Early the next morning, Taiichi went to the school and found Teacher Yamada to ask for leave. Yamada looked at Taiichi in surprise; it was the first time he'd encountered a student asking for leave on the second day of the semester. However, considering Taiichi's usual performance, he readily agreed.
With approval in hand, Taiichi wasted no time. Leaving the school, he headed straight for the Hokage Building.
This was Taiichi's first time visiting the Hokage Building. The bustling building didn't seem particularly tall compared to the rest of Konoha, but set against the backdrop of the Hokage Rock in the distance, it exuded a solemn aura.
Just as Taiichi walked into the Hokage Building, a Chunin stopped him. "Hey, kid! This isn't a place for brats who aren't even Genin yet."
Taiichi looked over. It was a staff member. Unfazed, he stepped forward and asked, "I want to see Lord Hokage. Could you tell me the way?"
"Kid, do you think you can just see the Hokage whenever you want?" the Chunin replied impatiently.
"Then could you please pass on a message? Tell him that Lady Tsunade's disciple, Taiichi Matsushita, requests an audience with Lord Hokage," Taiichi said calmly.
The Chunin looked deeply at Taiichi, as if trying to discern the truth of his words through his eyes.
"Wait here." With that, he turned and walked up the stairs.
"Thank you!"
Watching the Chunin leave, Taiichi began to observe his surroundings. This was the Mission Hall—the place where ninjas accepted missions. Even early in the morning, many ninjas were there to process mission handovers, a testament to Konoha's prosperity. After all, a ninja village survived on missions.
...
About ten minutes later, the Chunin reappeared. "Follow me. Lord Hokage will see you!" He led Taiichi to the door of the Hokage's office. "This is it. Go in yourself."
Taiichi took a deep breath after the Chunin left, adjusting his mood. Success or failure depended on this move.
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
Taiichi pushed the door open and entered. What greeted him was the smiling face of the Hokage—Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Tsunade's disciple," the Hokage teased.
Taiichi blushed and said sheepishly, "I'm sorry, Lord Hokage. I had to use that excuse to see you." He bowed in apology.
"Haha, it's fine, it's fine. I know the situation with you and Tsunade. Although she hasn't formally accepted you as a disciple, she is indeed training you as a successor. So saying you're her disciple isn't wrong," the Hokage laughed.
"Is that true? I always thought I wasn't doing well enough..." Taiichi pretended to be modest.
"You're doing very well," Hiruzen Sarutobi affirmed.
"Isn't school just starting today? Why did you come to find me?" Hiruzen ended the small talk and got down to business.
"It's like this, Lord Hokage..." Taiichi recounted yesterday's events to the Hokage in full detail.
"Since I am a student of the Ninja Academy, and Lord Hokage is the principal, that makes me your student too. So, wherever I go, I naturally need Lord Hokage's approval!" Taiichi said sincerely.
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened in silence, then picked up the pipe next to him and puffed on it—puff, puff—until smoke obscured his face.
"Alright, Taiichi. Don't worry about this matter anymore. Just focus on your studies at the Ninja Academy," Hiruzen's voice finally sounded.
"Yes, Lord Hokage. I will follow your arrangement." Taiichi agreed without hesitation, playing the role of the obedient child perfectly.
"You can go back now!" Hiruzen Sarutobi began to dismiss him.
Taiichi left the Hokage's office as instructed, not forgetting to gently close the door behind him.
Watching Taiichi leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly darkened. "Danzo, you are explicitly defying my orders."
...
Leaving the Hokage's office, Taiichi went to the small woods training ground. Danzo's visit last night had truly shaken him.
Specifically, the helplessness he felt facing Danzo's attack made him desperate to improve his strength. But that was impossible; improving strength was never something achieved overnight. It required accumulated effort over time.
Helplessly, what Taiichi lacked right now was time. For now, he could only complete his daily accumulation through harder practice.
Looking at his attribute panel, Taiichi regained his confidence. I already have such a huge advantage; what is there to be dissatisfied about? As long as I train step by step, sooner or later, I'll be able to rub Danzo's face in the dirt. Thinking this, Taiichi put aside all distractions and began his exercises one by one.
...
Konoha Root Base.
"Lord Danzo, Lord Hokage has arrived. He is currently in the main hall." A ninja who appeared in the office via Body Flicker Jutsu knelt on one knee and reported.
"Strange. Why would Hiruzen come here?" Danzo thought to himself.
Unable to figure it out, he could only get up and head to the main hall.
"Hiruzen, you haven't been to Root in a long time." Danzo's eerie voice rang out before he even arrived.
Footsteps approached through the cold, damp corridor, Hiruzen Sarutobi's Hokage cloak brushing against the condensation on the walls. The candle flames in the Root hall flickered in unison as Danzo entered, elongating his shadow on the gray walls.
"Since when does the Hokage need to personally inspect a rat hole?" Danzo's cane made a dull thud on the floor. Three subordinates wearing boar masks followed silently behind him.
Hiruzen took off his cloak and draped it over his arm, twirling his pipe between his fingers. "The Medical Corps sent three poisoning reports yesterday. The symptoms are identical to the Rain ninja test subjects who went missing last month." He stopped five steps away, just avoiding the shadow of the chains hanging from the ceiling.
"For the future of Konoha, necessary sacrifices..."
"Including targeting children from the Ninja Academy?" Hiruzen suddenly raised his voice, causing the iron candle stand to buzz. His fingers gripping the pipe turned white, ash falling onto his robe embroidered with flame patterns. "Now you want to incorporate even six-year-old children into your 'Root'?"
"His talents can only be fully utilized in Root..."
Bang!
The sound of the pipe smashing against a stone pillar startled the creatures hiding in the darkness.
"Teacher Tobirama established the Ninja Academy so children wouldn't have to go to war! Your actions violate Teacher's original intention!"
"Don't mention Teacher Tobirama to me! I am the one who truly inherited Teacher's will! Hiruzen, you are too soft! With Taiichi Matsushita, with the Uchiha, and with other villages!" Danzo said sinisterly.
"You always feed the beasts with tender lies, waiting until they grow up to tear out your throat..."
"I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen suddenly roared, his Chakra instantly extinguishing most of the candles overhead. Only the flames of anger dancing in his eyes remained in the darkness. "Teacher Tobirama chose me back then, not you!"
The moment the boar masks reached for their sword hilts, Danzo raised his hand to stop them. But this action only provoked Hiruzen further. Was this Konoha's Root or Danzo's Root? They dared to draw swords against the Hokage?
Danzo's voice continued: "Just wait and see. When the Cloud Village's blade is at that brat's throat..."
"Enough!" Hiruzen grabbed his cloak and turned around, unwilling to argue with Danzo here any longer. "The matter with Taiichi Matsushita ends here. Do not approach him again. Furthermore, he is already studying under Tsunade and Jiraiya. You don't want your laboratory smashed, do you?" Hiruzen issued his final warning.
The loud bang of the iron door closing shook dust from the walls. Danzo's cane drove deep into the stone cracks. "Damn it!" But thinking of Tsunade, Danzo had to give up. For someone without special talents, it wasn't worth conflicting with Tsunade.