Hiruzen Sarutobi Sits Tight?

Danzō continued speaking passionately:

"Hiruzen, perhaps you think the time has not yet come, that the Uchiha Clan has not yet shown clear signs of rebellion, and that we cannot act yet.

Fine, I will concede for now that this is not the time, that the moment is not yet ripe.

But what about this Uchiha Yunyan? Are we supposed to turn a blind eye to him? Absolutely not!"

After taking a deep breath, Danzō's expression turned sinister and solemn.

"I do not know what is going on with that boy, nor do I know how he joined the Twelve Guardian Ninja back then.

But this Uchiha brat who appeared out of nowhere has, over these past few years, earned the Daimyo's deep trust and favor!

This! Is absolutely unacceptable! I will never allow it!

Hiruzen, although the Daimyo has never interfered in Konoha's affairs, he is still the Daimyo, still the highest ruler of the Fire Country!

How can someone like that be influenced by a brat from the Uchiha Clan?

If the Daimyo continues to be influenced by Uchiha Yunyan, what if he sides with the Uchiha Clan? What if the Uchiha Clan even gains the Daimyo's support?

When that time comes, our troubles will truly begin. The Uchiha Clan's coup and rebellion will become only natural! Konoha will suffer an enormous catastrophe!"

Listening to Danzō's alarmist words, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally replied in an even tone.

"I have concerns about that as well, which is why I transferred Uchiha Yunyan back to Konoha."

"Not enough! Far from enough!" Danzō continued fiercely. "At the very least, we must eliminate him completely, so that he can never influence the Daimyo again! Only then can we rest easy!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was cold.

"No. You are not allowed to touch him.

No matter what, he is a member of Konoha, a ninja of Konoha. As long as he remains in Konoha, you have no right to touch him!"

Danzō stood up at once.

"Hiruzen, you are too pedantic. Such an unstable factor must be removed no matter what!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained cold and calm.

"Whether Uchiha Yunyan is an unstable factor is for me to judge."

"The evil Uchiha will bring harm to Konoha. I have my own judgment as well!"

"Neither the Uchiha Clan nor Uchiha Yunyan has reached that point. Danzō, why are you being so extreme?"

"To cut the grass, one must pull up the roots! Since we have already discovered a hidden danger, why not eliminate it in advance!?"

"Do you truly wish to eliminate dangers for Konoha? Or is there no selfish desire mixed in with it?"

"Hmph. My conscience is clear. Why should I explain anything I do to anyone else?"

"No matter what, we cannot attack comrades from the same village. That is the bottom line."

"Hmph! Bottom line? How laughable. So many times before..."

"Danzō! Do not mistake my tolerance for indulgence!"

As they argued, Danzō carelessly mentioned "so many times before," and Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately cut him off with extreme severity.

Because if Danzō were allowed to say it, the nature of certain matters would change!

Danzō's expression changed. He realized that he had been careless. Blinded by rage, he had nearly let those words slip out.

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's terrifying expression, and even the faint killing intent hidden in his old eyes, Danzō immediately calmed down as though a basin of cold water had been poured over him.

For the moment, Danzō fell silent.

For the moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent as well.

In the courtyard, the two stared at one another, and the atmosphere became utterly stifling.

After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe. His expression softened, and he let out a helpless sigh before finally speaking again.

"Alas... Danzō, I came this time to see you, to see whether you had properly reflected on your mistakes at home. Now it seems that you still refuse to repent. You truly disappoint me. I had originally planned to shorten your punishment, but now... forget it. During this time, just rest properly. With me overseeing Root, there will be no problems."

With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to leave.

Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's back, Danzō was deeply unwilling to accept this and could only call out coldly after the fact.

"Hiruzen, your soft heart will bring disaster to Konoha. Whether it is the Uchiha Clan or this Uchiha Yunyan, they must be dealt with quickly..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly turned around again and faced him coldly.

"Danzō! You have overstepped your bounds! I am the Hokage!"

Upon hearing the words I am the Hokage, Danzō's head buzzed, and he nearly lost his mind on the spot!

Yes, you are the Hokage! You are the Hokage!

Why? Why are you the Hokage while I am not?

This old man has worked diligently for so many years, done so much for Konoha, secretly cleared away who knew how many threats for Konoha! Why did this old man never get such an opportunity!?

It truly was... unbearable.

Danzō's aged face darkened like storm clouds. He slowly raised his head, cold light flickering in his eyes, his voice freezing.

"Everything this old man has done was for Konoha!

Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

After giving Danzō one last look, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not even be bothered to leave him with another word. He vanished in a flash.

Looking at the empty courtyard before him once more, Danzō took a deep breath and slowly sat down.

The old man appeared to have calmed down, but who knew what kind of storm was brewing in his heart?

After leaving Danzō's home, Hiruzen Sarutobi silently arrived outside the Shimura Clan District.

He revealed himself and stood on a patch of open ground overlooking the entire Shimura Clan District, his gaze particularly fixed on Danzō's home at its center.

After a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly.

"Danzō, I hope you can help me probe Uchiha Yunyan's true strength."

That was right! This was the old man Hiruzen Sarutobi's true objective!

His claim that he had specifically come to Danzō's home to check on him was merely an excuse on the surface.

Checking Danzō's true reaction to being removed from office had only been incidental!

Hiruzen Sarutobi's true purpose was to use this visit, indirectly provoking Danzō with his words.

And what was he provoking Danzō to do?

Naturally, he was provoking Danzō into continuing to attack Yunyan afterward!

Only through the next attack, through the conflict between Root and Yunyan afterward, could Hiruzen Sarutobi judge Yunyan's approximate strength.

And that was not all.

As long as he forced Danzō to keep leading Root against Yunyan in the future, Yunyan would be stretched too thin and would no longer have so much energy or inclination to stir up trouble.

That brat might be a menace, but with the ruthless and unscrupulous Root and Danzō keeping him in check, he would certainly restrain himself considerably!

That was Hiruzen Sarutobi's general plan, his general calculation.

Well, it had to be said that the old man was truly scheming. After serving as Hokage for so many years, his calculations were indeed thorough.

But was Hiruzen Sarutobi not afraid that this would blow up in his face?

Everyone knew Yunyan's personality was so unruly. Was Hiruzen Sarutobi not afraid that once Root truly angered Yunyan, he would turn on them outright and do something earth-shattering?

In truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi had never considered that possibility.

Years of decaying political life had caused his ideas, values, and even his way of thinking to remain trapped in the old ways of conspiracies, schemes, and political balance.

Subconsciously, Hiruzen Sarutobi believed that no matter how unruly Yunyan was, how far could he really go? He was still a Konoha ninja. As long as he remained within Konoha's little patch of land, he would have to play by its rules.

No matter what, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, could firmly control the overall situation. Since he sat in that position and held that authority, he could keep Yunyan under control. Yunyan would have to listen to him as Hokage and give him face.

There was no other reason. He was the Hokage, and Yunyan was a Konoha ninja!

Of course, if Yunyan truly went completely off the rails, tore all pretenses apart, and made such a mess that it could not be cleaned up, then he could simply defect! He could become a rogue ninja!

If that happened, Hiruzen Sarutobi could eliminate Yunyan openly and aboveboard. Things would actually become simpler.

It had to be said that this was the divide caused by differing values.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's subconscious mind, everyone in this world, so long as they were ninja, even Kage-level ninja, had to act according to this world's rules.

As someone at the pinnacle of power within those rules, Hiruzen Sarutobi found it especially convenient to make use of them.

But in Yunyan's mind?

Bullshit! It was all bullshit!

The rules of ninja and Konoha's unspoken rules were all rotten garbage. I will not follow that nonsense.

Everything depended on strength, on one's own strength.

If you were stronger than me, I could listen to you. At worst, I could endure some humiliation for now, then lie low and slowly build myself up.

If I was stronger than you, why should I give a damn about you? Why should I still follow your rules?

If I was unhappy, I would make you pay the price.

It was foreseeable that, for a long time to come, these two sets of values would inevitably clash. Let them wait and see.