章 36: Apprenticeship with Tsunade
A chorus of silent outrage erupted within the group. Aizen, Hiruzen, and the future Sannin all recognized the blatant hypocrisy in Danzo's words. His sudden appearance and accusatory tone towards Hiruzen left no doubt about his intentions. But the sheer audacity of his offer to Aizen surpassed all expectations.
The horrors of Root were no secret. Upon entering, young recruits were branded with cursed seals, subjected to brutal brainwashing, and ultimately transformed into emotionless tools for Danzo's bidding. Compared to Hiruzen's "Will of Fire" teachings, Root's methods bordered on barbaric. Here was Danzo, accusing Hiruzen of manipulating children, when his own offer reeked of exploitation and potential death.
Tsunade, ever the hothead, couldn't contain her fury. "Hold your forked tongue, Danzo!" she roared. "Your precious Root is no place for a promising genin! It's a den of horrors, a place even a slug would despise! You'd be damning the boy the moment he stepped through the door!" Despite her initial reluctance toward Aizen as an apprentice, her words weren't a reflection of his potential. Aizen, not only talented but also a distant relative and also her younger brother friend, held a certain appeal to Tsunade.
However, her personal bias against male apprentices remained a hurdle. Tsunade's outburst underscored a truth known to all but rarely voiced. Her own record with female disciples wasn't exactly stellar – Shizune, despite years under a Kage-level master, remained disappointingly weak, and others like Ino were far from exceptional. Perhaps a subconscious bias against male students played a role in her reluctance towards Aizen. Regardless, protecting Aizen from Danzo's clutches now took priority.
Having him snatched away, especially for the Hokage lineage, would be a major blow. "Danzo," Hiruzen interjected, a puff of smoke curling from his pipe. "Aizen is indeed young and inexperienced. Perhaps familiarizing himself with Konoha before making such a weighty decision would be prudent." However, Hiruzen's seemingly neutral proposal held a hidden truth: if Aizen truly knew the horrors of Root, the chances of him joining were slim to none. Danzo, a master manipulator, saw through the facade. He turned to Hiruzen, a sardonic smile twisting his lips. "Why complicate matters, Hiruzen? Why not simply explain the nature of Root to Aizen yourself? Don't hesitate, and if there's anything I miss, I'm happy to elaborate."
The tension in the room thickened. The establishment of Root was a decision Hiruzen had tacitly approved, making him complicit to its dark deeds. Even Tsunade and Jiraiya, outsiders to Danzo's machinations, were vaguely aware of this uncomfortable truth. Exposing the truth about Root would cast a long shadow over everyone involved, a stain that wouldn't be easily washed away. While Jiraiya and Tsunade held some reservations about Root, Orochimaru and the organization itself remained largely uninvolved at this point. In the original work, Danzo and Root were the hidden puppeteers maneuvering Orochimaru and Minato for the Fourth Hokage position.
Danzo was the ever-present shadow hanging over Hiruzen's leadership. "Naturally, the choice lies with Aizen," Danzo conceded, noticing Hiruzen's darkening expression. He wasn't prepared to push too hard, recognizing the limits of his authority. After all, his power, much like a eunuch in the ancient courts, stemmed from the true ruler's grace. This was why his disagreements with Hiruzen always ended in compromise. A sly smile spread across Danzo's face as he turned to Aizen. "Join Root, and you'll be granted access to the finest resources for your development. You needn't worry about your future – Orochimaru himself is a member of Root!" Orochimaru offered a cryptic smile, neither confirming nor denying the claim.
Technically, he did hold a position within Root. Danzo's gaze held a deceptive warmth as he awaited Aizen's response. In reality, his intentions were far from benevolent. He aimed to manipulate Aizen's lack of knowledge about Konoha's inner workings, to mold him into a future tool for his schemes. The promises of exceptional resources? Lies.
Once inducted, Aizen would be branded with a cursed seal, subjected to brainwashing, and ultimately reduced to a mere pawn in Danzo's game. Aizen, however, saw through Danzo's ploy with chilling clarity. If the target had been someone inexperienced like Minato, perhaps Danzo's web of deceit might have ensnared them. But Aizen wasn't naive. The weight of the unexpected offer, coupled with Danzo's manipulative tactics, pressed heavily on him. He had a choice to make, and the path forward remained shrouded in uncertainty. A helpless glint flickered in Hiruzen's eyes as Danzo shamelessly made his pitch.
With Danzo's words hanging in the air, Hiruzen could only hope Aizen, with his youthful naivety, wouldn't fall prey to the manipulation. Tsunade mirrored his anxiety, her gaze fixed on Aizen. After all, this was her first time taking on an apprentice – losing him would be a bitter pill to swallow.
A polite bow and a well-measured response followed. "Thank you for your offer, Danzo-sama," Aizen said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "However, I hold Tsunade-sama in the highest regard and wouldn't dream of passing up this opportunity." Internally, he scoffed. 'This old fool thinks I'd buy his lies? Hokage lineage or not, joining that den of evil? Get real!' Relief washed over both Hiruzen and Tsunade as Aizen declared his choice.
Danzo, on the other hand, couldn't hide his displeasure. "Think carefully, young man," he warned a veiled threat lacing his words. "A wrong decision now could have dire consequences." As if to punctuate his warning, Danzo unleashed a sliver of his semi-Kage-level aura, exerting subtle pressure on Aizen. A wry smile played on Aizen's lips. He may have been new to this world, but thanks to his knowledge of the future, he wasn't about to be swayed by Danzo's tactics. The path ahead was far from clear, but for now, he had made his choice.
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