After nightfall.
Many people in Konoha knew that Akihara Kagura became Jiraiya's disciple.
Hokage Tower.
Shimura Danzo came to see Sarutobi Hiruzen on his own initiative.
This Root Leader vaguely sensed Sarutobi Hiruzen's intentions.
"You want Akihara Kagura to become a candidate for Hokage?"
Shimura Danzo was strongly opposed to this and presented his strong evidence: "Do you know how deep that brat's scheming is?"
Shimura Danzo felt a little embarrassed whenever he thought of this: "That brat was obviously an orphanage child, yet he pretended not to know Kabuto and Yakushi Nonou when entering the Root, deceiving me to gain my trust!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared fixedly at Shimura Danzo, his face showing a hint of anger: "At that time, you should have let that child enter the Ninja Academy, not the Root!"
If back then, Akihara Kagura had entered the Ninja Academy instead of being influenced by Shimura Danzo, he wouldn't have become such a troublesome kid, and might have even taken on the Will of Fire in Konoha, becoming a qualified successor!
"That brat... that brat..."
Shimura Danzo was almost speechless with hatred.
Due to genuinely losing an eye, Shimura Danzo's eye socket was faintly in pain.
"Danzo..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Shimura Danzo, shook his head, and sighed: "If it weren't for you, that child could have become Konoha's future already..."
"If it weren't for me..."
Shimura Danzo gritted his teeth and didn't finish the sentence.
If it weren't for me, that brat would never have had the chance to return to Konoha and would have forever remained as one of Orochimaru's experimental subjects!
However...
Shimura Danzo couldn't.
Shimura Danzo still needed Orochimaru to help him achieve the dream of obtaining Wood Release.
Now Shimura Danzo had lost the Sharingan and even watched as the Kotoamatsukami Sharingan was taken away, having to figure out how to seize another Sharingan while still coveting the mastery of Wood Release.
"Hiruzen."
Shimura Danzo, leaning on his cane, spoke the last sentence: "I know better than anyone the darkness that child has experienced. That child has no potential to become Hokage; he is best suited to becoming a tool..."
"Darkness is not frightening."
Sarutobi Hiruzen gazed at Shimura Danzo, calmly stating his viewpoint: "I only hope Jiraiya can dispel his darkness and let him see the light."
After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, he continued: "Danzo, there's no need to defame Kagura in front of me anymore. That child's heart still retains the Root Will you mentioned, wanting to protect Konoha in the darkness, which shouldn't be his way of thinking..."
"Danzo."
"You've influenced him too much."
By the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen's dissatisfaction with Shimura Danzo was almost undisguised.
"Then let him return to the Root!"
Shimura Danzo looked at his old friend and whispered: "That brat can also understand that the Root is his real home! In the future, I can even let that child take over the position of Root Leader. He is more suitable than Uchiha Itachi!"
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen almost laughed out loud in anger.
If you exclude the Uchiha Clan, Akihara Kagura is destined to be the strongest ninja in Konoha, and even his ninjutsu has a legacy of significance to Konoha Ninja!
To let such a ninja go to the Root...
Is Shimura Danzo really getting senile?
Does he truly think Konoha's geniuses are as numerous as the stars, that anyone can casually replace Akihara Kagura?
Or has Shimura Danzo himself always wanted to sit on the Hokage's seat, never changing his desire to covet the Hokage position, and therefore trying by any means to eliminate other Hokage candidates!
"You don't need to bother with this matter!"
"Hiruzen, you will regret it."
Shimura Danzo stood up, leaning on his cane.
"Danzo, I am the Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had no intention of getting up to see him off.
After Shimura Danzo finished speaking, he pushed open the office door and walked out, slamming the door heavily, saying coldly: "I will never stand idly by and watch that brat sit on the Hokage's seat. He is just an experimental specimen that happened to succeed..."
Konoha Orphanage.
Kabuto returned here after work.
Yakushi Nonou was still making paper boxes with the orphanage children.
Kabuto casually mentioned that Akihara Kagura was leaving the village to train, without revealing that Akihara Kagura was Jiraiya's disciple, fearing that Yakushi Nonou would worry about Kagura being exposed.
"I'll go get him a Peace Talisman."
Yakushi Nonou had always wanted to make amends with Akihara Kagura.
Both Kabuto and she knew that these actions were simply a form of psychological solace.
While Yakushi Nonou was away, Kabuto summoned a small white snake to report to Orochimaru about Akihara Kagura becoming Jiraiya's disciple.
Karin's home.
This red-haired girl wearing glasses hugged her shoulders, curling up against the wall.
Compared to others, little Karin was more sensitive, roughly understanding why Akihara Kagura specifically notified her and Naruto about this matter.
Perhaps, this time Akihara Kagura would be leaving Konoha for a long time.
Naruto's home.
This little guy hugged a copy of "Tale of a Gutsy Ninja" in his arms, snoring and joyfully asleep.
This gift that Akihara Kagura suddenly gave him made little Naruto realize its value right after reading, thinking he is very similar to the protagonist inside the book, because their names are identical, all being called Naruto.