Danzo: I'm the Hokage! Hiruzen: You'll Regret This!

Their gazes collided in midair.

The air turned cold at once.

Hiruzen looked at Danzo. His voice was quiet, but every word struck straight at the heart.

"Did you really think I knew nothing about those little schemes you've been pulling in the shadows?"

"As for Sakumo, I covered it up for you out of consideration for our years of friendship."

"And now you want to lay hands on the Uchiha's most promising genius?"

"Danzo, is the fire in the village not big enough for you? At a time like this, do you insist on personally setting Konoha ablaze?"

Faced with that barrage, Danzo was forced half a step back.

But who was he?

The Root's old schemer.

He could lose anything but an argument.

Danzo clenched his molars, his eyes filled with stubbornness and rage. He abruptly straightened and snarled.

"Hiruzen!"

"When did you become so weak?!"

"The Uchiha are evil by nature!"

"All those eyes of theirs hold is destruction and betrayal!"

"Since when did Konoha have to watch the Uchiha's expressions before doing anything?!"

As those words fell, the sharpness in Hiruzen's eyes slowly receded instead.

His expression turned completely cold.

Looking at this old friend he had grown up with, he suddenly felt deeply tired.

This old comrade had let power and obsession fill his mind.

In Danzo's heart, the Uchiha had never truly been part of Konoha.

They were merely hidden dangers that had to be purged at any time.

Trying to discuss political balance with someone like him was like playing music to a cow.

No.

A cow might at least chew it over afterward.

Danzo would only think you were weak.

Hiruzen raised a hand and waved it.

"Do not bring this matter up again."

His tone became calm once more.

"Leave."

Danzo's