The Perfect Bait

"Third Hokage-sama, please give me the Spirit Transformation Technique. I have my reasons. I'm begging you."

Kirito still wanted the Spirit Transformation Technique, but the Third Hokage refused. Left with no choice, he pleaded and pestered him relentlessly.

"No. If I really gave it to you and got you hurt, how could I face Mito-sama? Choose something else. If you don't want to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique, then take the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique. It's an S-rank Genjutsu with relatively low training requirements, and it is especially effective at countering ocular techniques."

For Kirito's sake and for Konoha's future, the Third Hokage still had no intention of relenting.

Seeing that the Third Hokage refused to budge, Kirito decisively unleashed the favorite ultimate technique children used against adults.

He sniffed hard, and his eyes immediately filled with tears as he looked at the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage's greatest weakness was undoubtedly his soft heart. When it came to his own people—especially Konoha's treasured young genius—he truly found it difficult to be hard-hearted.

Kirito's tearful tactic was incredibly effective. The Third Hokage finally began to waver and said hesitantly, "How about this? If you can get Mito-sama's permission, I'll give you the Spirit Transformation Technique."

"Really?"

Kirito's eyes instantly lit up. He broke into a smile through his tears and exclaimed in delight.

"Ahem, yes. As long as Mito-sama agrees, I'll agree to give you the Spirit Transformation Technique. But if Mito-sama refuses, you will honestly exchange for something else right away."

Seeing how quickly Kirito changed expressions, the Third Hokage's cheek twitched slightly. He cleared his throat and said.

Then he put on a sterner expression and added firmly, "But if Mito-sama refuses, you will honestly exchange for something else right away and give up on learning the Spirit Transformation Technique."

Hearing the Third Hokage's added condition, Kirito nodded obediently, having no objections.

Then he bowed to the Third Hokage and hurriedly took his leave.

Watching Kirito run off at top speed, the Third Hokage sighed. "I'm sorry, Mito-sama. I really can't persuade that little fellow. You may be the only person who can. Please, make him give up."

Once the sound of Kirito's footsteps gradually faded away, a shelf against the wall in the Hokage's Office slowly slid to the left, revealing a hidden door. Then a middle-aged man with a cold, sinister aura stepped out.

Had Kirito been there, he would certainly have recognized the man. It was none other than Shimura Danzō, known as The Dark Side of Konoha.

The Third Hokage was not surprised by Danzō's appearance. The smile on his face had vanished, replaced by indifference.

He looked at Danzō warily and asked suspiciously, "Danzō, your information is reliable, isn't it?"

"Hmph. If you don't believe it, then feel free to ignore the matter and let me handle it alone."

Danzō answered bluntly.

"But your intelligence is far too alarming. Those people have risked their lives for Konoha for more than a decade. How could there possibly be spies among them?"

Though Danzō was so resolute, the Third Hokage still found it hard to believe.

"My intelligence cannot be wrong. Besides, several recent secret operations against Sunagakure have failed. The personnel involved could not have known the specific battle plans before their missions began, so the problem could only be at the next level up. Therefore, I absolutely refuse to believe that none of those attending the tactical meetings are traitors. Hiruzen, we must root out this spy as soon as possible. We cannot delay any longer."

Danzō stood firm and refused to yield.

"So you intend to use that child."

The Third Hokage spoke coldly.

"That's right. Magnet Release is Sunagakure's strongest Kekkei Genkai. The Third Kazekage will never allow Magnet Release to take root in Konoha, much less permit Konoha to gain a powerful Magnet Release Ninja in the future. He will definitely spare no expense to eliminate Kirito as a threat."

Danzō answered without changing expression, showing not the slightest shame over using an eight-year-old child like Kirito to lure out the traitor and placing him in danger.

"Mito-sama is still alive."

After a moment of silence, the Third Hokage stared hard into Danzō's eyes and said loudly.

Danzō's expression stiffened when he heard that, but he sneered inwardly.

He understood that the Third Hokage had yielded before him once again. Bringing up Mito-sama to pressure him was merely an attempt to drag him down and make him share the blame.

For Konoha, so what if I take the blame?

Besides, had he taken the blame for the Third Hokage only a few times?

"Hiruzen, your resolve is no more than this. Konoha truly would be better off under my leadership."

Danzō no longer hesitated and said coldly, "Mito-sama is old. There is no need to trouble her with this matter. You and I can handle it properly ourselves."

Seeing that Danzō still had no intention of giving up on using Kirito to fish out the traitor hidden within Konoha, and that he intended to stubbornly press ahead despite his objections, the Third Hokage clenched his fists.

However, when he considered that Konoha's battle against Sunagakure was not going well, he eventually loosened his fists and said with difficulty, "The mission may fail, but Kirito must be protected."

"What weakness. You have your priorities backward, Hiruzen. You will regret this."

Danzō had not expected the Third Hokage to say something so weak as prioritizing Kirito's protection, and he immediately objected.

Rooting out a traitor had to be done in one stroke. Otherwise, once the enemy was alerted, finding the traitor again would only become even more difficult.

He did not believe the Third Hokage failed to understand that.

"Enough! I am the Hokage."

The Third Hokage slammed his desk and said angrily.

No matter what, Kirito was the village's extraordinary genius and a future pillar of Konoha. He was also Mito-sama's personal disciple and had inherited her Sealing Jutsu. If anything happened to him because of this, how could the Third Hokage ever face Mito-sama again?

Allowing Kirito to serve as bait to lure out the traitor was already his greatest concession. He absolutely could not allow anything to happen to Kirito.

Upon hearing those familiar yet unbearably grating words from the Third Hokage, Danzō immediately understood that there was no room for further discussion. He could only glare coldly at the Third Hokage for several seconds before turning away with a dark expression, slamming the door behind him as he left.

The two parted on bad terms once again.

After Danzō left, the Third Hokage immediately called out, "Someone."

The next moment, an Anbu ninja appeared before him on one knee.

"Keep a close watch on Danzō."

The Third Hokage gave the order.

"Yes."

The Anbu ninja immediately obeyed, then left using the Body Flicker Technique.

Elsewhere, Danzō had already left the Hokage's Office Building. His face still wore its usual grim expression, causing passersby to instinctively keep their distance from him.

Two masked ninja had appeared at his side. They were Root ninja under Danzō's command.

Before long, Danzō noticed that someone was following and watching him.

He did not need to guess to know that they were Anbu ninja sent by the Third Hokage. Their purpose was naturally to keep a close eye on him and prevent him from overstepping his bounds.

"Hmph, foolish Hiruzen. Does he think everything will be fine just because he keeps a close watch on me, the Root Leader? You will never know how powerful Root's darkness truly is. Just wait. Both the traitor and Kirito will become mine."

Danzō's lips curled into a confident smile.

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