They told Danzo that the general trend was settled and the various major clans would not support him, so it was better to take a step back and let the oceans and skies open up, continuing to manage the Root and the ANBU.
Those two old fellows were still playing that same game of the balance of power, wanting to use Danzo to hold the soon-to-be-ascended Tsunade in check.
Danzo turned his back to them, killing intent boiling in his eyes; those two old immortals kept playing both sides here, truly deserving to die.
Yet on the surface he still put on an appearance of compromise, packing the two of them off, and once the office door closed, his murderous aura could no longer be concealed.
The next day, Hiruzen's mental state plummeted drastically, clearly already at the end of his rope following a flash of lucidity before death.
He was still worrying about the whereabouts of that genius youth Raito, sighing that if that child were still around, his future would definitely be the prime candidate for the Hokage.
Just as he was speaking, an earth-shattering explosion suddenly came from outside, flames soaring into the sky.
Before Tsunade had time to check the situation, Kakashi appeared in the ward via the Body Flicker Technique, bringing a suffocating piece of news.
The ANBU were currently hunting down Jiraiya because the two elder advisors had been killed, and the murderer pointed straight at Jiraiya!
Hearing this absurd news, Hiruzen was so startled that he sprang straight up from the bed, failed to catch his breath, and his complexion instantly turned a purplish red.
Tsunade immediately organized emergency treatment while ordering Kakashi to investigate the truth; this was definitely someone framing and plotting against another.
Kakashi looked at the chaotic ward and