While Aoba Hayashi was enthusiastically fabricating one outrageous piece of history after another, gleefully “smearing” nearly every famous figure Konoha had produced since its founding…
Hiruzen Sarutobi, on the other hand, had already gone completely pale.
His face was ashen as he stiffly reached out, like a malfunctioning puppet, and switched off the crystal ball before him.
He had only been curious.
Naruto still hadn’t managed to find Aoba Hayashi after all these days, so Hiruzen had taken a quick look to see what was going on.
Instead…
He’d been forced to listen to all sorts of eye-searing nonsense.
What made it even worse was that the boy delivered every word with complete confidence, as though every absurd claim were undeniable historical fact.
Hiruzen sat there in a daze for quite some time before slowly lighting his pipe.
After taking several long drags, his mind unexpectedly became crystal clear.
Thoughts that had remained tangled for decades suddenly began connecting one after another.
Countless memories from his many years as Hokage flashed through his mind.
His expression grew darker and darker.
The wrinkles on his face bunched together until they resembled a blooming chrysanthemum.
Could it be…
Danzo actually has feelings like that?
Hiruzen knew Hayashi was making everything up.
After all, he himself certainly had no such inclinations.
He stayed at the Hokage Building so often because, after his wife passed away, his eldest son had also died, while his younger son had left to serve the Daimyo as one of the Guardian Shinobi.
Going home alone every day only meant returning to an empty house.
There was nothing to look forward to.
But now…
The one thing he could no longer be certain about…
…was Danzo’s intentions.
He had always believed Danzo coveted the position of Hokage and simply wanted to strengthen the Root organization.
Yet thinking back now…
Something felt strangely off.
All those proposals Danzo constantly brought him—
Human experimentation.
Eliminating the Uchiha Clan.
Even demanding custody of Naruto.
Anyone with half a brain knew Hiruzen Sarutobi would never approve such things.
That bastard…
Something definitely wasn’t right about him!
Every single time, he came here only to get scolded.
Maybe he wasn’t plotting to seize the Hokage’s seat…
Maybe he was plotting to seize the Hokage himself.
Click.
Just as Hiruzen’s thoughts spiraled out of control, the office door suddenly opened.
He was just about to see which rude person had entered the Hokage’s office without knocking…
…when the last person he wanted to see walked in.
“Hiruzen.”
“We must resolve the Uchiha problem as soon as possible.”
Shimura Danzo entered, leaning on his cane.
Half his body was wrapped in bandages, and his expression was unusually animated.
There were only two things capable of making Danzo this emotional.
Becoming Hokage.
Or dealing with the Uchiha.
However, the moment he entered, Danzo noticed something unusual.
Normally, regardless of what he said, Hiruzen always remained calm and composed.
Today…
He looked unbelievably stiff.
Sensing something was wrong, Danzo immediately began carefully studying Hiruzen.
Little did he know…
Hiruzen had already felt uncomfortable simply because Danzo had entered without knocking.
Now, with Danzo staring at him so intently…
Hiruzen suddenly felt his rear tighten.
“Hiruzen…
are you alright?”
After carefully examining him and finding no signs of a Transformation Jutsu, Danzo finally gave up and asked directly.
“Cough…
cough…”
“I’m fine.”
“I’m just…
not feeling very well today.”
Hiruzen hurriedly coughed to hide his embarrassment.
After forcing himself to calm down, he asked,
“So…
what brings you here today?”
His mind had been completely occupied by Hayashi’s outrageous rumors.
He hadn’t even heard what Danzo said upon entering.
Hearing that Hiruzen wasn’t feeling well, Danzo’s eyes suddenly lit up.
It was as though he’d just thought of something.
“Hiruzen.”
“If your health isn’t good, you should rest.”
“I can help handle the village’s affairs for the time being.”
To emphasize his sincerity…
Danzo even revealed a rare expression of genuine concern.
It looked as though he truly cared about Hiruzen’s well-being.
Hiruzen: ???
What kind of expression is that supposed to be?
The composure he’d barely managed to recover almost shattered again.
Danzo wasn’t finished.
“Hiruzen.”
“You are Konoha’s Hokage.”
“Your health is of the utmost importance.”
“As one of the village’s advisors…”
“And as your closest friend…”
“I’m saying this for Konoha’s sake.”
“And for yours.”
Hiruzen became even more bewildered.
You still remember we’re close friends?
Seeing Danzo continue speaking, Hiruzen could no longer sit still.
His face darkened as he barked,
“Enough, Danzo!”
“I’m the Hokage!”
“I don’t need you worrying about these things!”
Danzo froze.
He hadn’t even started making his case yet.
He’d merely expressed concern for Hiruzen’s health.
Why did it feel like Hiruzen’s temper had become even worse than before?
Had life become too comfortable for him?
Had his acting skills deteriorated?
“Hiruzen, I—”
“Danzo!”
“Calm yourself!”
Danzo: ???
Who’s the one that needs calming down here?
Ever since entering the office, aside from sounding slightly excited at the beginning, he’d been speaking gently the entire time.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen was the one shouting every other sentence.
Unable to understand what was happening, Danzo simply shut his mouth.
He pressed his lips together and silently stared at Hiruzen.
Unfortunately…
Hiruzen had already reached the stage of seeing romance everywhere.
To him, Danzo’s silent gaze…
Looked strangely like someone acting wronged…
…or even pouting.
Hiruzen subconsciously clenched his fists.
He had to admit…
He was panicking.
He couldn’t allow his lifelong best friend to stray onto such a crooked path.
“Haa…”
Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen spoke gravely.
“Danzo.”
“Go back for now.”
“For the time being…”
“Unless it’s an emergency, don’t come looking for me.”
“Just focus on your own responsibilities.”
This time, Danzo truly felt wronged.
He had no idea whether his old friend had accidentally eaten gunpowder today.
His attitude had been much better than usual.
Yet Hiruzen had become even more irritable.
Could it be…
Hiruzen actually preferred him to be harsher?
Danzo suddenly felt as though he’d figured something out.
Still…
Judging from Hiruzen’s current mood, now clearly wasn’t the right time.
So he returned to his usual routine.
“Hmph!”
“Hiruzen.”
“You’ll regret this!”
With a sharp flick of his sleeve, Danzo turned to leave.
“Next time…”
“Knock before coming in.”
Just as Danzo prepared to slam the door behind him, Hiruzen’s voice rang out once more.
Danzo’s smooth motion paused for a brief instant.
Then—
Bang!
The door shut anyway.
“What exactly is going on?”
Standing outside, Danzo frowned.
“Has something happened in the village again?”
He thought about it for quite a while.
Unable to think of anything unusual, he simply left.
“…Wait.”
“What was I here for in the first place?”
Meanwhile, after Danzo departed, Hiruzen slowly walked to the window.
Silently watching the white clouds drift across the sky, he recalled everything Danzo had done over the years.
His heart remained unsettled for a long time.
Eventually…
All he could do was let out a long sigh.
“Danzo…”
“My old friend…”
“Teacher…”
“What should I do…”
As he murmured to himself, Hiruzen sank back into deep thought.
Hayashi’s words echoed through his mind once again.
Come to think of it…
His teacher had somehow been dragged into those rumors too.
“What a sin…”
After Danzo’s unexpected visit had thrown his thoughts into complete chaos…
Hiruzen had entirely forgotten that he had intended to deal with Aoba Hayashi in the first place.