Chapter 69. Even if I Must Bear the Darkness Single-Handedly to Protect Konoha, I, Shimura Danzo...
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At this ti,
There were only two people in the eting room.
The atmosphere felt heavy, almost suffocating.
It was unclear how much ti had passed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled slightly, pouring a cup of hot tea for Danzo before pouring one for himself. His tone was gentle yet tinged with emotion, "It seems that I haven't seen you for a while."
He spoke calmly, his deanor indifferent yet warm, like an old friend catching up after a long separation.
Danzo's gaze flickered briefly to the bounty notice resting on the corner of Hiruzen's desk. After a mont of silence, he nodded and replied evenly, "Recently, I have gained so insights into ninjutsu and have gone into seclusion!"
However...
That response made Hiruzen's smile falter slightly. Awkwardly, he grabbed the docunt beside him, stamped the bounty notice, and placed it aside, acting as if the exchange hadn't happened. Resting his hands under his chin, he spoke in a serious tone, "I have no ulterior motives in asking you to stay. I only want you to understand!"
He paused, his tone becoming solemn and heavy. "I am the leaf bathed in the sun, and you are the root in the darkness. No matter what happens, you are my closest friend, and I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, would never do anything to hurt you! Konoha will never forget your contribution!"
As his words hung in the air,
A sudden wave of emotion struck Danzo.
"Hiruzen..." Danzo's heart trembled slightly as he t Hiruzen's affectionate gaze.
For a mont, he froze.
His mind wandered back to that fateful day.
When their teacher had passed,
When Hiruzen had been chosen as Hokage during the chaos of a crisis,
And when the young Sarutobi Hiruzen, overwheld by the responsibilities of leadership, ca to the Shimura clan's mansion alone.
He had taken Danzo's hand tightly, his sincerity unmistakable as he invited him to serve as his advisor—To help pacify Konoha together.
That day, moved by Hiruzen's heartfelt plea and their unshakable bond, he!
Shimura Danzo voluntarily took on the darkness of Konoha!
Danzo took a deep breath, his voice steady as he declared, "Even if I must bear the darkness single-handedly to protect Konoha, I, Shimura Danzo, will not complain."
"Good!" Hiruzen exclaid, as if he was infected by Danzo's selfless and hardworking spirit. His whole body seed to shake with enthusiasm as he laughed heartily. "You are truly worthy of being the close friend of this Sarutobi Hiruzen! The strong Will of Fire that protects Konoha has never changed! With you, everything feels as smooth as water! Everything is for Konoha!"
"Everything is for Konoha!"
A decisive response!
"Excellent. So... because of the rising cost of explosive tags and the strain of the war, there's a significant shortfall in the village's funds..."
Before he could finish,
The corner of Danzo's mouth twitched. The warmth and emotion in his chest vanished like smoke in the wind.
Instantly, his whole body tensed with anger.
You actually lied to !
Hiruzen!
Looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen in front of him, he had his hands crossed and placed in front of his chin, with a gloomy and serious expression.
Danzo imdiately slamd the table in anger, staring at him with tiger eyes, "Shut up! Hiruzen! I misjudged you!"
"Look at you! You're losing your temper again! Why didn't you tell right away? I was worried that you might misunderstand . Can you please listen to first?"
"I won't listen! I won't listen! I won't listen!"
"You have to believe , Danzo, I am your best friend!"
"You just want my body!"
"I didn't! I wasn't! Don't talk nonsense!"
"You did! You did! No bullshit!"
"How could I have that? Where is that? Are you talking nonsense?" Sarutobi Hiruzen followed Danzo's rhythm, then ca back to his senses and sighed, "Calm down, I didn't an that, it's just..."
Before he could continue,
"Shut up! You'll regret this!" Danzo barked, cutting him off yet again. He rose to his feet, his eyes trembling with barely contained rage, "Hiruzen!"
He slamd the door as he left, the sound echoing through the room like a thunderclap.
"..." Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the closed door speechlessly, and shook his head helplessly. He really didn't an that!
He misunderstood him again!
It's just that the village is short of funds recently, and in order to stabilize the war, we hope that the funds from the root can be [voluntarily] reduced during this period of ti. Additionally, he thought the Shimura and Sarutobi clans could lead by example by donating supplies.
And the secret experints... should also be stopped!
There is no other aning!
All this is for Konoha.
How could this be nonsense!
Hiruzen sighed deeply. "Danzo... you're just too tense these days."
Reaching into his desk drawer, he pulled out the bounty notice for the 600 million again. For a fleeting mont, he thought back to the days when once upon a ti, Danzo used to smile so naturally, so freely.
He seed to have never seen Danzo smile like this again.
Just... six hundred million?
Not as good as the bond between him and Danzo!
He sighed inwardly, "I was planning to invite Danzo to have a barbecue tonight, drink so wine, and relax."
Danzo... really was too tense.
...
Tense?
He was indeed tense!
As the words spread across the various ninja villages, Danzo felt that the eyes of those who looked at him were filled with a strange light.
It was the golden light!
It was greed!
He and Hiruzen... could never go back to the way they were before.
Danzo felt a deep pain inside. When had the ninja world... beco like this?
Where was the spirit of the First Hokage, where everyone sought harmony?
Had everyone forgotten?
"Konoha... has fallen!" Danzo muttered to himself, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "Hiruzen has changed! For Konoha..."
He had to act!
All this... was for Konoha!
At this mont.
Danzo once again recalled the invitation from the demigod of Agakure.
If he could obtain powerful strength...
He would surely be able to restore order, guide Konoha onto the right path, make it stronger, and prove to his teacher that he could surpass Hiruzen!
Suddenly,
His eyes burned with a fierce fla of determination.
"The Land of Rain..."
...
"Akatsuki."
Hanzo of the Salamander stared at the letter on the table with complicated eyes. It had been sent by Akatsuki a few days ago.
Its contents?
rely an invitation to eat salamander kebabs and discuss the state of the Land of Rain.
But he knew better.
It wasn't that simple.
Once, there had been an organization in the Land of Rain—a group of young, idealistic individuals who were helpful, selfless, and yearned for peace.
Hanzo had admired them greatly.
He had even considered recruiting them to work together for peace in the Land of Rain.
Until... Danzo appeared.
And until...
His ninjas in Agakure began to desert him.
Damn it!
Those little devils are trying to rebel!
Yes, he was old.
But he wasn't dead yet!
And,
Danzo had promised that if these rebels were eliminated, Agakure would form an alliance with Konoha. This alliance might finally bring stability to the Land of Rain, a nation caught between the great nations.
So, there was no doubt about it—they had to be eliminated!
Yet, after many invitations to et in Agakure, they had refused him outright. He had sent his ninjas to capture their three leaders, but they all failed.
Unexpectedly, this ti, the group that had been in hiding invited him to eat salamander kebabs!
This isn't simple!
"Do they think they can confront head-on?" A cold light flashed in Hanzo's eyes. "If that's the case, I'll et them myself!"
It was ti... to put an end to this!
He was the Demigod of the Ninja World!
When had he ever been afraid?
It's just... Danzo didn't show up, and it felt like... he had lost hundreds of millions.
...
At the sa ti.
Within Akatsuki's hideout,
Yuto looked sternly at the three little ones.
"Tomorrow... I'll use the cup as a signal. If you hear the sound of breaking the cup..."
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