This time, Tsunade had only been in the pharmaceutical department for a quarter of an hour when a furious shout rang out from Utatane Koharu:
— Tsunade! You're blackmailing me! This is pure irresponsibility!
— Blackmail? Irresponsibility? — Tsunade didn't back down, sharply retorting: — I've been working my ass off alongside you, and I want my share. What's wrong with that?
— Your share?! You're demanding forty percent of the profits! — Koharu was so angry that her whole body was shaking. — This is the village's income! How can you just take it for yourself?!
— And where did you get the idea that I'm going to line my own pockets?! — Tsunade flared up, her face twisted with irritation.
— I want to use this money to create a Medical Ninjustu Development Department, to focus on researching new techniques. This is for the good of the village. Why does this bother you so much?!
— I just don't like it, that's all!
— Ha, Elder Koharu, don't forget: without me, without Tsunade, you wouldn't have been able to brew those medicines!
— I didn't think you, Tsunade, would be so full of yourself! — Koharu was already trembling with rage. — Without you, the pharmaceutical department would still be the pharmaceutical department! We would have created all the necessary drugs anyway!
Tsunade smirked:
— Heh. Really? I don't believe that!
— Fine, Tsunade! We'll see who's right! — Koharu shot a spiteful look at the guards: — Show the guest out!
— The day will come when you'll crawl to me on your knees! I'm waiting for that day! — Tsunade raised her head high and walked out of the pharmaceutical department, feeling a lightness and complete liberation in her body.
She hadn't expected that Uchiha Ran actually had a way to turn the tables — and it wasn't even that complicated.
All it took was for her to put on a show of haughty pressure — and she instantly turned Utatane Koharu into her ally.
And that's how it turned out: now, compared to Uchiha Ran, Koharu hated Tsunade far more.
So there was no way she'd let that greedy girl win.
Compared to Tsunade, Ran seemed far more agreeable to her: he'd already helped the department multiple times — and never asked for a penny in return.
Well, whatever. She could be a little more polite with him in the future.
Big deal.
In any case, it was better than letting herself be stripped to the bone. She was draining her soul, not just her money!
In reality, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Utatane Koharu had already realized that Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade were clearly determined to protect Uchiha Ran.
But in the end, it all came down to profit.
Just like the initial desire to eliminate Uchiha Ran had stemmed from interests, so too had his temporary reprieve been a purely calculated decision.
They were both willing to compromise. But there were others who didn't agree.
---
The doors to the Hokage's office burst open.
The person who entered was seething with irritation.
— Hiruzen, I need an answer. Why did you change your mind again?! — Shimura Danzo snapped immediately.
— Danzo, what are you talking about? — Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, as if he didn't understand what was going on.
— Don't play innocent with me! — Danzo cut him off. — How many times have I told you: Uchiha Ran is a threat. You yourself gave me permission to eliminate him! And now, suddenly — you forbid me to act? First, you wouldn't let me create Root. Fine. But now you're even backing down from what you approved yourself?! What do you take me for?!
This time, Danzo was truly furious.
Did he actually want to kill Uchiha Ran?
Out of all the high-ranking officials, Shimura Danzo had shown the most eagerness to get rid of Ran — even more than Utatane Koharu.
But… in reality, he wanted him alive.
That was why he'd pushed Hiruzen so hard to approve a decision that would allow him to strike.
Only by doing so could he make Uchiha Ran "disappear" — and no one would ever know.
But his true goal was to subdue this man.
As a true ambitious schemer, Shimura Danzo had long dreamed of becoming Hokage.
But as a mere advisor, his power was always restricted by Hiruzen Sarutobi. His steps were limited, his hands tied.
And so he had to look for workarounds: on one hand, pushing for the creation of Root, and on the other, forming his own secret structure.
If we're talking about all of Konoha, what he wanted most was to control the Uchiha clan.
He'd seen firsthand the power of Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Kagami, and other members of this clan — Shimura Danzo had long admired them.
How he longed to recruit one of their geniuses and train them as his right-hand man.
He even dreamed of the day when, using this genius and the techniques he would create to control a still unnamed Root, he could secretly subjugate the entire Uchiha clan.
But the Uchiha were too proud. They never looked down on Shimura Danzo — they just didn't look at him at all.
Damn Kagami was exactly like that. The others were no better.
But Uchiha Ran, cast out from the clan, was the exact kind of talent he had long been searching for.
After a long analysis, Shimura Danzo came to a conclusion: the fact that his teacher had even ordered before his death to watch over Uchiha Ran and forbid him to train could only mean one thing — this guy had frightening talent. He reminded him of Uchiha Madara. Otherwise, why would all this happen?
The problem was that the disappearance of such a person would go unnoticed.
And this was where his secret ally came in — Orochimaru, who had already demonstrated remarkable skill as a researcher. Their views coincided with frightening accuracy.
Initially, Shimura Danzo had planned to wait until Root was established before dealing with Uchiha Ran — after all, he simply didn't have a place to put him.
This was a matter of absolute secrecy. No one could know.
But Orochimaru's words, spoken not long ago, had changed his mind. Now, he wanted to deal with it as soon as possible.
All that was needed was to brainwash Uchiha Ran, and he would become his new Kagami.
No… if Orochimaru was to be believed, his value could even surpass Kagami's.
Shimura Danzo had been in an upbeat mood just the day before: the day before, Hiruzen Sarutobi had personally agreed to his actions.
But, as fate would have it, everything was ruined by an unexpected guest.
Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade had intervened, standing in defense of Uchiha Ran. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi and Utatane Koharu, these two useless old men, suddenly changed their minds.
Especially Koharu — just yesterday, she had insisted that Uchiha Ran had to die, but today, she declared that he should be left alone. Danzo had no choice but to call her a "foolish ally."
— Hiruzen, I'm asking you: is it so hard to answer? — Seeing that the latter was silent, Shimura Danzo grew even more enraged and repeated his question.
— Danzo, you must understand: everything I do, I do for the village. I changed my mind after weighing the pros and cons, — Hiruzen replied.
— Before, we wanted to eliminate Uchiha Ran because his existence contradicted the village's interests. But now he's alive — and that, on the contrary, benefits the village. That's it.
— So you're for the village, but I'm not? — Shimura Danzo couldn't stand Hiruzen's righteous attitude and snorted.
— Danzo, understand: there are matters on which the decision has already been made. In the end, I am the Hokage, — Hiruzen's face darkened.
This Shimura Danzo was getting more and more out of hand. And it was starting to annoy him.
Hiruzen's words cut like a knife.
Again this.
Again!
It's only because you know how to flatter! The teacher obviously valued me more! What makes you better than me, Hiruzen?
But all he could do was seethe in helplessness.
— Hiruzen, you'll regret this! — Spitting these words, Shimura Danzo couldn't contain himself any longer. He slammed the door with a bang and left.
Well then, if you're against it, don't blame me for acting on my own. I'll do it myself.
He knew Hiruzen too well and understood: if he pushed things through to the end, it would get done. Hiruzen would scold him a bit, maybe even put him under house arrest. But that's all.
And compared to what he stood to gain — that was nothing.
Wasn't that how he dealt with Uchiha Kagami?
If I deny everything and you can't prove it — what can you do to me?