"Itachi, what do you think we should do?"
After pondering for a long time, the Third Hokage handed the difficult question of how to deal with Danzo to Madara Uchiha.
"Lord Hokage, Root was originally established to carry out secret missions for you that even ANBU couldn't undertake, wasn't it? If Root no longer answers to you, then it has no reason to exist. Considering Lord Danzo's many years of service and achievements, I suggest disbanding Root, incorporating its members into the ANBU under your direct command, and letting Lord Danzo step into the open as a senior advisor to Konoha."
Given Madara Uchiha's temperament, Danzo had to die. Unfortunately, right now, he was merely Uchiha Itachi.
On one hand, the Third Hokage could not possibly break with Danzo over a single instance of overstepping his authority. On the other, Madara Uchiha needed to disguise himself as a younger man who favored appeasement. He could not reveal the radical side of his true nature to the Third Hokage.
After hearing Madara Uchiha's answer, not only the Third Hokage but also Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura wholeheartedly approved of his maturity.
Danzo's growing audacity as he rose from the Hokage's shadow to the king of Konoha's underworld had everything to do with the indulgence of these three former comrades.
Danzo had already sent people to assassinate Madara Uchiha, yet Madara could still forgive him for the sake of the bigger picture. Surely, if these advisors made mistakes in the future, they would not be held too strictly accountable either.
"Your suggestion is excellent, but the problem is that Root has already grown too powerful to control. Among Danzo's subordinates alone, five are at or near Jōnin level. If those five oppose us and Danzo resists as well, bringing Root under our