I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 252 Some people draw their swords against the stronger, while others draw their swords against the weaker.

"Damn Sakumo Hatake! I think he's trying to destroy Konoha! First he stole my Root, and now he's seriously injured Tatsuma! Sarutobi, classify Sakumo Hatake as an S-rank rogue ninja!"

Inside the Hokage's office, Danzo Shimura did not receive the appointment letter for the leader of Root. Instead, he heard that Tatsuma had been seriously injured after returning from a mission and had been taken away by Tsunade for treatment.

In an instant, he was like a cat with its fur standing on end, venting his emotions in the Hokage's office.

"Danzo, I am the Hokage! Who should be classified as a rogue ninja is up to me! This was an accident, an accident no one wanted to see, and it's not a reason for you to arbitrarily accuse others!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was also not good. He originally thought that the serious injury Hatake Sakumo mentioned was a serious injury in the conventional sense. He ordered someone to find Tsunade to ask about Tatsuma's condition.

However, they couldn't find Tsunade. They went to Orochimaru and learned that Tatsuma's injuries were more serious than they had imagined. Even Tsunade and Orochimaru couldn't think of any solutions, so they could only take him to Shikkotsu Forest for help.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was already very troubled when he learned about this. He called Danzo over, intending to ask him if he had any solutions, but Danzo immediately launched into an emotional outburst, which only made Hiruzen Sarutobi even more frustrated.

Danzo's bristling hair calmed down considerably after being yelled at by Hiruzen Sarutobi, but he still persisted, saying, "An accident?! I think that Sakumo Hatake did it on purpose."

Look at what he's done these past few years! He's plotting to seize my roots and has been stationing root members away for extended periods, causing them to dwindle one by one. Those were all the hard work of me and the village!

This time, Tatsuma was seriously injured again. Who is Tatsuma? He is the future of the village! He's just a kid now. What is Sakumo Hatake sending him to do?

Go fight the Eight-Tails and the Raikage! Is this something Tatsuma should be doing?! He's trying to ruin the village's future!

Seeing Danzo repeat his point of view, Hiruzen Sarutobi became even more irritated and said, "I was the one who sent Tatsuma to the Land of Lightning. So, according to you, I'm also going to ruin Konoha's future?!"

"snort!"

Danzo snorted and stopped replying. He could criticize Hatake Sakumo, and he could criticize Sarutobi Hiruzen on minor matters, but he couldn't criticize Sarutobi Hiruzen on such an important matter.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, suppressing his agitation, and said, "The most urgent task is to cover up the news. Kumogakure has disclosed this matter, and we cannot provide them with corroborating evidence."

Sakumo Hatake will be temporarily unemployed for a while, and I will remind him to move around the village more. I have also stopped Jiraiya's travel plans and will have him take Minato out more often.

As for Tatsuma, he can't personally show up, but I will have people create some signs that he is still active in the village.

Although it is impossible to clear his name from the timeline, people from other villages may also firmly believe that it was Sakumo Hatake who attacked the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

But assuming the "murderer" remains so active after committing the crime, it would be the Hidden Cloud Village that loses face.

"Is Sakumo Hatake retired?"

Danzo immediately grasped the key point, and Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, saying, "Yes, that was his own idea, but originally he was in charge of Root..."

As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Danzo a look. Danzo's face darkened; he knew what Hiruzen Sarutobi meant.

The root can be returned to him, but the price is that he must not cause any trouble, especially not use this incident as an opportunity to target Sakumo Hatake.

Moreover, once this matter was over, Danzo missed the best opportunity to pursue it later. This was not only the case with this incident, but also with the previous incident where Hatake Sakumo took away his Root.

Having lost Root for more than three years, Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to gloss over it with just a few words, which naturally displeased Danzo.

But if he didn't agree, Hiruzen Sarutobi would probably just say he'd arrange for someone else to take over, right? Danzo knew this old friend all too well.

He pondered for a long time with a somber expression before saying, "Hmph! I have rested long enough, and it is time to devote myself wholeheartedly to restoring Root and making it a sharp blade in the darkness of Konoha once again."

This means he has agreed, and he will focus all his energy on the root of the problem, so he will naturally have no time to target Sakumo Hatake.

While it's true that if one were to target them, they could certainly find the time and energy, it's a transaction, and Danzo wouldn't be outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant in such a short time after regaining control of his Root.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was also familiar with Danzo, knew this as well. He nodded and said, "That would be for the best. Although the great war ended three years ago, there are still ongoing conflicts in various places and villages."

As fellow Konoha ninjas, we must unite our hearts and minds, and work together towards a common goal. Only through internal unity can we resist external enemies.

Danzo took a deep breath. He loathed Hiruzen Sarutobi's fancy words, because only those who stand in the sunlight have the right to say such things, and he envied and was jealous of them!

Suppressing his emotions, Danzo said, "Tsunade went to Shikkotsu Forest. Are we able to contact her? If Shikkotsu Forest can't solve Tatsuma's problem, we should send him back to the village as soon as possible so we can all work together to find a solution."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said, "There's no way for now. I'll ask Jiraiya and Orochimaru to see if there's any way for the three holy lands to connect."

"Tatsuma absolutely cannot be harmed, or I will make Hatake Sakumo pay the price!"

Danzo said angrily, while Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned and said, "Even if Tatsuma really did meet with misfortune, the perpetrator was from Kumogakure. What's with you insisting on pinning your finger on Sakumo Hatake?"

Upon hearing this, Danzo gritted his teeth. He wanted to take down Kumogakure, but he didn't have many methods, and the results wouldn't be very good, so it wouldn't serve any purpose of revenge.

But if Tatsuma really gets into trouble, someone has to bear his anger!

Danzo didn't answer, but turned and left. Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, shook his head, reached for his pipe, and said into the darkness, "Xiao."

A figure appeared, bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and asked, "Hokage-sama."

"What do you think Danzo will do?"

Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's question, Xiao did not answer immediately. After a while, he said, "Regardless of any criticism of Elder Danzo, based on my past experience, I believe Elder Danzo will not stop here."

It's likely that public opinion will turn against Sakumo Hatake, especially now that Tatsuma's identity has been revealed. Some Senju clan members who feel proud of their connection to him might be misled.

Now that Tsunade and Tatsuma are both absent, no one can stop their discussion.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said, "Have someone keep an eye on things. If Danzo makes any moves, be sure to inform me."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Xiao turned to leave, but Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand. Seeing this, Xiao stopped and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, "How are things going with your retirement from the Anbu?"

"Yes, I have already met with young master Shinnosuke. He has great talent and will definitely become an outstanding ANBU in the future, assisting the village's development."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes darkened. Xiao had followed him for many years, and he dared to say many things that others wouldn't. For example, his evaluation of his son...

If it were someone else, they wouldn't dare say things like Xiao. They would say nice things, praising his son to curry favor with him, the Hokage.

However, even knowing that Xiao's evaluation was the truth and objective, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still very disappointed and regretful to hear that his son was only a capable assistant.

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that although his son was talented, he was no match for Tatsuma, who was a few years older, and not only Tatsuma, but also Minato.

I heard that the four-year-old child in Hatake Sakumo's family can already use ninjutsu, and has even started learning real ninja skills from Hatake Sakumo.

Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to deceive himself, thinking that his son might be a late bloomer, but anyone with extraordinary talent would inevitably show extraordinary abilities in their childhood.

Perhaps it doesn't necessarily have to be reflected in strength; it could be in vision, thinking, communication, or strategy. But my own son, at least my eldest son, doesn't fit that description.

Even if he possessed just one of these qualities, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have tried to raise his eldest son, but he didn't. However, there was a child in the village who possessed all of them.

"Perhaps Danzo is right; Tatsuma is the future of the village."

With a sigh, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled freely, as if the weight on his heart had been lifted. He looked at Xiao and said with a smile:

"Xiao, then I entrust Shinnosuke to you. I hope you can teach him well and make him a ninja who can help the village."

Xiao, who had been somewhat apprehensive, nodded firmly upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words and said, "I will not fail in my mission."

After speaking, Xiao thought for a moment, but instead of turning to leave, he asked, "Hokage-sama, you said you would arrange for someone to hand over the reins to me, I wonder..."

With the day Shinnosuke applied for graduation drawing ever closer, Xiao hadn't seen anyone come to hand over the position of Hokage's bodyguard to him, so he couldn't resist asking.

Having figured things out, Hiruzen Sarutobi was in a good mood and didn't blame Xiao for overstepping his bounds. He smiled and said, "Tatsuma and Minato have certainly provoked the parents of their peers."

Lately, my family has been receiving visitors daily, all hoping the village can strengthen its discipline of their children. I have already chosen one, Lu Yuan's son, and will arrange for him to be handed over to you in a few days.

Upon hearing this, Xiao raised an eyebrow beneath his mask. "Shikaku Nara, the child of Shikaku. That child is lacking in both strength and temperament, but he is extremely suitable to stay in the Hokage's office."

Xiao didn't know that the reason why Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't forget Tatsuma, who had only served as the Hokage's bodyguard for a short time, was because Tatsuma was able to help with administrative affairs so well.

As for protecting Tatsuma and Xiao himself, neither of them actually played a role in this regard. It wouldn't be too difficult for that kid named Shikaku to take over.

After all, everyone in the Nara family is intelligent, and their expertise in handling administrative affairs can be described as a family tradition.

In contrast to the well-organized village that Hiruzen Sarutobi had managed, the Shikkotsu Forest was in a state of chaos, with both people and slugs in disarray.

In a small pool, Chenma lay flat on the surface of the pool, almost completely submerged in the viscous water except for his mouth and nose. As the water flowed slowly, it seemed to shimmer with iridescent light, but it was impossible to see it if you tried to catch a closer look.

He'd been lying there all day. Tsunade, who was squatting beside him with her head drooping, suddenly snapped awake. Looking at the motionless Tatsuma, she couldn't help but look up in the direction of the Slug Sage and asked:

"Slug Sage, how are you?"

The slug sage remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "We have failed."

(End of this chapter)