Kazuki asked, "Hokage-sama, what are your thoughts? This is the Konoha Orphanage."
The money for the Konoha Orphanage was absolutely untouchable. If this matter were exposed, the entire Konoha would likely fall into chaos.
They were fighting desperately on the front line, only to find that someone was embezzling money from the Konoha Orphanage, leaving the children hungry and sleepless.
Who would still be willing to fight for Konoha then?
Some money can be touched, some cannot.
Before transmigrating, Kazuki hadn't paid too much attention to Danzo's act of embezzling money from the Konoha Orphanage. After all, at the time, he thought this Konoha Orphanage was for adopting people from outside the village to nurture cannon fodder for Konoha.
If that were the case, then tightening funds was just tightening funds. What was the big deal?
Could it be that he wasn't living well enough and still had to support others?
When successful, benefit the world. When poor, focus on oneself.
Could it be that he couldn't even feed himself and still had to support others?
Moreover, among these people, there might even be spies from other villages and other countries.
Kazuki wasn't interested in these things, as he didn't like his goodwill to be betrayed or wasted by others.
But after arriving in Konoha, he realized that many children who lost their parents would go to the Konoha Orphanage. Only when these children had basic self-care abilities would they be released to inherit their parents' legacies. In this regard, Konoha did quite well.
It's obvious this was the work of the inherently evil Tobirama. Tobirama had no integrity, no bottom line, and poor character, but in terms of the big picture, he did not do badly.
Because of the establishment of the Konoha Orphanage, Konoha gained greater cohesion.
However, Danzo's actions were undoubtedly uprooting, digging at Konoha's roots.
Hiruzen fell silent. Konoha Orphanage's money indeed should not have been touched. If this matter were exposed, Danzo would either die or be severely punished, perhaps even becoming the most infamous criminal in Konoha's history. Even Madara at that time probably couldn't compare to Danzo.
And as Hokage, he had failed to supervise these matters. Danzo's authority was given by him, so he also bore indispensable responsibility.
Damn Danzo, how could you dare?
You dared to take such money, do you still have the Will of Fire?
It's a good thing Danzo didn't become Hokage.
If Tobirama had been blind enough to choose Danzo as Hokage, wouldn't Konoha be completely finished by now?
"Are you still going to turn a blind eye to Danzo now? Just the exposure of this matter alone will be the death of Danzo."
Kazuki paused, then added, "I don't think anyone will forgive Danzo."
Hiruzen nodded in silence. He knew this issue had to be resolved, and he had to deal with Danzo. Only by dealing with Danzo could he, as Hokage, atone for his actions. Otherwise, the problem with the Konoha Orphanage would not just be a matter of his poor supervision. At that point, he, as Hokage, might even be implicated and removed from his position.
At that time, the Sarutobi clan might even face trouble, not to mention the previous issue of supplies. Therefore, Danzo would have to suffer.
Just as the Hokage faction suppressed the Uchiha clan before, it wasn't just because the Uchiha themselves were an unstable factor, but also for their own interests. Now, suppressing and dealing with Danzo is also for his own interests, and at the same time, for Konoha.
Perhaps some people might think this is an attempt to whitewash Hiruzen, but this is what people are like.
Knowing they can't win but still going to their deaths, insisting on being a villain, isn't that just an act of suicide?
How could someone be Hokage for decades if they were truly a fool?
One cannot oversimplify characters.
Hiruzen knew that Kazuki would not miss such an opportunity, not to target him, Hiruzen, but to target Danzo.
Kazuki wanting to act against Danzo was understandable, not only because Danzo and Kazuki were political rivals, but also because Danzo had harmed Konoha's interests. At the same time, it was also to consolidate Konoha's power.
If he were in Kazuki's position, he would probably choose to do the same.
Moreover, given the current situation, even if Kazuki didn't act against Danzo, Danzo would still secretly target him.
What Hiruzen needed to consider now was not how to protect Danzo. He also had no intention of continuing to mediate the relationship between Kazuki and Danzo.
Instead, he was thinking about how to extricate himself from this matter. When absolutely necessary, he would let Danzo take the fall for everything, and then quickly groom Kazuki to become the next Hokage.
Thinking of this, he sighed silently. This time, he had been set up.
"For now, the village will rely on you and Koharu. I need to go to the front line." Hiruzen took a deep breath and instructed Kazuki.
"I'll take some of the Anbu with me. Shinnosuke will return to Konoha the day after tomorrow. I'll entrust the Root members within Konoha to you. If you need to extensively use the Anbu or the Sarutobi clan's forces, talk to Shinnosuke."
"Understood."
Kazuki knew that Hiruzen was about to make a move against Danzo.
He was not surprised by this. The current Hiruzen was not the elderly Hiruzen. Danzo had harmed Konoha's interests and Hiruzen's own interests.