At this moment, in the Kazekage's office, only Danzo and Chiyo remained.
After seeing the others leave, Danzo immediately closed the door, locked it, and even formed hand seals to create a barrier, cutting off all external perception and eavesdropping.
Seeing this, Chiyo, as Kazekage, felt nervous.
"What are you going to do?!"
Goodness, wasn't this just a private conversation?
Did it need to be this cautious?
Danzo even set up a barrier—someone unaware might think they were having an affair here!
If this got out, how could she continue being Kazekage?
Chiyo couldn't help her chaotic emotions.
She had to admit, she did have feelings for Danzo. After all, Danzo was highly capable, exceptional, and had saved her life and her brother's.
Moreover, young Danzo had an honest and resolute face with clear, striking features.
Overall, in terms of both appearance and strength, compared to the younger generation in all of Sunagakure, Danzo was undoubtedly far above average.
He was a hero from Konoha who could rival the Third Hokage for life—how could he compare to the poor Sunagakure?
Not to mention Chiyo, lately, many female ninja in Sunagakure had shown interest in Danzo.
Especially many young married or widowed female ninja at the ninja academy, who often used picking up their children as an excuse to "pursue" Danzo.
This forced Chiyo to issue a new school rule, restricting parents from waiting at the school gate when picking up their children, prohibiting entry.
This was enough to show how popular Danzo was in Sunagakure.
However, as Kazekage, with the village facing difficulties, Chiyo couldn't indulge in romance. She could only suppress all her feelings.
As a result, recent meetings with Danzo were always held in secret, through back channels, to avoid misunderstandings from outsiders.
But now, with such a highly private atmosphere in public, it was almost impossible to explain!
"Don't panic, this is just to prevent eavesdropping!"
"Eavesdropping?"
"There are many Konoha spies in the village. The next plan is highly confidential; no one must hear it first!"
"Spies? You mean those people? How could that be…"
Chiyo was a bit confused. You, a Konoha defector, are saying our village's senior officials might be spies? That sounds absurd.
"Better to be cautious. The only people I can fully trust are you and a few others like Ebizo."
"Alright."
Chiyo calmed down, her heart warming. Danzo's way with words was indeed impressive.
"So, what's the method you mentioned?"
"Normally, ways to significantly boost strength in a short time are very limited. The low-cost ones are only dojutsu transplantation and learning secret ninjutsu."
"You mean the Sharingan you gave my teacher before? The village has long tested it. After transplanting the Sharingan, it can indeed greatly enhance a ninja's dynamic vision and grant abilities like copying and illusions, but it has major limitations. Non-Uchiha ninja who implant it can't deactivate the Sharingan; it stays active, constantly draining chakra. Even a Jonin can't endure the continuous physical and mental drain. The side effects are too great…"
Since obtaining the Sharingan, the Second Kazekage, Shamon, had secretly conducted experiments and tests.
Though Shamon was gone, Chiyo, newly appointed, knew the results exactly.
Moreover, Chiyo specialized in puppet techniques. Even if she implanted a Sharingan, the actual combat strength increase would be limited; instead, it would restrict her chakra capacity, reducing the number of puppets she could control and the duration of control.
With such gains and losses, it was better not to implant it!
Danzo refuted, "No, the Sharingan isn't suitable for you."
Chiyo asked again, "Then, is it a secret jutsu or forbidden technique?"
"No. I haven't mastered any powerful secret or forbidden techniques. Even if I had, you couldn't learn and master them in ten days."
It should be noted that even a genius like Orochimaru needed at least a month to learn an S-rank forbidden technique.
For an average ninja, learning and mastering an S-rank technique would take years.
Without cheating, no one could master a forbidden technique in just a few days.
"Then, what's the method? Don't tell me you…"
"Don't think nonsense. The method I mean is actually relying on a Tailed Beast!" Danzo gave his answer.
"What? You mean becoming a Jinchuriki?"
"Exactly! It's the fastest way to gain explosive power in a short time!"
After becoming a Jinchuriki and mastering a Tailed Beast's power, the boost to a ninja is immense.
Whether it's chakra capacity, endurance, damage resistance, self-healing ability, and so on, all would see a massive increase.
It could even greatly enhance the power of techniques and the limit of puppet control.
If one could become a perfect Jinchuriki, they could even be immune to most illusions. Even the weakest perfect Jinchuriki would be at least a strong Kage, possibly reaching peak or super Kage levels.
"That won't work. The village's Tailed Beast, the One-Tail Shukaku, is currently sealed in Bunpuku. Do you mean to have him participate in the fight?"
Danzo refuted, "That master is a monk. He's barely trained in ninjutsu his whole life. Sending him to fight is like seeking death."
Bunpuku: A monk from the Sand Temple, an ancient temple in the Land of Wind that existed even before Sunagakure's founding. The temple was always responsible for suppressing and guarding Shukaku.
Since birth, Shukaku had been sealed in Bunpuku, making him the One-Tail Jinchuriki.
Over the years, Bunpuku trained hard and could control the One-Tail's power well, having a good relationship with Shukaku. If he weren't unskilled in ninjutsu, he would've long become a perfect Jinchuriki.
However, though not a combat ninja, he was Sunagakure's strongest ninja due to his ability to control the Tailed Beast's power.
In short, even without knowing a single ninjutsu, he could activate Tailed Beast mode and defeat all Sunagakure ninja with taijutsu.
But Bunpuku, unskilled in ninjutsu, would surely lose if he participated in the World's Best Ninja Championship…
"Then what do you mean?"
"Have Bunpuku release Shukaku, then seal it in your body! Become a Jinchuriki!"
"Me, a Jinchuriki?"
"Exactly."
"But—"
Danzo interrupted Chiyo and gave his answer:
"I know, the risks of sealing a Tailed Beast and becoming a Jinchuriki are huge! Not only is there a risk of losing control, but success isn't guaranteed on the first try."
"But all these weaknesses stem from Sunagakure's outdated and low-level sealing techniques!"
"If we use a sufficiently strong and perfect sealing technique to seal the Tailed Beast, all these weaknesses won't be an issue!"
Chiyo was shocked: "You mean?"
Danzo smiled confidently: "I have a sealing technique that can help you perfectly seal the One-Tail!"
"What sealing technique?"
"The Eight Trigrams Sealing Style!"
"What sealing technique is that?"
"Have you heard of the Uzumaki clan's Four Symbols Seal?"
"I've heard of it. It's said to be the Uzumaki clan's strongest sealing technique, capable of sealing any enemy or demon, no matter how strong!"
"Correct. And the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style is formed by combining two layers of Four Symbols Seals. In terms of sealing effect and portability, it's even better than the Four Symbols Seal!"
"What?!"
Chiyo was stunned. This was the first time she'd heard of such an extraordinary sealing technique.
Combining two layers of Four Symbols Seals?
That was too absurd, wasn't it?
Sealing techniques weren't a joke. A slight change could cause major issues, let alone combining two.
This couldn't just be called genius.
Where did Danzo get such an incredible sealing technique?
As for the current Parallel World 2 Danzo, he naturally obtained the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style from Parallel World 4 Danzo through the Space-Time Bell.
This was a technique developed by Minato and Kushina decades later after fully mastering the Four Symbols Seal.
Both its power and stability were superior.
It was one of the strongest sealing techniques, capable of fully sealing the Nine-Tails and safely trapping it in a fragile infant's body; even half the Nine-Tails, in terms of chakra and terror, was far stronger than the One-Tail.
Indirectly, using it to seal the One-Tail was overkill.
And Parallel World 4's future Danzo, who also fully mastered the Four Symbols Seal, even independently developed the Reverse Four Symbols Forbidden Seal, making him a sealing technique expert.
It wasn't difficult for him to obtain the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style through his connection with Parallel World 4's Minato and pass it to his younger self in Parallel World 2.
Of course, to learn this advanced future sealing technique, young Danzo had to heavily flatter his older future self; only he knew the patience and effort required.
Fortunately, as the 'Darkness of Sunagakure,' young Danzo was very patient!
"How did you learn this secret sealing technique?"
"I secretly learned it from the Uzumaki clan. It's a non-transmissible secret. In short, with this sealing technique, the risks of sealing a Tailed Beast can be reduced to the lowest level!"
Danzo took out a scroll containing the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style and handed it to Chiyo.
"You… are you really willing to give this to me?"
Chiyo trembled.
She was a bit hesitant, shocked, and disbelieving.
It was like suddenly receiving an engagement ring; and this scroll's value was far greater than thousands of rings.
In some ways, the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style was even more valuable than many S-rank jutsu!
Previously, her teacher, Shamon, went nearly mad just to obtain an ordinary Uzumaki sealing technique, and in the end, he didn't get it.
Later, with Danzo's help, he only obtained a Contract Seal that couldn't seal a Tailed Beast.
Now, this most valuable sealing technique was given by Danzo.
'Is this for Sunagakure? Or for me?'
'So, sincerity can truly be repaid with sincerity?'
'This is Sunagakure's greatest traitor!'
'Teacher, you were wrong! He's truly doing his best to help me, to help the village…'
'He's really, I'm sobbing…'
Chiyo was still dazed, her mind shaken. She even forgot to take the scroll from Danzo's hand.
"Why are you spacing out?"
Danzo forcibly placed the scroll in Chiyo's hand. After all, they'd eventually be one family, so what was a small sacrifice now?
To achieve his goals, Danzo was never stingy.
Moreover, being young and honest, he didn't care about gains and losses like his older future self.
Besides, in such a short time, no one in Sunagakure could learn the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style.
In the end, they'd still have to rely on him to do it.
When the World's Best Ninja Championship, hosted by his teacher, ended, it would be time to take action, so he didn't need to worry.
"Thank you! Danzo, I—"
"Why are you dissatisfied?"
"No, no, I'm very satisfied. I just didn't expect you'd give me such a valuable sealing technique…"
"It's all for the village; don't worry about these things."
"Then I won't forget this kindness! After the ninja championship ends, I…"
"Don't talk nonsense or make random promises!"
Danzo grew anxious. Knowing the future, he feared setting "flags" carelessly.
"Alright! It's just, even with the sealing technique, Bunpuku can't participate… Once a Tailed Beast leaves its Jinchuriki, the Jinchuriki will surely die. He's a master of the Sand Temple; I can't kill him…"
"I know! But right now, there's no other way. On one side is the entire village, on the other is Bunpuku. As Kazekage, the responsibility to make the choice is yours…"
Danzo looked at Chiyo, advising her seriously.
He had faced many life-and-death choices. Though he was once cowardly, he was now far more mature, more aware of the responsibilities and sins a Kage must bear.
"…"
Chiyo gritted her teeth, conflicted, unable to bear it.
She could ruthlessly crush rebels endangering the village, but she couldn't bear to kill a master who had done good for the village.
"I won't force you, nor do I want to force that master."
"We'll go together later and ask Bunpuku's opinion. If he's willing to protect the entire village, we'll proceed as planned."
"If he's unwilling, we'll think of another way."
Danzo suggested again.
If sealing the One-Tail failed, they could try capturing another Tailed Beast.
Though less efficient, with his teacher's covert help, they still had a chance to succeed.
"Alright!"
Chiyo nodded in agreement. It was a forced choice.
"There's just one more issue. Even if I seal the Tailed Beast, in ten days, I may not be able to master its power…"
"No problem. If you seal the One-Tail, I have a trick to make it willingly lend you its power."
Danzo was full of confidence.
Later, he'd just need to tell Shukaku that at the ninja championship, it had a chance to defeat the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki.
Whether true or not, he could likely trick it into working hard.
This was the 'Tailed Beast Control Technique' taught by his teacher, so it couldn't be wrong.
If it didn't work, he could also use the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style to forcibly extract and use some of the Tailed Beast's chakra, though the Jinchuriki wouldn't be able to use Shukaku's unique wind and magnetic techniques.
But even without wind and magnetic elements, as long as Chiyo became the One-Tail Jinchuriki and gained a massive chakra boost, her strength would skyrocket. Combined with her puppet techniques and technology Danzo obtained from the future, it would surely be enough to give Chiyo strong Kage-level combat power!
It couldn't be said she'd definitely take first place in the world, but she'd likely make the top three.
After all, Tobirama and Madara wouldn't participate. Without these two powerhouses, others' strength was within a beatable range.
And the main mission Tobirama gave Danzo was to help Kazekage Chiyo win first place in the ninja championship!
Beyond the mission, Danzo also had a bit of harmless selfishness.
After all, the stronger Chiyo became, the more it highlighted the difficulty and danger of his spy mission, and the more it showcased his achievements!
Even he didn't know why, but the stronger Chiyo got, the more excited Danzo himself felt. So strange!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Danzo, thank you! I really…"
"No need to thank me; we're already one. And I'll go with you to the ninja championship!"
"No way, it's too dangerous! You're still wanted by Konoha. If you go there, it's like turning yourself in!"
"I'll disguise myself. And I know Konoha well. Only if we act together do we have a chance to bring the final reward back to Sunagakure after winning!"
"But…"
"No buts. I won't let you take the risk alone!"
"You…!!!"
"What's wrong?"
Chiyo slightly lowered her head, hiding her reddening neck, and changed the topic:
"Nothing. Just, Danzo, you must have some acquaintances in Konoha, right? If you meet them at the ninja championship?"
"Don't hold back, beat them to a pulp!"
"What?"
"Exactly! If you meet Hiruzen, never hold back!"
"Hiruzen?"
"Yes, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen! If you really meet him, make sure you beat him until he spits blood!"
"Alright! I promise!"