Inside the Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on the pipe in his hand and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
Danzo looked out the window at Konoha's still-bustling streets and Hatake Sakumo among the crowds.
"Hiruzen, everyone in Konoha now recognizes Hatake Sakumo as the next Hokage."
Danzo turned back to Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "Are you really going to give up the position of Hokage?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing. He merely tugged at his Hokage hat.
Danzo could not help slamming both hands on the desk, staring aggressively at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Hiruzen, are you really going to abandon all your years of effort?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi deserved much of the credit for Konoha's current prosperity.
Although its original number of Shinobi had been halved, with many dying because of the Hashirama Cells experiments.
But just say whether Konoha had become prosperous or not.
Compared with the eras of Tobirama Senju and Hashirama Senju, this was Konoha's most prosperous period, though it was still somewhat lacking in strength.
But during the Senju brothers' time, Konoha's forces had all been remnants of the Warring States period.
Konoha's current forces had all grown under Hiruzen Sarutobi's watch.
Even the current Sannin were his students.
Hiruzen Sarutobi truly dared to say that his conscience was clear toward Konoha, and naturally, he was even less willing to hand over the Hokage's position.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing, which showed that he agreed with Danzo.
He could give it away, but no one else could take it.
Although Hatake Sakumo had never tried to take it at all, and had not even expressed any interest in the Hokage's position, the villagers and other Shinobi simply considered him the next Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and said, "Danzo, the Second said that