bigabreads Chapter 2 Establishing a Root? Ah, Danzo, the village is currently facing a severe shortage of funds
Chapter 2 Establishing a Root? Ah, Danzo, the village is currently facing a severe shortage of funds
P.S.: Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, dear readers!
The activation of the cheat ability is accompanied by plot simulation---aside from positive predictions, some are the original plots before the protagonist changed (such as Jiraiya in the bathhouse, the original course of certain things - regrettable/unpleasant-, etc.). It appears in the text to increase the novel's immersion, and at the same time to make it clearer for friends who have forgotten/don't know much about the plot. You can get a reward after the game ends.
Furthermore, this will only appear a few times in the initial text and will gradually fade away later, so it won't affect your reading experience. Therefore, readers don't need to assume that the subsequent plot is entirely based on simulations or that the protagonist is unaware of the plot. The book's plot differs from the original work, and the author will do their best to create a completely different Naruto fanfiction. Thank you~
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Several days later, Konoha Village.
The village gate was wide open, but the usual bustling scene was gone.
Silence is the only emotion at this moment.
When six weary figures appeared at the end of the road, a barely perceptible commotion arose in the crowd.
When the towering walls of Konoha Village came into view, the ninja guarding the gate was taken aback at first, but then joy spread across his face.
"It's Lord Hiruzen and the others!"
"They're back!"
Leading the way was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
His armor was stained with dried blood and dust, and his young face was full of sorrow.
His gaze swept across the crowd, over those expectant eyes.
Finally, their gaze fell upon the majestic mountain behind the village.
The enormous stone statues of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, silently overlook the entire village.
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused for a moment.
They are back.
But the teacher remained forever on the border of the Land of Fire.
Without lingering, the group walked through the silent crowd and headed straight for the Hokage Building.
The atmosphere inside the Hokage Building's conference room was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
One of the undercover agents knelt on one knee, his voice low and swift.
"Report: It has been confirmed that the Second Hokage has died in battle."
"The Second Hokage single-handedly intercepted the Cloud Village's Kinkaku and Ginkaku forces. During the battle, Kinkaku was killed, and more than twenty of his elite Cloud Village Jonin were annihilated."
"Silver Horn was seriously injured and was later executed on the spot by the Third Raikage, Ai, who rushed to the scene."
The voice from the shady side paused.
"The Hidden Cloud Village has returned the Second Hokage's body, which is now laid to rest in the Senju clan's territory."
"The newly appointed Third Raikage also sent a message thanking Konoha for its assistance in quelling the rebellion, and expressing Kumogakure's desire to coexist peacefully with Konoha."
There was dead silence in the conference room.
Danzo Shimura clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, and he remained silent.
Xiaochun, who was turning over in her dorm, closed her eyes, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Mitokado Yan pushed up his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses unfathomable.
Uchiha Kagami and Akimichi Torifu kept their heads down, enveloped in immense sorrow.
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to the report without any emotional fluctuation; he even felt a little amused.
grateful?
Suppress the rebellion?
The Hidden Cloud Village really knows how to play its cards right.
The Gold and Silver Horns launched a coup and killed the Second Raikage.
To protect his disciples, Tobirama Senju chose to cover their retreat.
As a result, the Second Raikage died, and the Second Hokage also died.
The Ginkaku and Kinkaku forces of Kumogakure were wiped out by Tobirama Senju, and the newly appointed Third Raikage finished off the heavily injured Ginkaku, not only securing his position but also eliminating the biggest threat to the village.
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head, his voice hoarse.
"Pass on my orders."
"The entire village hangs white banners for seven days to commemorate the Second Hokage."
"yes!"
The secret agents received the order and vanished instantly.
A simple inauguration ceremony was held in front of the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi changed into a simple divine robe and stood on the high platform.
Below the stage was a dense crowd of people; all the ninjas of Konoha had gathered there.
There was no celebration, no cheering.
Only sorrow permeated the air.
Looking at the young, confused, and sorrowful faces below, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew he had to say something.
"Where the leaves dance, the fire will never die."
His voice, amplified by chakra, resounded throughout the entire plaza.
"The firelight will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."
"The Second Hokage used his life to show us the true meaning of the 'Will of Fire'."
"He passed the torch to us; now it's our turn to make that flame burn even brighter!"
"I am the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
"As long as I live, I will protect this village and everyone in it!"
"I assure you!"
His speech was short, but powerful and resonant.
These words were like a shot of adrenaline, injecting a sense of relief into the hearts of all the fearful and anxious Konoha ninja.
Their eyes gradually changed from confusion and sadness to determination.
The first high-level meeting was still attended by the same six people.
The secret service reappeared, bringing even more intelligence.
"A conflict broke out between Iwagakure and Kirigakure, and the Second Tsuchikage Mu and the Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki perished together."
"Currently, Onoki has succeeded as the Third Tsuchikage, but the candidate for the Third Mizukage of Kirigakure has not yet been determined."
"Under the leadership of the Second Kazekage, Shamon, Sunagakure did not participate in the First Shinobi World War and instead focused on recuperation and development."
The intelligence report was short, but contained a wealth of information.
With the successive deaths or replacements of the Kage of the four major ninja villages, the First Shinobi World War had effectively ended.
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
The Earth Shadow and the Water Shadow also died.
The Raikage has been replaced.
This means that of the former generation of powerful figures, only the Second Kazekage of Sunagakure remains.
The entire ninja world entered a brief period of power vacuum and generational gap in strength.
The new Kage needs time to consolidate his power, and the major ninja villages also need to heal the wounds of war.
"There was a gap of nearly twenty years between the First and Second Shinobi World Wars..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silently calculating in his mind.
Twenty years.
A long enough period of peace.
This was fantastic news for him.
He has ample time to resolve internal issues, cultivate the next generation, enhance his own capabilities, and make strategic plans with composure.
Just then, a firm voice broke the silence.
"Hiruzen".
Danzo Shimura stood up.
His expression was serious, and his eyes burned with a fanatical flame.
"The teacher's sacrifice showed us the cruelty of war."
"Although Konoha has won, our internal structure is not monolithic."
There are always some corners that the light cannot reach, and there are always some tasks that cannot be put on the table for execution.
He spoke passionately, his voice echoing throughout the conference room.
"To protect the great tree of Konoha, it must have roots that penetrate deep into the earth! Absorbing nutrients from the darkness, it must eradicate all the pests that might harm the tree!"
"I, Danzo Shimura, am willing to bear this filth!"
"I request the establishment of an organization solely for the Hokage, dedicated to dealing with all darkness—Root!"
coming.
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a chill run down his spine, but his expression remained unchanged.
Koharu and Homura exchanged a glance and fell into deep thought.
Danzo's words were not without reason.
Every large organization needs to handle dirty work departments.
When the Second Hokage was alive, he personally handled many shady matters.
Now that Hiruzen has taken over, can his gentle nature really handle the darkness?
Perhaps, letting Danzo, with his strong-willed style, take charge is a good choice.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer immediately.
His consciousness sank into his mind.
Do you agree with Danzo Shimura's proposal to establish a root?
"simulation."
[Start the future simulation...]
[Option: Agree with Danzo Shimura's proposal.]
The scene before my eyes changed instantly.
[Scene 1: In a dark underground base, countless pipes connect to a massive container. Inside the container, a boy with a pained expression sits, while Danzo smiles with satisfaction. His arm is covered in countless Sharingan eyes.]
[Scene 2: On the edge of a cliff along the Naka River, Uchiha Shisui clutches his empty left eye socket, his face filled with disbelief. Opposite him, Danzo holds the Sharingan that houses the strongest genjutsu, "Kotoamatsukami."]
[Scene 3: Amidst the ruins of Konoha Village, which has been razed to the ground, Pain, the Deva Path, floats in the air. The members of Root remain motionless, coldly watching the village's destruction.]
[Scene 4: At the Five Kage Summit, Danzo, acting as Hokage, uses Shisui's eyes to manipulate Mifune, the Admiral of the Land of Iron, in an attempt to seize command of the Allied Shinobi Forces. His plot ultimately fails, and he is killed by Sasuke.]
Scene after scene pierced Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.
This is the possible future for Konoha after he agreed.
The so-called Root was merely a tool for Danzo to satisfy his own desires and ambitions.
The so-called "for the good of the village" was merely a means to undermine the Hokage's power and turn himself into an underground Hokage.
Danzo may not necessarily be a bad person now, but we only see the bad consequences, so we must try to avoid them.
Anger exploded from his chest.
Koharu and Homura thought he would be caught in a dilemma.
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stood up.
"Clang—!"
A loud bang.
The entire conference room fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden scene.
Danzo Shimura's impassioned expression froze, turning into astonishment.
Uchiha Kagami and the others stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi in utter shock.
In their memory, Hiruzen had always been gentle and steady, and had never shown this side of himself.
Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored the gazes of the crowd.
He took a few steps and walked up to Shimura Danzo, whose face was pale.
The two were less than half a meter apart.
Danzo instinctively wanted to take a step back, but his strong sense of pride made him stubbornly stay in place.
Danzo.
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke.
"I acknowledge your willingness to venture into darkness for the sake of the village."
Ok?
Danzo was taken aback.
Everyone present was stunned.
What does this mean?
Just as Danzo was looking on in astonishment, Hiruzen Sarutobi abruptly changed the subject.
"but!"
"Your understanding of roots, your understanding of protecting Konoha, is too superficial! Too naive!"
Danzo's brow relaxed.
"Hiruzen, you..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand and interrupted him.
He turned to face everyone, his voice echoing throughout every corner of the conference room.
"Roots can be built!"
Upon hearing this, a hint of joy flashed in Danzo's eyes, but immediately, Hiruzen Sarutobi's next words plunged him into despair.
"But this root must be rooted under the great tree of the Hokage! It must be the sharpest sword in the Hokage's hand! Not a venomous snake hidden underground, whose bite may never come!"
"Therefore, Root's first ironclad rule: its leader must report all its work to me, the Third Hokage, individually every week, without any omissions!"
Danzo's expression changed instantly.
Weekly reports from a single source? That's like laying all his actions bare before Hiruzen. How is he supposed to develop his own power base then?
"The second point!" Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't give him a chance to refute.
"All members of Root, from selection to assessment, the final list must be personally reviewed by me! If I don't agree, no one may join!"
Danzo's breathing became rapid.
Does Hiruzen also have the power to review and approve?
"Oh, right!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze once again locked onto Danzo.
"Hey, Danzo, the village is under construction right now, and we're short on funds."
"Previous funding, equipment, and expenses..."
"Let the Shimura family take on this responsibility; it's all for the sake of the village!"
boom!
Danzo was completely stunned after hearing these last words.
Why should he spend his own money to support an organization that doesn't belong to him at all, and is firmly controlled by Hiruzen?
What kind of situation is this?
agree?
If he agrees, he's just a sucker who squandered his fortune to work for Hiruzen for free and didn't even get a shred of power! The leader of Root? Just a figurehead!
Oppose?
He had just portrayed himself in front of everyone as a great person who was willing to dedicate himself to the village and disregard personal gain.
If he dares to say no now, his public image will collapse completely in an instant.
He will become a hypocrite who deceives the world, steals fame, and seeks personal gain!
dilemma.
Danzo's face changed from blue to white, from white to red, and finally to a liver color, a truly spectacular sight.
He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, the opponent he had always considered too merciful.
At this moment, I felt completely unfamiliar.
On the other side of the conference room.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado looked at the young Hokage before them, who possessed both a benevolent heart and ruthless methods, and their eyes shone brightly.
All previous doubts vanished at this moment.
[Ding! Your prestige has increased significantly.]
Hearing the notification sound in his mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained completely calm.
He looked calmly at Danzo, who was utterly defeated by his combination of punches.
Dealing with Danzo was just the first step in securing the Hokage position.
A dog that can be controlled is better than a mad dog.
The real big trouble...
His gaze passed over the window and landed on a certain spot in the village.
It was those proud, powerful, and sensitive Uchiha clan members living in the village...