Chapter 17: Danzo, Climbing Step by Step to the Top
Puff, puff!
The Third Hokage exhaled smoke mouthful after mouthful. In no time, his office was filled with swirling haze, like a mystical realm. Danzo and the two Hokage advisors were already feeling light-headed from it all.
Cough, cough, cough!
The three of them started coughing. Danzo flicked his sleeve, sending a gust of wind that struck the window—just enough to open two panes.
Even the so-called "Darkness of the Shinobi World" had his moments of practicality.
"Hiruzen, can't you smoke a little less?" Danzo muttered.
Homura and Koharu nodded in agreement. They too couldn't stand Hiruzen's terrifying addiction to smoking.
The Third glanced at his three old friends but didn't bother to respond. He continued puffing away, speaking calmly through the haze. "Do you have anything else to say?"
"What's that supposed to mean, Hiruzen?" Danzo's expression darkened. "Don't tell me you still intend to coddle the Uchiha?"
Homura and Koharu became visibly anxious. They pressed the Hokage—hadn't they already made their concerns clear? If things continued this way, his position as Hokage would really be in jeopardy.
But the Third remained calm, smiling faintly. "You only see my position as unstable, but fail to notice that the civilian and minor clan shinobi are gathering around me."
Crisis—yes, it contains danger.
But it also carries opportunity.
Yes, the Uchiha's publicizing of last night's incident was damaging his authority—but it was also branding them as arrogant tyrants in the eyes of Konoha's many minor clans and civilian ninja.
No one wanted a powerful Hokage who also acted as if rules didn't apply to him.
If the Uchiha, not yet Hokage, already dared challenge the seat of power—
Then what would they be like if they ever became Hokage?
Who would stop them from seizing the interests of other clans?
The more arrogant the Uchiha appeared, the more Hiruzen's inclusive civilian policies stood out as stable and reassuring.
The more the civilian and minor clan ninja rallied around Hiruzen, the more solid his seat as Hokage became.
The Uchiha's bluster—it was temporary.
As long as they didn't revolt, sooner or later, they would collapse under their own weight.
That, Hiruzen was very certain of.
If he could just obtain the secret to immortality, then he was confident he could carry out the Second Hokage's plan in full—ensuring the Uchiha's eventual demise.
So he wasn't in a hurry. At least not until the secret of the Spirit Transformation Technique was in his hands.
Seeing Hiruzen unwilling to act, Homura and Koharu could only sigh. In the end, they were just advisors. As long as Hiruzen remained healthy, they had no real power—only the right to suggest.
If he refused to take action against the Uchiha, there was nothing more they could do.
But Danzo was practically livid.
"Hiruzen, listen to me. The Uchiha have become a cancer. Even if you let them off now, they won't be grateful—they'll see you as weak and continue walking all over you."
"They'll never stop until they control Konoha."
"If you won't strike them now, at least prepare to restrain them."
"I suggest…" He cleared his throat. "We establish an organization specifically designed to weaken the Uchiha…"
Cough!
The Third's eyes narrowed. The pressure in the room instantly increased. Danzo coughed, quickly changing his words.
"I mean… an organization to handle the threats that even ANBU can't properly address. I've already thought of a name—'Root.'"
"The roots that nourish Konoha's great tree, working in the shadows to ensure it grows tall under the sunlight. Root exists solely to protect Konoha."
"No desire for fame or power. Only the village's well-being. That's the ideal of Root—and its commitment to sacrifice everything for Konoha."
The name was poetic. Danzo spoke with such fervor that he almost radiated holy light. He believed Hiruzen would surely be moved by his dedication to protect Konoha, even in darkness.
And indeed, the Third was moved—
Moved enough to want to stab his old friend.
You really just can't let go of my seat, can you?
Hiruzen glared at Danzo and said sarcastically, "So the real purpose isn't dealing with the Uchiha—it's founding Root."
Cough, cough… Danzo looked awkward, his little scheme laid bare. Still, he had thick skin and quickly responded, "It's all for Konoha."
Homura and Koharu caught on. Their eyes lit up. Both shot a fiery glance at Danzo—then turned to Hiruzen.
"Hiruzen, we agree with the establishment of Root," said Mitokado Homura.
"Don't worry, the three of us will manage Root properly," Koharu added confidently.
"What?" Danzo's eyes narrowed. He turned to glare at them both. "Homura, Koharu—you're advisors! Don't forget your duty is to support the Hokage!"
Danzo snapped, "Root should be led by me. I'm the best choice to protect Konoha from the shadows."
But Homura rebutted calmly, "Supporting Hiruzen by managing Root is the best way to fulfill our advisory role. You, on the other hand, don't hold a position within the Hokage's upper command. You're just a jōnin registered at home. Root, being similar to ANBU, should be directly under the Hokage. You're not qualified. Only we, as his advisors, are."
The two argued fiercely. Danzo, despite being an old friend, received no concessions.
They had to win control over Root.
Until now, they had never considered this type of power grab.
What was power, after all?
Being able to command others—that was power.
They were merely advisors—people who gave suggestions.
They had always wanted their own shinobi squad.
But ANBU was exclusively the Hokage's. Hiruzen kept a tight grip on it.
They couldn't touch the other departments either.
Root, however, was perfect.
They all knew—whoever controlled Root, a unit hidden in the shadows but comparable to ANBU in strength, would gain massive influence in Konoha's political arena.
Not to mention the intoxicating authority over life and death—they had no intention of letting it slip away.
"You…" Danzo was furious, pointing a trembling finger at both of them. He was livid at their shamelessness, and also resentful toward Hiruzen—his so-called "friend" hadn't even tossed him a real position.
"What about us?" Homura and Koharu smirked victoriously.
They were about to say more when—
Smack!
The Third slammed his palm against the desk.
Watching his three friends fight over Root's ownership, completely ignoring him—the Hokage—rekindled his fury.
The humiliation from last night, when two Uchiha brats had disrespected him, surged up again. His Hokage aura exploded.
The pressure fell heavily on Homura and Koharu. Their smiles vanished instantly as they felt the overwhelming presence of the "God of Shinobi."
Hiruzen was angry.
They lowered their heads, not daring to speak further.
Danzo, too, bowed his head in silence.
"Do you still even see me as Hokage?" the Third barked.
He stared them down, then said, "We'll discuss Root later. For now, all of you—leave."
"…Hiruzen…" Danzo looked up, but met the steely gaze of the Third. Whatever words he'd intended to say died in his throat.
"You'll regret this," he muttered instead, glaring once more at Homura and Koharu before storming out.
"I am the Hokage," the Third replied instinctively.
Danzo, already at the door, paused when he heard those familiar five words. His body stiffened, then he stormed out, eyes blazing.
Yes!
Hiruzen is the Hokage.
Everything revolves around the Hokage.
As long as he held the title—everything that happened today would remain the same.
Just wait, Hiruzen.
One day, I will say those words to your face—"I am the Hokage"—and make you taste the humiliation they carry.
As Danzo left the Hokage's office, the flame called "Hokage" burned brightly in his heart.
Founding Root was only the first step.
Next would be step two, then three—
Until finally, he would climb all the way to the top…
And become Hokage.
(END CHAPTER)