The atmosphere at Konoha's entrance was solemn.
Everyone stared straight ahead.
The road was neither long nor short, and the scenery around it was hardly beautiful. At best, the street could be called flat; it had nothing to do with grandeur.
Yet even so, Danzo managed to walk those few short steps with the bearing of someone ascending the throne.
He held his head high and his chest out, gripping his cane in one hand. His face was calm, except for the occasional moment when he failed to suppress a flash of wild joy. It was more than enough to show that his heart was anything but tranquil.
His face clearly bore a single sentence:
Yes.
At this very moment, this old man was Konoha's greatest contributor!
Everyone's eyes should be gathered upon this old man, learning from this old man's exemplary spirit.
And Sarutobi had to learn from this old man how to be a proper Hokage!
Before he had even entered the village, under everyone's gaze.
Danzo stopped instead, a proud look appearing on his face.
"Why has Lord Danzo stopped walking?"
"Don't know. Maybe his leg hurts?"
"I can see a trace of dissatisfaction on Lord Danzo's face. What is he dissatisfied about?"
"Huh? Look at Hokage-sama!"
"..."
Anyone capable of becoming a Kage was no simple character.
The old village chief might have been lacking in other areas, but his ability to read people and situations was absolutely on point.
The moment he saw Danzo stop and wait, the old village chief's brows furrowed.
The two had worked together for years. Whenever Danzo stuck something out, the old village chief knew exactly which angle would get the most out of it. So, almost instantly, he understood what Danzo wanted.
He felt the reception he had been