Takahashi Yū snored like thunder in his tent. After traveling, fighting until he had no strength left, and eating through the camp's stored provisions until his jaws ached from chewing, he had finally collapsed to rest.
Outside, the camp bustled with activity, not because enemies were attacking or because defenses were being built, but because everyone was hunting and digging up wild vegetables all over the mountains. Thanks to Takahashi Yū eating the camp bare, the cooks had nothing to cook.
If they did not want to go hungry, they had to fend for themselves.
Yet even as the Konoha ninjas worked hard to find prey, they all wore smiles.
Smiles had always been a luxury on the Land of Lightning front.
Passing ninjas gazed with awe at the tent rumbling with snores. Threatened by death ever since the war began, they had finally welcomed a hero onto the stage.
It was not that White Fang and Danzo carried too little weight in their hearts. Holding off eight thousand Cloud Shinobi brutes with five thousand men was already enough to earn renown throughout the Shinobi World.
It was just that a decisive victory was always better than a protracted tug-of-war.
Inside the new command tent, Shimura Danzō was suppressing his fury.
"Those damned Hyūga! How could Monkey let them act so arrogantly! They should have been wiped out! Find the Caged Bird Seal and put Konoha in control of it!"
"Good, good, good! Well killed! Hyūga Tenmei deserved to die! Why not kill every last one of them?!"
"What! Using an enemy's derogatory name for one of our own? That wretched Tsunade! Absolutely lawless!"
"What has Lady Mito spoiled her into! Damn Monkey, why are you so weak! You're the Hokage!"
"What! Cloud Shinobi actually infiltrated Konoha? Incompetent! Useless!"
Indeed, Danzo had finally finished reading Root's intelligence. When he received Hiruzen Sarutobi's letter, he had already ordered Root to gather information.
Suspicious by nature, he would never trust one side of a story, even from his closest friend since childhood.
Bang!
Danzo slammed his hand onto the table, sending the documents on it tumbling to the ground.
Konoha... all this bullshit happened while I was away at war!
Monkey isn't fit to be Hokage! No, he ought to step down!
If I were in charge...
Ah, Teacher, you made the wrong decision back then.
Danzo's narrowed eyes suddenly became terrifying. Paired with his cold, aged face, they could have frightened a crying child into silence!
Had Takahashi Yū not arrived at just the right moment, coincidentally catching the Third Raikage's nighttime raid on the camp, things would have been different.
Perhaps his relationship with Takahashi Yū would already have reached the point of no reconciliation.
No, not perhaps. Definitely!
Having read the intelligence on Takahashi Yū, Danzo, who understood human nature well, also understood his personality. He knew his own personality even better!
But Takahashi Yū's fighting strength would ultimately make him the key to ending the fighting on this front!
I can endure having my achievements buried, but those subordinates of mine...
The defensive line against the Land of Lightning has only held this long because my subordinates paid with their lives!
Monkey, you've really gone too far!
Framing the loyal and provoking infighting, you fucking bastard!
Danzo had known since childhood that his closest friend liked balancing factions against one another. Now that balancing act had reached him. With such weakness, when could Konoha ever be great again?
Conspiracy theories churned endlessly through Danzo's mind.
The Third Hokage's actions really did lend themselves to plenty of sinister interpretations.
Danzo pulled himself out of his thoughts, tapped the table, and called a ninja inside to give him an order.
"Notify me the moment Takahashi wakes up!"
Takahashi Yū's snores echoed through the camp for an entire day and night.
At last, on the following evening, his stomach woke him. He opened his eyes to find the Undying Squad already waiting in the tent with food in their hands.
Ah, those who know me worry for my heart!
Just as Takahashi Yū was happily digging in, someone he had not expected entered the tent.
Hatake Sakumo lifted the flap and walked in with Danzo.
Hatake Sakumo smiled at Takahashi Yū. His impression of Takahashi Yū was now extremely favorable; perhaps he could even give him his vote.
The sight of Takahashi Yū calmly "going to his death" in that deep pit had been the very model of a samurai family's ideals. Sakumo had imagined that very scene more than once in his youth!
Takahashi Yū could understand Hatake Sakumo coming, but what was Danzo doing here?
Takahashi Yū set down his chopsticks, swallowed his food, and looked at Danzo in surprise.
Danzo gestured to Sakumo.
"Sakumo, there are some things I'd like to discuss with Takahashi. Could I ask you to keep anyone else from coming in?"
So polite?
Who are you?!
Since Danzo had put it that way, Sakumo, who understood social niceties well, nodded to Takahashi Yū and left the tent.
Takahashi Yū was even more puzzled. What could there possibly be in this camp that the illustrious Konoha's White Fang was not allowed to hear?
A sudden shock ran through Takahashi Yū's heart. The war was about to end! That left only a handful of major events!
Oh, sending White Fang away...
Was he going to make a move against the famous White Fang?
Takahashi Yū remembered that shortly after the Second Shinobi World War ended, White Fang had been driven to suicide by malicious rumors, leaving behind his only son, Kakashi.
That incident had also cost Konoha people's loyalty and left it short of talent, leading to the enemy pushing all the way to Kikyo Mountain in the Third Shinobi World War, right on Konoha's doorstep!
Now this was the Danzo I remembered.
Finally couldn't resist showing your true colors?
That's more like it!
But why come to me? You want an unparalleled tough guy like me to join in these underhanded schemes? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
Watching Takahashi Yū suddenly grow confident, Danzo slowly sat down.
"Ahem... Takahashi, do you have any ideals?" Danzo asked slowly, watching Takahashi Yū's expression.
*?*
A question mark practically appeared over Takahashi Yū's head.
What, you're a life coach too? Going to turn your chair around for me?
Still, if you're going to ask that, how could I embarrass myself?
Though puzzled, Takahashi Yū had never feared anyone when it came to talking big!
"Of course!"
"Every man wants to conquer the world in his own way! I'm no exception."
"I want to show the world what true spirit looks like!"
"I want everyone kneeling before worldly power to stand up!"
"If I can't find my ideal world, I'll create it with my own hands!"
He slammed the rice bowl in his hand onto the table, continually watching Danzo's reaction out of the corner of his eye.
That ought to stun you, you little punk!
Takahashi Yū's bold declaration left Danzo so stunned that his mouth hung open. He had never imagined Takahashi Yū possessed such lofty ambitions!
The words "conquer the world" automatically surfaced in Danzo's mind.
Then he added "Konoha" to them all on his own: "Konoha-conquer the world!"
He actually shared my ambition!
What was this?
A comrade!
That old bastard Sarutobi! He nearly ruined everything for me!
"Someone! Bring up all the wine in our supplies!"
Danzo rose, lifted the tent flap, and shouted outside.
He turned back to look at Takahashi Yū with fervent eyes.
An inheritor of the Will of Fire, a top-tier fighter, a man of lofty ambition!
I, Danzo, am willing to give you my vote!
Of all the heroes in this world, there are only you and I!
Before you continue