Hokage building, the highest conference room.
The air here is more depressing than the underground at Root.
Beside the huge circular conference table, sat a group of people at the top of the Konoha power pyramid.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, who is about to abdicate, is sitting in the main seat with a calm expression, but his turbid old eyes are deeper than before, making it difficult for people to understand what he is thinking.
His right and left hands were two consultant elders, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. They sat upright with serious expressions, but from the corner of their eyes, they drifted towards the man sitting on the other side from time to time.
Shimura Danzō.
He was uncharacteristically different today. He did not close his eyes to meditate as usual, but straightened his back. His exposed single eye shone with a sharp light that was determined to win, like an eagle about to pounce on its prey.
In addition to these four senior executives, there are also several special people sitting at the table.
Sannin-2, Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
Jiraiya crossed his arms across his chest, frowned, and had an impatient look on his face, as if staying for one more second would be torture. Orochimaru, on the other hand, leaned on the back of the chair, with a faint smile on his lips, and his golden snake eyes looked at everyone present with interest, as if he was enjoying a wonderful drama.
Next to them was "Yellow Flash" Minato Namikaze, with a solemn expression and a hint of worry in his blue eyes.
As representatives of the major ninja clans Konoha, Shikaku Nara, Uchiha Fugaku, and...Senju Chen are also on the list.
Senju Chen sat quietly in his own seat, with his hands flat on the table, a humble posture and clear eyes, perfectly playing the role of a junior who came to observe and study.
But under his lowered eyes, there was a hint of indifference that understood everything.
He knew that the protagonist of today's meeting was Shimura Danzō.
This old dog is finally going to show off his self-righteous "trump card".
"Ahem."
A slight cough broke the dead silence.
Danzo slowly stood up and looked around the audience with his one eye, his voice hoarse and majestic.
"Hiruzen, and everyone. I am convening everyone today because there is an urgent military situation related to the life and death of the village that needs to be reported to you."
As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes were focused on him.
"Just the day before yesterday," Danzo spoke slowly, but every word was full of weight, "My subordinate 'Gen' intercepted a piece of S-class confidential information from Kirigakure. Kirigakure tried to take advantage of me Konoha During the sensitive period of Hokage handover and power vacuum, an elite team was sent to sneak into our country and create chaos."
The atmosphere in the conference room instantly became a little more solemn.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu looked at each other and saw a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.
"Their plan is extremely vicious." Danzo emphasized his tone, a terrifying cold light burst out from his one eye, "They kidnapped Konoha Chunin Rin Nohara, and frantically sealed Isobu in her body, and planted the vicious Cursed Seal, trying to make her Tailed Beast Transformation completely destroy Konoha from the inside after returning to the village!"
Boom!
This news, no less than a bombshell, exploded in the conference room!
"What?!" Jiraiya suddenly slapped the table and stood up, eyes wide open, "Three-Tails Jinchūriki? How is this possible! What do the village's barrier and Sensory Team eat!"
Minato Namikaze's face instantly turned pale.
Lin...Jinchūriki?
He thought of Kakashi's devastated, zombie-like appearance when he came back, and his heart suddenly tugged.
Senju Chen frowned and looked at Danzo's "wonderful performance".
In fact, Senju Chen still doesn't know how Danzo knew in advance that Kirigakure was going to attack Konoha, and also arranged for Shisui Uchiha to investigate.
He only knew this through his familiarity with the plot, and Shimura Danzō why should he?
Danzo is very satisfied with everyone's reaction, this kind of shocking effect is what he wants.
He raised his hand and pressed it slightly, signaling Jiraiya to calm down.
"Fortunately, I had a premonition about this." His voice revealed a kind of arrogance and pride in controlling everything. "As soon as I noticed the enemy's movements, I sent the most elite subordinate under my command, Shisui Uchiha, to track down."
"In the end, after paying a certain amount of sacrifice, we successfully defeated Kirigakure's conspiracy and wiped out all the invading enemies. Unfortunately... in order to prevent Tailed Beast from breaking out in Land of Fire territory, Chunin Rin Nohara died heroically."
He said the words "heroic sacrifice" very hard, as if he was paying the highest respect to this sacrificed Konoha Ninja.
After saying that, he sat down again, his eyes sweeping over everyone present.
He said everything that needed to be said.
Now, it's time to harvest the fruits.
On the occasion of this election, he made a huge achievement, one that was enough to crush all competitors.
When the village was in the most critical situation and the top management was unaware of it, it was he, Shimura Danzō, who turned the tide and nipped in the cradle a disaster that could destroy Konoha!
Orochimaru's achievements? Minato Namikaze's popularity?
What does it matter in the face of the great achievement of protecting the village and preventing "Konoha Crush Plan" from happening in advance?
He believes that the senior executives here, as long as their brains are not broken, will understand who is the most suitable person to sit on Hokage Position!
He was waiting, waiting for the echoes of Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, waiting for the shock and admiration of Shikaku Nara and others, and waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi's complex eyes that had to admit his achievements.
However...
The conference room fell into an eerie silence.
No one spoke.
Mitokado Homura opened his mouth, but closed it again. He looked at Senju Chen with complicated eyes.
Utatane Koharu's brows were knitted tightly together, and his fingers tapped on the table unconsciously.
Shikaku Nara lowered his head, not knowing what he was thinking. His lazy look made it difficult to tell the depth.
Uchiha Fugaku has an expressionless face, like an ice sculpture.
Jiraiya sat back again, but those eyes were staring at Shimura Danzō, full of undisguised suspicion.
The corner of Orochimaru's mouth curled up again with a hint of amusement. He looked at Danzo as if he was watching a clown who was performing hard.
Seeing that none of the senior executives present had any reaction, this plot development was completely different from the script he Danzo had expected!
Why?
Why this reaction?
Isn't my contribution great enough? Don't they understand what would have happened to Konoha if it hadn't been for me?
Danzo's heart sank a little bit.
He suddenly realized what the problem was.
Senju Chen!
It's that nasty kid, it's all because of him!