Root.
Mitokado Homura relayed Hiruzen Sarutobi's words verbatim to Danzo.
Looking at Danzo's gloomy face, even though Mitokado Homura was already used to his cold expression, he still felt uncomfortable at this moment.
"I said Danzo, isn't that enough?"
" Hiruzen is getting old, and so are you. Do you still think you're young? You've come this far; it's time to let go of some things and peacefully enjoy your retirement. Isn't that better? Why do you insist on fighting for the Hokage Position? Isn't it comfortable to be Hokage's assistant?"
Danzo glanced at him but remained silent.
"That's enough. I'm just here to deliver a message. You'd better hurry up and act, or you'll provoke Hiruzen his temper."
Seeing his pathetic state, Mitokado Homura lost his temper and left after saying that.
After seeing Mitokado Homura leave, Danzo finally lost his temper, overturned the table in front of him, and smashed the vase next to him on the ground.
At this moment, his eyes were bloodshot, filled with resentment, distortion, and madness.
"What do you know? What do you all know? That Hokage Position should have been mine all along. It's just that Hiruzen Sarutobi was lucky enough to get the teacher's approval. With his weak attitude, what makes him worthy of being Hokage? In what way am I not better than him?"
"I've waited decades, a little more time won't make a difference. The fifth generation must be me, and it can only be me!"
As he spoke, Danzo's only exposed eye was bloodshot, and the madness within it was terrifying.
" Jiraiya, you must die! You absolutely must die!"
After saying that, Danzo suddenly calmed down again.
Although he didn't continue venting, Danzo at this moment gave off an even darker feeling.
As the saying goes, a barking dog doesn't bite, and Danzo perfectly embodies that. You never know how ruthless he is beneath that calm expression.
After tidying up the office, Danzo summoned Kou.
"A, go to the Hokage's side to carry out a mission: help the Anbu rebuild the village, and provide me with information about Jiraiya at any time."
Upon hearing this, the expression in his eyes beneath the mask remained unchanged; he simply nodded slightly and then left the Root.
After Danzo watched him leave, he sat back down in his chair, his eyes once again filled with boundless madness.
Seeing the masked young man in front of Hiruzen, and the sapling slowly appearing in his hand, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu both had complicated expressions on their faces.
"From today onwards, you are officially leaving Root and becoming a member of the Anbu. Your name is Yamato, and as for your codename, that's up to you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Yamato and said.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
"Alright, now go and help the Anbu rebuild the village immediately. Your task is simple: help the villagers in the disaster area rebuild their houses as quickly as possible."
"I see."
After saying that, Yamato immediately left the hospital and began repairing the house.
Wood Release also found its true purpose.
With Wood Release, you can build houses without cutting down trees and destroying forests. This ability is simply the best choice for environmental protection.
In the hospital room, Hiruzen Sarutobi was receiving intravenous nutrition while looking out the window.
"I'm getting old, it's time for me to retire."
Suddenly, he spoke up.
Yes, we're all getting old.
Mitokado Homura nodded as well.
"What about Jiraiya? Have you managed to contact him?"
"Not yet, but he should already know about the news from Konoha and is probably on his way back."
Mitokado Homura comforted her.
"Yes, with his abilities, he would definitely find out immediately."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was well aware of Jiraiya's intelligence capabilities.
"I will step down as Hokage once he returns."
"I know, but you'll have to personally persuade Jiraiya about Jiraiya temperament, Hiruzen."
"I know that this time we absolutely cannot let him act recklessly again. Konoha can't withstand any more major storms."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, then suddenly remembered something:
"There's one more thing: keep a close eye on Danzo and his Root. Once Jiraiya returns, disband them!"
"Huh? Hiruzen, are you serious?"
Mitokado Homura asked in surprise.
Is this the time for jokes?
"He has disappointed me time and time again; the Root no longer have any reason to exist."
"If you do this, Danzo will probably go mad."
"Mad? Ha, if he's not crazy, how am I supposed to take him away?"
" Hiruzen, you!"
" Konoha cannot afford to leave such a hidden danger."
"Alright, you can all go now. I'm sleepy and need to rest."
After saying this, Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand to send the others away.
"Okay, then you get some rest. Call us if you need anything."
After saying that, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu left the ward.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also lay down; he had never been clearer-headed than he was now.
After returning from the brink of death, he began to reflect on his past. Perhaps it was because his days were numbered, or perhaps it was a fleeting glimpse before Shinigami; in any case, he resolved not to repeat his past mistakes in the final moments of his life.
" Jiraiya, it's time for you to wake up."
"Wow, Konoha's infrastructure capabilities are just as good as ours in Sea Capital!"
Three days later, on the streets that had been rebuilt, Suigetsu looked at the brand-new buildings around her and couldn't help but say something.
"The advantage of Wood Release in this aspect is indeed unmatched by other attributes."
Bai couldn't help but nod.
"Really."
Kimimaro remained a man of few words.
"Given this situation, can the Chunin Exams still continue?"
Suigetsu raised a question.
"It should be fine. As far as I know, the Land of Fire Daimyo has allocated a considerable amount of money to Konoha this time for economic recovery and Konoha. Moreover, Konoha is likely to welcome a new Hokage soon."
Yuki Haku has a clear understanding of the situation.
"A new Hokage?"
"Yes, that one who signed a contract with Mount Myōboku, and is also one of the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya."
"A guy as strong as Lady Tsunade."
Suigetsu couldn't help but say something.
"Bang!"
"Hiss! Hey, bone monster, you'd better give me an explanation."
" Suigetsu, this is Konoha, don't talk nonsense."
Yuki Haku also became serious.
"Um, I didn't say anything weird, did I?"
Don't say anything that could be ambiguous.
Bai offered a reminder.
"Okay, I understand."
Suigetsu immediately shut up.
Meanwhile, in the last remaining settlement, Yamato is completing its final cleanup work.
The ground, which had already been swept and leveled, was transformed into a row of houses with Yamato's powerful thrust, standing neatly and spaciously.
This place used to be quite dilapidated, but after being destroyed by Yuzuru, the people here have actually benefited from the misfortune and received more spacious and larger new houses.
Just after Yamato had spent a week finally completing all the reconstruction work, a man wearing a white mask appeared before him.