Opportunity

Half a month had passed.

Uzumaki Menma was clinging to Sasuke almost every day, begging for forgiveness.

Sasuke was starting to get flustered by Uzumaki Menma's behavior, meticulously checking to see if he'd been tricked by Uzumaki Menma without realizing it.

But after a thorough examination, he couldn't find anything amiss.

However, when Sasuke asked Uzumaki Menma what he had done to wrong him, Uzumaki Menma stammered and refused to speak.

This greatly annoyed Sasuke.

Sasuke insisted that he would absolutely not forgive Uzumaki Menma unless he told him what was going on.

Root.

Danzo's office.

Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was smoking a pipe, and asked, "You've come to me, which means you've finished investigating the Uchiha Clan, haven't you?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded solemnly, "Yes, I have the list of people who proposed a coup at the Uchiha Clan's Nanga Shrine gathering, and Fugaku is still wavering on the matter, Danzo, which shows that Fugaku still cares about Konoha. There's still time, there's no need to resort to bloodshed."

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi so determined to give the Uchiha Clan a chance, Danzo snorted coldly, "Then let's give them a chance."

"Cough cough... what did you say?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo in disbelief. He had expected Danzo to reject him, so he had prepared a whole set of arguments.

He didn't expect Danzo to agree so readily, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi feeling like he'd punched a cotton ball.

Danzo glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Don't tell me you don't want to give the Uchiha Clan a chance? If that's the case, then Root and Anbu will join forces and wipe out the Uchiha Clan directly."

"No, no, no, I was just surprised. Don't you hate the Uchiha? Why are you suddenly relenting today?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked suspiciously.

"Relenting? Hah, I only said I'd give the Uchiha Clan a chance, but I didn't say I'd definitely let them off the hook. If there's anything I'm not satisfied with, hmph!"

Danzo sneered, his meaning obvious.

Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Danzo was willing to give the Uchiha Clan a chance, that was good.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo were thinking the same thing: if the Uchiha Clan didn't seize this opportunity, then they would have to abandon the Uchiha Clan.

Although it would be like Konoha cutting off its own arm, it was better than letting this hidden danger grow larger.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, "Danzo, how do you plan to give the Uchiha Clan a chance?"

"It's simple. Those Uchiha clansmen who didn't propose a coup, let them return to Konoha's inner circle and give them the ninja clan treatment they deserve. As for those Uchiha clansmen who want to launch a coup, they will all join Root, and my people will train them well, so they know regret!" Danzo's eyes were extremely cold.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, "How do you plan to train them?"

"That's none of your concern. Although Root has abolished the training to eliminate the self, I have plenty of ways to make them obedient. If you're worried, I'll hand over the trained Uchiha clansmen to you later. Anyway, Root is essentially an Anbu training department."

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked curiously, "Hyuga ninjas, Uchiha ninjas, Danzo, are you planning to build up a foundation for Menma, to cultivate Menma for the future Hokage election?"

"What? Is there a problem?" Danzo had no intention of hiding it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed twice, "How could there be a problem? Where Konoha dances, the fire still burns. Danzo, you're cultivating a future giant tree for Konoha, I'm overjoyed.

Moreover, I also hope that the next generation can grow up as soon as possible. We've worked hard for most of our lives, and then you and I should be able to retire. At that time, the two of us can enjoy our retirement with Homura and Koharu."

Danzo didn't speak, his mind filled with the image of Uzumaki Menma's rock statue being carved on Hokage Rock in the future, and him standing below, looking up at the statue.

That feeling should be quite good.

Coming back to his senses from his vision of the future, Danzo banished these distracting thoughts.

Now was not the time to think about such things.

He had to do everything he could to prepare for Uzumaki Menma's future, he had poured all his efforts into Uzumaki Menma.

Danzo asked, "When do you plan to start?"

"I will prepare to negotiate with Fugaku as soon as possible. The sooner this matter is resolved, the better. If the time is dragged out, there may be accidents. I will send someone to notify you on the day of the negotiation."

"Okay, same as always."

Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed with a smile, "Yes, same as always."

What Danzo meant by "same as always" was that one of them would play the good cop, and the other would play the bad cop.

This was the tacit understanding that Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi had developed over the years.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was the eternally warm Hokage in the sunlight, and Danzo was the ruthless Root in the darkness, the two complementing each other.

Night.

Fugaku Uchiha, who was still unaware of everything, was still at the Nanga Shrine gathering, listening to the clansmen complaining.

Itachi and Shisui stood in a corner, watching this scene with worried expressions.

Although they had already submitted the information that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted, they had no idea what Hiruzen Sarutobi would do.

Moreover, seeing how excited the Uchiha clansmen at the gathering were, the emotion of wanting to settle accounts with Konoha and take back everything they had lost had infected most people.

If they didn't stop it, Itachi and Shisui were worried that Fugaku Uchiha, who was still wavering, would choose to agree to launch a coup under this public pressure.

Feeling guilty towards Sasuke, Uzumaki Menma sought out Danzo.

Danzo, looking at the mission report, didn't even raise his head as he asked, "Why aren't you asleep at this hour? What do you want from me?"

Uzumaki Menma flashed a flattering smile, scurrying on his short legs behind Danzo and starting to massage his shoulders. "Grandpa Danzo, you still haven't told me if you were satisfied with my answer last time."

"And if I wasn't, what would you do?"

Uzumaki Menma froze, his little face wrinkling up.

What could he do if Danzo wasn't satisfied?

Uzumaki Menma began to torture the brain cells in his little head, thinking of ways to get Danzo to change his mind.

He had to try, even if effort didn't guarantee results. But what if it did?

From the moment Uzumaki Menma stopped massaging his shoulders, Danzo knew without looking that Uzumaki Menma was trying to figure out how to get him to change his mind.

After all, he'd raised him. He knew what Uzumaki Menma was up to just by the way he acted.

Danzo put down the mission report in his hand and said, "Don't bother trying to fool me. As for your answer last time, it was barely acceptable."

Uzumaki Menma excitedly hugged Danzo's neck.

When Danzo said "barely acceptable," that meant he was very satisfied.

"Grandpa Danzo, that's awesome!"

"Don't get too happy. This arrangement is being implemented based on your answer last time. That means whatever the consequences, you, the decision-maker, will bear them."

The excitement in Uzumaki Menma's heart instantly vanished.

What the heck?

He had to bear the consequences?

What was he going to bear them with?