"It's for the sake of your Konoha!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen mercilessly exposed Danzo's true thoughts right in front of Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado. "Don't think I don't know what you're plotting!"
"Why can't I become Hokage?" Danzo blurted out, provoked by Hiruzen's words. The moment he said it, a flicker of regret crossed his mind. But since the words were already out and there was no one else in the office, he decided not to hold back.
"Back then, it was only because you stepped forward before I did that the Second Hokage entrusted you with the position! If I had acted first—"
"There is no 'if'!" Hiruzen interrupted Danzo, meeting his glare head-on without hesitation. His voice was firm, unwavering.
"Being slow is just part of it. It's not just about taking one step too late; it's about your mindset and your character!
Even if you had stepped forward first, it doesn't mean Sensei would have chosen you to inherit the title of Hokage!
And I would never let you become Hokage!"
After saying this, Hiruzen withdrew his gaze and looked toward Koharu and Homura. "Let Danzo take a break for now. The two of you will temporarily oversee Root. You'll handle the assignments and operations of Root in the meantime."
"Root belongs to me!" Danzo couldn't contain his anger as he saw Hiruzen attempting to hand over control of the organization he had painstakingly built.
"It will still be yours in the future. This is just to give you time to cool off."
If he had a choice, Hiruzen wouldn't want to sideline Danzo during such a critical time of war. After all, despite the problems Danzo and his Root caused, their contributions to Konoha were undeniable.
At the very least, Danzo's methods and the actions of Root had resolved numerous external troubles for Konoha.
If not for this, why would Hiruzen have granted Root powers nearly equivalent to those of the Hokage's own Anbu?
Why would he have allowed Danzo to recruit members from the prominent clans of Konoha to bolster Root?
For instance, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio clans, which had an alliance with the Sarutobi clan—without Hiruzen's approval, how could Danzo have taken children from these clans, brainwashed them, and trained them for Root?
If only Danzo didn't always try to meddle in the village's internal affairs, the Root he led could have been Konoha's most perfect blade for external threats.
Currently, keeping Danzo hidden away was already causing enough delays in official matters to give Sarutobi Hiruzen a headache.
However, compared to the trouble looming on the horizon, he chose the lesser of two evils. He believed his way of handling things gave everyone a reasonable explanation while minimizing future chaos.
He could only hope that Orochimaru would calm down.
Hiruzen rubbed his temples in frustration as he watched another person, following Jiraiya's example, storm out and slam the door behind them.
Both his old friends and disciples had their own thoughts and agendas.
Even though Hiruzen had tried his best to maintain balance, the situation had now reached a point where, even as Hokage, he could barely suppress the brewing turmoil and its spread.
All he could do was cling to a fragile balance like patching cracks with mud. At the very least, he would not allow any internal conflict to erupt before the war ended.
As for after the war?
Leaning back slightly in his chair, Hiruzen contemplated. By that time, it might finally be appropriate for him to choose a new successor.
The village's younger generation and the undercurrents hidden beneath the surface often left him feeling as though he could no longer control them.
After so many years as Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't deny he had begun to feel a desire to step down.
Discussions about the next Hokage had already become almost an open topic within the village. This, in turn, reflected the majority's belief that his time as Hokage was nearing its end.
Of course, Hiruzen hadn't deliberately suppressed such sentiments either.
Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and even the late Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake, were all once considered potential candidates for the Fourth Hokage.
But now, Jiraiya had no interest in the position, and Tsunade had left the village to wander the world. This left only Orochimaru.
With control over the Technology Development Department, Orochimaru had already earned the approval of at least half the ninja clans in the village.
Moreover, he had the staunch and formidable support of the Uchiha clan.
If nothing unexpected happened, Orochimaru would naturally become the best choice for the next Hokage.
Hiruzen's heart also leaned toward his disciple Orochimaru. However, in recent years, another figure had emerged—Minato Namikaze, who had inherited all of Jiraiya's connections and relationships. He too had caught Hiruzen's attention.
Both have their own advantages.
First of all, both have a very close relationship with the major ninja clans. Especially Minato Namikaze, who is not only powerful but also has a gentle and sunny personality, which has earned him a large group of followers.
Even the Ino-Shika-Cho clans and the Uchiha clan have a very good opinion of Minato and maintain good relations with him.
Among the village's ninja, such as Jonin, Chunin, Genin, and even the civilians, Minato's reputation is even better than Orochimaru's.
If it weren't for the fact that Nara Kagetsu and his team had founded the Technology Development Department, Orochimaru, who has become a bit gloomy and reclusive after the Second Great Ninja War, might have had his reputation surpassed by Minato by now.
But at this moment, with the ongoing war and Minato already earning the name of the "Yellow Flash" on the battlefield, his achievements and reputation are quickly catching up with the Sannin.
Seeing the Yellow Flash get to abandon a mission without punishment is something only the former Konoha White Fang had done before.
Adding to that, the fact that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is Minato's lover, Minato's personality and character clearly make him the perfect candidate for Hokage.
It's just a pity that there is Orochimaru.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who is struggling to make a decision, sighed internally.
Both Orochimaru and Minato, one as a disciple and the other as a grand-disciple, are candidates who could inherit the Hokage position in his heart.
What bothers him the most is that choosing one could cause harm or trouble for the other.
But for now, he needs to focus on dealing with the mess left by Danzo.
If he can't solve it, his best outcome would be to follow in the footsteps of previous Kage and head to the battlefield, ultimately dying there.
****
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