Opportunity

Half a month passed.

Uzumaki Menma had been pestering Sasuke for forgiveness almost every day.

Sasuke had grown uneasy from Menma's behavior and carefully checked whether Menma had tricked him somehow without him noticing.

But after a thorough examination, he found nothing wrong.

Yet when Sasuke asked Menma exactly what he had done to wrong him, Menma stammered and refused to say a word.

This made Sasuke extremely annoyed.

Sasuke firmly declared that he would never forgive Menma unless he told him.

Root.

Inside Danzo's office.

Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was smoking a pipe, and asked, "You came to see me, which means you've more or less finished investigating the Uchiha Clan, right?"

Hiruzen nodded solemnly. "Yes. I already have the list of those who proposed launching a coup at the Uchiha gathering at Naka Shrine. Fugaku is still wavering on the matter, Danzo. That means Fugaku still has Konoha in his heart. There's still time. We don't have to take things to the point of bloodshed."

Seeing Hiruzen so determined to give the Uchiha a chance no matter what, Danzo snorted coldly. "Then give them a chance."

"Cough, cough... What did you say?"

Hiruzen looked at Danzo in disbelief. He had assumed Danzo would certainly refuse, so he had prepared an entire set of arguments.

He had not expected Danzo to agree so readily, leaving Hiruzen with the feeling of throwing a punch into cotton.

Danzo shot Hiruzen a glance. "Don't you want to give the Uchiha a chance? If not, then Root and the Anbu can join forces and wipe out the Uchiha Clan directly."

"No, no, no. I was just surprised. Don't you hate the Uchiha? Why did you suddenly relent today?" Hiruzen asked in confusion.

"Relent? Heh. I only said I would give the Uchiha Clan a chance. I never said I would definitely spare the Uchiha Clan. If there's anything that dissatisfies me, heh heh!"

Danzo sneered, his meaning obvious.

Hiruzen let out a breath of relief. As long as Danzo was willing to give the Uchiha Clan a chance, that was enough.

Hiruzen and Danzo thought alike. If the Uchiha Clan failed to seize this opportunity properly, then they could only abandon the Uchiha Clan.

It would be like Konoha cutting off one of its own arms, but that was still better than allowing this hidden danger to grow ever greater.

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

"It's simple. Those Uchiha clansmen who did not propose a coup will be allowed to return to Konoha's central circle and be given the treatment a ninja clan deserves. As for those Uchiha clansmen who want to launch a coup, they will all join Root. My people will discipline them properly and make them understand regret!" Danzo's gaze was incomparably cold.

Hiruzen frowned. "How do you plan to discipline them?"

"That is none of your concern. Although Root has already abolished its training to erase the self, I have plenty of methods to make them obedient. If you're still worried, once the Uchiha clansmen have been disciplined, I'll hand them over to you. Root was originally an Anbu training department anyway."

Hiruzen asked curiously, "Hyuga ninja, Uchiha ninja... Danzo, are you planning to build up Menma's foundation and groom him for his future campaign to become Hokage?"

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

Hiruzen laughed twice. "How could there be a problem? Wherever Konoha's leaves dance, fire endures without end. Danzo, you're cultivating a towering tree for Konoha's future. I couldn't be happier.

"And I also hope the next generation can grow up as quickly as possible. We've worked hard for most of our lives. By then, you and I should be able to retire too. Then the two of us can enjoy our retirement properly with Homura, Koharu, and the others."

Danzo said nothing. In his mind, he saw the day when Uzumaki Menma's stone likeness would be carved onto Hokage Rock, while he stood below and gazed up at it.

That feeling would probably be quite nice.

Danzo returned from his vision of the future and cast those stray thoughts aside.

Now was not the time to think about such things.

He had to do everything he could to prepare for Uzumaki Menma's future. All of his efforts had been poured into Menma.

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

"I'll prepare to negotiate with Fugaku as soon as possible. The sooner this matter is resolved, the better. If we drag it out too long, unexpected problems may arise. I'll send someone to notify you on the day of the negotiations."

"Fine. We'll do it the same way as always."

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

What Danzo meant by the same way as always was that one would play the good cop, while the other played the bad cop.

This was the understanding Danzo and Hiruzen had developed over many years.

Hiruzen was the ever-warm Hokage beneath the sunlight, while Danzo was the decisive Root in the darkness. The two complemented one another.

Night.

Fugaku Uchiha, still unaware of everything, remained at the gathering at Naka Shrine, listening to the complaints of his clansmen.

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

Although they had already submitted the intelligence Hiruzen wanted, they had no idea what Hiruzen would do.

And with the Uchiha clansmen at the gathering so agitated, their emotions of wanting to settle accounts with Konoha and reclaim everything they had lost had already infected most of them.

If this was not stopped soon, Itachi and Shisui feared that public sentiment would force the wavering Fugaku Uchiha to agree to launch the coup.

Out of guilt toward Sasuke, Uzumaki Menma went to find Danzo.

Danzo looked over a mission report without raising his head and asked, "Why aren't you sleeping at this hour? What do you want with me?"

Menma put on a flattering smile, ran behind Danzo on his short little legs, and began massaging his shoulders. "Grandpa Danzo, you still haven't told me whether you were satisfied with my answer last time."

"What would you do if I wasn't satisfied?"

Menma froze, his little face scrunching up.

What could he do if Danzo was dissatisfied?

Menma began tormenting the brain cells in his little head, trying to think of a way to make Danzo change his mind.

He had to make an effort, at least. Effort might not guarantee results, but what if it worked?

The moment Menma stopped massaging his shoulders, Danzo knew without looking that Menma was trying to figure out how to make him change his mind.

After all, he had raised him. Menma only had to stick out his butt for Danzo to know whether he needed to take a dump or had diarrhea.

Danzo set down the mission report and said, "Stop thinking about how to fool me. Your answer last time was barely acceptable."

Menma delightedly threw his arms around Danzo's neck.

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

"Grandpa Danzo, that's amazing!"

"Don't celebrate too soon. This arrangement will be carried out according to your previous answer. That means no matter what consequences arise, you, as the decision-maker, will bear them."

Menma's excitement vanished completely.

What the heck?

He had to bear the consequences?

What was he supposed to bear them with?