Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 17 Danzo's Path to the Top

Smack smack!

The Third Hokage exhaled smoke, and soon the office was filled with smoke, like a fairyland. Danzo and the two Hokage advisors were somewhat lightheaded and were both bothered by the smoke.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

The three coughed for a while, and Danzo waved his sleeve, sending out a gust of wind that hit the window and opened both sections of the window.

The Dark One of the Ninja World is also very powerful.

"Hiruzen, can't you smoke less?"

Danzo couldn't help but complain, and Homura and Koharu nodded in agreement, as they also couldn't stand Hiruzen's terrifying smoking habit.

The third generation glanced at his three friends, ignoring them completely, and continued exhaling smoke as he casually asked, "Is there anything else?"

"What do you mean, Hiruzen?"

Danzo's expression changed, and he asked urgently, "Are you still going to indulge the Uchiha clan as before?"

Menyan and Xiaochun were also anxious, repeatedly asking the Third Hokage what he meant. Hadn't they explained things clearly enough? If this continued, his position as Hokage would be in real danger.

The Third Hokage remained calm, smiled faintly, and said, "You only see that my position is precarious, but you don't see that commoner ninjas and ninjas from small clans are all approaching me."

Crisis, crisis.

Where there is danger, there is also opportunity.

While the Uchiha clan's propaganda about last night's events may damage his Hokage authority, it will also deeply etch the Uchiha clan's arrogance into the minds of many commoner ninja clans in Konoha.

No one likes a Hokage who possesses terrifying power but also has a heart that disregards and tramples on Konoha's rules.

Today, the Uchiha are not even Hokage yet, but they dare to provoke the Hokage and trample on the rights that belong to the Hokage.

If the Uchiha clan becomes Hokage tomorrow, who can guarantee that they won't seize even more of the ninja clan's interests?

The more arrogant the Uchiha clan became, the more reassuring the Third Hokage's policy of winning over civilian ninjas was.

The more commoner ninjas and clan ninjas approach the Third Hokage's position, the more secure his Hokage status becomes.

The arrogance of the Uchiha clan is only temporary.

As long as they don't rebel, they'll eventually destroy themselves.

The third generation was well aware of this.

He was confident that if he obtained the secret to immortality, he could guarantee that the Second Hokage's plan would not fail and that the Uchiha clan would eventually perish.

So he's not in a hurry right now; at least until the secret to immortality is found, he doesn't want to cause too much of a stir.

Faced with the Third Generation's unwillingness to do anything, Momo and Koharu were helpless. In the end, they were just advisors. As long as Hiruzen was still healthy, they really were just advisors, only having the right to make suggestions, and no other rights.

They could only sigh helplessly at the Third Hokage's decision not to deal with the Uchiha clan, and said nothing more.

Danzo was so anxious at this moment that he wanted to curse.

"Hiruzen, listen to me. The Uchiha clan has become a major threat. Even if you let them go now, they won't be grateful. They'll only think you're weak and incompetent, and they'll take advantage of you even more."

"They won't give up easily in order to take control of Konoha."

"Even if you don't want to deal with the Uchiha clan right now, you should still be on guard and make preparations."

"I think..." Danzo cleared his throat and suggested, "At the very least, we should establish an organization specifically designed to weaken the Uchiha clan..."

"Ahem!"

The Third Hokage's gaze sharpened, and the pressure in the air suddenly increased. Danzo coughed and quickly changed his explanation: "I'm talking about an organization that specializes in dealing with things that even the Anbu can't handle. I've already thought of a name for it: Root."

"The roots that provide nutrients to the towering tree of Konoha, ensuring its healthy growth under the sun, and the roots that only move forward in the darkness to protect Konoha."

"Not for fame or fortune, but for the benefit of Konoha, this is the philosophy of Root of Konoha, and the determination of Root to give everything for Konoha."

The symbolism of Root is very good. When Danzo spoke with great passion, it seemed as if a holy light surrounded him. Danzo felt that the Third Hokage must have been moved by his willingness to succumb to darkness to protect Konoha.

The third generation was indeed moved.

Moved, he looked at his friend with a look that seemed to want to kill him: You're still eyeing my Hokage position!

The Third Hokage glared at Danzo with annoyance and said sarcastically, "You've even chosen a name. It seems that dealing with the Uchiha is just a pretense; your real intention is to establish Root."

"Ahem..." Danzo was a little embarrassed, his little scheme had been seen through, but he was thick-skinned and said with a righteous expression, "It's all for Konoha."

Menyan and Xiaochun also realized what was happening, their eyes lighting up at the same time. They glanced at Danzo, the old man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and then immediately turned their burning gazes to the Third Hokage.

"Hiruzen, we also agree to establish Root," Mitomon Homura said.

"Don't worry, the three of us will definitely take good care of the roots for you," Koharu Utatane said matter-of-factly.

"What do you mean?" Danzo raised an eyebrow, turned his head and glared angrily at his two friends, Koharu and Kazuma, who wanted to take advantage of him and then reap the benefits.

"Homura, Koharu, you are Hokage advisors. Don't forget your responsibilities. Assisting the Hokage is your duty."

Danzo said, "Leave Root to me. I am the one who is most suitable to lead Root and silently protect Konoha."

Mitokado Homura retorted, "The fact that Root is under Hiruzen's command is the best example of how we, the Hokage's advisors, are assisting Hiruzen. On the contrary, you don't hold a position in the Hokage's high-level department; you're just an ordinary Jonin registered at home. Root, a ninja organization with the same attributes as the Anbu, should be directly under the Hokage's command. You're not qualified. Only the two of us, the Hokage's advisors, are qualified to be Hiruzen's commander."

Menyan and Xiaochun argued their case forcefully, showing no intention of giving in even to Danzo, their former friend.

We must seize control of the roots.

They never imagined they could wield power in this way.

What are rights?

Does having the power to command others constitute a right?

The advisors were the ones who made the suggestions.

They had always wanted to lead their own ninja squad.

Unfortunately, the Anbu was the Hokage's personal unit, firmly controlled by Hiruzen, and no one could interfere.

The ninjas from other departments are just advisors and have no authority to be transferred.

Danzo's proposed Root Organization perfectly aligns with their demands for control of power.

They all knew very well that whoever possessed such a hidden organization, comparable to the Anbu, could gain more benefits for themselves and their families within the Konoha power structure.

At the same time, the power to control the life and death of others is fascinating, and they are unwilling to give it up.

"you……"

Danzo pointed at Homura and Koharu, angered by their shameless behavior. At the same time, he couldn't help but resent Hiruzen, who, as his friend, hadn't even gotten a decent position.

"What happened to us?"

Men Yan and Xiao Chun smiled victoriously, as if they wanted to say something more.

Snapped!

The sound of the Third Hokage's hand slamming against the table rang out. Watching his three friends arguing amongst themselves about who owned Root, completely disregarding him as the Hokage, the scene of being humiliated by two brats from the Uchiha clan last night reappeared. Suddenly, anger flared up in his heart, and the aura of the Hokage burst forth from his body.

A surge of anger descended upon Menyan and Xiaochun, their smiles vanishing instantly as they felt the overwhelming power emanating from the ninja world's hero.

Hiruzen was enraged, and the two lowered their heads, not daring to say another word.

Danzo lowered his head, not daring to challenge the Third Hokage.

"Do you even respect me as the Hokage anymore?"

The third generation glared at the three men and continued, "We'll talk about the root later. You can leave now."

"Hiruzen..."

Danzo looked up and was met with the Third Hokage's sharp gaze. He immediately swallowed back the words he wanted to say.

You'll regret it.

After throwing down the words "You'll regret this," Danzo glared angrily at Menyan and Koharu, then turned and left in a huff.

"I am the Hokage," the Third Hokage blurted out instinctively.

Danzo, who had already reached the door, paused slightly upon hearing those five familiar words, then strode out with a blazing light in his eyes.

Yes!

Hiruzen is the true Hokage!

Everything is Naruto!

If he were the Hokage, none of this would have happened today.

Just you wait, Hiruzen.

One day, I will also say those words to you, "I am the Hokage," and let you feel the humiliation that those words bring.

Danzo walked out of the Hokage's office, the flame of the Hokage's position burning fiercely in his heart.

Establishing a root is only the first step.

There will be a second step, a third step, and finally he will climb to the top and reach the position of Hokage.

(End of this chapter)