PS: Good morning, afternoon, and evening to all dear readers! The Golden Finger's activation is tied to plot simulation — aside from positive foresight, some of it includes original plot points from when the protagonist hadn't changed them yet (such as Jiraiya in the bathhouse, the original trajectory of certain regrettable/unpleasant events, etc.). Their appearance in the text is to enhance the novel's immersion and to clarify things for friends who have forgotten or are less familiar with the plot. Rewards will be given upon completion.
Furthermore, these will only appear a few times in the early chapters and gradually fade out later, so it won't affect the reading experience. Therefore, dear readers, there's no need to assume that the subsequent plot relies entirely on simulation, or that the protagonist is unaware of the plot. The book's plot is different from the original; the author will fully strive to create a completely different Naruto fanfiction. Thank you!
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Days later, Konoha Village.
The Village's main gate was wide open, but the usual bustling scene was gone.
Silence was the only emotion present at this moment.
When six weary figures appeared at the end of the road, a barely perceptible stir went through the crowd.
As Konoha Village's tall gate walls came into view, the gatekeeping Ninja were first stunned, then joy surged onto their faces.
"It's Hiruzen and the others!"
"They're back!"
Walking at the very front was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
His armor was stained with dried blood and dust, and his young face was heavy with sorrow.
His gaze swept over the crowd, over those expectant eyes.
Finally, he looked towards the majestic rock mountain behind the Village.
The giant stone statues of First Hokage Hashirama Senju and Second Hokage Tobirama Senju silently overlooked the entire Village.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's steps paused.
They had returned.
But his master would forever remain on the Land of Fire's border.
The group did not stop, passing through the silent crowd and heading directly to the Hokage Tower.
Inside the Hokage Tower's conference room, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.
An Anbu member knelt on one knee, his voice low and quick.
"Report, it has been confirmed that Second Hokage was killed in action."
"Second Hokage successfully intercepted the Kumogakure Kinkaku and Ginkaku forces alone. During the battle, Kinkaku was slain, and over twenty elite Kumogakure Jonin under his command were all annihilated."
"Ginkaku was severely wounded and subsequently executed on the spot by the Third Raikage, who arrived in an emergency."
The Anbu's voice paused.
"Hidden Cloud Village has returned Second Hokage's body, which is now placed in the Senju clan's territory."
"The newly appointed Third Raikage also sent a message, thanking Konoha for assisting him in quelling the rebellion. Hidden Cloud Village hopes to coexist peacefully with Konoha Village."
A deathly silence fell over the conference room.
Danzo Shimura's fists were clenched tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms. He said nothing.
Utatane Koharu closed her eyes, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Homura Mitokado pushed up his glasses, the gaze beneath the lenses dark and unreadable.
Uchiha Kagami and Akimichi Torifu hung their heads, enveloped by immense grief.
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to the report, his heart completely calm, even feeling a slight urge to laugh.
Thanks?
Quelling the rebellion?
Hidden Cloud Village truly played its cards well.
Kinkaku and Ginkaku launched a coup, killing the Second Raikage.
Senju Tobirama, to protect his disciples, chose to stay behind.
As a result, the Second Raikage died, and Second Hokage also died.
Senju Tobirama wiped out Kumogakure's Kinkaku and Ginkaku forces, and the newly appointed Third Raikage finished off the severely wounded Ginkaku, not only solidifying his position but also eliminating the greatest hidden danger within the Village.
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head, his voice hoarse.
"Issue my order."
"The entire Village shall hang white banners for seven days to commemorate Second Hokage."
"Yes!"
The Anbu acknowledged the order, his figure vanishing instantly.
A simple inauguration ceremony was held in front of the Hokage Tower.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in a plain Hokage robe, stood on the high platform.
Below, a dense crowd of people, all of Konoha's Ninja, gathered there.
There were no celebrations, no cheers.
Only sorrow permeated the air.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the young, bewildered, and grief-stricken faces below. He knew he had to say something.
"Where tree leaves dance, flames will burn."
His voice, amplified by Chakra, resonated throughout the entire plaza.
"The light of the flames will continue to illuminate the Village and cause new tree leaves to sprout."
"Second Hokage, with his life, explained the true meaning of the 'Will of Fire' to us."
"He passed the torch to us. Now, it is our turn to make these flames burn even brighter!"
"I am the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
"As long as I live, I will protect this Village, and protect every single person!"
"I promise you all!"
His speech was not long, but it was powerful and resonant.
His words were like a shot of adrenaline, injected into the hearts of all the anxious Konoha Ninja.
Their eyes, from confusion and sadness, gradually became resolute.
The first high-level meeting still consisted of the original six people.
The Anbu reappeared, bringing more intelligence.
"Iwagakure and Hidden Mist Village clashed, resulting in the mutual destruction of Second Tsuchikage Mū and Second Mizukage Hōzuki Gengetsu."
"Currently, Ōnoki has succeeded as the Third Tsuchikage, while the candidate for Hidden Mist Village's Third Mizukage has not yet been determined."
"Hidden Sand Village, under the leadership of Second Kazekage Shamon, did not participate in the First Ninja World War and has been recuperating."
The intelligence was brief, yet the amount of information was immense.
With the successive deaths or replacements of the Kage of the Four Great Ninja Villages, the First Ninja World War had, in fact, ended.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's fingers gently tapped the table.
The Tsuchikage and Mizukage also died.
The Raikage was replaced by a new one.
This meant that among the old generation of powerhouses, only the Second Kazekage of Sunagakure remained.
The entire Ninja World entered a brief power vacuum and a period of generational disconnect.
The new Kage needed time to consolidate power, and the major Ninja Villages also needed to lick their war wounds.
"Nearly twenty years separated the First Ninja World War and the Second Ninja World War..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi silently calculated in his mind.
Twenty years.
A sufficiently long period of peace.
This was excellent news for him.
He had enough time to resolve internal issues, train the next generation, improve his own strength, and calmly plan his strategies.
Just then, a firm voice broke the silence.
"Hiruzen."
Danzo Shimura stood up.
His expression was serious, and a fervent flame burned in his eyes.
"Our master's sacrifice showed us the cruelty of war."
"Although Konoha achieved victory, our internal structure is not monolithic."
"There are always corners that light cannot reach, and there are always missions that cannot be carried out openly."
He spoke passionately, his voice echoing in the conference room.
"To protect the great tree of Konoha, there must be roots that go deep underground! Absorbing the nutrients of darkness and eradicating all pests that could harm the great tree!"
"I, Danzo Shimura, am willing to bear this defilement!"
"I request the establishment of an organization that belongs only to the Hokage, to handle all darkness—Anbu!"
It's coming.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart tightened, but his expression remained calm.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances, both falling into contemplation.
Danzo's words were not without reason.
Any large organization needs a department to handle its dirty work.
When Second Hokage was alive, many unsavory matters were handled by him personally.
Now that Hiruzen had taken over, could his gentle nature truly handle that darkness?
Perhaps, letting the strong-willed Danzo take charge would be a good choice.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer immediately.
His consciousness sank into his mind.
"Do you agree to Danzo Shimura's proposal to establish Anbu?"
"Simulate."
"Initiating future simulation..."
"Choice: Agree to Danzo Shimura's proposal."
The scene before his eyes changed instantly.
"Scene One: In a dark underground base, countless pipes connect to a giant container. Inside the container, a young boy with a pained expression. Danzo reveals a satisfied smile, his arm covered with densely packed Sharingan."
"Scene Two: On the Naka River cliff, Uchiha Shisui clutches his empty left eye socket, his face filled with disbelief. Across from him, Danzo holds the Sharingan that harbors the strongest genjutsu, 'Kotoamatsukami.'"
"Scene Three: In the ruins of Konoha Village, which has been razed to the ground, Pain floats in the air. All members of the Anbu organization remain motionless, coldly watching the Village's destruction."
"Scene Four: During the Five Kage Summit, Danzo, acting as interim Hokage, uses Shisui's eye to manipulate Mifune, the general of the Land of Iron, attempting to usurp the position of commander of the Allied Shinobi Forces. He ultimately fails and dies at Sasuke's hands."
Scene after scene pierced Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.
This was the future that Konoha might face if he agreed.
The so-called Anbu was merely a tool for Danzo to satisfy his personal desires and ambitions.
The so-called 'for the good of the Village' was merely to usurp the Hokage's power and make himself the underground Hokage.
Perhaps Danzo wasn't necessarily a bad person now, but if he only saw bad outcomes now, then he had to avoid them.
Fury erupted from his chest.
Just as Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado thought he would fall into contemplation and dilemma.
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stood up.
"Clang—!"
A loud noise.
The entire conference room instantly fell silent.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events.
Danzo Shimura's passionate expression froze, turning to bewilderment.
Uchiha Kagami and the others looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with even greater shock.
In their impression, Hiruzen had always been gentle and steady, never showing such a side.
Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored everyone's gazes.
He took one step after another, walking to the front of the grim-faced Danzo Shimura.
Their distance was less than half a meter.
Danzo instinctively wanted to take a step back, but his strong self-esteem made him stand firm.
"Danzo."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke.
"I acknowledge your resolve to delve into darkness for the Village."
Huh?
Danzo was stunned.
Everyone present was also stunned.
What did this mean?
Just as Danzo's expression was bewildered, Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone suddenly shifted.
"However!"
"Your understanding of Anbu, and your understanding of protecting Konoha, are too shallow! Too naive!"
Danzo's brow furrowed.
"Hiruzen, you..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand, interrupting him.
He turned, facing everyone, his voice reaching every corner of the conference room.
"Anbu can be established!"
As these words were spoken, a hint of joy flashed in Danzo's eyes, but then, Hiruzen Sarutobi's next sentence plunged him into an ice pit.
"But this Anbu must be roots that are rooted under the great tree of the Hokage! It must be the sharpest sword in the Hokage's hand! Not a poisonous snake hidden underground that no one knows who it will bite!"
"Therefore, the first iron rule of Anbu: its leader must report all work to me, the Third Hokage, individually, every week, without any omissions!"
Danzo's face instantly changed.
Weekly direct reporting? This meant laying all his actions bare before Hiruzen. How could he develop his own forces then?
"Second!" Hiruzen Sarutobi gave him no chance to refute.
"All members of Anbu, from selection to assessment, the final list must be personally reviewed by me! If I do not agree, no one shall join!"
Danzo's breathing became rapid.
The power of review was also in Hiruzen's hands?
"Oh, that's right!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze once again fixed on Danzo.
"Ah, Danzo, the Village is currently under construction, and funds are tight."
"The previous expenses, equipment, consumption..."
"Let the Shimura clan bear them. This is all for the Village!"
Boom!
Upon hearing these last words, Danzo was utterly bewildered.
Make him pay out of his own pocket to support an organization that didn't belong to him at all, and would be firmly controlled by Hiruzen?
What kind of situation was this?
Agree?
If he agreed, he would be a fool who squandered his family fortune, worked for Hiruzen for free, and gained not a shred of power! The leader of Anbu? Just a figurehead!
Disagree?
He had just, in front of everyone, portrayed himself as a great figure willing to dedicate himself to the Village, disregarding personal gain.
If he dared to say no now, this persona would instantly crumble completely.
He would become a hypocrite who deceived the world and sought fame!
Caught between a rock and a hard place.
Danzo's face turned from green to white, from white to red, and finally to a liverish color, reaching the extreme of expressiveness.
He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi before him, the opponent he had always considered too benevolent.
At this moment, he felt an immense sense of unfamiliarity.
And on the other side of the conference room.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado, looking at this young Hokage who possessed both benevolence and decisive means, their eyes shone brightly.
All previous doubts vanished at this moment.
"Ding, prestige greatly increased."
Listening to the notification sound in his mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart remained calm.
He looked at Danzo, who was disheartened by his combination of punches, his eyes serene.
Dealing with one Danzo was just the first step in solidifying his position as Hokage.
A controllable dog was always better than a mad dog.
The real big trouble... his gaze passed through the window, looking towards a certain location in the Village.
It was those arrogant, powerful, and sensitive Uchiha who lived in the Village's corner...