Kapitel 204: Chapter 204: How come there are Uchihas here?!
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, showed some indecisiveness in his character.
Even before the battle began, though Hiruzen intended to kill Shimura Danzo just as the First Hokage, Hashirama, had intended to kill Madara, he involuntarily stopped when Danzo formed the seal of reconciliation.
The seal of reconciliation.
This hand sign also symbolized the end of their conflict.
"You rascal..."
Hiruzen took a deep breath, put away his staff, and extended his hand to pull Danzo up from the ground, just like they used to do at the end of their ninja sparring years ago.
"..."
Danzo hesitated for a moment before grasping Hiruzen's hand.
"..."
Hiruzen held Danzo's hand with mixed emotions.
His fate was ultimately different from that of Hashirama; he did not kill his friend as the First Hokage had.
"Be more cautious from now on."
Hiruzen forcefully pulled Danzo to his feet, sternly admonishing, "We are both too old for this, yet you still stir up so much trouble..."
"Hmph..."
Danzo's mouth twisted slightly in defiance.
Although Danzo forming the seal of reconciliation meant he was surrendering and admitting defeat to Hiruzen,
But...
Danzo was well aware.
This seal was just a means to stay alive temporarily, not an end to his defeat by Hiruzen, but the beginning of his anticipated victory in this conflict.
A ninja...
Should resort to any means necessary!
If he truly wanted victory, he could have used his killer move to die together with Hiruzen, but Danzo did not want Orochimaru and Akihara Kagura to benefit from their mutual demise. Why should he die here while his two allies gained?
"This time, I'll admit you're formidable!"
Danzo's heart harbored schemes, and he was slightly more polite to Hiruzen.
"Do you expect a next time?"
Hiruzen sharply reprimanded Danzo again, continuing, "After the Chunin Exam is over, explain all that you have done these past years, including that scoundrel Orochimaru. From now on, stay in the village and do not leave..."
"Hmph..."
Danzo was still somewhat resentful.
Their battle concluded.
The Four Red Yang Formation slowly dissipated.
Akihara Kagura and Hatake Kakashi walked in.
Hiruzen glanced at Akihara Kagura and handed over Danzo to his former subordinate, "Akihara Kagura, take Danzo back and keep him under surveillance."
"Yes."
Akihara Kagura nodded in agreement.
"..."
Danzo squinted at Akihara Kagura.
Everything was proceeding according to their plan. Danzo had drained Hiruzen's chakra, and Akihara Kagura was taking him back to the Root Base, leaving the rest to Orochimaru.
"Let's go, Lord Danzo."
Akihara Kagura approached Danzo.
Just then, the final match of the Chunin Exam between Karin and Aburame Shino was about to start, and Karin chose to forfeit.
Akihara Kagura withdrew his wood clone and took both Karin and Danzo back to the Root Base, as the exam had concluded.
"The third round of the Chunin Exam has ended too?"
Hiruzen watched as the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, approached the stage, waiting for him to join in announcing the conclusion of the joint exam.
Although the Chunin Exam encountered some minor disruptions due to Shimura Danzo and the Mist ninjas, it ultimately concluded successfully.
Konoha resolved the Mist ninja uprising with decisive measures, showcasing its strength to all allies present and deterring any covetous thoughts against Konoha. Overall, the exam achieved its purpose.
The only imperfection...
Might be the damage to my own image as the Hokage.
Because many are now aware of my dealings with Shimura Danzo, it's inevitable that my reputation as the Hokage might be somewhat tarnished, but that's not a major concern.
Sarutobi Hiruzen has considered this and, after the Chunin Exam, plans to retire again, allowing Jiraiya to take over as Hokage.
At the Root base...
When Akihara Kagura and Karin brought Shimura Danzo back, both Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Torune were at the entrance of the Root base to welcome them, which somewhat relaxed Shimura Danzo's mood.
Clearly.
There shouldn't be any problems inside the Root base.
"Our mission is over."
Shimura Danzo glanced at Akihara Kagura and continued, "Now we just wait for Orochimaru to kill the old monkey, and our plan will be complete..."
As Shimura Danzo said this, he recalled Sarutobi Hiruzen's words spoken on the high platform: "However, the monkey mentioned, you are not allowed to succeed in the position of Hokage..."
"No need to worry."
Akihara Kagura chuckled softly, looking back at Shimura Danzo: "Once the Third Hokage is killed by Orochimaru, I will avenge him by killing Orochimaru, and naturally succeed as Hokage, right?"
Akihara Kagura continued to deceive Shimura Danzo: "The reason I modified the order of appearance in the Konoha Crush plan was to separate you and Orochimaru. Everyone will think Orochimaru killed the Third Hokage and you knew nothing about it. I deliberately saved you out of good intentions…"
"Betray Orochimaru?"
Shimura Danzo thought for a second and accepted Akihara Kagura's reasoning: "That works too. After the monkey is gone, that guy won't be of any use anymore..."
Betraying an ally...
Shimura Danzo obviously didn't feel any psychological pressure.
Moreover, after the Chunin Exam, Shimura Danzo believed that he and Akihara Kagura had secured control over Konoha's power, so continuing to keep Orochimaru was pointless.
The only use of Orochimaru was his biotechnological expertise.
Even if Shimura Danzo wanted the Wood Release and the Sharingan, Konoha had qualified experimental subjects, and perhaps Sarutobi Hiruzen had left complete experimental records.
Even though Shimura Danzo already knew the outcome, he still seemed somewhat melancholic: "I spent so much time, and yet it turns out you, this youngster, will become the village's Hokage, while I remain the leader of Root, guarding Konoha from the shadows..."
After causing so much turmoil in Konoha, becoming a rogue ninja for many years, to think he would still end up as the head of Root, while this youngster becomes Hokage...
"Isn't this what we agreed upon initially?"
Akihara Kagura extended his hand, inviting Shimura Danzo into the long corridor of the base, turning his head to instruct Karin: "Go and call everyone out to welcome Lord Shimura home."
"Yes."
Karin bowed her head in agreement.
"Hmph..."
Shimura Danzo grunted disdainfully, inwardly satisfied with Akihara Kagura's arrangements.
Years later.
He finally returned to Konoha, reclaiming the power of Root, the only change might be that the village's Hokage would soon shift from Sarutobi Hiruzen to Akihara Kagura.
As Shimura Danzo walked deeper into the Root base, he slowly said, "Kagura, it seems that Root hasn't developed much over the years, you've been suppressed by the monkey, failing to grasp the power of Root, I've always said, do not change the Root I established..."
"This change is beneficial."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, looking at Shimura Danzo with a light smile: "At least in my hands, Root's numbers and strength have grown much stronger..."
"Are these people reliable?"
Shimura Danzo glanced at Akihara Kagura, then continued speaking to himself: "Even if the monkey's people are infiltrated, it doesn't matter, since the monkey will die today. I'll gradually eliminate those unsuitable for the Root..."
"Rest assured."
"After today, everyone will be reliable."
Akihara Kagura chuckled lightly, spreading his palms and said: "I originally wanted to change the Root too, but I realized Lord Danzo's method of consolidating the Root's personnel was correct..."
"The current Root..."
"Is now a group of people with nowhere to call home in the ninja world."
At this point, Akihara Kagura glanced toward a group of people emerging from deep within the Root's base, including men and women, old and young, all wearing masks.
"So many people?"
Shimura Danzo felt that there were too many people in the Root and was somewhat displeased: "The Root consists of ninjas who operate in the shadows; there's no need for so many redundant hands..."
Especially since some of their hair had turned grey.
Even though these people wore masks, Shimura Danzo could see their agedness and snorted coldly: "The Root has no need for useless trash; it's time to dispose of some..."
"Sometimes even a scrap of paper has its use..."
Akihara Kagura said with a smile, turning his head to look at everyone present: "Let Lord Danzo meet everyone here, your names have all been on the list on Lord Danzo's desk, though it seems there were few opportunities to meet face-to-face..."
"Taking this opportunity..."
Akihara Kagura's body slowly moved to the side, his smile seemingly uncontrollable: "Let Lord Danzo see everyone, get to know each other!"
"I've seen their names?"
Shimura Danzo furrowed his brow, squinting in confusion at the crowd.
The next moment!
A set of crimson eyes lit up!
"Sharingan..."
Shimura Danzo immediately recognized those eyes!
However, before Shimura Danzo could comprehend what was happening, pair after pair of crimson eyes appeared in his vision!
Among the dense crowd, all possessed a pair of crimson Sharingan, strikingly visible in the dark and adding an eerie touch to the gloomy base, as if these individuals were monsters ready to devour at any moment!
But...
This was not the most terrifying part!
The most terrifying aspect was that these eyes were not transplanted; they had transformed from normal eyes into Sharingan, meaning these people were all of the Uchiha bloodline!
These people...
Were all Uchihas!
Shimura Danzo's heart trembled!
What kind of joke was this, weren't the Uchihas of Konoha all eradicated on the night of the massacre? Why were there still so many Uchihas alive!
Why were these living Uchihas all in the Root!
Shimura Danzo's heart palpitated, disbelievingly turning to look at Akihara Kagura, staring intently at Kagura's face, which bore a playful smile.
"Unhappy?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Shimura Danzo's shocked expression as if expecting praise: "Lord Danzo, you like the Uchiha clan's Sharingan, don't you? So I removed everyone you left in the Root and replaced them all with Uchihas..."
"You!"
Shimura Danzo was both shocked and furious, his pupils dilating as his heart raced, making him feel as if his blood was rushing to his brain, his nerves abnormally tense, almost causing his head to explode, leaving him unable to articulate his words!
"Logistics... Training... Combat..."
Akihara Kagura stretched out his palm, counting on his fingers: "Seriously counting, even those cleaning the base are Uchihas..."
"What exactly..."
"What is going on!"
Shimura Danzo gritted his teeth, struggling not to collapse from shock, insisting on finding out the truth: "Tell me, what exactly is going on! The Uchiha clan... they were supposed to be extinct!"
"The Uchiha clan did perish..."
Akihara Kagura shrugged nonchalantly, as if discussing something trivial: "These Uchihas who survived the night of the massacre are homeless, I could only arrange them in the Root established by Lord Danzo, giving them a place to settle..."
"..."
Shimura Danzo's heart beat even faster.
His entire life was dedicated to eliminating the Uchiha, who threatened the peace and stability of Konoha; he could never imagine that one day his own Root would be filled with Uchihas!
"Lord Danzo, please calm down."
Akihara Kagura looked at Shimura Danzo, continuing with a sincere smile: "However, I've always been worried that Lord Danzo might not be able to accept this mentally..."
"Fortunately."
"On the night of the massacre, I guessed that the Third Hokage might strip Lord Danzo of his powers, so I immediately took over the Root, saving it from dissolution and also providing these surviving Uchihas with a home..."
"In order to make the entire Root consist of Uchihas, to give Lord Danzo a surprise, I had to find ways to eliminate all of Lord Danzo's personnel..."
"But..."
"Lord Danzo would surely pay attention to the Root's situation..."
Akihara Kagura watched Shimura Danzo, his smile genuine: "To prevent Lord Danzo from frequently visiting the Root and discovering the surprise I worked so hard to arrange, I could only find a way to involve them all, everyone working together to force Lord Danzo out of Konoha…"
~~~
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