"How long has Hiruzen locked himself in there?"
"Three hours!"
Outside the Hokage's office, Homura and Koharu exchanged glances, both letting out a heavy sigh.
With the Third Mizukage's death, the fourth letter of surrender, and one written in blood at that, being submitted to Garp, all information related to this battle spread through the shinobi world as if it had grown wings.
As the only Kage among the Five Kage who had not been defeated, Hiruzen learned that the Third Great Ninja War had been brought to an end by the hero he himself had requested to return to the stage.
Yet he showed little joy. After a silence that lasted more than ten minutes, he directly ordered the two advisors out of the room, then shut himself alone inside the Hokage's office.
That shut-in lasted a full three hours.
Having never seen Hiruzen in such a state, both Homura and Koharu began to panic.
In the end, at a complete loss, the two could only send someone to the Root base to summon Danzo.
"Is Hiruzen still in there?"
Danzo arrived upon hearing the news. Seeing the two advisors standing guard at the door like Hokage escorts, he immediately asked.
"After the intelligence from the Land of Water came back, Hiruzen only said one sentence, told me and Koharu to leave, and then stayed in there alone until now."
Homura gave a bitter smile.
As a classmate and former teammate, he could more or less understand how Hiruzen was feeling, but understanding was one thing.
When it came to dealing with Hiruzen's condition, he was completely helpless.
"What is he even trying to do now?
He's the Hokage of the victorious village, he doesn't need to write a blood-letter of surrender. Who is he putting on this show for?
He wants to follow behind Lord Garp and pick up the benefits, yet also wants the praise of the entire shinobi world.
Does he really think all good things in the world are supposed to fall into his lap?"
Danzo immediately saw through Hiruzen's little thoughts.
"Sigh… go and persuade him."
Koharu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end it turned into nothing more than a helpless sigh.
"Hmph!"
Danzo snorted coldly. Ignoring the fact that the door was already locked, he kicked it open with one blow.
"Hiruzen, you… "
However, when the sight of Hiruzen's sunken eye sockets, dispirited expression, and withered, haggard appearance entered his view, Danzo, who had been full of resentment and irritation, suddenly found himself unable to curse him out.
"You're here…."
Hiruzen lifted his face slightly when he heard Danzo's voice.
Those bloodshot, dull eyes of his made Danzo feel an inexplicable ache in his chest.
A month ago, the Hiruzen who sat here, though anxious and worried about Konoha's situation, still carried an imposing presence that could not be underestimated.
But today, one month later, the Third Great Ninja War was over. Konoha's crisis had been resolved, becoming the only victorious village among the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Yet Hiruzen looked utterly exhausted, as if he had aged several decades in a single month.
There was no trace left of the former heroic shinobi he once was.
"Is this really necessary, Hiruzen?
It's just a few rumors, that's all. Shinobi have always done whatever it takes to achieve victory.
Being able to ask Lord Garp to step in was your own capability.
Do you really need to care this much about the useless barking of those four defeated dogs?
What, are you thinking of following White Fang's example and killing yourself?"
Danzo looked at Hiruzen with a complicated expression.
Before coming here, he had secretly felt quite pleased, even smug, thinking that his dream of becoming Hokage might finally come true.
But seeing Hiruzen like this, he truly couldn't bring himself to feel happy.
"That's right, Hiruzen!
You should understand this better than anyone.
The four great shinobi villages spreading these rumors, claiming that the Five Great Shinobi Villages and the Third Great Ninja War came about because of your incompetence, are simply trying to stir up chaos within Konoha.
They want Konoha too busy with internal strife to take advantage of their current weakness and continue pursuing them."
Homura suddenly spoke up at this moment.
"If you fall apart now, then you've truly fallen right into the trap of those four villages."
Koharu followed up.
"Am I really such a terrible Hokage… so terrible that I've become the greatest obstacle preventing Konoha from unifying the shinobi world?
Whether it's Lord Garp or my teacher, they're all beings who could wipe out the four great shinobi villages with a flip of the hand. Then why didn't they do it?
Is it… because of me?"
Hiruzen ignored the three of them, lowering his head to look at the three letters of surrender on the desk.
One was written by the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.
One was written by the Third Raikage, A.
One was written by the Fifth Kazekage, Pakura.
He knew there was also the Third Mizukage's blood-letter, but that one was in Garp's hands.
To the Four Kage and their four great shinobi villages, each letter represented an immense humiliation. But to the one receiving them, they represented unparalleled glory.
Yet even though these three letters of surrender lay on the Hokage's desk, what Hiruzen felt was only fear, resentment, torment, and a burning mix of jealousy and longing.
Because he knew very well that these three letters were not meant for him, but for Garp, who was currently on his way back to Konoha.
The Third Raikage, the Third Tsuchikage, and the Fifth Kazekage had only left them with him temporarily for convenience, so that Garp could sign for them later.
"Hiruzen, from what I see, you're not feeling guilty or doubting your own ability. You're afraid that you won't be able to sit securely in that Hokage's seat anymore."
Danzo lowered his head to glance at the letters of surrender written by the three Kage. A sharp glint flashed through his eyes, and his face immediately turned cold.
Damn it….
He had actually softened up, almost missing his chance at the Hokage position again, just like back then.
He knew very clearly that if he missed this opportunity, once this storm passed, he would truly be forced to remain forever beneath Hiruzen.
...
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