Recently, Shimura Danzo, the Hokage Assistant, was feeling quite pleased with himself.
The human experiments conducted in secret with Orochimaru were successful, and the surviving infant was named "A" by him. At just a few years old, the child awakened the talent for Wood Release.
According to A's information, Orochimaru injected a small portion of Hashirama's Cells into Shimura Danzo. Although it didn't allow him to master Wood Release, it improved his control over the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his right eye.
To this end, Shimura Danzo believed he had already grasped the essence of Konoha's power—
The fusion of Uchiha and Senju could give rise to endless possibilities… Ah, no, it's the Hokage position!
Confident Shimura Danzo, after clearing obstacles that hindered his path to becoming the Fourth Hokage, realized that only Hatake Sakumo, who had made significant contributions during the Second Ninja World War, posed some threat…
The others, like Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru, had all faced defeat in The Hidden Rain Village and couldn't be considered heroes!
Although they were known as the "Sannin," they were far from matching his old Konoha background!
And recently, Aomi's rising prominence had caught the attention of this Dark Ninja, further stirring his emotions.
Shimura Danzo needed more Sharingan, and if he could deceive a talented Uchiha into being his loyal tool…
Then the Three-Tomoe Sharingan would become an endless and inexhaustible resource!
Orochimaru had already informed him that to obtain the power of Wood Release, more of Hashirama's Cells needed to be injected, and to bear more of Hashirama's Cells, more Three-Tomoe Sharingans were required!
Furthermore, if Shimura Danzo intends to ascend to the Hokage position, and if Aomi could bring the Uchiha Clan under his control as his ally, the success rate would greatly increase…
All these reasons combined ignited his strong desire to take down Aomi!
This time, Shimura Danzo approached Aomi with a carefully crafted set of perfect words and trump cards…
"Uchiha Aomi, I have taken a liking to you..."
With his right eye wrapped in bandages, and his left hand holding a cane, Shimura Danzo stood gloomily in the middle of the road, speaking to Aomi who was approaching:
"Your Will of Fire can't find space to shine in the light of the village; only with me can your ambitions be realized, and the Uchiha Clan be led down the right path!"
Aomi slowly stopped, squinting his eyes, assessing the Root of Konoha before him.
Does this Hokage Assistant think he's very famous?
Who the hell are you supposed to be!
I'm just a student at the Ninja School, isn't it reasonable that I don't know what this secret force leader looks like?
So, Aomi perplexedly looked at the confident Shimura Danzo, who seemed to be waiting for him to bow in respect, and slowly said:
"Who are you?"
"..."
For a moment, the atmosphere turned awkward.
Senju Tobirama sighed, rubbing his forehead.
Recently, having witnessed the antics of the Son of the Hokage and the Third Hokage, this Second Hokage was reaching the limits of his patience.
And seeing his apprentice Shimura Danzo in this getup, even Senju Tobirama had a flicker of despair in his eyes.
Why act like a monster when you could be a proper human?
How old are you, Danzo!
Using a cane and covering your eye, anyone would think you're some kind of perverse creep!
Even the monkey, though Senju Tobirama considered him dull…
Yet Sarutobi Hiruzen, in the prime of his life, presented himself in a respectable, serious, strong, yet gentle manner.
But this Shimura Danzo before him, this getup, what on earth is this?
Senju Tobirama was speechless.
"I am..."
After a long silence, facing the mutual silence with Aomi, Shimura Danzo was the first to break:
"I am Shimura Danzo, Konoha's Hokage Assistant, leader of the Root."
"The words I speak are the will of Konoha!"
"Really? I don't believe..."
Aomi curled his lips, gazing at him blatantly: "Uncle, your look makes it hard for me to believe you. Don't you think if an ordinary villager encountered you at night, they'd be scared half to death?"
"I've heard about the Hokage Assistant..."
"But I don't know who the Hokage Assistant is, nor do I know who Shimura Danzo is, and especially don't believe that a high-ranking official of the village would come stealthily at night to seek out a student from the Ninja School like a mouse."
"So, are you a spy from another village, or a prank-loving weirdo?"
Aomi's demeanor became cautious, his gaze turning dangerous.
Shimura Danzo's face twitched; Aomi's words quite struck a chord with him.
Although nobody dared to speak to him this way usually, Shimura Danzo subconsciously sensed it for himself…
Other than the Jonin within Konoha, most ordinary Chunin or Genin only knew his name and didn't know what he actually looked like.
This can't be helped, as he spent most of his time hiding in the Root's base or executing secret missions.
Root did not show its face.
If Root wanted to show its face, it would expose its backside.
"Evil Uchiha brat, though your words are harsh, I indeed need to pay attention to my public image, and it's time to make these Ninja School kids aware of my existence..."
Shimura Danzo muttered to himself and tossed a badge to Aomi.
The badge had Konoha's special identification mark, proving his identity.
"Brat, don't waste the opportunity I'm giving you..."
Shimura Danzo coldly snorted, haughtily saying: "I will focus on training you, taking you as my disciple!"
After speaking, Shimura Danzo raised his head, awaiting Aomi's response.
This was his trump card!
With his rank as Hokage Assistant, was it not effortlessly easy to win over Aomi, this dove-like Uchiha bursting with the Will of Fire?
Afterward, as long as he dealt with Hatake Sakumo and used Aomi as a stepping-stone, transforming the entire Uchiha Clan into his power source…
There would be no one in Konoha to rival Shimura Danzo for the position of Fourth Hokage!
"What a bizarre twist, Aomi brat..."
Senju Tobirama couldn't hold back anymore:
"First, the monkey's son wants you to be his companion, then the monkey himself asks you to switch classes, and now Danzo wants to take you as his disciple?"
"Have you cast Genjutsu on me, making me see these bizarre scenes to torture me?"
Aomi ignored Tobirama, looked at the waiting Shimura Danzo, and felt a twinge of pity in his eyes.
Admittedly, due to the storm whipped by this butterfly, Aomi, the treatment and sincerity Shimura Danzo offered this time were surprisingly sufficient…
If not for the related matters of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Asuma…
Aomi might have actually considered agreeing to Shimura Danzo, to slowly play along with him in the Root.
Unfortunately.
Once again, Shimura Danzo was a step too late.
Only this time, it wasn't being late compared to Sarutobi Hiruzen, but rather that Asuma was a step faster than him...