Danzō Shimura's Resentment

After thinking of that person, Hiruzen Sarutobi rose directly and, under the watchful eyes of the ANBU hidden around him, walked toward the office door.

Opening the office door, Hiruzen Sarutobi made as if to leave.

But before stepping out, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked back at the empty office and calmly gave the order:

"Don't follow me. I'll be back soon."

With that, he walked out of the office and left completely.

Who was he speaking to? The answer was obvious. He was issuing orders to the many ANBU hidden within the office.

And those hidden ANBU were very obedient.

If the Hokage said not to follow him, then they would not follow him. After all, this was the Hokage, and this was Konoha. Nothing should go wrong.

They had often encountered situations like this before, where they were not allowed to guard him in secret. The Hokage probably needed to handle something confidential. They understood.

They only needed to remain hidden in the office and wait for the Hokage to return.

Thus, Hiruzen Sarutobi left the Hokage Building alone and unnoticed, heading straight for the Shimura Clan's compound.

Since his destination was the Shimura compound, it was obvious whom Hiruzen Sarutobi was going to find.

Yes, Hiruzen Sarutobi was going to see his old friend, Danzō.

Danzō was a sinister man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. He was truly Konoha's Root and the darkness of the shinobi world. Much of the dirty work Hiruzen Sarutobi could not conveniently handle was done by Danzō, and Danzō had taken much of the blame for him as well.

And so, the moment trouble arose, Hiruzen Sarutobi thought of Danzō.

The reason he did not go to Root to find him, but instead went to Danzō's home in the Shimura compound, was because Danzō had just been dismissed and sent home to reflect behind closed doors. Hiruzen Sarutobi himself had issued that order.

Before long, Hiruzen Sarutobi silently arrived outside Danzō's home.

What state was Danzō in at this moment?

Danzō was at home, sitting alone beneath the eaves.

Looking at the exquisite, elegant Japanese-style landscape garden before him, looking at every blade of grass and tree in his home, Danzō's face remained expressionless, but his aura was gloomy.

Honestly, Danzō's current aura was utterly incompatible with the refined and elegant scenery of the courtyard.

Though the old man showed no expression, one only needed to look at his face, to gaze into his eyes, to know that Danzō was in an extremely bad mood.

Who had provoked him enough to leave him in such a foul mood?

Heh, who else could it be? Yun Yan and Hiruzen Sarutobi!

As though the beautiful landscape garden before him might disrupt his schemes, Danzō closed his eyes with a slightly darkened expression and sank into his own thoughts.

Uchiha Yunyan... Uchiha Yunyan... Uchiha Yunyan...

Again and again, Danzō repeated Yunyan's name in his heart in that sinister voice.

Who would have thought that he, Danzō Shimura, a great elder of Konoha and leader of Root, would stumble over some insignificant Uchiha!

He had thought Yunyan was merely some Uchiha brat who had won the Daimyō's favor through unknown means. He had thought the boy was, at most, a jōnin-level shinobi. He had thought sending two Root shinobi to intercept and kill him would be effortless!

Who could have known... who could have known... who could have known that things would go wrong!?

When the ANBU beside Hiruzen Sarutobi dragged the corpses of those two Root shinobi before Danzō, his face had turned utterly black.

Not only had it darkened, but he had also been incredulous. He could not imagine such a thing happening, could not imagine that a minor figure he had never cared about would slip beyond his control!

From the moment he realized the assassination had failed, Danzō began paying far greater attention to Uchiha Yunyan!

No wonder he has won the Daimyō's favor. No wonder he caught the Daimyō's eye. This brat truly has some skill. He hid his strength well enough to make even this old man misjudge him!

Just as Danzō was furious over this blunder and failure, preparing to order Root to make its next move, Hiruzen Sarutobi's order arrived.

The moment Danzō saw that order, he flew into a rage!

"What? Dismissal!"

"What? Sent home to reflect behind closed doors!?"

"What? Root will be commanded by Hiruzen Sarutobi during this period!?"

"What kind of joke is this!? This old man absolutely refuses to accept it!?"

That was what he said, and the fury Danzō displayed at the time had been enough to burn down all of Root. But the Hokage's written order was right before him. No matter how unwilling Danzō was, he had to obey.

The reason was simple. He was not the Hokage. Hiruzen Sarutobi was!

Even as the powerful and feared leader of Root, before the Hokage, before the highest authority, he could only lower his head and submit!

Damn it! Hokage! Hokage! Hokage!

As long as he, Danzō, was not Hokage, he would remain subject to others. He would have no choice but to obey Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders, no choice but to bow his head!

It had always been this way over the years. Every time, it enraged Danzō and filled him with such resentment that he nearly went mad! Yet even madness could do nothing!

And so, after raging and roaring in Root for a while, Danzō could only accept the punishment. For the time being, he left Root behind and returned home to reflect behind closed doors.

Reflection behind closed doors was one thing, and outward calm was another. Though Danzō now appeared quiet and peaceful at home, resentment and fury churned within him like raging waves, ready to burst free at any moment!

Besides his fury and resentment, Danzō was also somewhat confused.

He truly did not understand why Hiruzen Sarutobi had suddenly issued such a punishment. Dismissal would have been one thing, but why send him home to reflect behind closed doors!?

Has he found me unpleasant lately? Does he want to suppress me again?

But the timing doesn't fit, does it? I've kept a low profile lately. I haven't given Hiruzen Sarutobi any reason to suppress me!

Is it because of that brat Uchiha Yunyan? Because I failed to kill him?

Fine, this old man admits it was a mistake. But it wasn't that grave of a mistake, was it? Why is Hiruzen Sarutobi using it as an excuse to come after me?

Danzō's thoughts were as complex and chaotic as a storm. No matter how he thought about it, he could not understand.

Just as a storm brewed within Danzō's heart, he sensed something and suddenly opened his eyes.

The instant he opened them, Danzō saw Hiruzen Sarutobi standing before him, though he had no idea when the man had arrived.

This old bastard...

He cursed inwardly, but he was not surprised. Danzō remained seated beneath the eaves without rising. With a gloomy expression, he lifted his eyelids and reluctantly greeted him:

"Hiruzen..."

In his heart, he called the man Hiruzen Sarutobi by his full name, yet when facing him, he called him Hiruzen. Danzō truly was the type to wear one face before others and another behind their backs.

Seeing his old friend like this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt somewhat complicated. But for the moment, he said nothing and merely nodded.

Hiruzen Sarutobi might not have spoken, but Danzō had plenty to say. With an unpleasant expression and a low voice, he questioned him directly:

"Hiruzen, why did you dismiss me? Why did you send me home?

Was it because of that brat Uchiha Yunyan?

Hmph, it was only a mistake. This old man merely misjudged that brat's strength."

Looking at the resentful Danzō, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt deeply helpless.

Even if someone dug out Danzō's brain, he probably would never imagine that Hiruzen Sarutobi had punished him because Hiruzen Sarutobi himself had been forced into a corner by Yunyan and had no choice but to compromise.

Over the years, Hiruzen Sarutobi had compromised countless times for all sorts of reasons.

But punishing Danzō because of a compromise—this was truly the first time in history!

Naturally, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not reveal the real reason. That would damage his prestige and dignity.

Thus, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only change the subject, opening with a rebuke:

"Danzō, you've gone too far."

Danzō did not say a word. He had lost count of how many times he had heard such accusations.

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued his rebuke:

"No matter what, the Uchiha Clan belongs to Konoha, and Uchiha Yunyan is also a shinobi of Konoha.

Sending Root to assassinate him, attacking a shinobi from the same village—this is an undeniable grave crime! Punishing you like this is already lenient!"

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's high-sounding words, Danzō grew even more impatient. He snorted coldly and interrupted him first:

"Hmph, the Uchiha Clan is an evil clan. Every Uchiha is a hidden danger to Konoha. These people harbor ill intent. At every moment, they seek rebellion and a coup, seeking to seize Konoha's power.

This old man has nothing to say about such Uchiha. My greatest wish is to completely eliminate the Uchiha Clan and completely remove this hidden danger!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, his expression turning stern.

"Danzō, you are too extreme. The Uchiha Clan has not reached that point."

"But they already show such signs, don't they!?

Furthermore, don't forget their ancestor, Madara Uchiha! He is a warning from the past!

Like ancestor, like descendant. The Uchiha Clan should not exist!"