"Danzo was reinstated?" Sōkyū Hatake couldn't help frowning at the news.
"Yes. The news came from the Hokage Office that day. Danzo has been restored to his former position, and everything he used to handle is still his responsibility," Mitaraishi Anko said bluntly.
"That's not all that surprising, given their relationship. Besides, Hiruzen Sarutobi has always been especially lenient with Danzo."
In fact, Sōkyū Hatake wasn't surprised by the news about Danzo at all. Hiruzen Sarutobi had always been very forgiving toward him.
Still, Hiruzen Sarutobi had reinstated Danzo after only a year and a half. That was remarkably fast.
After all, personnel changes like these, especially among the higher-ups, had always taken a long time.
"The official reason is the mounting pressure on the border. Besides, Hiruzen Sarutobi himself has already gone to the battlefield," Mitaraishi Anko said bluntly. This had come as quite a surprise to her.
"That reason does hold up. Danzo already handled a lot of things on the darker side. What comes next for them is a division of power," Sōkyū Hatake said, rubbing his chin as he began to analyze the situation.
"Then will Danzo still target you, Sōkyū?" Mitaraishi Anko was still worried about that.
"He probably won't for the time being. Hiruzen Sarutobi has gone to the battlefield himself, so Danzo won't have time to concern himself with anything else now," Sōkyū Hatake said in analysis.
Releasing Danzo at this particular point could mean that he was needed to handle some things on the darker side.
"That's good." Mitaraishi Anko breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to see Sōkyū Hatake being targeted, either.
"It's fine. Even if he does come looking for trouble, he'll have to see whether he can survive it." Sōkyū Hatake wasn't particularly afraid of Danzo anymore.