Amplification

Looking at Utatane Koharu glaring at him, Danzo could vaguely guess what she was thinking, and inwardly he could only smile wryly.

He really didn't want to be the Root Leader anymore.

He had already been a leader long enough in his previous life, and he had already experienced the power of being above all others.

Having finally escaped the identity of a world enemy and come to this anime world, he wanted to properly enjoy a life in the sunlight.

Besides, with the Good Person System in his possession, he shouldn't be hiding in the shadows.

"Let's leave things as they are for now."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had clearly misunderstood Danzo's meaning as well. He rubbed his temples, somewhat troubled, and said, "Danzo, let's wait until this matter is over, and then we'll find another time to talk."

After so many years, he knew exactly what kind of person Danzo was.

Not interested in the position of Hokage?

Only a ghost would believe that.

Watching the three of them with some helplessness, what more could Danzo say?

He spread his hands, turned around, and left directly.

In truth, ever since he had transmigrated here, Danzo had never really managed the Root organization. Most of the time, he treated those Root Ninja like servants.

Whether it was pouring tea and water, or committing murder and arson, they were skilled at everything.

The few ninja working under Danzo could almost be called all-rounders.

"In the past, I had no choice. Now, I really want to be a good person." As if muttering to himself, Danzo half-reclined in the palanquin, closing his eyes to concentrate.

The palanquin gave a slight, noticeable jolt.

The four Root Ninja outside had clearly heard Danzo's words as well, but there was no joy in them—only a heavier sense of unease.

Lord Danzo had been getting harder and harder to read lately.

Danzo felt a strange familiarity with that jolt, like riding a roller coaster in the past.

He couldn't help but laugh and gave them an order: "Just keep running around Konoha like this. Don't make it too smooth—a little rocking makes it more comfortable to sleep."

"Yes!"

The Root Ninja, who had seemed devoid of emotion, answered with a trembling voice.

Just now, he thought he had heard Lord Danzo laugh.

He couldn't help but turn his head to look at his teammate beside him, and his teammate, wearing an animal mask, tilted his head back at him. Clearly, he too was dazed by that laugh.

Feeling the palanquin sway noticeably, Danzo lay flat on the soft cushion, comfortable.

Back when he had trouble sleeping from stress, he loved to rent out the entire roller coaster. That rocking sensation helped him fall asleep quickly.

Danzo's closed eyes snapped open, and he reached out to tap on the virtual panel floating in the air.

"Ding-dong."

At that moment, a soft chime sounded.

He had already decided. The single Skill Point he had would be used to activate Body Amplification.

Compared to speed and mental attributes, Danzo's strength and physique were relatively weak.

In this dangerous world, defense could be said to be extremely important.

And as Body Amplification lit up, Danzo could clearly feel a strange life force surging within him, continuously improving his body.

The warmth was like soaking his entire body in a hot spring. Danzo slowly sank into this comfortable transformation.

"Lord Danzo?"

The Root Ninja outside could also sense the movement inside the palanquin and asked with some confusion.

"Keep circling Konoha. Don't stop." Danzo's voice rang out, flat and without a ripple.

This actually relieved the four Root Ninja carrying the palanquin.

This was the Lord Danzo they were used to.

The physical change lasted quite a while. Danzo drifted off to sleep in that warm environment, and when he woke up, the amplification had already ended.

He clenched his fist. Aside from a strange sense of fullness, there didn't seem to be much of a change.

He opened the virtual panel. The values on it had already changed.

--

[Main Attribute Panel]

Name: Shimura Danzō.

Age: Twenty-one.

Strength: C.

Physique: C+.

Speed: A.

Spirit: A

Skills:

Strength Amplification (Inactive)

Body Amplification (Active) Endurance Amplification (Inactive)

Speed Amplification (Inactive)

Spirit Amplification (Inactive)

Skill Points: 0

--

After Body Amplification was activated, the physical strength attribute rose from C to C+, and the subsequent skill Endurance Amplification was unlocked.

The Skill Points needed to activate Endurance Amplification were ten times the previous amount. In other words, Danzo needed to earn the heartfelt gratitude and admiration of ten people.

This was far too difficult.

He couldn't help but sigh, then asked toward the outside, "What time is it now?"

"It is already late at night." The Root ninja replied calmly, his tone as steady as before. Despite carrying a large palanquin for such a long time, the four Root ninja showed no signs of fatigue, their faces unchanged and their breathing even.

Just then, the palanquin suddenly stopped.

"The Hokage requests your presence."

A stern, emotionless voice sounded from outside the palanquin.

Danzo frowned.

Sarutobi?

Hadn't he just come from there?

What did that old man want with him now?

"Why stop? Return to Root."

Danzo ordered the four Root ninja outside indifferently.

The palanquin began to sway again.

To Root, Danzo's orders outweighed the Hokage's.

Sitting up from his reclining position, the slight excitement he had felt earlier was calmed by Sarutobi's interference.

Calling him over to watch a self-staged play was one thing.

But now summoning him back—what was the point?

"The Hokage invites Lord Danzo to discuss tomorrow's meeting." The Anbu ninja outside did not dare to block Danzo's advance and continued speaking while following the swaying palanquin.

"I said, I don't want to attend tomorrow's meeting." Danzo said impatiently. "Stop him. If he keeps following, knock him unconscious."

"Understood."

Apart from the four Root ninja outside, there was another hidden Root ninja.

Upon hearing Danzo's order, he appeared instantly before the Anbu ninja to block his path.

He was also dressed in black, wearing an animal mask.

The Root and Anbu ninja faced off against each other, neither making a move.

Only after the palanquin carrying Danzo disappeared from sight did the silently standing Anbu ninja slowly turn and head back to the Hokage Building to report.

Sarutobi Hiruzen gazed out the window at the silent Konoha under the night sky.

It was already very late, and most people had gone to rest.

Throughout the streets, Anbu ninja were secretly protecting the village.

The fact that Kumogakure had kidnapped the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan was undoubtedly a slap in the face to Konoha.

And after being discovered, Kumogakure had used the incident as a pretext to raise an army and start a war, flaunting their power right in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Clenching his fists tightly, compared to the composed Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, Sarutobi's heart leaned more toward Danzo.

It wasn't just because the two were close friends since childhood, but also because Danzo's personality resonated with the younger version of himself.

As time passed, Sarutobi's character had continuously changed, while Danzo remained as assertive as ever.

Today, he had actually hoped Danzo would convince him during the meeting, so he could ignore the Fire Country Daimyo and the voices of others in the village and send troops to save face.

But Danzo's attitude had surprised him.

What exactly was he planning?

This was what Sarutobi had been pondering ever since the meeting ended. He had originally planned to rest briefly in the lounge.

But Danzo's behavior left him tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Finally, unable to bear it, he sent someone to bring Danzo back.

He felt that Danzo, too, was waiting for his summons.

He must have something to say to him.

"Hokage, Lord Danzo said he will not attend tomorrow's meeting." A dark figure appeared out of nowhere in the Hokage Office, reporting to Sarutobi Hiruzen by the window.

Sarutobi's expression shifted, a flicker of doubt flashing in his eyes.

(New book, begging for votes.)