Hearing his old partner's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled.
He looked at his old friend and said calmly, "What, Danzo? Aren't you usually at odds with the Uchiha? Why are you speaking up for them this time?"
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words,
Danzo replied evenly, "I'm doing this for Konoha."
As a shrewd politician and ninja, Danzo had long since stopped caring about saving face, so he felt no embarrassment.
As long as he achieved his goal, what did it matter if he looked bad?
Hearing Danzo say that, Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a quiet chuckle.
He didn't answer right away.
Instead, he picked up his pipe and took a long drag.
Then he slowly exhaled.
As the smoke rose, it separated their expressionless faces.
Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, "Are you really doing this for Konoha? Or for yourself—or something else?"
Faced with Sarutobi Hiruzen's question, Danzo paused.
He forced a smile. "Hiruzen, what are you talking about? Of course I'm doing this for Konoha."
Sarutobi Hiruzen merely tapped his pipe, making a "tap, tap" sound.
His voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.
"I disagree."
This was a rare show of resolve from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen take such a firm stance, Danzo paused.
He instinctively asked, "Why?"
"No reason. Because I'm the Hokage," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied calmly.
But the calmer his tone, the more humiliating it was for Danzo.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen had stood up and scolded him for working with the Uchiha and betraying their teacher,
or had, as usual, mumbled a few vague words to preserve his good-natured image,
Danzo wouldn't have been so furious.
What truly enraged him was...
Sarutobi Hiruzen had dismissed his proposal so casually, without giving any reason or citing any conflict of interest.
All he'd said was that he alone held absolute authority over Konoha: "I'm the Hokage."
At that, Danzo could only slap the table and stand up.
He glared at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Hiruzen, you'll regret this."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sneered and rose to his feet.
Pointing at Danzo, he said, "I'm the Hokage of Konoha, not you!"
"I'm the one responsible for the thousands of shinobi in Konoha—their survival, their future, their missions, their livelihoods. Not you!"
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Danzo was dumbfounded.
He was about to speak, but Sarutobi Hiruzen cut him off again.
"The reputation of the Shinobi World's leading village, the lives of thousands of shinobi throughout Konoha—all of it rests on these old bones of mine, just like the Will of Fire."
Danzo's mouth twitched. What had happened to his old friend? Had he become some kind of champion weightlifter?
Was he going crazy?
He let out a soft sigh. "Hiruzen, think it over carefully."
With that, Danzo hurried away.
Only Sarutobi Hiruzen remained, quietly smoking.
As he smoked, he considered Danzo's proposal.
At that moment, an Anbu member approached.
He held out a document. "Lord Hokage, this is the proposal for Konoha to hold the Chunin Ninja Exams jointly with the other Four Great Shinobi Villages."
The Anbu's words interrupted Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts. He nodded. "Understood."
He looked at the proposal for the joint Chunin Exams, picturing civilians and nobles watching the event.
Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to approve it.
After all, when it came to an opportunity to steal the spotlight, he wasn't about to pass it up.
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