Using Danzo's Money to Support My People

"I was stating facts."

Shimura Danzō left those words behind, giving Hiruzen Sarutobi no chance to continue venting his anger.

He turned around and strode toward the door of the Hokage Office.

The sound of his cane striking the wooden floor echoed through the room, unusually brisk.

He pulled open the door and walked out without looking back.

The heavy door slammed shut behind him, sealing Hiruzen Sarutobi's suppressed rage inside.

The corridor was somewhat dimly lit.

Yet Danzo felt that the path before him had never seemed so broad.

For decades, he had always been held beneath Hiruzen.

Whenever they argued, Hiruzen would always use his status as Hokage to suppress him.

He could only hide in Root's darkness and handle those shameful matters.

But today, he had finally tasted what it felt like to force Hiruzen into a corner.

Thinking of Hiruzen's expression—wanting to explode yet having no choice but to endure it—filled Danzo with satisfaction.

Danzo descended the stairs with his cane.

He even felt that today's air was fresher than usual.

A passing ANBU lowered his head and saluted him.

In an unprecedented move, Danzo stopped and nodded at the ANBU.

The ANBU froze for a moment, then hurried away, wondering whether he had somehow offended the Root leader.

Danzo paid him no mind.

He strode out of the Hokage Building.

Sunlight fell across him.

He raised his chin slightly and savored the rare ease.

Hatake Sakumo, that trump card, had already fallen into his hands. Hiruzen would no longer dare move against him so easily.

That was one of Hidden Leaf's strongest fighters.

Now, that blade was in Root's grasp.

And with the "Root Peripheral Coordinators" Qian Ye had created—

Danzo felt that he was getting closer and closer to that position.

Qian Ye truly