Land of Grass.
Konoha Camp.
Inside a tent, Danzo was quietly sitting on a chair, wearing a black coat, receiving treatment from a Medical Ninja.
After administering the medication to Danzo, the Medical Ninja smiled and said:
"Lord Danzo, judging by your current recovery, in a week's time you will be able to move independently."
Danzo nodded indifferently, his face revealing no sign of emotion.
Danzo was more aware of his physical condition than anyone else.
Although the injuries caused by the Gentle Fist had nearly healed, it still left some lasting negative impacts on his body, and his physical responsiveness diminished considerably.
Not only that, but he also lost an arm, and his strength had likely dropped to around seventy percent of his peak state.
However, counting the Summoning Beast — Baku, he could still barely serve as a senior combatant for Konoha in the upcoming war.
Despite his desire to obtain the Hokage position, right now was not the time to be concerned about such matters.
With the situation facing the village, competing for power with Hokage Hiruzen would only let outsiders exploit the gap.
After the Medical Ninja left, a Root Ninja entered.
Wearing a black coat and dark sunglasses, he emanated an aura of mysteriousness, giving the impression of remarkable strength.
His name was Aburame Ryuma, a leading figure of the Aburame Family, members of the Insect-controlling Race in Konoha.
He was of the same generation as the Sannin, and his strength was enough to spar with them without falling behind in the short term, a Konoha Elite Jonin.
As the Deputy Leader of the Root Organization, during the period when Danzo was incapacitated, Ryuma had been in charge of the organization.
With his aggressive militaristic ideology, Danzo trusted both his character and abilities greatly.
Even while Danzo was unconscious, Ryuma could still fulfill Root duties as an excellent Konoha Ninja.
"You've come, Ryuma."
"Yes, Lord Danzo. Congratulations on your recovery."
Ryuma's tone was flat, as if he cared about nothing.
Danzo did not mind Ryuma's indifferent tone, in fact, he was accustomed to Ryuma's cold and profound demeanor, which always made it seem like Ryuma was contemplating some excellent strategies.
With sunglasses on, it became even harder to gauge his thoughts through facial expressions.
"During my coma, what has happened in the Ninja Realm and the village? Tell me everything, I need to determine how to proceed with the next steps."
"Understood."
Danzo had actually awakened a week earlier, but due to poor mental and physical health, he initially focused on recovery and did not inquire about affairs of the Root or the outside world.
Ryuma began to introduce the major events that occurred during Danzo's recovery period, detailing particularly significant matters and summarizing less important ones.
Having been with Danzo for many years, Ryuma knew how to narrate and enable Danzo to understand the current situation in the shortest time, as well as whether Konoha's current position was favorable or not.
Upon hearing about Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura privately defying the Hokage's orders, secretly investigating the Hyuga Clan regarding the Byakugan issue, Danzo's once calm demeanor immediately turned gloomy, his eyes flashing with rage.
"Those two idiots, after so many years as advisors, are truly living backwards! Is now the time to blame the Hyuga Clan?"
Moreover, this matter itself had little relation to the Hyuga Clan.
Though saying this might slightly harm his morale, Danzo believed that handling the subsequent relations with the Hyuga Clan would be best managed personally by Hokage Hiruzen.
The Hyuga Clan was not a militaristic faction within the village, and its importance differed greatly from the Uchiha Race's nature.
This matter could only be pacified by the Hokage personally, not via advisors, or even through the Root.
Such actions would only alienate the Hyuga Clan from the higher-ups, excluding them. If these actions led the Hyuga Clan to align with the Uchiha Race, then it would indeed become troublesome.
"It seems I need to return to the village as soon as possible."
Danzo pondered for a while and decided to make the return to the village.
Currently, pacifying the Hyuga Clan was more crucial than external threats, rather than continuing pressure.
He knew all too well Hiruzen's mediative nature, his stabilizing approach and softness, and as advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura would unlikely face any severe punishment, only warnings.
This flaw, during peace times, laid the foundation for Root's development, but at a time like this, allowing the advisors' antics, the Hokage's flaw could become the culprit of disrupting village balance.
"That's not necessary, Lord Danzo."
At this moment, Aburame Ryuma spoke up.
Although Ryuma felt discontent with the advisors' actions, as news of this reached him, he realized the Hyuga Clan was already in turmoil due to a defection incident, causing further spread only added fuel to the fire, weakening village ties with them.
"What's wrong? Is there any issue?"
"The Hokage himself has already apologized in person and, at the Jonin meeting, severely criticized the advisors, having the Anbu monitor them 24/7 until the war ends. Moreover, concessions will be made to the Hyuga Clan on certain matters."