Soon, the two opened up some distance.
Shimura Danzo stood on the left, while Sarutobi Hiruzen stood on the right.
“Wait…
I’m going to the right.”
Shimura Danzo indicated that he wanted to take the right side.
“Why, Danzo?” Sarutobi Hiruzen blinked, not quite understanding.
*Why, why, why—all you know is how to ask why!
Are you a walking encyclopedia of ‘whys’?*
However, in front of the boy’s father, Shimura Danzo couldn’t very well complain.
“Because since ancient times, the one on the left always loses the beam struggle…”
Shimura Danzo spoke indifferently as he swapped positions with the bewildered Sarutobi Hiruzen.
“…”
Sarutobi Sasuke was momentarily speechless.
This nephew of his was good in every way, except for some strange hobbies and obsessions.
The things he said were always only half-understandable.
In the end, Sarutobi Sasuke attributed all of this to the fact that Shimura Danzo had been an orphan since childhood with no one to educate him, causing his mind to wander.
“Are you ready?” Shimura Danzo asked, standing casually.
“Yes, I’m ready.”
Unlike Shimura Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a stance, waiting in full battle array.
Sarutobi Sasuke watched this scene with considerable interest.
Strictly speaking, this was the first time the two of them had a formal spar like this.
The scene before him seemed to take him back to the distant past.
Long ago, his friend—Shimura Danzo’s father—had also sparred with him in this way.
According to Sarutobi Sasuke’s thoughts, the outcome between the two was quite clear.
His own silly son certainly had solid basics, but Danzo was quick-witted and would surely have the upper hand in the application of strategy.
Although at the level of the Hokage and Madara, it was all about raw power and giant humanoids beating each other up…
below that god-like tier, ninjas relied more on intelligence and brains.
“Begin!”
With a low shout from Danzo, the two, who had formed the Seal of Confrontation, jumped backward simultaneously.
*Click…*
Shimura Danzo reached into his ninja tool pouch with both hands, and then his arms swung violently, turning into two afterimages.
*Swish!
Swish!
Swish!*
Several shuriken tore through the air, heading straight for various parts of Sarutobi Hiruzen’s body.
Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen calmly pulled out a kunai and quickly performed a series of parries.
Battles between ninjas usually began with such long-range projectile exchanges as a test.
The instinctive choice to parry reflected Sarutobi Hiruzen’s solid and simple combat style.
Only someone confident in their own agility would instinctively choose to parry rather than dodge.
“Ninja Art…!”
The moment he withdrew his hands, Shimura Danzo began forming seals.
By this time, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already deflected the shuriken one by one with his kunai.
Tiny sparks dissipated in the air, adding a different color to the bright daylight.
Seeing Shimura Danzo forming seals while rushing toward him, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately tensed up.
His eyes didn’t blink once as he stared at Danzo’s movements.
“Flash Jutsu!!”
Hearing Shimura Danzo’s loud shout, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately thought of something and tightly closed his eyes.
“…”
Sarutobi Sasuke’s mouth twitched.
He knew his son was about to lose.
Sure enough, in the next moment, Shimura Danzo arrived behind Sarutobi Hiruzen and placed his hand like a blade against his neck.
“I win.”
Shimura Danzo lowered his hand and nodded toward Sarutobi Sasuke.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was left completely dazed, not knowing what had happened.
How did Danzo mysteriously appear behind him?
How did he lose so inexplicably?
“You silly child…”
Sarutobi Sasuke gave his son a sharp rap on the head.
“Just because Danzo shouts something, does he have to use that ninjutsu?
How can you be so gullible…?”
Sarutobi Sasuke wore an expression of “I can’t believe I have such a stupid son.”
Only then did Sarutobi Hiruzen realize that the “Flash Jutsu” Danzo shouted was just to trick him.
“…”
Even Shimura Danzo’s mouth twitched.
It was truly strange.
How did this Sarutobi Hiruzen change from such a gullible boy into the flashy, skilled Third Hokage of the original story?
“Danzo…”
After giving his son a thorough scolding, Sarutobi Sasuke’s mood improved quite a bit.
“Hiruzen is just too honest; he’s easily taken advantage of.
I hope you can help him more in the future.”
*Ah, sure thing.*
Would Shimura Danzo say that?
NO!
He looked at Sarutobi Sasuke and thought: *If your son turns bad in the future, you’ll definitely say I was the one who led him astray.*
*Oh?
Could it be that my title as the “Ultimate Fall Guy” is awakening?*
Shimura Danzo thought about it and realized it was true.
As the number one scapegoat of Naruto, he, Shimura Danzo, should naturally carry this title from a young age…
as if!
“Uncle, I understand the sentiment of your entrustment…
but Hiruzen is a guy.
If you had a daughter or something and said that to me, I’d be very happy…”
The implication was: *Looking at your son’s stupid face, I can’t be happy.*
Also…
no bromance!
Afterward, Danzo looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen: “Pay up!”
Danzo held out his hand.
Sarutobi Hiruzen blinked and scratched his head.
Although he didn’t know what was going on, he still obediently took out his wallet.
Shimura Danzo opened the wallet, pulled out a few bills, and then returned the wallet to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
“This is an appearance fee.”
Shimura Danzo waved the money in his hand.
“If you want to spar with me in the future, there will be an extra charge each time…
if Konoha’s economy grows and the per capita GDP increases, the price will need to be adjusted accordingly…”
Shimura Danzo’s mental calculator was clicking away.
“…”
Sarutobi Sasuke once again gained a new understanding of Shimura Danzo’s thick skin and shamelessness.
But it was fine.
Sarutobi Sasuke smiled.
With Danzo around, his son wouldn’t suffer a loss.
Following Danzo would surely make him a bit smarter.
As for the advantage Danzo took of his silly son…
as the saying goes: *Don’t let the fertile water flow into someone else’s field.*
Finally, Sarutobi Sasuke watched his son and Danzo leave the house and head toward the Ninja Academy…
…
In the afternoon, as soon as Shimura Danzo arrived in the classroom, he let out a yawn and lay on his desk to continue sleeping.
Because of his performance in the morning, the way everyone looked at him had changed slightly.
After all, being able to complete the Basic Three Jutsu meant he could already graduate from the Ninja Academy.
This kind of achievement was enough to place him among the top students.
However, as soon as they thought of Shimura Danzo’s disrespectful attitude toward their beloved Teacher Yumiko, the students’ minds were filled with rage.
“Don’t get cocky!
The curriculum of the Ninja Academy isn’t just the Three Basic Jutsu!” a student muttered.
In fact, besides the Three Basic Jutsu, the Ninja Academy also taught academic courses, taijutsu classes, and shuriken and kunai throwing courses.
End of Chapter
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