Danzo: "Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

The tone was frigid and icy. The other two Hokage advisors shifted their gazes as well, their expressions unreadable.

"He is merely a child. Since Uchiha Hanazuki possesses such talent and has yet to be fully molded by the values of adulthood, as long as he is nurtured properly, it is not impossible for him to break free from the shackles of his bloodline and dedicate himself to the village."

"Just like Uchiha Kagami, who devoted his heart and soul to the safety of the village—this has always been the expectation held by the Second Hokage."

With a fierce look in his eyes, Danzo slammed his cane heavily against the floor and let out a cold snort.

"In that case, hand Uchiha Hanazuki over to Root. Let the members of Root monitor him twenty-four hours a day. Once he shows any inclination toward the rebels, we shall eradicate him completely while the seedling is still young."

The dagger was finally revealed from the map; Danzo had exposed his true objective. A talent who, at only ten years old, could fight the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki to a standstill...

With just a little cultivation, he could become a weapon to help Danzo ascend to the position of Hokage.

Whether for assassination, seizing power, or protecting his own life, the Flying Thunder God Technique was the most suitable space-time ninjutsu.

Ever since the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, created this space-time ninjutsu, there had been no other ninja capable of using it with such flexibility and ease, aside from Namikaze Minato of Sarutobi Hiruzen's faction.

However, there was now one more, and he belonged to the Uchiha clan—giving Danzo a legitimate reason to strike.

"Absolutely not. Whether it is killing him or handing him over to Root, I will never agree to either..."

"Sarutobi Hiruzen!"

"I am the Third Hokage!"

Veins bulged on the aged hand gripping the cane. After taking a deep breath, Danzo spoke in a chilling tone.

"Sarutobi, you will regret this."

Old, immortal bastard. He only knows how to suppress me using his status as Hokage. One day, I will personally drag Sarutobi Hiruzen down from that seat.

"I never regret my own decisions."

After Danzo left the conference room, Sarutobi Hiruzen could not help but let out a deep sigh. Why had his old friend become such a stranger?

"Sarutobi, what Danzo said is not entirely unreasonable. The power of the Uchiha clan is simply too dangerous, just like the rebellion that broke out during the Second Hokage's reign."

"Led by Uchiha Setsuna, it took three Anbu divisions to quell that chaos. The will of that man clings to the Uchiha clan like a lingering ghost."

"This is why we have been wary of the Uchiha to this very day."

Utatane Koharu's whisper left Sarutobi Hiruzen feeling helpless. After a long silence, he voiced his own considerations.

"With two fronts to manage, Konoha no longer has the energy to guard against the Uchiha. Who knows when this war, which consumes our national strength and manpower, will finally end."

"The excellent ninjas who can end a war quickly are often those so-called geniuses. They are the ones who, at critical moments, have the potential to tip the scales in Konoha's favor."

As he spoke, he exhaled a puff of smoke, his slightly clouded eyes flickering with complexity.

Orochimaru was like that, Namikaze Minato was like that, and Uchiha Hanazuki might very well be the same.

"The existence of geniuses can greatly reduce the chance of our young sprouts being sacrificed. Judging by the fact that Uchiha Hanazuki was willing to save ninjas he previously had poor relations with, he may well become a light for the village. He only needs the right guidance."

"Where the leaves of Konoha dance, fire will burn. The fire will illuminate the village and allow new buds to grow into towering trees. Uchiha Hanazuki will eventually come to understand the village's good intentions."

The two Hokage advisors exchanged a glance. Since Sarutobi Hiruzen had already made his decision, they, as advisors, could not do much to stop him.

"I understand. I will leave the matter to you, but the necessary vigilance must not be lacking. Otherwise, Uchiha Hanazuki could very well become the second Uchiha Madara."

Mitokado Homura's voice trembled slightly. Even that name was a taboo that could not be spoken, containing an endless, terrifying power.

"That is an exaggeration. Even if that brat has talent, he cannot be compared to the lifelong rival of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama—those two who were called the Gods of Shinobi."

After everyone dispersed, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked down at the details of the skirmish with the Fourth Raikage in his hand, his fingers rubbing his pipe incessantly as he pondered.

Meanwhile, in a general ward at the Konoha Medical Hospital.

Uchiha Hanazuki sneezed instinctively and couldn't help but look around.

"Who? Who is plotting against me? Danzo, Sarutobi, or perhaps the entire Konoha F4... Forget it. More importantly, how much longer are you going to pretend to be asleep?"

A breeze blew, the grass swayed, and the whistling mountain wind brushed against his body. The sound of rhythmic breathing was like a thunderclap.

"You are so annoying, brat. Instead of wandering around here all day, aren't those gazes fixed on you a problem?"

"The Anbu directly under the Third Hokage, or Danzo's 'Root'—I could easily deal with those guys if I wanted to. They are just insignificant small fry."

"But do you really know nothing about Sage Mode? Jiraiya should have taught it to Namikaze Minato, and then Minato should have passed it on to Menma. Did you not hear anything?"

The inner world, which should have been pale blue, was now stained with green, causing Hanazuki a rare moment of panic.

"I told you, I don't know anything about Sage Mode. If anyone approaches with malicious intent, look out for yourself."

His pupils contracted. Instantly withdrawing from his inner world, Hanazuki opened his eyes, then closed them again.

One, two, three... A standard three-man squad. Anbu, are they testing me?

While he was still wondering whether they were the Third Hokage's men or acting on Danzo's orders, heavy, steady footsteps approached, and the door to the ward was pushed open.

"To be able to retreat unscathed from the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, with the only cost being excessive chakra consumption—your talent is even greater than I observed."

"I have never misjudged a person's talent. You are worthy of being a genius who bears the name Uchiha. Are you interested in becoming my disciple?"

The person who appeared was not an Anbu, nor the Third Hokage or Danzo, but Orochimaru—the man who claimed to be his jonin instructor but had vanished without a trace for half a day.

"If I become your disciple, what will I gain? What is the benefit to me? Please, spare me the empty, useless talk of will and dreams. If one loses their life, any dream becomes nothing more than empty talk."

Hearing these nearly cold words, a flash of surprise crossed Orochimaru's eyes, which then turned into a smile.

"You are not one of those brats immersed in dreams. Then, I will give you a condition you absolutely cannot refuse. That is..."