Sasuke was training hard in the grove, while a heated argument was taking place in the Hokage's office.
"Why won't you let me go!"
Danzo glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Don't get involved in this matter, understand?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen calmly smoked his cigarette.
Why won't you go?
Because I don't want you to take the blame.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was actually quite helpless.
He genuinely meant well for this old friend, so why couldn't he appreciate his good intentions?
"You won't let me get involved? You're going to hand it over to Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Kei? Are you senile?!"
The Danzo lungs were practically bursting with anger.
If these two lads were to carry out this task, it would be fine if they failed.
If he succeeds, what would he care about becoming the Fifth Hokage?
"They won't succeed."
Sarutobi Hiruzen answered confidently.
He knew more about the Yang Organization than Uchiha Kei.
Although the Anbu has slipped somewhat from his control in recent years, he still possesses a considerable amount of intelligence.
As far as the Yang Organization is concerned, he knows Jonin at least three hundred Jonin!
Three hundred Jonin!
What a terrifying number!
That's an existence that even Konoha would find difficult to withstand!
Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Kei were both very talented; that's true, even he had to admit it.
But what good is exceptional talent if the opponent is three hundred Jonin?
Could these two possibly be compared to the First or Madara?
This is also why Sarutobi Hiruzen vehemently rejected Danzo.
If a mission fails even once, the heroic image that Uchiha Itachi has cultivated over the past three years will be destroyed!
"What if you succeed? Sarutobi Hiruzen, are you gambling again? You've gambled time and time again for the past three years, and what's the result?"
Danzo could no longer suppress his anger.
Three years!
Over the course of three years, he watched helplessly as Uchiha Itachi gradually rose to power.
He had countless opportunities over those three years to ruin Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Kei.
Without exception, they were all rejected by Sarutobi Hiruzen!
He simply couldn't understand it.
Did Sarutobi Hiruzen really not understand the threat these two posed?
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression stiffened, somewhat embarrassed.
Danzo was right; he did indeed stop Danzo many times over the past three years.
The reason is quite simple.
He felt confident that he could completely control these two people.
But the result was clearly completely different from what he had expected.
Instead of gaining their support, their prestige grew even higher.
He became synonymous with heroism in Konoha.
It became synonymous with wealth in Konoha.
The two were in Konoha...
Things are going well!
"Even Uzumaki Naruto, you've been secretly interfering, stopping me time and time again!"
"Why is it Sarutobi Hiruzen?!"
At this point, Danzo somewhat hysterical.
Time and again, flawless plans were ruined by incompetent teammates.
How could Danzo, who was eager to become the Fifth Danzo, not be furious?
"Uzumaki Naruto... Nine-Tails hasn't shown any abnormalities in the past three years, so..."
"So what?"
Danzo his hand on the desk.
"So you can just sit back and watch them get stronger little by little without any worries?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned gloomy.
"Don't forget! On the Night of the Nine-Tails, you were even willing to sacrifice your own wife, all to become the Third again!"
"If Uzumaki Naruto knew the truth, what do you think would happen to Konoha? What would you do?"
Danzo's expression grew increasingly ferocious.
"Enough!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly stood up, his expression also turning ferocious.
"I didn't want this to happen either!"
Pain, regret, and other expressions constantly shifted across his face.
That night of bloodshed...
It's a pain that will forever remain in his heart!
He was power-hungry, and he was ecstatic on the Night of the Nine-Tails.
It was also because he restricted the vast majority of the village's top combat power that the Nine-Tails was able to wreak havoc in the village.
But he also didn't want anything to happen at Biwako...
That was just an accident!
If he could, he wouldn't even want anything to happen to Kushina Namikaze Minato, or to Kushina...
The situation had completely spiraled out of his control.
He didn't want to either...
"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is Konoha's trump card. As long as the Nine-Tails doesn't make any moves, Naruto..."
"We must be safe and sound!"
After saying this, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around and faced away from Danzo.
"You'll regret Sarutobi Hiruzen."
Danzo stared at his retreating figure for a long time before storming out of the office in a huff.
In the huge office, only Sarutobi Hiruzen remained.
"Biwako, tell me... did I really do something wrong?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered to himself.
The scattered stars in the sky outside seemed to form a human figure.
She still smiled at him with that same virtuous demeanor.
Biwako...
Danzo returned to the base, his heart filled with rage.
"My lord, everything is ready."
A ninja wearing Anbu mask stood respectfully before him.
"What's the use of being prepared? That good-for-nothing backed down again!"
Danzo kicked over the table and roared loudly, seemingly trying to vent his pent-up anger.
The Anbu Ninja paused, then said, "Sir, I have an idea, but I don't know if I should say it."
Danzo snorted coldly.
"Say what you want to say, or get out!"
After quickly organizing his thoughts, the Anbu Ninja slowly said, "Sir, in my opinion, we should act on our own and not follow the Hokage's instructions completely."
Danzo, then turned around.
What do you mean by that?
"Sir, we have been following the Hokage's instructions for the past three years, and what has been the result?"
Anger rekindled in Danzo's eyes.
"And the result? The result is that those evil brats from the Uchiha are getting more and more rampant!"
The Anbu Ninja nodded.
"Yes, sir, therefore, this completely proves the Lord Hokage's decision..."
"That's wrong!"
Danzo was stunned.
Yes!
Why did Danzo continue to act based on such a flawed decision?
"The appearance of the Yang Organization this time is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us! Why not prove it to the Hokage?"
A flicker of interest appeared in Danzo's eyes.
Prove it to Sarutobi Hiruzen?
No!
Danzo's lust for power burned ever brighter.
He wanted to prove something to his teacher!
Let him see how foolish his decision was back then!
Was Sarutobi Hiruzen more suitable to Hokage?
Absolutely not!
"Take a headcount."
Danzo let out a long breath, and his expression relaxed.
The Anbu Ninja bowed respectfully, "Yes!"
Then, slowly exit.
"Hiruzen, just you wait and see! Watch how I, Shimura Danzō, eradicate the Yang Organization and make Konoha strong again!"
The arrogant voice echoed in the room for a long time.
The Anbu Ninja left the room had obviously heard it as well.
The mask was removed, revealing a pale face to the air.
"Mission accomplished, you can send the message back now."
He spoke softly, as if there were other people in front of him.
"Um."
A hollow voice answered.
"Call..."
A slight smile appeared on his pale face.
"It's finally finished..."
"It's really not easy to turn these two against each other in two years."
With that, he put his mask back on and walked deeper into the base.
The mission can be considered completed.
But if you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way...