"Your idea is good, but this is peacetime, and the Hokage rarely leaves the village."
"So I need you to handle it, Sister Tsunade. The Hokage may not leave the village under normal circumstances, but what if the daimyo requests it?" Chiba smiled slightly.
Hearing this, Tsunade suddenly understood why Chiba had come to see her alone today—it was all part of his plan.
Chiba's idea was clever. By using the daimyo's authority, they could compel the Third Hokage to leave Konoha, then leak his whereabouts to Shimura Danzo.
In such a scenario, there was a strong possibility that Danzo would take the bait.
Thinking this over, Tsunade looked at Chiba and asked, "Alright, I can handle that part. But how do you plan to make Danzo believe that he can take over if the old man dies?"
What else could be done? Of course—sowing discord.
Shimura Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen already had a strained relationship, and with a little push, they could be turned completely against each other.
Chiba could already envision the moment when the two old comrades finally severed ties.
"That part is a secret for now. You'll find out when the time comes." Chiba smiled mysteriously.
Seeing this, Tsunade decided not to press for details.
A Few Days Later—At the Root Headquarters
Shimura Danzo looked at the man standing before him and asked, "Any progress with Wood Release?"
Hearing the question, Hiruko froze for a moment. It had only been a week since he joined Root, and even with First Hokage's cells, it was impossible to make significant progress in such a short time.
Moreover, his Chakra Absorption Technique was at a critical stage. While he desired the power of Wood Release, he had to set his priorities straight.
However, Shimura Danzo was not just his financial backer but also his superior. Beiliuhu had no choice but to bow his head and respond, "I'm sorry, Lord Danzo. The time has been too short. My research on First Hokage's cells has only just begun."
Danzo had asked the question casually. Although he wasn't a researcher himself, he knew that scientific progress took time.
He had only stopped by today to check if Hiruko was making a serious effort. The laboratory they were using had been built at great expense six months ago, and Danzo had no intention of wasting his resources.
However, as a leader, he had to maintain appearances.
With a stern face and sharp eyes, he said, "Then keep working. I didn't invest so much just for you to idle around."
Hiruko clenched his fists but suppressed his irritation.
At that moment, a Root operative entered the laboratory.
The masked ninja leaned in and whispered something into Danzo's ear. Hearing the message, Danzo's expression shifted slightly. Without another word, he left the lab.
Hiruko had no idea what had just happened, but he felt relieved to see Danzo leave.
Root Headquarters—Danzo's Office
Shimura Danzo sat at his desk, staring at a kneeling Root operative wearing a ninja dog mask.
"Are you certain about what you just reported?"
"Yes, Lord Danzo. I heard it with my own ears. There is no mistake."
Danzo frowned slightly. His subordinate had just informed him that people in the village were spreading negative rumors about the Third Hokage.
This left him puzzled—who was doing him such a favor?
After all, this was something he had wanted to do for a long time.
Although this development worked in his favor, he felt a strange sense of unease.
After a moment of thought, Danzo gave his order: "Find out how many people know about this and who started spreading it."
"Understood."
Hokage's Office
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep puff from his pipe, then reached for his crystal ball, intending to spy on the women's bathhouse.
Just as he was about to start, a white-haired Anbu operative suddenly appeared in his office, startling him so much that he nearly dropped the crystal ball.
"Lord Hokage, I have an urgent report."
Hatake Sakumo, unaware of the Hokage's momentary embarrassment, respectfully handed him a document.
Coughing to cover up his flustered state, Hiruzen adjusted his posture. "Ahem, hand it over, Sakumo."
Taking the report, he began reading through its contents.
After a few minutes, his expression darkened.
Negative rumors about him were spreading throughout Konoha.
It didn't take much thought to figure out who was behind this.
Shimura Danzo.
Who else would dare to spread slander against the Hokage?
A cold smirk appeared on Hiruzen's lips. If his old friend wanted to play dirty, then he would make sure Danzo suffered for it.
Looking up, he instructed, "Sakumo, investigate these individuals mentioned in the report. Find out who told them to say such things."
"Understood, Lord Hokage."
As Sakumo left, Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured to himself, "Danzo, Danzo… if you think this little trick can shake me, you're gravely mistaken."
With that, he glanced around the room to make sure he was alone.
Then, with an eager grin, he retrieved his crystal ball once again.
The dim light reflected on his face, which was slowly becoming more… perverse.
The Hidden Puppet Master
Unbeknownst to everyone, the person responsible for spreading these rumors was none other than Chiba.
To avoid suspicion falling on himself, he had instructed Xiao Hei to pass a message to Kakuzu.
Kakuzu's task was simple—spread whispers throughout Konoha about the Third Hokage's cowardice. After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen had been one of the Second Hokage's personal guards. Yet, when Tobirama Senju sacrificed himself, Hiruzen and the other guards had returned alive.
Didn't that suggest they were cowards who abandoned their leader?
However, given the financial strain on their team due to their new base and laboratory, Chiba had instructed Kakuzu to keep the rumor circulation limited for now.
He wasn't worried that the Third Hokage and Danzo wouldn't find out about it.
While Anbu and Root operatives might not be the strongest warriors, their intelligence-gathering abilities were excellent.
November, Year 34 of the Hidden Leaf
It had been half a month since the rumors began circulating.
Chiba had never expected mere gossip to turn Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo into outright enemies overnight.
However, as time passed, he noticed that Konoha remained unchanged. The village functioned as usual—people went to work, completed missions, and continued with their daily routines.
Observing this, Chiba couldn't help but sigh.
"I'm still too young. Compared to these seasoned political manipulators, my strategy seems too immature," he admitted to himself, a wry smile forming on his lips.