While the entire village was busy speculating about the future, the man at the center of all the rumors was currently lying in a hospital bed, stretching lazily.
“Ahhh…”
“That was an incredible sleep!”
Danzō let out a satisfied groan.
It had been a long time since he had slept so comfortably.
As he opened his eyes, a pristine white ceiling came into view.
“Hm?”
“Where am I?”
He immediately sat upright.
Only then did he notice Senju Bu seated beside the bed.
The elderly Senju veteran had apparently been dozing off while keeping watch.
The moment he sensed movement, his eyes snapped open.
Almost instinctively, his hand darted toward the kunai at his waist.
Every muscle in his body tightened.
His sharp gaze swept across the room like a drawn blade.
If there had been even the slightest sign of danger, the kunai in his hand would have been launched without hesitation.
Fortunately, nothing seemed amiss.
The tension slowly left his body.
Turning toward Danzō, he bowed his head respectfully.
“Lord Hokage.”
“You’re awake.”
Lord Hokage…
Even though Danzō had already accepted his new identity, hearing that title still sent a wave of satisfaction through him.
Of course, that was obviously the lingering obsession of the original Danzō.
It had absolutely nothing to do with his own humble and detached personality.
“Ahem…”
After clearing his throat and suppressing the grin threatening to appear on his face, Danzō regained his usual composed expression.
“Where are we now?”
“We’re at Konoha Hospital.”
Senju Bu answered immediately.
“It’s been four days since the battle.”
“You’ve been unconscious the entire time.”
His eyes carried obvious concern.
If Lady Mito herself hadn’t personally examined Danzō and confirmed that everything was normal, he might have believed someone had secretly poisoned or assassinated the future Hokage.
Danzō waved a hand dismissively.
“Relax.”
“I’m fine.”
Feeling the old veteran’s worry, he offered a reassuring smile before rising from the bed.
Then he rolled his shoulders and stretched his limbs.
Almost immediately, a hint of surprise flashed across his face.
Every injury he had sustained during the battle was gone.
Completely healed.
Not only that…
His body felt stronger than before.
Much stronger.
The muscles in his arms seemed more powerful.
His movements felt lighter and faster.
Even the flow of chakra throughout his body was smoother and more vigorous than he remembered.
It was as though every cell in his body had undergone another round of enhancement while he slept.
Danzō narrowed his eyes.
A possibility instantly surfaced in his mind.
Without saying a word, he focused his consciousness inward and entered the space within his mind.
Sure enough—
The massive Tree of Fortune standing above Konoha’s miniature landscape had changed once again.
Compared to before, it had grown noticeably taller.
Its trunk was thicker.
Its branches stretched farther into the sky.
Most importantly, the branch representing Prestige had flourished dramatically.
Fresh green leaves covered it in abundance, swaying gently in an invisible breeze.
The branch was no longer the fragile sprout it once had been.
It was beginning to resemble a true limb of the great tree.
A steady stream of energy flowed from it into Danzō’s body.
The sensation was warm and powerful.
Like a spring of life endlessly nourishing him.
“So that’s how it works…”
Danzō muttered to himself.
The cheers of the rescued shinobi.
The gratitude of the Senju survivors.
The growing recognition spreading throughout Konoha.
All of it had become nourishment for the Tree of Fortune.
And that nourishment had been transformed into tangible strength.
His chakra reserves had increased.
His physique had improved.
Even his recovery speed seemed to have risen.
The stronger his reputation became…
The stronger he himself would become.
A faint smile appeared on Danzō’s face.
This ability was far more valuable than he had originally imagined.
After all, prestige was one of the easiest resources for a Hokage to obtain.
As long as he continued achieving victories.
As long as he continued protecting the village.
As long as the people acknowledged him…
The tree would continue to grow.
And so would he.
The thought alone made his eyes shine with anticipation.
Perhaps…
The title of Hokage was not merely a burden.
It was also the greatest opportunity he had ever received.
Opening his eyes once more, Danzō slowly clenched his fist.
Power surged through his body.
A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
The journey had only just begun.
Not only that, his sensory abilities had improved as well.
His range of perception had expanded noticeably.
His eyesight and hearing had both sharpened to an astonishing degree.
Looking out the window, he could clearly make out even the laundry hanging to dry outside a distant bathhouse.
Danzō quickly withdrew his gaze.
After all, he wasn’t some lecherous old man like Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Still…
What exactly was going on?
Did the Senju physique also enhance physical abilities and sensory perception?
With that question in mind, he immediately turned his attention inward and entered his mental space.
As expected—
During the several days he had spent unconscious, the Tree of Fortune had grown yet again.
Among its many branches, the one representing Politics had developed at an especially rapid pace.
Fresh emerald leaves now covered the branch.
At its very tip hung a fruit roughly the size of a thumb.
Unfortunately, it was still small and somewhat green.
Clearly, it had yet to fully ripen.
Is this because I’m about to become Hokage?
Danzō pondered.
Although Tobirama had named him his successor before departing, very few people had known about it, and even fewer had truly accepted it.
Now, however, things were different.
He had returned to Konoha.
The news of him becoming the Third Hokage had spread throughout the village and was beginning to reach the wider shinobi world.
His political standing had risen dramatically.
As a result, the Politics branch had flourished and finally borne fruit.
As for why the fruit remained unripe, Danzō believed the answer was simple.
He had only just returned.
He had spent the last several days unconscious.
The village had yet to fully acknowledge and accept him as Hokage.
Which meant his next objective was obvious:
He needed to solidify his position completely.
He needed to truly sit upon the Hokage’s throne.
Aside from that, the Military branch had also grown considerably.
Although it had yet to bear fruit, fresh leaves continuously released streams of energy that slowly nourished his body.
Every time he absorbed a portion of that energy, he could feel the cells throughout his body practically cheering with excitement.
Which meant…
The military strength of Konoha translated directly into his physical prowess and taijutsu ability.
Viewed from that perspective, everything made sense.
He had led a rescue operation.
He had saved the trapped shinobi.
He had personally slain a senior Kumogakure commander and devastated an entire enemy force.
From Konoha’s perspective, it had been a major military victory.
If that was how the system worked…
Then what would happen once Konoha began conquering nations and crushing enemy villages in the future?
Would his physical strength skyrocket?
Perhaps he could even surpass the famed Third Raikage, whose body was renowned throughout the shinobi world.
At that point…
Crushing a Susanoo with a mere kunai might not be impossible.
Danzō licked his lips.
His mind was already wandering toward a glorious future.
Fortunately, Senju Bu interrupted his daydreaming.
“Lord Hokage.”
“Would you like to convene a Jōnin Council?”
A Jōnin Council.
As the name implied, it was a gathering composed of all the village’s jōnin.
As the backbone of every hidden village, the opinions of jōnin carried enormous weight.
The importance of such a meeting went without saying.
Major decisions concerning the future of the village—and sometimes even the entire nation—were often discussed there.
By suggesting the council now, Senju Bu’s intentions were obvious.
He wanted to formally establish Danzō’s position as the Third Hokage.
However, Danzō was in no hurry.
Instead, he said,
“Before convening the council, I’d like to visit Lady Mito.”
Uzumaki Mito.
The widow of the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju.
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
The strongest member of the Uzumaki Clan.
Although she rarely appeared in public and almost never involved herself in the village’s day-to-day affairs, nobody in Konoha dared ignore her existence.
She hadn’t become the Nine-Tails’ vessel merely because she was Hashirama’s wife.
She possessed overwhelming strength in her own right.
In the original timeline, Mito was a terrifying figure capable of suppressing the Nine-Tails with her sealing techniques alone.
Even at her advanced age, she remained a living strategic weapon.
And unlike the future timeline, Uzushiogakure still stood strong.
The Senju Clan still retained considerable influence.
For Danzō, her support was absolutely critical.
Unfortunately, Senju Bu shook his head.
“Lady Mito has been feeling unwell recently.”
“I’m afraid she isn’t receiving visitors.”
“Hm?”
Danzō immediately frowned.
With an Uzumaki’s vitality, how could she suddenly fall ill?
And at such a crucial moment?
The more he thought about it, the less convincing it sounded.
There were only two possibilities.
The first was that something had happened with the Nine-Tails’ seal.
Perhaps Mito was occupied suppressing the beast.
But Danzō quickly dismissed that notion.
Mito had been a jinchūriki for decades.
With her Uzumaki life force and Hashirama’s sealing necklace, even the Nine-Tails would have no choice but to behave itself.
Which left only one explanation.
She was doing this on purpose.
As for why…
Most likely, she wanted to test him.
To see whether he truly possessed the qualities necessary to become Hokage.
A faint smile appeared on Danzō’s face.
“So that’s how it is.”
Very well.
If Lady Mito wished to observe him from the shadows, then he would give her something worth watching.
“Then please pass along my regards to Lady Mito.”
Danzō narrowed his eyes and gazed through the window toward the distant Hokage Monument, where the massive stone faces of the First and Second Hokage overlooked the village.
His expression hardened.
His voice became sharp and resolute.
“And then issue an order.”
“Summon every jōnin in the village to the Hokage Building.”
A powerful aura radiated from him.
The hesitation of the past was gone.
The future Third Hokage had finally stepped forward.
“I am convening a Jōnin Council.”
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