Hokage Office
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked at the enraged Danzo and the expressionless Orochimaru, feeling a headache coming on.
"Are you really going to let Orochimaru hollow out the Root?" Danzo slamd his cane against the ground forcefully, his chest heaving in anger as he roared.
"I only took a few research materials, nothing more. Besides, keeping those things in the Root's hands is a complete waste," Orochimaru retorted, ignoring Danzo's murderous gaze and eting his hostility head-on.
"Orochimaru! Show so respect to the Hokage's advisors! Danzo is, after all, a comrade of your teacher and has made great contributions to the village!" A voice rebuked from the doorway as the two village advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, stepped inside.
"Hiruzen, Danzo may have made mistakes, but your punishnt shouldn't be to empty out his Root," Homura said as he positioned himself in front of Danzo.
"That's not true. I only took materials that weren't even being used and two people I needed. All of this is within the authority given to by sensei. The Root's overall strength hasn't been affected at all," Orochimaru countered.
"Hiruzen, even while the village's economy is improving, we simply can't afford the establishnt and investnt needed for a new departnt," Koharu advised, avoiding a direct confrontation with Orochimaru.
"Yes, a new departnt requires training new talent and ninja, along with various other necessary investnts. This is a long-term commitnt. The village must consider its future carefully, right?" Homura echoed Koharu's concerns.
"What are your thoughts then?" The Third looked at the three standing together, then glanced at the stoic Orochimaru, his tone turning serious.
"Keep things as they are. It's better for Orochimaru to continue working with the Root," Homura suggested.
"You know as well as we do, Hiruzen, that those experints aren't suitable to be exposed to the public. A new departnt would draw everyone's attention in the village. At that point, a lot of things won't be kept secret anymore," Koharu added from another angle.
Hearing the advisors' words, Danzo's lips unconsciously curled into a slight smile. Just as he knew Hiruzen well, these two who had spent countless years by Hiruzen's side also understood him deeply. They knew how to shake Hiruzen's resolve.
As expected, the Third's expression showed a hint of hesitation at Koharu's words. He felt more powerless with each passing day, the decisiveness of his youth slowly eroding away.
He had long surpassed the average lifespan for a ninja in the shadow of constant war. Among the Kage, only the elderly Onoki of Iwagakure was older than him.
At this point, all he wanted was for the village to develop peacefully and without turmoil. Koharu's words had undeniably struck a chord in him.
"Isn't that even more reason to set things right?" Seeing the hesitation in his teacher's eyes, Orochimaru's gaze flickered with disappointnt. He spoke up proactively, "It's precisely because the Root operates so coldly and without restraint that all these tragedies have occurred! The establishnt of the Technology Developnt Departnt is to set up rules and reduce unnecessary sacrifices in the village. Only in this way can we prevent tragedies from happening again and again."
Danzo suddenly turned to look at Orochimaru, the one who had just spoken.
"Root is cold and ruthless?"
He did admit that much! But who had been in charge of the Wood Release and other experints? It was always you, Orochimaru! Even if there were mistakes on my end, can you, Orochimaru, really call yourself a good person?
You're just as cruel and unfeeling toward those test subjects. How could you say such things?
Are you still the Orochimaru I used to know?
"Orochimaru!" Mitokado Homura frowned.
"Advisor Homura, all of this happened because of the man next to you—Danzo! He targeted my student. Did he ever care about the village, about , about the Nara clan, or even about my teacher?"
Orochimaru's voice was cold as he interrupted Homura before he could speak further.
"I recall that the Ino-Shika-Cho trio were the ones who strongly supported Hiruzen-sensei in stabilizing the village, right? If that's the case, how about I invite advisor Akimichi Torifu to join the discussion?"
Mitokado Homura was left speechless by Orochimaru's words and gave Danzo a glare, silently cursing his extre thods.
Danzo, who had only intended to use Kagetsu as a slight threat to make Orochimaru behave and focus more on his research to at least show so results, now had an even darker expression. He hadn't expected such a trivial matter to escalate into such a huge ss.
If only he had sent a Jonin from Root back then...
"Enough." The Third Hokage finally made up his mind. He decisively ended the argunt with an authority reminiscent of his forr self. "I've agreed to Orochimaru and Shikakichi's request regarding personnel transfers and the establishnt of the Technology Developnt Departnt."
When the Hokage started concluding matters, the two advisors could only stay silent. However, in the next mont, the Third Hokage did offer them so consolation to save face.
"But the village's current finances aren't sufficient to support the establishnt of a new departnt. Aside from an initial fund allocation, the Technology Developnt Departnt will have to secure its own funding for the ti being," the Third Hokage added.
"Hmph!" Danzo snorted coldly, not getting the outco he desired. He turned and left the Hokage's office, leaning on his cane, feeling humiliated. At the sa ti, the fire in his heart to claim that position burned fiercer than ever.
Seeing Danzo leave, both Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu sighed, choosing not to speak further.
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