunade saved me after I'd just awakened my Sharingan, during Lord Hokage's speech before the war."
"Later, Lady Mito looked after me as well. At the time, I had some disagreements with the Uchiha Clan, and I didn't want to draw attention to myself. So I gave most of the credit to Lady Tsunade. She needed it more than I did."
"As for Lord Orochimaru and Lord Jiraiya, they were able to put the tactics I suggested into practice because of their own skill at leading troops. So the credit belongs to them. I only offered a few suggestions," Uchiha Xiao said calmly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. What a fine young man—one of Konoha's pillars. More importantly, he knew when to advance and when to retreat, and cared not for empty fame, only for making a contribution.
Shimura Danzō was startled. Uchiha Xiao seemed to be telling the truth; his expression and tone were calm, as if he were discussing something utterly trivial.
He was sure Uchiha Xiao wasn't lying. And just as he'd said, he truly didn't care about the credit. Danzō couldn't help wondering: if it had been him, he would never have given away the credit. He would have loudly proclaimed it instead.
Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed heartily. "Lord Xiao's wisdom and strategy are unmatched through the ages! Looking back across the entire history of the Shinobi World, no one has ever been better at leading and deploying troops!" Sarutobi Hiruzen praised him sincerely.
"I don't deserve such praise, Lord Hokage. Uchiha Xiao will always be Konoha's Uchiha Xiao, and will always support you." Uchiha Xiao seized the opportunity to make his position clear, making Sarutobi Hiruzen even happier.
Shimura Danzō snorted and turned away. He had to admit that this Uchiha brat had some ability!
Sarutobi Hiruzen then said to Danzō, "My old friend, do you think Xiao would make a good deputy for you?" His voice carried a teasing note.
Shimura Danzō choked on his reply. "Well, he'll do, I suppose."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, then turned to Uchiha Xiao. "Xiao, in this war against Sunagakure, I hope you'll give my old friend some advice, just as you did during the war against the Rain Ninja."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was calm. He had made his intentions clear: he wanted Uchiha Xiao to help his good friend build up his record.
Shimura Danzō looked over too. He knew Uchiha Xiao was talented, and he also knew his old friend was helping him. He couldn't help feeling moved.
Uchiha Xiao considered the current situation, then finally nodded. "I'll do my best to assist Lord Danzō."
Danzō was still young at this point, not yet the ruthless man he would become, stealing and transplanting eyes. The protagonist helps him for political reasons. I hope everyone won't get too worked up about it; every book has its own perspective.