"Yes, Hokage-sama," Kakashi Hatake nodded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a moment.
In times of war, the death of a minor lord of a small country would have been insignificant, and no one would have cared.
But this was a time of peace, and Konoha and Sunagakure had decided to jointly hold the Chūnin Exams.
At this critical juncture, such a sudden occurrence was nothing short of a bolt from the blue for the Hokage.
"Naruto, has he really gone berserk?" After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked with a solemn expression.
"The Daimyō of the Land of Waves deserves to die!"
Kakashi did not give a direct answer, but his words were tantamount to telling Hiruzen Sarutobi that the berserk state was just an excuse.
"Alright, you can go now," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "Don't spread this around."
After Kakashi Hatake left, Hiruzen Sarutobi urgently summoned Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane to discuss the issue.
However, after arguing back and forth, they could not come up with a good solution.
Ultimately, it was Hiruzen Sarutobi who made the final decision to invite Danzō to come out of seclusion.
So, Hiruzen Sarutobi went to Danzō's residence without even questioning Mizuki.
...
"Hiruzen, are you here to condemn me?" Looking at his old friend, Danzō Shimura asked in a sinister tone.
"Danzo, you've misunderstood me. We've worked together for many years; how could I not trust you?" Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said.
"I've come this time to discuss something that concerns the life and death of Konoha."
Seeing how solemn Hiruzen Sarutobi was, Danzō suppressed his dissatisfaction and looked at him coldly.
"Danzo!" Seeing that Danzō remained silent, Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a wry smile. "Recently, my health has been deteriorating, and I often feel that I can no longer shoulder the burden of being Hokage."
"I'm considering electing the Fifth Hokage and would like to hear your opinion. Do you have a preferred candidate?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's words made Danzō unable to remain calm any longer.
He even wondered if there was something wrong with his ears.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had always valued power above all else, was actually going to step down and elect the Fifth Hokage.
Was the person in front of him really Hiruzen?
"I am just a man who has been stripped of all power and position. I have no say in such matters."
Although Danzō Shimura said this, his eyes were constantly watching Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression.
"That's not right," Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand. "You are the root of Konoha; no one knows the village better than you."
"Furthermore, the Chūnin Exams, jointly organized by Konoha and Sunagakure, were about to begin. We must select someone whose strength and reputation are no less than ours in order to deter the villains and not tarnish the prestige of Konoha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's words pleased Danzō greatly.
As expected, Hiruzen might not have said it before, but he really admired him. Otherwise, why would he have asked for his opinion?
"What you say makes sense. We really can't afford to tarnish Konoha's reputation."
As Danzō Shimura nodded, he said, "In these extraordinary times, I should recommend a worthy successor without regard to personal relationships, and I will speak frankly and without reservation. I will succeed as the Fifth Hokage!"
He had longed for the Hokage position for many years, and now the opportunity was right in front of him.
Even if he sensed something was amiss, he would not let this opportunity slip by.
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.
You're really not being polite!
Although I do have the idea of letting you take over, you'd better try to pull me back a little!
"Okay, I've decided on you."
"Danzo, from this day forward, you will be the Fifth Hokage of Konoha."
"In urgent situations, we should act expediently. There's no need for a village-wide election; we just need to inform the Daimyō."
"After the Chūnin Exams are over, we will hold a real Hokage succession ceremony for you and carve your face on the Hokage Rock."
Hiruzen Sarutobi mentally grumbled for a moment, then immediately agreed, giving Danzō no chance to back out.
This time, Danzō Shimura was stunned.
He had recommended himself only to test Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Unexpectedly, things went surprisingly smoothly.
"You just agreed like that?" Danzō Shimura felt a sense of unreality.
How could the Hokage position, which he had longed for and worked hard for half his life, fall into his hands so easily?
"Indeed, I am aware of your abilities," Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and said. "In the future, you will be the Hokage, and I will be the root buried deep in the ground, supporting your great tree."
As soon as he finished speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi clapped his hands twice, and two masked ANBU members suddenly appeared.
In their hands, they each held a newly made sacred robe symbolizing the Fifth Hokage's status, and a Hokage hat.
It was evident how well-prepared Hiruzen Sarutobi had been; he had done all of this before he came.
"Hiruzen, I misunderstood you before!"
Looking at the Hokage's robes and hat so close to him, Danzō Shimura's doubts vanished, and he even realized that he had been judging a gentleman by his own petty standards.
The symbol of Hokage was right in front of him; how could it be faked?
"As the Hokage, it's normal to be misunderstood," Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand magnanimously. "Danzo, now that you're in this position, you must not act as recklessly as before."
"Once you put on the hat, you will no longer be a root in the underground world, and the darkness of the ninja world will not be able to touch you in the slightest. Otherwise, I will come out of seclusion again, set things right, and beat you back to your original form."
When handing the Hokage hat to Danzō, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not forget to give him some instructions.
Danzo did not take his words to heart at all, not even the talk of returning to seclusion and restoring order.
When that time came, he would be the Hokage, and Hiruzen would be regretting it then!
He would show him what it felt like to be suppressed by the Hokage.
With that thought in mind, Danzo quickly changed out of his black clothes.
Wearing a white outfit, along with the Hokage's robe and hat, he was not exactly handsome, but he certainly changed his usual sinister and terrifying appearance.
With a warm, sunny smile on his face, he was no longer the Danzo hiding in the shadows.
He would bask in the sunlight, leading the village to glory and allowing the entire ninja world to enjoy the light of Konoha.
"Hiruzen, immediately send letters in my name as the Fifth Hokage to the three great ninja villages of Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure, inviting them to Konoha to participate in the Chūnin Exams."
After getting dressed, Danzō Shimura spoke to Hiruzen Sarutobi with great enthusiasm.
"Danzo, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure—the three great ninja villages—have never participated in the Chūnin Exams that we and Sunagakure hold over the years. Is there any need to send them a letter?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly. He understood that Danzō wanted to announce to the world that he was the Fifth Hokage, but those three ninja villages had no intention of playing along with Konoha.
"Hiruzen, I am Hokage!"
"If you do as I say, they might not give you, the Third, any face, but do they dare not give me, the Fifth, any face?"
Danzo raised his eyes and finally uttered the words he had dreamed of saying.
...
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