Jiraiya gave a cold snort and shot Orochimaru a sidelong look. "And you're any better? Everyone's afraid of you. They think you're gloomy and creepy."
"I don't care."
Orochimaru spread his hands. "They're telling the truth. I've never tried to argue."
"I can admit it. Can you?"
Lord Jiraiya, admit he was a pervert?
Not a chance!
Just then, another conversation drifted over:
"Hey, why hasn't anyone mentioned Lord Danzo? Shouldn't he be the Fourth Hokage?"
"...Uh, who are you? You're a Jōnin, but I don't think I've seen you around the village. And who's this Lord Danzo? Never heard of him."
"..."
That one reply silenced the Root member disguised as an Ordinary Jōnin.
And it wasn't just him. Danzo himself, hidden in the shadows, nearly choked.
The words did little damage, but the humiliation was off the charts.
These damned civilians don't even know who I am?
Which war didn't I charge into at the front? I fought for this village, bled for it, and earned countless merits!
That's it! It must be Hiruzen Sarutobi! He took all the credit and deliberately kept my achievements hidden!
A bitter fire burned in Danzo's chest. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that he'd been played.
He deliberately put me in charge of Root so I'd spend my whole life in the shadows. That's why hardly anyone recognizes my face!
He never intended to let me anywhere near the Hokage's seat!
Hiruzen Sarutobi, you old bastard. I was blind to trust you. From today on, this isn't over between us!
The more you try to keep me from that chair, the more determined I am to sit in it.
Danzo clenched his teeth and swore to himself.
One day, he would sit openly in the Hokage