Hinata: I'm in charge of Konoha.

Hokage Building

Hokage's Office

The office was filled with smoke, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's pipe never went out, while Shikaku Nara smoked one cigarette after another.

They sat together on the sofa, and on the coffee table in front of them, besides the ashtray stuffed with cigarette butts, only an answer sheet lay quietly on it.

Nara Shikaku never imagined that war could be fought like this.

Tactics and strategies that should be applied on the battlefield can actually be used outside of the chessboard called the battlefield.

"This is something we can learn from."

"In addition, it is necessary to assign specialized personnel to refine it."

Nara Shikaku put the last cigarette butt in his hand into the ashtray and spoke in a deep voice.

"So even you think that way?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face showed no emotion, but his words revealed a hint of helplessness.

To be fair, he didn't want it to be like this.

Because if this method is followed, future wars will no longer be limited to ninjas.

Ordinary people throughout the ninja world will be dragged into the quagmire of war.

In the past, ordinary people only needed to wait quietly for the outcome of wars. Whether they were winners or losers, they were not treated too harshly by ordinary people, since they still needed to support the country and the ninjas.

If ordinary people are drawn into war, it means that their every move will affect the balance of the battlefield, just like the answer sheet in front of him.

If the plan succeeds, then when the Fire Kingdom runs out of food, countless civilians in the other four kingdoms will die.

"If we don't do this, what if people in other countries make similar decisions? What will we do then...?"

"Hesitation when a decision is needed will inevitably lead to chaos."

Nara Shikaku spoke in a deep voice.

Just because Hinata could think of this method doesn't mean others couldn't. What if the enemy suddenly had a flash of inspiration and came up with it too?

By then, before the war even begins, our side will already be in a passive position.

Therefore, in any case, once there is an opportunity to establish one's own advantage before the outbreak of a future war, one must strike first!

"So, I..."

boom!

Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could finish speaking, a loud bang was heard coming from the office door, as if it had been kicked.

However, because Hiruzen Sarutobi was going to discuss Hinata's "On Naruto" with Shikaku Nara today, he locked the door, and the person outside did not kick it open.

Bang bang bang! !

The office door was kicked a few more times.

"Hiruzen, open the door for me!"

The voice of that person could be heard from outside the door.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shikaku Nara exchanged a glance, already knowing who the visitor was. Hiruzen Sarutobi then put the answer sheet on the table into his pocket and went to open the door for the person.

"You bastard, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

"They actually turned this old man away from the door today?!"

The moment the door was opened, the person outside revealed their true face.

Dressed in black and white robes, with bandages around his eyes, holding a cane, and bearing a cross-shaped scar on his chin, this man was none other than Shimura Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi's longtime friend and rival.

"Didn't I tell you to stay home and reflect on your actions?"

When Hiruzen Sarutobi saw the newcomer, he frowned slightly, his tone revealing considerable displeasure.

Four years after the Uchiha clan was wiped out, Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed his old friend and sent him home to reflect on his actions.

"Why can't I, an old man who's idle at home, come and see my old friend?"

Danzo Shimura snorted coldly, then frowned, the pervasive smoke in the air making it difficult for him to breathe.

"In that case, Lord Hokage, Elder Danzo, I shall take my leave now."

When Shimura Danzo from Nara arrived, he immediately got up to take his leave.

"Um."

"I'll tell you about what happened earlier in a bit."

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved to Shikaku Nara.

"What is it?"

After decades of living together, even if Hiruzen Sarutobi farted, Danzo Shimura would know what he had eaten the day before.

From Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression, Shikaku Nara's departure, and the smell of smoke filling the room, Danzo Shimura knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi must be in trouble.

"It's none of your business."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was rather indifferent as he flicked his sleeves and sat back down in his Hokage seat.

"I've been at home long enough; Konoha needs me."

Danzo Shimura's purpose in coming here was extremely simple: he simply wanted to be reinstated.

Four years have passed, and the turmoil surrounding the Uchiha clan has long since subsided.

Although the root organization is still under his control, many checkpoints require procedures due to his dismissal.

As the nominally dismissed leader of the Roots, he naturally couldn't produce it.

As a result, the root system's function is greatly hindered.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was almost laughing at Danzo Shimura's antics.

Back then, under Danzo Shimura's influence, Itachi Uchiha, who was already biased, went to extremes, leading to the massacre of the Uchiha clan.

I have been lenient enough in dealing with Shimura Danzo. It's only been four years, yet this old man dares to come to me asking for reinstatement.

"Danzo, you've gotten old."

"Go home and retire."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words were cold, clearly indicating his dissatisfaction with Danzo Shimura's attitude.

"Monkey, I'm old."

"Don't you get old?"

Danzo Shimura responded with a cold laugh to Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.

Even so, Danzo Shimura had a vague sense of unease.

There was a time when Hiruzen Sarutobi never mentioned his age, but now he's actively reminding himself that he's getting old.

Could it be...?

"Yes, I'm getting old too..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled self-deprecatingly, staring at his hands covered in age spots, before turning to look at Danzo Shimura.

"Danzo, what I mean is, you should go home and retire."

"We're not young anymore."

!

Danzo Shimura's pupils contracted.

This damn monkey is...

"I will take over the root area; you don't need to worry about things in the village."

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand, indicating that Danzo of the Will Village could leave.

Since the Uchiha clan massacre four years ago, he had planned to keep Shimura Danzo completely away from the Konoha leadership, but he had not spoken up because of their long-standing friendship.

Today, Danzo took the initiative to come to him, and Hiruzen Sarutobi took this opportunity to speak.

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this."

Danzo Shimura gritted his teeth; he hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to be so ruthless.

They actually want to remove him from office completely!

"Danzo, I am the Hokage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke calmly.

This was something he had already considered, just like what Shikaku had said before.

Hesitation will inevitably lead to chaos.

Some things become more troublesome the longer they are delayed.

Especially Shimura Danzo right in front of me.

"snort!"

boom! !

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi was almost determined to dismiss him completely, Danzo Shimura snorted coldly and slammed the door shut as he left!

The door, which had been kicked several times by Danzo Shimura earlier, finally succumbed to the force of this slam. The screws securing it loosened and broke, and the entire door hung precariously from the frame.

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched his old friend leave, his expression unusually calm.

Hesitation will inevitably lead to chaos...