Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 190 Do you want to become Hokage? (Seeking monthly votes)

Dol...dol...

Danzo didn't turn around to look; he simply continued walking forward, leaning on his cane.

"As expected of Lord Danzo."

Hinata Kumokawa slowly straightened up, looking at Danzo's back with that smile still on his face, and said in a clear voice, "However, how did you find out?"

Danzo stopped in his tracks. He didn't turn around, but let out a cold snort: "Hmph! The number of restrictions in my body is beyond your imagination."

"It's just an illusion manipulated by the five senses. The Kurama clan has used it before. It's far from being able to affect me."

This time he wasn't bragging; he was telling the truth.

He knows far too many secrets and intelligence; if something were to happen and others found out, it would be an extremely heavy blow to the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

Therefore, Danzo inscribed more than one kind of seal and restriction on his body, and the "Inner Four Symbols Seal," an S-rank forbidden technique, was one of them.

After activating the "Inner Four Symbols Sealing" technique imprinted within the body, objects within a radius of several hundred meters will be forcibly sealed into the corpse.

Moreover, his brain would be destroyed after his death, preventing the enemy from obtaining any intelligence through any means.

In the original story, Danzo attempted to steal Shisui's eyes, but Shisui used genjutsu to control him. Danzo broke free instantly and used Izanagi to gouge out Shisui's eyes.

It's possible that someone has inscribed a method within their body to detect whether they are under a spell, or they have inscribed a method in their mind to automatically break free from a spell.

Therefore, Danzo believed that it was only natural for him to break Hyuga Kumokawa's illusion.

but in fact……

"Are you this ruthless to yourself?"

Hyuga Kumokawa smiled and exclaimed, "Lord Danzo is truly terrifying."

"I should be the one saying that."

With his back to Hyuga Kumokawa, Danzo said indifferently, "Everyone thinks you are a near-perfect person, and any beautiful words would fit you perfectly."

"But I know very well that there is no such thing as a perfect person in this world."

"The more glamorous a person's appearance is, the deeper the darkness hidden within."

Having said that, he slowly turned around, his single eye looking at Hinata Kumokawa, and said in a deep voice, "So, in front of me, can you put away that fake smile on your face?"

“I can already smell the ‘greed’ hidden in your bones.”

The wind in the forest seemed to have stopped.

The smile on Hinata Kumokawa's face gradually faded away.

Those pure white eyes were still clear, but deep within them, something seemed to have settled and turned into tranquility.

"It seems I underestimated Lord Danzo." He met Danzo's imposing single eye. "Then, Lord Danzo, why don't you guess what I want to do?"

Danzo Shimura narrowed his eyes, suppressing his excitement at the fish taking the bait, and adopted an indifferent attitude: "They just want more, to climb to a higher place."

"You want to become Hokage."

He stared intently at Hinata Kumokawa's face, as if trying to pierce through that gentle mask.

The perfectly timed look of surprise and doubt on Hyuga Kumokawa's face further solidified Shimura Danzo's suspicions.

"I'm sorry, you're wrong. I have no interest in the position of Hokage."

The surprise on Hyuga Kumokawa's face vanished in an instant, and he quickly regained his composure, shaking his head and smiling, "It was the Third Hokage who suspected that Itachi Uchiha's massacre of the Uchiha clan was related to you."

"He believes that you are still in contact with Itachi Uchiha and are plotting something even more dangerous, so he sent me to see what you want to do."

"Unfortunately, this mission cannot be completed."

He performed flawlessly, like a loyal subordinate who was following orders but encountered obstacles, or a junior who was misunderstood but remained restrained.

But Shimura Danzo didn't believe him at all and just let out a cold laugh.

Danzo had thoroughly figured out Hyuga Kumokawa during this time. He knew that Hyuga Kumokawa must have received some benefits from Orochimaru, which was why his talent had improved so much.

The lessons he later taught to the members of the Hyuga branch family, as well as his resistance against Hyuga Aoi, all indicate that Hyuga Kumokawa had been enduring for a long time.

Not long ago, he led his branch family members to rebel against the main family, not with peaceful appeals, but with brutal methods that were almost mutually destructive.

By inciting and agitating the resentment of the divided family, and then taking advantage of the main family's fear, they forcibly tore apart the main family's outward bravado and inner weakness in a manner that bordered on rebellion.

This almost ruthless approach is enough to prove that Hyuga Kumokawa is definitely not the gentle young man like Namikaze Minato that others see him as.

Judging from the fact that he was able to pull out that "Greed" weapon, he has ambition and darkness in his heart, and his ambition is greater than that of most people.

"It's not that you don't want to become Hokage, it's that you can't become Hokage."

Danzo said in a hoarse but determined voice, "Even though you are so powerful, you still can't break free from the main family's 'cage,' which must make you feel pain and resentment."

"If it weren't for that damned 'Caged Bird,' if it weren't for the constraints of the main family, with your talent, your strength, and your achievements, you would be the one with the best chance of becoming the next Hokage."

"But all of that is gone."

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Kumokawa's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, and Danzo precisely caught this momentary flaw.

He suddenly took a step closer, his voice becoming deeper and more seductive, and whispered, "I can help you."

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows between the two, like an invisible chasm.

Hinata Kumokawa fell silent, his Byakugan eyes flickering slightly as if he were weighing his options.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke and asked, "Why?"

"Although I don't like the smile on your face, I know it's a necessary disguise for you," Danzo sneered. "I despise genuine naiveté even more."

"Whether it was Hiruzen in the past, or Jiraiya and Tsunade whom he trained, they all had power but naively believed in so-called 'bonds' and 'peace'."

"Now, with the appearance of the Void Realm and the arrival of the Ten Espada, the entire ninja world will become chaotic and full of crisis, but the crisis also contains unprecedented opportunities."

"Their naivety and hesitation will only harm Konoha, causing it to miss opportunities in the surging tide, and even be swallowed up by other forces that seize the opportunity."

After saying that, his gaze fell on Hyuga Kumokawa's face again: "But you are different, Hyuga Kumokawa. Your darkness, your ruthlessness, your methods are exactly what I value."

"To survive in this dog-eat-dog world, Konoha needs someone like you right now."

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Kumokawa narrowed his eyes slightly and asked in a deep voice, "If that's the case, why don't you choose to become Hokage yourself?"

Danzo darkened his face and said with undisguised resentment, "Hiruzen and the others won't allow it, and the rest of Konoha won't accept it either."

"If someone like Jiraiya, Tsunade, or even Kakashi Hatake were to rise to power, given their 'naivety,' 'Root' would inevitably be suppressed, weakened, or even eliminated!"

“Since that’s the case, I’ll support you. All I want is to preserve the ‘root,’ to preserve this sword hidden in the shadows, so that it can continue to clear all obstacles for Konoha.” Danzo stared intently at Hyuga Kumokawa and said, “I think only you understand the importance of the ‘root.’ It’s not enough for Konoha, this great tree, to just stand in the sunlight.”

"Its roots must go deep into the ground in order to draw enough nutrients."

This is of course a lie.

Danzo's goal from beginning to end was to become Hokage.

He genuinely believed that everything he did was for Konoha, but he also believed that only by becoming Hokage could Konoha become better.

Whether it was Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya, Tsunade, or Hyuga Kumokawa, he held them all in contempt.

The reason he supported Hyuga Kumokawa becoming Hokage was simply to use him to eliminate all his opponents so that he could eventually take that position himself.

After all, Danzo was self-aware enough to know that he had no chance of winning, so he had no choice but to resort to unconventional methods.

He was certain that Hinata Kumokawa would agree to his deal.

Even if he guesses that his purpose is not just to preserve 'Root', it doesn't matter, as long as Hyuga Kumokawa wants to become Hokage, he needs his help.

At worst, we can wait until all the enemies are eliminated and then see who gets the last piece of the pie.

This is a conspiracy.

"..."

Silence spread through the forest path, the air seemed to freeze, leaving only the two of them silently probing each other.

Finally, Hinata Kumokawa broke the silence and asked, "What do you want to do?"

Upon hearing this, although he was certain that Hyuga Kumokawa would agree, Shimura Danzo breathed a sigh of relief, followed by overwhelming joy.

"Heh heh, don't you know that very well?" His voice suddenly lowered as he leaned forward and chuckled hoarsely, "Your biggest obstacle is the Hyuga main family."

Hinata Kumokawa's expression changed, and he said in a deep voice, "What do you want to do?"

“I’ll help you remove this obstacle.” Shimura Danzo patted his shoulder and whispered, “I think you wouldn’t pity those who oppress you, would you?”

"However, I need your cooperation in this process."

"..."

Seeing that Hinata Kumokawa had fallen silent again, Shimura Danzo's smile deepened.

The more dirty tricks Hyuga Kumokawa does, the more leverage he has over this guy, and the less afraid he'll be of him not obeying.

As for whether killing all the Hyuga main family members would lead to any serious consequences...

Heh, let alone the Hyuga main family, who are of no value to Konoha.

Danzo was willing to kill the Uchiha clan in order to become stronger, and he even dared to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi in order to become Hokage.

If the plan goes smoothly, Danzo even intends to obtain the Caged Bird Seal, whether by planting the seal or by activating it.

By then, Hyuga Kumokawa will be his dog, and the Hyuga branch family will be his dog too!

"Wait for my news."

Shimura Danzo lifted the hand that was on Hyuga Kumokawa's shoulder, smiled, and left without looking back, leaning on his cane.

Hinata Kumokawa remained standing quietly until Shimura Danzo's figure disappeared into the distance.

If Danzo were to turn around and look at this moment, he would see Hyuga Kumokawa's figure slowly disappearing before his eyes.

Hinata Kumokawa stood on that tree, never moving an inch from beginning to end.

Her black hair fluttered in the breeze, and her face was hidden in the dappled shadows of the trees, making it impossible to see her expression.

Only those white eyes gazed into the distance, gleaming with a deep, eerie light in the darkness, like two bottomless, icy pools, reflecting Danzo's receding figure.

Even Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan was deceived, so how could Danzo's so-called restrictions and seals possibly stop Hyuga Kumokawa's multiple illusions?

Everything was just right, everything was so natural.

“Danzo…” he said in a low voice, “You are a very easy and useful pawn. No wonder Hiruzen Sarutobi kept you around all this time.”

"I just hope that your methods won't disappoint me."

"This should be what you're best at, right?"

After saying that, Hyuga Kumokawa disappeared from the spot and walked towards Konoha Hospital.

If nothing unexpected happens, the Third Hokage will also send him a gift.

Hinata Kumokawa is already looking forward to it.

------

Underground at the root base, within a special research area.

The cold metal walls on both sides reflected the stark white light, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant and preservatives.

This is the deepest part of the roots, the most heavily guarded area.

Unlike the relatively mild environment of the Konoha Technology Research Institute, the atmosphere here is more oppressive, cold, and full of taboos.

Danzo Shimura passed through layers of alloy doors and finally entered a huge laboratory, looking at the reflection inside through the glass windows.

A huge cylindrical container stands in the center of the laboratory, and inside that container is also a 'void'.

However, unlike the 'Hollow' captured by the Technology Research Institute, this 'Hollow' was one that Danzo himself catalyzed through various forms of torture based on what the 'Shadow' had said.

To be honest, this is not a simple matter; it is almost impossible to catalyze 'emptiness' through pure pain alone.

So Danzo found a ninja skilled in illusion techniques, and then found the ninja's cherished family members, and tortured them to death right before his eyes.

Only the most ordinary 'Hollow' was finally catalyzed.

In Danzo's view, all of this was worthwhile.

Danzo Shimura withdrew his gaze from the 'hollow' and looked down at a report on the table in front of him.

And the title of this report is...

"Experimental Report on Fusion of Intercolumnar Cells with Virtual Force"

(Please vote for me with monthly tickets, I'm begging you QAQ)

(End of this chapter)