“I already have a Sharingan,” Natsuki murmured, then asked, “Did Danzo tell you about Kato Dan’s Spiritualization Technique’s weakness and send you to kill him?”
“Since you already know…
why ask?” Uchiha Fei sneered.
“Do you know why Danzo is doing this?”
“I only follow Lord Danzo’s orders; I don’t need to know the reason.
I only know that everything Danzo does is for Konoha.”
At the brink of death,
Uchiha Fei’s expression remained resolute.
Natsuki had no intention of saving Uchiha Fei.
A hint of regret flickered in his eyes: “Danzo is not…”
Before he could finish speaking,
Uchiha Fei used his last ounce of strength, and the Kunai hidden in his hand swiftly stabbed towards Natsuki’s neck.
Swish!
A white light flashed.
Blood splattered on Natsuki’s clothes.
A severed sleeve, along with an arm, fell.
Blood gushed from Uchiha Fei’s severed arm.
“Danzo has long been lost in the struggle for power; he is not doing this for Konoha,” Natsuki continued.
“Impossible!”
Uchiha Fei’s face was contorted in pain, but he remained utterly loyal to Danzo: “Lord Danzo…”
His words suddenly stopped.
Natsuki’s Sharingan activated, and the three tomoe in his blood-red pupils spun rapidly.
Uchiha Fei, immersed in the genjutsu world, found himself in two scenarios.
One scenario showed the future Nine-Tails Attack, where Danzo forced Hiruzen Sarutobi to order the Anbu to closely monitor the Uchiha Clan, preventing them from assisting.
At the same time, he ordered his Root members not to intervene, simply watching Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina being killed.
Afterward, Danzo believed Hiruzen Sarutobi had died in the Nine-Tails Attack, and he smoothly ascended to the Hokage position, only to be discovered by the Sandaime.
The other scenario revealed Danzo as the mastermind behind the Uchiha Clan massacre!
Natsuki’s tone was low: “When Danzo eliminates all obstacles in his political path, everyone will believe Danzo is the Hokage, and his era will come.”
“Lord Danzo…
how could he…
the Lord Danzo I’ve always trusted…”
Astonishment, fear, hatred…
the expressions in Uchiha Fei’s eyes changed continuously.
“Lord Danzo…”
“Lord Danzo!!!”
“I truly believed…
everything I did…
was helping Konoha!”
When Uchiha Fei finally died, his expression was nothing but despair.
Natsuki performed Earth Release.
The earth beneath his feet churned.
Uchiha Fei’s body was buried underground, leaving only the Root mask he wore in life.
Natsuki sighed and picked up the mask.
Thinking of Danzo’s schemes, Natsuki sighed inwardly.
Perhaps even Jiraiya in the original story didn’t know that Danzo played a significant role in the death of his beloved disciple, Minato Namikaze.
In his youth, Danzo genuinely wished for Konoha’s development to improve.
But later, after embarking on a political path, Danzo somehow lost his original intention.
He would do anything to climb to power.
“Shimura Danzo, I hope you can rediscover your original intention.”
Natsuki sensed several figures rapidly approaching from not far behind him.
Natsuki immediately put away the Root mask.
“Natsuki!
Didn’t you catch him?” Tsunade asked immediately after realizing Natsuki was unharmed.
“I fell into a trap the enemy had set, and the person escaped,” Natsuki shook his head.
Kato Dan, Yamanaka Shio, and Katon were about to give chase, but Natsuki stopped them: “No need to pursue.
He was a Ninja from the Land of Wind, very agile.
I’m worried there might be traps ahead.
Let’s go back first and inform Konoha’s higher-ups about the Rogue Ninja hidden in Konoha.”
Soon.
Konoha Village.
When Natsuki, Tsunade, Shio, and Katon arrived at the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was discussing matters with Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado.
After they finished reporting, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned in thought: “Someone is leaking Konoha’s intelligence…”
Utatane Koharu, beside him, held a different opinion: “Since the founding of the Land of Fire, Ninja have always been loyal.
I don’t believe anyone would commit an act of treason.
Kato Dan, your encounter might just be an accident.”
An accident?
An accident so meticulously planned?
Bullshit accident!
Tsunade felt a surge of anger, glaring at Utatane Koharu.
If Natsuki hadn’t appeared in time, her lover would have died!
She wanted to curse at Utatane Koharu.
But after a moment’s hesitation, she ultimately swallowed her anger.
There was nothing she could do.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado were both special Advisors of Konoha.
They participated in the administrative management of the Land of Fire and held a crucial position in the Hokage’s decision-making.
Tsunade, currently bearing the title of one of the Three Legendary Sannin of Konoha, had no actual administrative power in the Land of Fire.
Faced with the pronouncements of Konoha’s higher-ups, she could only endure it for now.
“Homura, what’s your opinion?” Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pipe and looked at Homura Mitokado.
“My view is the same as Koharu’s.”
Homura Mitokado chuckled: “Tsunade, I know you and Kato Dan are lovers, and you’re very worried about Kato Dan’s crisis.
I understand, but casualties are inevitable on the battlefield.
You can’t just take your anger out on Konoha Ninja.”
Tsunade’s gaze immediately shot towards Homura Mitokado.
Her chest heaved with anger.
Her fists clenched.
If she became Hokage, she would definitely make these two suffer!
“Sandaime-sama, I’ve finished my report.
If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave!” Tsunade declared loudly and immediately left.
Kato Dan and Katon Shio left one after another.
“That child Tsunade, her temper is still so fiery,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a chuckle, biting on his pipe.
“Sandaime, I think you are too lenient with Tsunade,” Utatane Koharu said.
Homura Mitokado added: “Her attitude towards you just now was very disrespectful.”
“She was disrespectful to the two of you, wasn’t she?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe, turned to look at the French window behind him, watching Tsunade’s angry retreating figure: “That child Tsunade has always been very respectful to me.”
“Then she…” Utatane Koharu was still somewhat displeased.
Homura Mitokado had the same expression.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s gaze swept over them, a hint of sharpness in his smile: “Even if Princess Tsunade is disrespectful to you, you two should just bear with it.
Tsunade is Shodai(1st)-sama’s granddaughter.
Even Shodai(1st)-sama couldn’t do anything about Princess Tsunade, so what can you do to Princess Tsunade?”
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado’s faces tightened, and they said nothing more.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had even invoked Shodai(1st)-sama’s name to protect Princess Tsunade.
The two of them had nothing to say.
After all, if Shodai(1st)-sama’s children hadn’t been uninterested in competing for the Hokage position back then, perhaps the person sitting in the Hokage seat now would be Princess Tsunade.
A short while later.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado left.
Before leaving, Utatane Koharu said with a serious expression: “The Land of Rain has officially declared war on the Land of Fire.
Although the Land of Rain is a small country, Hanzou of the Hidden Rain Village is unfathomably strong and should not be underestimated.”
After the two left,
Only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Natsuki remained in the Hokage Office.
“Natsuki.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression immediately became serious: “Did you also bring intelligence exchanged between the Hidden Rain Village and Konoha this time?”
“Yes, new intelligence.”
A short while later,
In the Hokage Office.
Silence.
Oppressive.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the stacks of intelligence before him, suppressing his anger.
It was intelligence about Hanzou of the Hidden Rain Village secretly contacting Danzo. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Natsuki, as his direct Anbu member, had been sent by him to secretly monitor Hanzou several months ago.
In these past few months, it wasn’t the first time Natsuki had brought back similar intelligence for him to see.
Every time he read it, he was filled with indignation.
Several times, the casualties caused by battles between Konoha Ninja and Hidden Rain Village Ninja were due to Danzo leaking information!
Yet, he was helpless.
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew very well that with the Ninja World War currently ongoing, he couldn’t punish Danzo.
Danzo was a high-ranking Konoha official, controlling the Root.
If he were to challenge Danzo, Konoha would surely fall into turmoil.
At that time, if other countries took the opportunity to invade, the consequences would be unpredictable.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hand on the table: “Danzo, in order to become Hokage, is actually willing to disregard the safety of the Land of Fire’s citizens.”
“Sandaime-sama, why not kill Danzo?” Natsuki said calmly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately looked at Natsuki.
He stared intently at Natsuki, as if hesitating about something.
In the end, he sighed, a look of worry on his face: “Do you think I don’t want to?
Danzo is a high-ranking Konoha military official.
If he were to die in Konoha, no matter how secretly it was done, it would inevitably be suspected that he died at the hands of a Konoha person, which would lead to mutual suspicion among Konoha’s various clan forces and trigger internal strife.”
“Sandaime-sama, you could do it when Danzo is out.”
“That won’t work.
When Danzo goes out, he is protected by Root members.
Every Root member is an Elite Jonin handpicked and trained by Danzo from prominent clans like Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki.
To kill Danzo among these people would be extremely difficult.
And if the attempt failed, the secret would surely be exposed, and Danzo would likely instigate internal strife first…”
“Sandaime-sama, what if the person protecting Danzo…
is me?” Natsuki suddenly said.
“What?!”
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused in his speech.
The slanting sunlight from outside the window illuminated half of Natsuki’s body.
“Natsuki, are you a Root member?” Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice.
“I wasn’t before, but starting today, I can be.”
Natsuki took out the Root mask that originally belonged to Uchiha Fei and put it on his face.
After performing hand seals, Natsuki’s appearance immediately became identical to that of the deceased Uchiha Fei.
Natsuki recounted his true experience after saving Kato Dan.
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened with a frown at first, then became furious: “Danzo has already started attacking my Konoha Ninja!”
He immediately understood Danzo’s intentions in doing so.
His goal was to compete for the position of the next Hokage!
Currently, among Konoha Ninja, four Elite Jonin had the best reputation and significant achievements, making them potential candidates for the next Hokage.
These were Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru, known as the Three Legendary Sannin of Konoha, and Sakumo Hatake, konohas white fang.
Jiraiya traveled various countries to gather intelligence, spending long periods away from Konoha, clearly uninterested in competing for the Hokage position.
Orochimaru, while dedicated to Ninjutsu research, actively participated in Ninja World War missions and had not yet shown clear political ambitions.
That left only Tsunade and Sakumo Hatake as threats to Danzo.
Among them, Sakumo Hatake had an illustrious reputation and numerous battle achievements.
Although Tsunade’s achievements were not as extensive as Sakumo Hatake’s, she carried the bloodline of the Senju Clan and was the granddaughter of the First Hokage.
This connection alone gave her significant voting power among the Konoha Daimyo and political elite.
Therefore,
Danzo sent Root members, disguised as enemy Ninja, to use the weakness of Kato Dan’s Spiritualization Technique to kill him, aiming to make Tsunade collapse and fall into despair, thus losing her will to participate in the next Hokage competition.
As for Sakumo Hatake, Danzo would surely devise a plan to deal with him as well.
Just thinking about it made Hiruzen Sarutobi’s heart ache.
Konoha was currently facing both internal and external troubles.
What was to be done?
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Natsuki before him, and said with a solemn expression: “Natsuki, your earlier meaning was that you want to disguise yourself as a Root member and kill Danzo when he is out…
Do you already have a plan?”
“Sandaime-sama, I do have a plan.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression was astonished.
After listening to Natsuki’s explanation,
Hiruzen Sarutobi gradually recovered: “Hanzou, the Akatsuki organization, Danzo…
Natsuki!
You must have started implementing this plan a long time ago, haven’t you?”
It really helps the fic grow!