This mix of emotions made Sarutobi Hiruzen not overly speculate on Hatake Sakumo's feelings.
After all, it was just some village controversy, allowing Hatake Sakumo to temper his heart with these debates, so that next time he encounters a similar situation, he might be able to think about the problem with the mind of a Hokage.
"Hiruzen, if you keep hesitating like this, you'll regret it!"
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo pounded the table, starting a verbal tug-of-war.
At this moment, both the Hokage and the Hokage Assistant had forgotten the protagonist of this incident…
If it weren't for Aomi, they might have discovered that Hatake Sakumo had already died in his home only after completing their arguments and holding their high-level meetings.
"It's really lively, Tobirama?"
Aomi slowly walked toward the door of the Hokage Office, smiling as he said, "Looks like these two have some conflict..."
Along the way, no Anbu tried to stop Aomi.
Regardless of Sarutobi Hiruzen's inner thoughts, on the surface, he showed extreme favor towards Aomi, to a degree that puzzled Shimura Danzo and the others.
As long as Aomi came to see him, there was no need for notification; he could just walk right in.
"Conflict?"
Senju Tobirama sneered: "It's just an argument over who is responsible, nothing more than a boring drama!"
Aomi pushed open the door and saw an amusing scene.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had taken off his kasa, vigorously pointing at Shimura Danzo, loudly berating him.
Shimura Danzo was not one to be outdone, waving the cane in his hand, exuding a fiercer presence than Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The two of them were red-faced and shouting, looking like two monkeys in an argument.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo weren't speaking of the Will of Fire, but rather were using the most real, crude words to shirk their responsibilities, revealing their ugliest sides.
"Hiruzen, you are becoming more and more neglectful as Hokage. How did this brat get here!"
Shimura Danzo turned around, and upon seeing that it was Aomi who had come in, a trace of viciousness flashed in his eyes.
In his schemes, the first step was to eliminate Hatake Sakumo, the arm not of Sarutobi Hiruzen's disciple crack, and then use the secrets in Aomi to explode the entire Hokage faction, so that only he qualified to be Hokage.
"Just a mere Uchiha, not only taken into your disciple cadre but also able to enter the Hokage Office without even a notification…"
Shimura Danzo sneered: "You've hidden how many things from the village, but it won't escape my eye. No matter even if you are Hokage, there's me, the Hokage Assistant, supervising you!"
Upon seeing Aomi arrive, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression tightened unnaturally.
Deeply understanding his teacher's limits, and led astray by Uzumaki Mito's analysis, Sarutobi Hiruzen always felt that Aomi would one day be overtaken by Senju Tobirama.
If taken over, whether Senju Tobirama would have Aomi's memories is hard to say.
Therefore, when seeing Aomi, Sarutobi Hiruzen always had a feeling of being watched by Senju Tobirama, which is why he let the Anbu not notify Aomi but just let him come when he wanted.
Would a teacher need to put on airs and demand notification to see a student?
Even if Aomi is who he is now, when Senju Tobirama returns, will he criticize Sarutobi Hiruzen for being shortsighted and failing to see through his scheming?
These are all uncertain things.
"Tobirama, your two students really open my eyes. So this is the Will of Fire?"
Aomi, having listened to the two's harsh quarrels even before entering, shook his head and emotionally said: "Although you've already told me that the Will of Fire is just a slogan, I never thought these two would view things from such an angle..."
"Hatake Sakumo is already in so much pain, and yet they're still shifting blame. Is it because Hatake Sakumo is not Konoha's companion?"
"Or does only a ninja within the Hokage disciples cadre enjoy the Will of Fire's privileges..."
Aomi sighed: "Seeing this scene makes me feel like this world is somewhat false..."
"Say, Tobirama, is there a way to eliminate all prejudice in people's hearts and let the world remain at peace forever?"
Senju Tobirama's heart trembled, listening to Aomi's words, growing increasingly restless.
Clearly, Aomi had little interest in Hatake Sakumo's affair, led astray by the intensely real quarrel of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, starting to let his thoughts wander.
This kind of thinking made Senju Tobirama feel a bit scared.
If an Uchiha seeks revenge, that's frightening…
But if an Uchiha seeks to bring peace, especially eternal peace as Aomi says, that is the most enchanting thing!
Senju Tobirama remembered well, once Uchiha Madara spoke to Senju Hashirama of similar everlasting peace, leaving behind the words—
"On the path to true peace, I will enjoy battling you..."
After saying that, Uchiha Madara left Konoha, and soon after, returned with the Nine-tails, engaging in a great battle with Senju Hashirama.
Senju Tobirama didn't care what Uchiha Madara's peace road looked like. He only knew that once an Uchiha starts pondering eternal peace, it is far more terrible than being led astray by love for a lover, friend, or family into madness!
"Aomi, you think too much!"
Senju Tobirama suddenly shouted: "The world isn't false; it's just these two guys have issues!"
"Aomi, lend me your strength, and I'll handle it for you!"