"Konoha shall triumph!"
"Konoha shall triumph!"
"..."
Under Hyuga Wuye's bold declaration, everyone began to cheer.
It was a release after unbearable oppression, carrying all their hopes and expectations.
As for the Third's lonely figure walking toward the Hokage Building, everyone unconsciously ignored it.
"Sarutobi, you lost to him."
Whoosh.
Danzo's figure suddenly appeared in the shadows at the corner ahead of the Third.
"I didn't lose." The Third raised his clouded eyes and muttered, "I'm still the Hokage. I haven't lost."
"No. The day he returns victorious..."
Danzo stared coldly at Hyuga Wuye's distant back. "He'll be the Fourth Hokage! And it will be the will of the people!"
The Third walked to his side and stood still.
"Sarutobi, let's join forces," Danzo said in a low voice as he looked at his aged profile. "As long as we join forces again, no one will be able to shake your position."
The Third remained silent for a long time.
Danzo hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out to pat his shoulder. "That young man really is rather capable..."
The Third was silent for a while longer before finally looking at him and slowly speaking. "Do you have a way?"
Danzo perked up. He stepped closer and lowered his voice. "We have to bring the credit for ending the war back into your hands. According to my intelligence, as long as we do this when the time comes..."
After hearing Danzo's entire plan, the Third took a long while before speaking hoarsely. "So many shinobi are desperately longing for a victory. Are we really going to do this?"
Danzo frowned. He had wanted to spit in the man's face, but restrained himself and changed his tone. "We're doing this to prevent even greater losses, to protect the village's shinobi.