I Want Asuma

"Lord Hokage, several members of the Nara Clan and Yamanaka Clan are confronting each other over the boundaries of their farmland, and neither side is willing to back down."

"They are now asking Lord Hokage to rule on the matter."

The Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned back in his chair with his back to the desk, gazing at the scenery outside the window.

An ANBU member beside him knelt on one knee and reported the situation.

"Is it that newly developed farmland by the Nanga River again?"

"Yes."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed after hearing the report and rubbed his aching brow.

That tract of farmland had been discovered by chance a few years ago. The soil was fertile and highly suitable for cultivation.

The three Ino–Shika–Cho clans had always closely followed his lead. Since both the Yamanaka and Nara clans had businesses that required farmland, he had assigned that land to them for joint development.

But as the land was gradually developed, the boundary issue had never been properly resolved, and members of the two clans often quarreled.

The Ino–Shika–Cho clans were closely connected. No matter how he handled this matter, one side would inevitably harbor resentment.

"No, I can't be the one to step in!"

He instinctively turned to look for Danzo.

Only then did he remember that, when it came to internal affairs, Danzo showed no interest in the matters of other clans aside from the Uchiha Clan.

Irritation welled up within him. He habitually picked up his pipe, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled a long stream of smoke.

After a moment, he came up with a conciliatory solution.

"Inform the two clan heads that harmony should come first. Have them sit down and work out a sound solution among themselves."

The ANBU member looked up, feeling somewhat puzzled.

The two clans had come to the Hokage precisely because they had been unable to reach an agreement.

Why was he instead telling them to negotiate on their own?

However, he did not voice those thoughts. The Hokage must have his own considerations; he only needed to obey quietly.

"The three Ino–Shika–Cho clans are one body. Do not let such petty gains damage your relationship. Whether you grow flowers or medicinal herbs, it is all for Konoha."

"Yes."

Having received his orders, the ANBU member's body gradually faded before vanishing.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and rubbed his throbbing temples.

Every one of the clans below had its own agenda. For the sake of a few benefits, they kicked up a fuss every few days and brought every big and small matter to him, the Hokage, to resolve.

Now even problems had arisen among the closely allied Ino–Shika–Cho clans.

Couldn't they save him some worry and focus their minds on external matters?

During his years as Hokage, he had faced difficult choices almost every day, leaving him mentally exhausted.

This was completely different from the beautiful image he had once held of being Hokage.

Only after becoming Hokage had he realized that it was nowhere near as simple as he had imagined.

The excitement and passion he had felt when his teacher first appointed him Hokage had long since been worn away by these daily dilemmas and decisions.

He looked at the busy streets outside the window and could not help thinking of Tobirama Senju.

If his teacher had not stayed behind to cover their retreat back then, what would things be like now?

The office door was suddenly flung open without the slightest courtesy!

A cold voice came from outside, interrupting Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts.

"Hiruzen, the spies operating in enemy countries have suffered heavy losses recently. I need more manpower."

A gloomy man wrapped head to toe in bandages and leaning on a cane entered the room.

Danzō Shimura!

The shinobi world's only "five-and-a-halfth Hokage," the strongest pot-holder on the surface.

A collector of both Sharingan and talent, the man who stabbed Susanoo with a kunai and was first to seal off a bridge.

He had finally come to ask for people.

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his chair around and looked at Danzo in confusion.

"Didn't I already assign the children from the orphanage to Root for training?"

"Not enough. I need to select a few more as replacements."

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt somewhat displeased at those words.

In recent years, the major nations had been growing restless, and internal investigations had intensified.

It was true that Root had suffered manpower losses, but Root had absorbed nearly all the people from the orphanage. Yet that was still not enough, and Danzo kept reaching out for more.

He shook his head. "ANBU has no surplus personnel either."

"You can select from the students graduating from the Ninja Academy."

When you encounter advertisements such as "Are you a real person?", there is no need to pay attention to them. Simply close them; do not scan any codes or send text messages!

Danzo refused to let the matter go.

"Ninja Academy students are Konoha's future. Root..."

"Hiruzen!"

Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could finish, Danzo interrupted him.

"Root is also Konoha's Root. Konoha is a great tree, and it needs enough roots underground to draw nourishment before it can sprout. Everything I do is for Konoha's future."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag from his pipe, exhaled a long stream of smoke, and fell silent for a while before saying, "Who do you want?"

"Kakashi Hatake." Danzo answered without hesitation.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "Kakashi has just lost his father. He is not suited to an oppressive environment like Root."

"A ninja who has lost his emotions can become even stronger! Without emotions, he will not fear, nor will his actions be controlled by his feelings..."

Danzo described Kakashi as though he had been born for Root. "Hiruzen, he is the most perfect tool for Root to use."

Hiruzen Sarutobi knocked the ash from his pipe and shook his head. "No! I have other plans for Kakashi."

"Then give me Shibi Aburame."

"You already have Shikuro Aburame from the Aburame Clan."

"What does that matter? You're the Hokage. Can't you transfer another one?" Danzo said as if it were only natural.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced up at Danzō Shimura and frowned, but he still patiently explained.

"While the Aburame Clan is not as rigidly hierarchical as the Hyuga Clan, it is still a prominent clan."

"It is true that I am the Hokage, but I still need to discuss it with them if I want to take someone."

"Do you think becoming Hokage means you can do whatever you want?" Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly snapped at Danzo.

Seeing Danzo's face flush red, he secretly felt pleased and continued.

"Besides, Shibi Aburame is a rather versatile ninja with a firm belief in the Will of Fire. He is more suited to working in the light. I have other plans for him as well."

After saying so much, he was simply unwilling to give him anyone. Danzo was somewhat displeased.

"Then I want Aoba Yamashiro."

"I have other plans for him too."

"Hiruzen!" Danzo's gloomy voice suddenly became much shriller.

Other plans! Other plans! He had asked for three people in a row, and Hiruzen had other plans for every one of them.

Danzo was getting angry.

"I can transfer Might Duy to you. His taijutsu is quite good, and his son, Might Guy, graduated two years ago. He can be transferred with him."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not want the atmosphere to become too tense, so he compromised. "Might Duy and his son are full of youthful vigor. They might even ease some of Root's oppressive atmosphere."

"Root does not need youth, nor does it need vigor. It especially does not need civilian ninjas with no talent."

"You don't want civilians?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. Now Danzo was being picky.

He pondered for a moment before speaking.

"There is a ninja from a prominent clan in the same class as Might Guy. His name is Obito Uchiha."

"What use is a dead-last idiot like him, whose ninjutsu works one moment and fails the next, and who has not even awakened the Sharingan? Even if he is from a prominent clan?"

Danzo furrowed his brow deeply, disappointment plain in his eyes.

He was deeply disappointed in Hiruzen Sarutobi. After all these years as comrades-in-arms, he was asking for a few people, yet Hiruzen kept making excuses.

If he was not recommending fools, he was recommending idiots.

Recommending Might Duy and Might Guy was one thing, but he had even recommended Obito Uchiha.

"There is also a child with a bloodline limit in their class, named Hyuga Seisen. Yuhi Shinku speaks highly of him, saying that he has a firm will and is both brave and resourceful."

"If it is him, the Hyuga Clan should be willing to let him go..."

"Hiruzen!" Danzo suddenly raised his voice and angrily interrupted the Third Hokage.

His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

Since when had our relationship grown so shallow?

To the point that you would brush me off like this.

After fools and idiots, he was now recommending a piece of trash.

Even Obito Uchiha had graduated two years ago, yet this trash was still being held back this year.

Danzo had even heard that he had come in last again during the final exams not long ago. He probably would not graduate this year either.

Firm will? Brave and resourceful?

Had Yuhi Shinku's words become as worthless as farts now?

Even if such a bloodline limit were offered to Root for free, he would not accept it.

Was it really this difficult to get a person from him?

Fine, fine, Hiruzen. So this was how he wanted to play it.

Danzō Shimura suddenly cast off his gloomy air, slightly raised his head, and assumed a dignified posture.

"Hiruzen, I want Asuma!"

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