Hayami Shigeru's reminder hinted that those former Senju clan members who had once sided with Danzō were shifting direction.
With the backyard catching fire and the base being shaken, Shimura Danzō personally coming to the door was only a matter of time.
He indeed came, very politely, not bringing Root to the door.
When the Darkness of Konoha came, he was like an ordinary visitor, knocking on the estate's door.
Granny Momoka answered. Danzō stood outside, posture very low, even bowing slightly.
"Momoka-sama, pardon the intrusion."
Senju Momoka observed Shimura Danzō for a moment before stepping aside to clear the way. "Come in."
"Thank you."
Shuji was in the courtyard. Seeing him, he simply greeted, "Advisor Shimura."
"I originally thought you were like Hiruzen." Danzō spoke. "Indecisive even about a bandit suppression mission."
Danzō's face lacked its usual coldness. His expression could even be called peaceful.
"After reading your report on the Suna mission, I believe you and I should be the same kind."
Danzō paused here.
"This conversation should have occurred earlier. Right after you returned from the Degarashi Port mission." Danzō's gaze swept past Momoka standing quietly to the side. "However, when Momoka-sama personally intervened, I temporarily shelved this matter."
That day Granny Momoka went out, she not only saw Hayami and others but also met Shimura Danzō... No wonder there was no news afterward. Shuji initially thought it was due to the Third Hokage's pressure and the Cloud envoy matter, never imagining Granny Momoka's involvement.
As for Danzō not only acting forcefully, that was not surprising. After all, in the anime, right after the Fourth Hokage died, to win over Kakashi, he even smiled.
Danzō paid no mind to Shuji's silence, finding a stone stool in the courtyard to sit on his own.
"Hiruzen is old." He stated. "Full of concerns, always fantasizing he can exchange compromise for lasting peace, even willing to sacrifice the village's dignity and internal stability."
"You sought him out, right? The Hyūga matter could have had better solutions."
Danzō's gaze swept over Shuji, observing his reaction.
"Doing this has no meaning. It only emboldens enemies. Peace never comes from compromise. Only power sufficient to make them fear, used for deterrence, can truly exchange for tranquility."
"On this point, you did very well dealing with Suna. Empty talk of alliance and righteousness cannot earn respect."
"What Konoha needs is someone who can firmly defend its interests and has sufficient capacity to implement this, not cowards wallowing in old dreams."
"Between us exists a foundation for cooperation." Danzō's voice lowered. "For Konoha's future, some unnecessary internal friction can be completely avoided."
Shuji finally spoke. "What cooperation does Advisor Shimura refer to?"
"Everything." Shimura Danzō said first, then supplemented, "Can start from maintaining village stability."
"Internal village stability is the foundation for responding to all external threats." Danzō spoke meaningfully. "Yet always some unstable factors, deeply entrenched, difficult to eradicate, yet continuously draining the village's vitality."
Then he subtly shifted topic.
"I am Tobirama-sama's subordinate. Back then, I also had a comrade from the Uchiha clan named Kagami."
"Kagami possessed extraordinary talent, also recognized by Tobirama-sama, viewed as someone transcending the clan's narrow boundaries. Regrettably..." Danzō said coldly, "Someone so outstanding died early."
He did not mention how Kagami died, but implications were everywhere.
"The Uchiha clan itself is the greatest instability. A cancer continuously eroding and already concretely harming the village."
"This village is Hashirama-sama and Tobirama-sama's life's work, glory forged by the Senju clan, yet coveted by the Uchiha clan, viewed as their own thing."
"They never truly integrated, only taking, resenting, even plotting subversion. Hiruzen's appeasement only nurtures a tiger bringing calamity. The Hyūga tragedy's root was not Cloud but internal rifts exploitable by enemies—these rifts stem from discord and suspicion brought by the Uchiha's existence."
Danzō looked at Shuji, gaze becoming sharp as a blade. "You personally experienced the brutality of border battlefields, witnessed comrades' deaths. You should understand better than anyone that sometimes, eradicating internal chronic diseases requires more decisive, more thorough methods than external ones. Brief pain far exceeds long, endless bleeding."
"Now, in your hands, you hold what may be the most suitable blade."
The Darkness of Konoha stood, tone carrying a rare trace of near-fervent flavor. "Your power, your position, plus the resources I can mobilize and determination to see things through... we can avoid many tragedies that should not happen."
"Konoha will be great again in your and my hands."
Just as Danzō awaited response, Granny Momoka suddenly coughed lightly.
"Danzō." Her voice was steady. "That's enough for today."
Danzō's gaze lingered on Momoka's face momentarily. That trace of fervor gradually faded, returning to deep water.
He nodded slightly. "Since that's so, I won't disturb further."
He turned toward Shuji, tone recovering its usual calm. "I await your reply. Hopefully not too long."
If these words came from someone other than Shimura Danzō, Shuji might consider them somewhat.
Or if it were the younger Shimura Danzō, these words might carry an extra point or two of credibility.
Just as he evaluated Sarutobi Hiruzen as old, Shimura Danzō was also old.
However, without receiving a reply, he would not give up easily.
On this point, Shuji understood clearly.
The remaining time of Konoha year 54 did not stir waves sufficient to shake the entire shinobi world. Sporadic friction on border lines never ceased, but for current Konoha, could already be called calm.
But this did not mean leisure. Besides daily training that could not stop, Shuji still had missions to do.
Mission scrolls piled up in the village filled desks. Team Five like wound clockwork, every three to five days packed and departed, rushing between Fire Country and even surrounding regions.
Reconnaissance, escort, suppression, negotiation... mission levels varied, types miscellaneous.
Not only Team Five was busy. All Konoha shinobi spent the year's final days in hurried steps.
Until the year's last few days, mission center scrolls marked "urgent" were finally cleared out.
Shinobi finally gained temporary liberation from endless missions, able to peacefully prepare to spend the year's final time.
On Konoha year 54's last day, after Shuji met Itachi and Anko at Ichiraku Ramen for lunch, they simply said goodbye and dispersed.
A year's turmoil seemed to slowly evaporate with hot soup's mist, dissipating in year-end's slightly cold air.
Konoha's 55th year arrived as scheduled.
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild