Power alone wasn't enough to survive under Danzo. One also needed the right words.
Suppressing the joy in his heart, Danzo stepped forward to stand beside Hoshishita Shu.
He raised his hands and formed seals, then inhaled deeply before exhaling sharply.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A barrage of compressed air bullets shot from Danzo's mouth.
Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The wooden wall erupted with splinters as the air bullets struck, gouging deep craters into the timber. Yet the defense still held—it wasn't completely pierced through.
But immediately afterward, Shu saw Danzo forming hand seals again.
Danzo drew in a deep breath before unleashing a far denser torrent of wind.
The violent airflow gathered in front of him, rapidly condensing into a massive sphere of compressed air more than a meter in diameter.
Shu's eyelid twitched.
This was the enhanced version of Vacuum Bullets—
Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere.
And once the sphere launched forward, it expanded even further in size.
Boom!
The wooden wall—over three meters tall and more than four meters wide—exploded apart instantly.
Wood fragments scattered everywhere, swept away by the violent gusts.
Shu instinctively raised a hand to shield his face.
"So powerful… as expected of Lord Danzo."
Danzo was in the prime of his life.
His stamina and combat experience were both at their peak.
This was the period when his combat power was at its strongest.
His control over Wind Release, in particular, was undeniably refined—enough to be considered among Konoha's best.
When the raging wind finally settled, Danzo stood calmly as if nothing had happened.
"Although it cannot compare to the First Hokage's Wood Release, this defense is already quite good."
Wood Release might be powerful—
But it was still within his control.
Looking at the respectful Shu before him, Danzo produced a scroll.
"These are the Wood Release secret techniques left behind by the First Hokage."
"You must train diligently."
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
Shu accepted the scroll with visible excitement and respect.
Then suddenly—
Danzo asked a question.
"Am I truly more suitable to become Hokage than Hiruzen?"
Cold sweat instantly broke out across Shu's back.
This is bad.
Seeing Shu successfully use Wood Release must have caused Danzo's ambition to swell.
But the problem was—
He couldn't lie.
And he couldn't refuse to answer, either.
His mind spun rapidly.
After a brief moment, Shu quietly inhaled before replying.
"For someone like me, of course Lord Danzo is the most suitable candidate for Hokage."
That was the truth.
Perspective determined judgment.
If Shu weren't a Root shinobi serving under Danzo—
Then those words would be a lie.
After all, the current Hiruzen Sarutobi was nothing like the indecisive old man Shu remembered from the future.
He had accepted the Hokage position during a crisis while still young.
He had suppressed the major ninja clans of Konoha—especially the powerful Uchiha and Hyuga.
His methods were formidable.
In terms of strength, authority, and political skill—
Danzo simply couldn't compare.
Yet Danzo showed no visible reaction to Shu's answer.
Shu continued calmly.
"If the Third Hokage were to die, Lord Danzo would certainly become one of the most qualified candidates for the position of Fourth Hokage."
Danzo raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"And who would the others be?"
"Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru."
Danzo was genuinely surprised.
He had expected Shu to mention Homura Mitokado—or perhaps Koharu Utatane.
If not them, then maybe Hatake Sakumo, who was already becoming known as the White Fang of Konoha.
But instead—
Shu had named three younger shinobi.
Danzo spoke thoughtfully.
"Tsunade may indeed pose a threat to me."
"But although Orochimaru and Jiraiya are talented, their prestige is insufficient."
"That may be true now," Shu replied.
"But ten years from now… their reputations could reach their peak."
"We will need at least ten years of preparation."
"Ten years to grow Root's strength until it can rival the ANBU."
"Ten years to raise Lord Danzo's prestige until it becomes difficult for anyone to ignore."
"At that point, Homura Mitokado and Choza Akimichi will have no qualifications to compete with you."
"But the Third Hokage will not hand the position to you the way the First Hokage passed it to the Second."
"He will choose a successor from among his own disciples."
"That is one of Tsunade and the others' advantages."
"Furthermore, in ten years' time their strength will reach its peak… and their age will also…"
Shu hesitated deliberately before speaking again.
"Forgive my bluntness, Lord Danzo."
"But ten years from now… your age will become a disadvantage."
At present, Danzo was still in his prime.
But ten years later—
He would be well into his fifties.
His strength would inevitably decline.
Given the current situation, Shu wasn't lying at all.
Danzo didn't get angry.
Instead, he began seriously considering Shu's words.
Based on the earlier test, Shu's Wood Release was far inferior to that of the First Hokage.
Reaching elite jonin level would be easy for him.
But defeating the current Hiruzen Sarutobi?
That would likely be impossible.
Even Danzo himself was confident he could suppress Shu in battle.
And Hiruzen was stronger than him.
Ten years from now, however…
That might change.
By then, Hiruzen might be gone.
And Danzo would have to face three rising successors.
Still—
Did he really believe he couldn't suppress three younger shinobi?
Danzo had absolute confidence in himself.
But wanting to test Shu further, he asked, "So what do you think should be done?"
Shu's spirit immediately sharpened.
Now was the moment.
He fully embraced the role of strategist.
"Lord Danzo, I believe we must always prepare ourselves."
"We must secure absolute advantages in every aspect to ensure success."
"While expanding Root, we must also shape a favorable external environment."
"Gather more allies."
"Reduce the number of rivals."
"For example—Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and Choza Akimichi."
"They should all be brought into the same political camp."
"And the White Fang of Konoha should also be courted."
"At the very least, he must not become an obstacle on your path to the Hokage position."
"As for Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru…"
"They could be divided—or subtly guided."
"If one day, after the Third Hokage is gone…"
"You find yourself without any competitors left—"
"Then no one in Konoha will be able to stop you from becoming Hokage."
Danzo nodded slowly.
"Excellent."
At that moment, he realized something.
Hoshishita Shu's greatest value might not be Wood Release—
But his mind.
"Homura and Koharu will not be difficult to win over," Danzo said thoughtfully.
"But Choza belongs to the Akimichi clan. He cannot be recruited so easily."
"The White Fang is also difficult."
"He follows a strict personal code and possesses a strong Will of Fire."
"Until I become Hokage, he will not serve me."
"As for Tsunade and the others…"
"It's too early to interfere with them."
Shu actually had several ideas about that as well.
But he knew better than to reveal everything at once.
If his value were exhausted too quickly—
He would become disposable.
So he simply nodded respectfully.
"Lord Danzo's analysis is correct."
And that was genuine praise.
Danzo's reasoning was indeed sharp.
As for Minato Namikaze—
He was still just a student at the Ninja Academy.
He wouldn't emerge into the spotlight until after graduation.
So Shu didn't consider him a factor yet.
…
After watching Danzo leave, Shu finally let out a quiet breath of relief.
Then a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
From the earlier conversation, he had confirmed something important.
The True to Heart status didn't force him to reveal everything in his mind.
He simply couldn't lie.
But he could still choose what to say.
That made the situation far less dangerous.
Shu lowered his gaze toward the scroll in his hands.
The Secret Techniques of Wood Release.
This—
Would be his fastest path to becoming a jonin.
And perhaps even an elite jonin.
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