Early in the morning, two days later~
Konoha~
Inside the Hokage Office~
The warm yellow light of the early sun spilled into the spacious, square room. The scents of ink, paper, and a faint trace of tobacco hung in the air.
Dressed in his red-and-white Hokage robes, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat upright in a red chair, a pipe between his lips and both hands resting on the red desk.
He had learned from an Anbu ninja that all three border battlefields had reported resounding victories, and the oppressive atmosphere around him finally eased.
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved at the Anbu ninja, signaling for him to leave.
The Anbu ninja bowed, then left the office with the Body Flicker Technique.
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a cloud of smoke and took the pipe from his mouth with his right hand, his face brimming with joy:
"Lei really did live up to expectations. All three battlefields he went to ended in resounding victories."
"What ninjutsu should I give him this time? Or should I promote him straight to Chunin?"
Bang!
A loud crash rang out at the entrance~
The office door was flung open.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was in a good mood. Rather than immediately losing his temper, he simply looked toward the door.
There stood Shimura Danzō, his right shoulder wrapped in bandages and his face somewhat pale, supporting himself on a wooden cane with his left hand.
Shimura Danzō walked slowly into the room with long strides, panting, and stopped in front of the desk.
Seeing the bandages on his old friend's right shoulder, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed helplessly:
"Ah..."
The pity in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes instantly filled Shimura Danzō with fury. Pointing his cane at the empty space where his right arm should have been, he growled:
"Hiruzen, look at what Uchiha Lei has done!