"Rustle..."
A gust of wind blew through, setting the woods rustling.
Shihōin Naraku and Shimura Danzō stood where they were, gazing at each other without betraying anything.
Neither leader spoke or moved...
Yamanaka Tsuki and the ANBU members stood in front of Shihōin Naraku without hesitation. Having made their choice, they had to follow that path to the end.
Even if the enemy ninja standing opposite her was her older brother, she would not back down.
At some point, clouds had obscured the sun high above. Light filtered through the dark clouds onto the earth, and a chilly atmosphere spread around them.
Shihōin Naraku and Shimura Danzō continued to stare at each other. Neither intended to back down, and the atmosphere around the two grew increasingly heavy and dangerous.
Yamanaka Tsuki tightened her grip on her Tachi, ready to strike at any moment.
Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune, standing beside Shimura Danzō, bent slightly, preparing for battle as well.
"Fū, stand down!"
Perhaps he had no intention of falling out with Naraku here, or perhaps he lacked confidence. In the end, Shimura Danzō took a step back.
Thoroughly brainwashed, Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune immediately stood down upon hearing Danzo's order and retreated behind him.
Shihōin Naraku raised his eyebrows. It made sense, though it was still unexpected. Perhaps Shimura Danzō had realized that he would never yield and had therefore given up.
Naraku was young, after all. A little extra arrogance was understandable.
After all, could someone without youthful impetuousness even be called young?
Since Shimura Danzō had backed down, and Naraku had no intention of dealing with him here and now, he waved his hand as well. Yamanaka Tsuki and the others retreated behind him.
"You've certainly grown quickly. I should have brought you under my command back then."
His expression unchanged, Shimura Danzō looked at Naraku and lightly tapped his cane against the ground.
Danzo's underlying meaning was clear: Naraku, even if you'd wanted to join Root back then, I wouldn't have thought you worth taking.
"What a shame. But I don't like Root!"
"No, it's not that I don't like it. I hate it!"
Shihōin Naraku gave no quarter with his words. Where was Root now, anyway? And Danzo was saying this to him?
He had no intention of wasting more words on Shimura Danzō. Their relationship would never improve anyway, so they might as well see who won in the end!
Just as Naraku was about to turn and leave with his subordinates, he saw Shimura Danzō wave his hand. Yamanaka Fū and the other two immediately darted away, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
What does that mean?
Does he have something to say to me?
Naraku then told Yamanaka Tsuki and the others to return to ANBU first to report on their mission, while he stayed behind.
Naraku was not worried about Shimura Danzō attacking him directly. He was a well-known figure in Konoha and held an official position. If Shimura Danzō tried to kill him, it would mean betraying the village.
If Danzo wanted to get rid of him, he could only bring about Naraku's death indirectly, as he had done with Hatake Sakumo.
"What do you want to say...?"
Shihōin Naraku spoke directly. Now that only the two of them remained, he meant for Danzo to get to the point.
But suddenly, every hair on Naraku's body stood on end. Alarm bells rang in his mind, and he instantly shifted into combat readiness!
In an instant, savage killing intent was about to spill out.
Fortunately, Naraku regained his composure a second later.
Somewhat puzzled by Naraku's reaction, Shimura Danzō lowered the hand that had been touching his bandaged right eye.
What was that reaction about?
Wait, does he know something?
Danzo's expression darkened, but no matter how he thought about it, Naraku should not have known what was going on with his bandaged right eye.
"Just now, you..."
"I thought you were about to attack."
Naraku waved a hand casually. His reaction had indeed been somewhat excessive, but he could not help it. Hidden in Shimura Danzō's right eye socket was a Mangekyō Sharingan!
It was the eye Danzo had stolen from Shisui Uchiha.
And within that Mangekyō Sharingan dwelled the "strongest illusion technique in the Shinobi World"-Kotoamatsukami!
Kotoamatsukami could interfere with someone's consciousness without a sound, completely controlling an enemy without their knowledge and robbing them of their autonomy!
That was why Naraku had overreacted!
He had thought Shimura Danzō was preparing to use Kotoamatsukami to control his consciousness, so he had instantly prepared to kill him.
There was nothing wrong with Naraku's answer, and Shimura Danzō reluctantly set aside his doubts. But someone as deeply suspicious and cautious as him would never completely trust anyone.
It was easy to imagine that Danzo would secretly test Naraku in the future to find out exactly what he knew.
That attitude was understandable. Kotoamatsukami was tied to many of Shimura Danzō's plans and concealed many of his secrets. He would never let anyone learn of this trump card.
"A while ago, Hiruzen invited me..."
Shimura Danzō wasted no more words and straightforwardly revealed the entire discussion Hiruzen Sarutobi had previously held with them about candidates for Fifth Hokage.
Huh?
Shihōin Naraku froze. This was something he truly had not known!
Hiruzen Sarutobi actually intended to make me Hokage?
Although it was only a candidacy, Naraku was confident that Kakashi could not beat him. As long as he became a candidate, the position of Hokage would certainly not fall to anyone else.
But...
The unexpected news also disrupted Naraku's plans, catching him somewhat off guard.
After all, he had been certain that Tsunade would become the Fifth Hokage. He had secretly done quite a few things around that established fact, including splitting up the Medical Emergency Response Unit, all to secure more benefits for himself when Tsunade returned.
But now I'm going to become the Fifth Hokage myself?
This is a little sudden...
Seeing how visibly unsettled Shihōin Naraku was, Shimura Danzō smiled inwardly in satisfaction. It was just as he had expected.
That was only natural. Every ninja in Konohagakure dreamed of becoming Hokage!
A walk around the Ninja Academy would reveal that eight or nine out of ten of those students who had yet to grow up also dreamed of becoming Hokage.
A dream instilled from childhood was an irresistible temptation for any ninja in Konoha.
Even Shimura Danzō himself was no exception. In fact, becoming Hokage had already become an unshakable obsession within him, one for which he would sacrifice everything without hesitation.
So, in his view, Shihōin Naraku certainly could not escape it either, and Naraku's current behavior proved him entirely right.
"Heh heh..."
A smile appeared on Shimura Danzō's face as he turned and slowly walked away with his cane.
You must be excited to hear this news.
But you still have a rival, Kakashi Hatake. Go fight him for that position.
With those thoughts passing through his mind, Shimura Danzō slowly walked off and disappeared.
"That bastard!"
Watching Shimura Danzō disappear, Shihōin Naraku was somewhat speechless.
"He really never misses a chance to play his little games..."
Danzo had not concealed his intentions in the slightest. He had made it perfectly clear to Naraku that he wanted Naraku and Kakashi to fight desperately over the position of Hokage.
This was an open scheme!
Even if an ordinary person understood Danzo's intentions, they would not be able to break free. The temptation of becoming Hokage was simply far too great. No one could claim to be unmoved.
Even Shihōin Naraku could not say he had no interest, but his thinking differed from everyone else's. He only wanted to become Hokage to gain chances at the draw, break through his limits, and grow stronger.
"This is a little troublesome. I need to think it through..."
Naraku frowned in thought, but he could not make a decision so quickly.
"Sir!"
Yamanaka Tsuki suddenly appeared, calling Naraku out of his thoughts.
"Oh, you haven't gone back yet?"
"Come on, let's head back together."
Naraku knew Yamanaka Tsuki and the others had stayed because they were worried about his safety, merely waiting at a distance. When they saw Danzo leave while Naraku remained standing there for a long time without moving, they had come over.
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