Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his room, resting with his eyes closed. He had not gone to bed, because he knew he would not be able to sleep at all.
The events of the day had left him rather frustrated. In fact, everything that had happened had even made him act somewhat unlike his usual self.
Perhaps I was just too angry?
Hiruzen murmured inwardly. Clearly, his decision to attack today still weighed on him.
Normally, guided by the principle of keeping the bigger picture in mind, he would not act rashly. But today, he really had been blinded by anger.
First, Danzo, whom he had saved by giving up the Anbu and even granting benefits to the Uchiha Clan, had stabbed him viciously in the back.
Then he had discovered that Danzo had actually sent one of those Wood Release test subjects to assassinate him!
Under ordinary circumstances, Hiruzen might have let it go. The fatal problem was that Senju Natsuhiko had been right beside him.
That was practically telling this terrifyingly powerful, ruthless, and calculating fellow outright: Here is some fresh leverage over me, delivered right to you. You can keep putting leashes around our necks!
And Natsuhiko was hardly an honest fellow. He had clearly thought of all this already, so he had poured fuel on the fire without the slightest hesitation.
Under those circumstances, Hiruzen truly could not endure it anymore. He also had other considerations.
For one thing, he had to make his stance clear. If he did not take a firm stand, that leash really would be fastened tight.
He had to let Senju Natsuhiko know that even if they had given him leverage, that did not mean he could demand whatever he pleased!
There was another reason as well: he wanted to properly test