Danzo! I am the Hokage!

Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken off his Hokage Robes and sat behind his broad desk in everyday clothes, a pipe between his lips.

"You're here. Sit down, child." Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed to the chair opposite him.

"Yes, Lord Hokage." Lin Ze hurriedly sat down, his back straight, looking ready to listen attentively.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe and said slowly:

"Lin Ze, your performance today was outstanding. Your Taijutsu, your tactics, and the Eight Gates Released Formation you used at the end all proved that you possess extraordinary talent."

"Konoha needs fresh blood like you."

Lin Ze nodded at those words, knowing that Hiruzen Sarutobi must have more to say.

Sure enough, Hiruzen Sarutobi then changed the subject, his tone growing solemn:

"Konoha is like a great tree. Its prosperity depends on the efforts of every leaf, the firm support of its roots, and the nourishment of sunlight and rain."

"And some things, such as the roots hidden underground, unknown to others, exist to better absorb nutrients and protect the tree from wind and rain. But their duties are confined to the underground. They should not interfere with growth in the sunlight."

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Lin Ze understood. He was alluding to Danzo and Root.

Those were certainly pretty words, all that talk of roots and leaves. In the end, wasn't he just telling Lin Ze to be a "leaf" without worry, not to fear that "old root" Danzo hiding underground, since he had his back?

But that suited him just fine. For now, clinging tightly to the Third Hokage, his strongest and most powerful backer, was the safest choice.

As for how Hiruzen Sarutobi knew about Lin Ze and Nonō, as the Third Hokage, there were few people in Konoha whose information he couldn't uncover if he wanted to investigate.

Combined with Lin Ze's precocious intelligence, it wasn't difficult for Hiruzen Sarutobi to deduce that Lin Ze had already noticed someone in Konoha secretly watching him. It was only because of his age, strength, and standing that he didn't know it was specifically "Root."

Thus, the meaning behind his words could not have been clearer: don't worry about those schemes in the shadows. I'll keep you safe!

Lin Ze immediately nodded and said with a resolute expression:

"I understand, Lord Hokage. Leaves should strive to grow toward the sunlight and add greenery to the tree, rather than worry about what happens underground. I'll focus on improving my strength and work hard to become a powerful ninja who can protect Konoha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed quite satisfied with Lin Ze's "understanding," and his smile deepened:

"Very good. It's best that you think that way. You have a bright future, and other trivial matters should not interfere with it. As for your arrangements..."

He paused, then continued:

"Your current strength already meets the graduation requirements, and even far exceeds that of an ordinary Genin. In principle, you could graduate early."

At this, Lin Ze's heart lifted slightly.

"But after discussing it with several advisers, I've decided to let you graduate only after you've completed all the basic courses this term."

"Afterward, as we discussed before, you will enter ANBU training."

At the end of this term?

At first, Lin Ze had thought Hiruzen Sarutobi would have him graduate immediately and join the ANBU.

Now it seemed that Konoha wasn't particularly short of one kid with Chunin strength. It would be better to let him stay at the Ninja Academy a little longer and form more bonds during that time, with people such as Asuma Sarutobi.

Besides, it wouldn't be long. Lin Ze had already spent six months at the Ninja Academy. In another two months, the long break would begin, and second-year classes wouldn't start until the following April.

Without dwelling on it, Lin Ze immediately put on a grateful expression:

"I understand, Lord Hokage! Thank you and the village for nurturing me and taking my needs into consideration! I'll make good use of these last two months and work hard to master the school's courses. I won't let you down!"

Seeing the gratitude all over Lin Ze's face, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction:

"Mm, very good. Off you go. Remember, Konoha's future needs young people like you to shape it."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Lin Ze stood, bowed respectfully, and left the Hokage Office.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Lin Ze glanced back at the building that symbolized Konoha's highest authority and let out a long breath.

I'm finally safe for the time being.

With these arrangements from Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo probably won't dare use force against me again in the near future. After all, openly snatching a 'genius' personally favored by the Hokage and about to enter ANBU training would be no different from slapping Hiruzen Sarutobi in the face.

No matter how powerful Danzo is, he doesn't have the guts to burn bridges that thoroughly right now.

After all, the current Danzo isn't yet as brazen as he would become later, daring to send people to assassinate the Hokage!

With that worry laid to rest, Lin Ze began planning his goals for the coming days:

First, keep a low profile and continue developing the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, striving to fully master partial beastification as soon as possible.

Second, train his Taijutsu, consolidate the first three gates of the Eight Gates Released Formation, and attempt to open the Fourth Gate, the Gate of Pain.

But Lin Ze felt that this would take some time. The Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon merely gave him more chances to attempt to open the gates; it did not make opening them any easier.

Moreover, the later gates of the Eight Gates Released Formation grew progressively harder to open. Otherwise, extraordinarily gifted people who gave it their all, like Might Duy and Might Guy, would not have needed over twenty years to open all eight gates.

Third, study the school's theory classes properly. This truly mattered. In the original story, Naruto had suffered for his lack of education...

As for the ANBU afterward...

Though dangerous, it was also the fastest path to promotion and the best protection.

As long as he made it through the early stages and grew stronger, when the time came...

A cold glint flashed in Lin Ze's eyes. "Danzo, when the time comes, we'll settle our score nice and slowly!"

At that thought, Lin Ze lingered no longer. He turned and headed toward the commercial district in the center of the village.

Not long after Lin Ze left, the door to the Hokage Office was pushed open again.

Danzo appeared in the doorway.

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have expected him. Without even raising his head, he continued reviewing the documents in his hands and merely said calmly:

"You're here, Danzo."

Danzo walked up to the desk and went straight to the point:

"Hiruzen, did you keep that boy behind for a talk just to put him in the ANBU?"

"Lin Ze has potential. He has a solid foundation in Taijutsu and already knows the Eight Gates Released Formation at such a young age. ANBU training is better suited to his growth."

"Better suited?"

Danzo sneered, planted both hands on the desk, and said loudly:

"Hiruzen, don't play dumb with me! As an orphan from another village, he should be placed in Root and properly 'honed'! Only Root can ensure his absolute loyalty to the village!"

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head and said with a trace of displeasure:

"He is a child, a future ninja of Konoha, not a tool! I've already decided to have him join the ANBU before long."

"This matter is not open for further discussion."

Danzo stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi before him, his tone beginning to turn cold:

"The ANBU? Hiruzen, your ANBU is too weak and idealistic! Only Root's dark methods can completely erase his unnecessary personal feelings, make him absolutely obedient, and have him devote everything to the village, one hundred percent! Letting him run free like this will only produce an uncontrollable factor!"

Here we go again. Always this same doctrine of absolute, cold control.

A surge of irritation and helplessness rose in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart.

He knew Danzo was doing this for the village, but he could never fully approve of such heavy-handed methods.

Rather than control, he preferred to use bonds to make people willingly become part of Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone hardened:

"I have already made my decision about Lin Ze as well. His talents should grow in the sunlight, not be buried in that underground darkness of yours!"

Danzo stepped forward, his voice carrying suppressed anger:

"Hiruzen! Your indecisiveness and that so-called 'Will of Fire' will bring disaster upon the village sooner or later! Hand Lin Ze over to me, and I can guarantee his absolute loyalty to Konoha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi abruptly stood, bracing both hands on the desk and fixing Danzo with a piercing stare as an aura belonging uniquely to a Hokage and a Kage Level powerhouse slowly spread.

"Danzo! I am the Hokage!"