Now I Want to Be a Good Person

Kakashi felt somewhat uneasy. Could it be that the Third Hokage had already noticed something wrong with Danzo, which was why he looked like this?

This time, though, Kakashi had truly overthought it. Danzo had only arrived at the Hokage's Office moments ago as well.

The office fell into a brief silence.

The Third Hokage found it rather strange. "Why has everyone stopped talking? Kakashi, you go first. What did you and Shisui come to see me about?"

Kakashi and Shisui looked at each other, neither knowing how to begin.

Kakashi had calculated everything, except that Danzo would get ahead of him in such a short time.

"Hiruzen, don't make things difficult for the two children." Danzo gave a bitter smile and spoke softly.

"Given their positions, it is indeed difficult for them to say this in front of you and me. Though it is somewhat embarrassing, let this old man explain."

The Third Hokage was stunned!

Kakashi was stunned too!

This gentle, soothing tone, these tender words—could such a thing really come from Danzo's mouth?

Was this Danzo?!

Only Shisui remained calm at the side. It couldn't be helped; Kotoamatsukami was simply that powerful.

The Third Hokage's thoughts raced, and he quickly formed a rough guess based on Danzo's unusual behavior.

Could it be...

The Third Hokage frowned and continued waiting for Danzo's explanation.

"To my shame, this old man was possessed by dark thoughts before. I harbored improper designs on Shisui's Sharingan and wanted to seize the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan for myself."

"In his urgency, Shisui had no choice but to use Kotoamatsukami on this old man."

Danzo spoke with deep sincerity, and Kakashi felt as though he could sense the overwhelming guilt rolling off him.

The terror of Kotoamatsukami exceeded his expectations. Danzo knew he had been affected by Kotoamatsukami, yet he still could not break free from its influence and did not feel that anything was wrong at all.

If Shisui were to use Kotoamatsukami on him someday...

Kakashi shook his head and tried hard to cast the thought aside.

He turned toward the Third Hokage. By now, the Third Hokage should have understood the full story, so...

Would he accept what Shisui had done?

The Third Hokage controlled his expression well, but his thoughts were churning inside.

That bastard Danzo had been pulling this kind of stunt behind his back?

Damn it!

Didn't he know that Shisui's Kotoamatsukami was meant for the Uchiha Clan?

The Third Hokage looked at Shisui and Kakashi with a trace of displeasure as well. No matter how wrong Danzo had been, he was still a companion who had shared decades of friendship with him.

Had they considered his feelings before using Kotoamatsukami on him?

Seeing the hostility in the Third Hokage's eyes, Kakashi's heart tightened. Did Danzo still hold a higher place in the Third Hokage's heart?

Kakashi had guessed correctly. The Third Hokage had even begun considering whether to have Shisui release the effects of Kotoamatsukami.

Danzo was his companion after all. Using such a technique on him was simply too cruel.

Of course, the Third Hokage instinctively—or perhaps deliberately—ignored how cruel it was to others every time Danzo gouged out their eyes.

Danzo suddenly gripped the Third Hokage's hand and said painfully, "Hiruzen, I have failed you. You trusted me so much, and I..."

"Out of my own selfish desire to become Hokage, I did many terrible things under the banner of protecting the village. I... I am ashamed!" Danzo wept as he spoke.

"I will spend the rest of my life making amends and devote everything I have to the village!"

Seeing his old companion like this, the Third Hokage could not bear it any longer. He finally made up his mind to have Shisui lift the effects of Kotoamatsukami.

However, before the Third Hokage could speak, Danzo continued, "Root no longer has any reason to exist. I intend to place all of Root under ANBU, and from now on, you will have full control over it."

"From now on, I will wholeheartedly assist you, Hiruzen!"

"I believe that if we work together, we can surely transform Konoha into something entirely new!"

The Third Hokage was overjoyed. Shisui had used Kotoamatsukami well—very well indeed!

The Third Hokage gave Shisui an approving look, then turned back and said with gratification, "Danzo, it is enough that you have such intentions. You should continue managing Root."

"No!" Danzo shook his head firmly. "You are the Hokage. All of ANBU's power should rightfully be under your control."

The Third Hokage smiled so broadly that he could hardly close his mouth. "Then I will gladly accept."

After expressing his feelings to the Third Hokage, Danzo walked over to Kakashi and Shisui and began another round of apologies.

"I am sorry, Kakashi. I have caused you far too much harm. In truth, what happened to your father back then was also something I stirred up behind the scenes..."

"It is all right, Lord Danzo." Kakashi smiled.

Though he had once wanted nothing more than to kill Danzo with his own hands, if the former Danzo knew he would end up like this, he would probably find it worse than death.

The Danzo from before had, in a sense, already been killed by him.

As for his father's death... Kakashi now had some different thoughts about it.

Danzo then looked toward Shisui and said sincerely, "I have wronged you. I have wronged the Uchiha Clan. To make amends, I will certainly find a way to resolve the Uchiha Clan's problem peacefully."

"Then I will leave it to you, Lord Danzo," Shisui said.

"I am truly, deeply sorry!" Danzo bowed deeply to the two of them.

Thus, the matter concerning Danzo was resolved perfectly. Everyone, including Danzo himself, was quite satisfied with the outcome.

"Now that Shisui's Kotoamatsukami cannot be used again for some time, how should we resolve the matter of the Uchiha Clan?" the Third Hokage asked.

"If it were not for me..." Danzo's gaze dimmed, and he began blaming himself again.

"Lord Third, I have an idea," Kakashi said.

"Go on, Kakashi," said the Third Hokage.

"We can fabricate the appearance of Shisui's suicide. As a central pillar of the Uchiha Clan, his death would surely deal a severe blow to the Uchiha Clan's confidence."

"The Uchiha Clan would certainly slow their preparations for the coup, which would buy us more time."

The Third Hokage nodded thoughtfully. "During that time, Danzo and I will work hard to persuade Koharu and Homura to lift some of the restrictions placed on the Uchiha Clan."

"Perhaps the Uchiha Clan will abandon the idea of a coup themselves. At the very least, we can split off some of their people," said the Third Hokage.

His previous plan had been impossible to carry out because no one supported him. Now that he had gained a die-hard supporter in Danzo, many things he had been unable to do before could finally be attempted.

It gave the Third Hokage the feeling that much could be accomplished. The lofty ambitions of his youth seemed to have returned once more!