Join Root for Konoha!

Although villagers did not go to the battlefield, their potential strength could not be underestimated. The professions that branched out from them affected Konoha's foundation.

Not to mention the nurses in the hospitals, the loss of merchants alone would be enough to plunge Konoha into hardship. Yet because of Muzan, villagers who had not wanted to get involved had invisibly become participants in the war.

"This kid really is capable. Konoha's new generation has grown up."

"With him around, we can save ourselves a lot of trouble."

Koharu Utatane narrowed her eyes slightly. She had always been calm in her work and habitually analyzed matters that would benefit the village. Realizing how significant Muzan's actions were to Konoha, she could not help looking toward Danzo in the darkness.

"I heard there was a battle in the village recently, and Muzan was one of those involved."

"But who was his opponent...?"

She had her own channels. What happened in the rain had been handled discreetly enough that no one would suspect Root, but a careful investigation would reveal a few clues pointing toward Muzan.

Of course, there was nothing inherently wrong with it. Conflicts between ninja were perfectly normal.

What was abnormal was that Muzan had severely wounded someone—and that person could not be found anywhere in Konoha's records!

The only one capable of doing that was the old friend standing before her, Danzo.

"I know what you mean. I only want to recruit him into Root. You should know that he and Orochimaru are the same kind of person. People like them are destined to be unable to stand in the sunlight."

Danzo's voice was exceptionally cold. Looking at the scene in the crystal ball, the cheering villagers had no idea whom they should be grateful to. Just as Danzo said, Muzan was naturally suited to the darkness.

For a moment, he even thought that once he became Hokage, Root's authority in the future would be handed to the new generation.

Only Muzan was suited to become Root's leader, inheriting his convictions and continuing to bury himself in the soil, becoming the Root!

Cold and merciless, ruthless in his strikes—this was Danzo's assessment of Muzan.

He understood people like this well. So long as their bottom line was involved, they would certainly betray the village. Therefore, Danzo had to keep him firmly under control!

"Everyone has the right to enjoy the sunlight, Danzo."

The Third Hokage's voice rang out, carrying an unquestionable weight. He took a drag from his pipe, making the air in the room a little murkier, then continued in a hoarse voice:

"Have you forgotten what the Second Hokage said before he died?"

Those words caused a flicker in Danzo's cold expression. How could he forget? That had been his closest chance to claim the Hokage's position, yet he had failed to take that step!

"I understand."

Yet his clenched fist showed that things were not so simple. No one knew what Danzo was thinking.

The blood donation plan was a great success. As the one behind it, Muzan had not participated in the hospital's work. Instead, he stood on the hospital's highest floor, watching the sea of people lining up to donate blood.

"With this, the wounded on the front lines will have some assurance. We only need to wait for the machines to be completed, sort the blood by type, and store it all in cold storage."

Muzan always acted with a purpose. As long as he determined the goal first, the rest could be handled step by step. Of course, unexpected variables could arise, and those were the real trouble.

"I'll leave it to Senior Shanjian He. After all, you're the commander of the medical ninja. I still want to lie around like a salted fish."

During this period, Shanjian He had practically served as an assistant. For a Special Jōnin, especially someone who held authority during wartime, that was simply unimaginable.

There was actually someone who regarded power so lightly!

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten. Now that we have sufficient blood, even if we're injured fighting the Cloud Ninja, we can save their lives immediately."

The weight on Shanjian He's shoulders instantly lightened. Now, as long as they proceeded step by step, they could ease the tension on the front lines. As for medical equipment, there was no rushing that in the short term.

They stayed busy for an entire afternoon.

When they were preparing to eat dinner that evening, they encountered an unexpected person at the hospital. He was a lean middle-aged man, but the cold, sinister aura around him made people feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Looks like you know me. That saves me the trouble of introducing myself."

"As expected of the White Fang of Konoha's son. You haven't even changed expression in front of this old man."

The one who appeared before Muzan was none other than Shimura Danzo!

His appearance was truly surprising. As Konoha's hidden Root, Danzo had rarely shown himself before outsiders, to the point that many people did not even recognize this middle-aged man.

"Danzo, what is there for us to talk about?"

Beneath the black robe, blood-red eyes examined Danzo. Judging by the man's uninvited arrival, he clearly meant no good.

Danzo greatly disliked the way the people around them looked at him. He moved to Muzan's side and lowered his voice, making it even raspier than before:

"This isn't the place to talk. If you're interested, follow me."

He did not care whether Muzan agreed, because Danzo was certain that he would follow.

In truth, Danzo had no need to appear before Muzan. But his conversation with the Hokage today, especially that final remark, had deeply pierced his heart.

The position of Hokage had always been a threshold he could not cross.

As a result, his methods had become increasingly extreme over the years.

Muzan followed behind him, while Danzo moved exceptionally fast—faster even than an ordinary Jōnin.

This made Muzan struggle somewhat. Many people thought Danzo was merely a crafty old schemer and overlooked his true strength.

But in reality, as the Second Hokage's disciple, he had inherited Tobirama Senju's will and possessed a vast number of ninjutsu. Even if he had not reached the Kage level, he was undoubtedly an elite Jōnin.

Moreover, this was not the future Danzo, whose body had weakened. At this time, both he and the Third Hokage were at the tail end of their physical peaks and had not yet declined from their prime.

Most importantly, he had been capable of competing for the Hokage's position. In his youth, it had not been schemes that supported him, but genuine strength!

Even now, after learning countless forbidden techniques and modifying his body, he should have become even stronger.

Eventually, the two arrived at the Forest of Death. Standing atop a large tree, Danzo stated his purpose.

"I know exactly what kind of person you are. That is precisely why I feared you might betray the village."

"But something happened today that temporarily changed my mind."

Danzo did not explain what had happened. Instead, he extended a hand toward Muzan in an inviting gesture.

"Everyone has the right to yearn for sunlight, but I believe sunlight is not merely about standing before others."

"Just as you did today."

Muzan had proposed the blood donation plan and let Shanjian He and the hospital carry it out, yet the people outside did not know about Muzan.

Did that mean Muzan had not stood in the sunlight? The hospital staff and Shanjian He understood Muzan's intentions.

It was simply that they moved in different circles.

"This old man can give you an opportunity."

"For Konoha, join Root. I can promise you that once I become Hokage, you will be Konoha's Root!"