Danzo was calm about this.
Are you kidding me?!
Every faction has countless smaller factions within it. The Uchiha have the moderate, neutral, and radical factions, and the same logic applies to Konoha.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado have one idea, Hiruzen Sarutobi has another, and Danzo himself has his own ideas.
Even the various Ninja Clanss below, the large and small Ninja Clanss have different ideas, and the commoner faction and Ninja Clans also have different ideas.
It's the same now!
For Danzo, killing the Uchiha is important, but isn't tarnishing Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation also important?
You know.
For him, who wants to become Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi is a huge mountain blocking his way.
Now that there's an opportunity to smear Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo would be considered a good friend for not adding fuel to the fire. How could he be expected to come up with ideas for Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Nonsense!
As for whether this also smears himself?
Heh heh!
Danzo himself is a cesspool, does he care about this little bit of dirty water?
Purely overthinking it!
As for whether Hiruzen Sarutobi can withstand these 'rumors', Danzo is full of infinite confidence. This small matter might make Hiruzen Sarutobi flustered, and even damage some of Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation... but to nail Hiruzen Sarutobi down? The possibility is minuscule!
The reason is even simpler!
Konoha is too weak now. If Hiruzen Sarutobi is really overthrown, who will take over as the Fifth Hokage?
Therefore.
Even if many Ninja Clanss hate Hiruzen Sarutobi to the core, they still have to grit their teeth and support Hiruzen Sarutobi at this time, otherwise, would they really let the Uchiha become the Fifth Hokage?
It was precisely because he understood this that Danzo was not in a hurry at all.
"Sorry, Hiruzen!"
"Public opinion is something that cannot be stopped, and the more you try to stop it, the greater the backlash."
"Leave everything to time, we must trust the villagers!"
After speaking.
Danzo stood up directly, preparing to leave.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned.
However, he instantly understood Danzo's thoughts. With a livid face, he gritted his teeth and said, "For each Ninja Clans, I authorize you to select five members."
"Now, can you speak?"
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi still chose to concede a step.
No choice!
Danzo is a master of public opinion warfare; Hiruzen really can't handle it.
Of course, more accurately, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want to get involved with such things. He was the perfect, righteous Hokage-sama; how could he engage in such dirty tactics?
If he personally handled these messy affairs, what would be the point of having Danzo as his black glove?
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's condition, Danzo's eyes instantly lit up.
"Ten slots for each Ninja Clans!"
"You're talking nonsense, absolutely impossible!"
"I'll concede a step, nine!"
"No, only five!"
"I'll concede another step, eight, otherwise I'm leaving now!"
"Seven, if you don't agree, then get out!"
"Deal!"
Danzo sat back in his seat, his face filled with an unconcealable smile.
Seven is enough!
It's important to know that Konoha's Bloodline Limit families, while perhaps not comparable to the Uchiha, are all extremely powerful.
Among these Ninja Clanss, Danzo liked the Yamanaka and Aburame clans the most.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Compared to the satisfied Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was livid, and his heart was bleeding.
Damn it.
His reputation was already very bad, and if this Hokage order was issued, he could imagine how much the Ninja Clanss would hate him.
But, there was no choice!
Compared to the Ninja Clanss' resentment towards him, resolving the current matter was more important.
After all, his reputation among the common people was what Hiruzen Sarutobi cared about most.
"Alright, speak."
"I've given you what you want, this matter must be resolved quickly."
"Otherwise..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke coldly.
To resolve this matter, he had indeed paid a considerable price. If Danzo couldn't solve it, he would let Danzo know... why he was called the Professor!
And, in response.
Danzo couldn't help but shiver; Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was too terrifying.
He coughed and slowly began to speak.
"To solve this matter, there is only one way."
"Spread more, even more outrageous rumors. Don't worry about whether these rumors are true or false, just spread them all at once."
"Don't look at me like that, I'm not joking."
"The villagers are ignorant; their access to information is very limited, and they have no way to determine the truth of rumors, as long as the logic is barely coherent."
"Only by spreading such a large number of rumors can we possibly divert the attention of those ignorant villagers."
"I'm good at this; trust me!"
Danzo slowly spoke, presenting his idea.
Of course.
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others were skeptical, if Uchiha Jin were here, he would definitely give Danzo a big thumbs up.
Truly amazing!
This was the same tactic capitalists used in his previous life to suppress trending topics. It must be said that Danzo, the 'Darkness of the Ninja World,' had indeed figured out some tricks while doing dirty work in the shadows all these years.
"Good, I'll leave it to you!"
"But this matter must be done quickly, and don't forget about Uchiha Jin."
"I don't want to see that guy again; find a way to make him completely disappear within a month!"
"How you do it? I don't care!"
"I only want results!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi gritted his teeth and issued his final ultimatum.
Clearly.
His hatred for Uchiha Jin had exceeded his tolerance limit; he now only wanted to see Uchiha Jin dead.
He didn't care about the process or the methods at all!
"One month?"
Danzo pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, no problem!"
After speaking.
He left directly, leaning on his cane. This time, he didn't slam the door; on the contrary, he politely closed it.
In the Hokage Office.
As Danzo left, Homura Mitokado worried, "Hiruzen, Danzo's power is growing."
"Indeed, Hiruzen!" Utatane Koharu frowned slightly: "If Root continues to develop like this, aren't you afraid it will become too powerful to control?"
No choice.
They were all comrades, so they understood Danzo's temperament very well.
Root is so powerful, would they really let him become Hokage?
No, absolutely not!
Because that would be a disaster for all of Konoha; Danzo's personality was even worse than the Uchiha's.
And, in response to this.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, then helplessly said.
"Don't I know what you're saying?"
"You didn't object earlier, and now you're realizing Root is hard to control?"
"But, forget it!"
"We have no choice now; we can only trust Danzo with public opinion."
"Moreover, he has to face Uchiha Jin. Dealing with a powerhouse of that level isn't as simple as it sounds."
"Even if Uchiha Jin is killed, how many Root members will be left..."
"Hard to say!"