Watching the young man so overjoyed that he was stumbling over his words, the Third Hokage felt an inexplicable wave of sentiment.
People… always change.
When he had first taken up the mantle of Hokage, he had been idealistic—convinced he was all-powerful, that nothing was beyond his ability to change.
But it hadn't taken long for reality to teach him otherwise.
There were countless things in this world that would never bend to human will.
The more you experienced, the clearer you saw; the clearer you saw, the more helpless you felt.
So if sacrificing a few could secure the survival of the many, then even if he had to shoulder the heaviest curses and accusations, so what?
At his age, he truly didn't care anymore.
Gazing at the departing figure of Gekkō Hayate, Hiruzen absently toyed with the sunflower on his desk and murmured,
"When you're old… You just hope the faces you saw yesterday will still be there today. Life… stability in the village… those are worth more than anything."
Meanwhile, in the underground Root conference room—
Dim lighting cast deep shadows across Danzō's face, making his expression even gloomier.
"Ryōma, you claim you saw Orochimaru in Sunagakure? Could it be you were mistaken? From what I know, he's currently in the Land of Rice Fields building his Hidden Sound Village…"
From his seat at the head of the table, Danzō studied his trusted subordinate, Aburame Ryōma.
Ryōma frowned and replied firmly,
"Danzō-sama, I partnered with Orochimaru for years. I know his scent all too well—there's no mistake."
Danzō's brows knit slightly.
"Strange… with that man's skill, how did you even notice him?"
"He revealed himself on purpose. I had little to do with it," Ryōma answered truthfully.
"I see… then it must mean Orochimaru has business with me."
Danzō narrowed his eyes, thinking. Suddenly, his expression shifted to realization.
"I remember now—he must want to complete our previous transaction."
"Transaction? What kind of transaction?" Ryōma asked, curious.
Danzō's lips curled into a faint, cold smile.
"He has a special test subject. Supposedly, it can eliminate organ transplant rejection."
"Rejection?" Ryōma blinked.
"Yes."
Danzō nodded. His thoughts flickered to the Sharingan and the forbidden technique Izanagi, which he had acquired on the Uchiha Massacre night. He had already decided to see this deal through.
"And what does Orochimaru want from you in return?"
Knowing Orochimaru's ambition, Ryōma suspected his price wouldn't be small.
"Don't worry, Ryōma—just some experimental data. Nothing more."
Danzō's tone was dismissive.
"Besides, as long as I remain strong enough, even if I hand him what he wants, there's nothing he can do to shake me."
"But… you can't kill him either," Ryōma said dryly, finding this deal to be playing with fire—feeding a tiger that would one day turn on you.
"Hmph. You think I haven't prepared a countermeasure?"
Danzō's cold smile deepened.
"Orochimaru had no weaknesses before. But after I gave him the Impure World Reincarnation technique… now he does."
His soul?
Ryōma merely gave a noncommittal nod.
"Even so, Danzō-sama… this will require the right opportunity."
"No rush. Let me think…"
Danzō understood what Ryōma meant.
Lately, ANBU surveillance on them had been heavy. If he made the exchange now, ANBU would likely seize the chance to catch him red-handed. This required careful timing.
After a moment, he decided on a "non-plan" plan: to wait.
"Wait, Danzō-sama? For how long?" Ryōma asked, ready to take the risk on his strength, only to be shot down.
"If Orochimaru revealed himself to you, it means he's more desperate than we are. Patience, Ryōma… just wait."
"…Understood," Ryōma said reluctantly.
That evening, Uchiha Jiyue received a summons from Danzō.
"Danzō-sama," he greeted politely upon entering.
Danzō's quarters were no larger than any other Root operative's—cramped and unadorned. The only difference was a slightly larger window, which probably allowed much better daylight.
In the corner sat a simple, old-fashioned desk, meticulously stacked with scrolls and files—clear proof of Danzō's meticulous nature.
"Jiyue, you're here. There's no seat—stand for now," Danzō said casually, as if speaking to someone familiar.
"I hear your chakra affinities are Wind, Fire, and Lightning?"
"Yes," Jiyue replied evenly. It wasn't difficult to find, so he wasn't concerned.
"Interested in learning Wind Release from me?"
Danzō looked at him expectantly.
Of course, if the Shimura clan had produced any promising talent in recent years, he wouldn't be offering his life's work to an outsider. But at sixty-three, it was time to consider what came after him.
His choice of Jiyue was calculated.
First, Jiyue had awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan at just ten talent, no less than Shisui or Itachi. That ensured Danzō's techniques wouldn't go to waste.
Second, unlike Orochimaru, Jiyue hadn't been consumed by inner darkness; his mindset leaned toward the Hawk Faction, aligning with Danzō's ideology, making him an ideal successor.
Lastly—and most importantly—the "Uchiha problem" had ended with the clan's destruction. Neither he nor Hiruzen could be so petty as to reject two surviving children.
Whether Jiyue's surname was Uchiha, Sarutobi, or Shimura no longer mattered. So long as his loyalty lay with Konoha, it was enough.
"Danzō-sama wants to teach me Wind Release? I haven't been this surprised since… well, the last time I was this surprised," Jiyue said blankly.
He truly couldn't guess what Danzō was thinking.
"What's wrong? You look down on my Wind Release?"
Danzō's voice hardened, his eyes narrowing in displeasure.
"Of course not!" Jiyue quickly denied.
"I was just… too excited."
With Aoki Hiroshi's memories, Jiyue knew exactly how formidable Danzō's Wind Release was. Whatever Danzō's motives, there was no harm in learning it.
"Good."
Danzō nodded in satisfaction, plucking a scroll from his desk and tossing it to him.
"Take it. If there's anything you don't understand, ask Asayo—or ask me."
"Thank you, Danzō-sama. I'll do my best."
Jiyue accepted the scroll and bowed deeply.
Seeing this, Danzō's expression softened slightly. He then pulled another scroll from the desk and threw it over.
"Take this too."
"What's this?" Jiyue asked, puzzled.
"A pass for the Medical Division," Danzō explained calmly.
"All ANBU and Root operatives have an official cover identity. You're no exception."
"Understood."
After bowing once more, Jiyue turned and left.