hotmtlnovel Chapter 128 Danzo: Controlling the Hokage with Kotoamatsukami? [5 Updates]
Chapter 128 Danzo: Controlling the Hokage with Kotoamatsukami? [5 Updates]
Chapter 128 Danzo: Controlling the Hokage with Kotoamatsukami? [Fifth Update]
Danzo wanted a ruthless, humanoid weapon—the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—to be completely brainwashed and turned into a controllable weapon of war.
However, his expectations for Naruto Uzumaki were definitely not just for him to be a war machine, but for him to be a powerful ninja belonging to Konoha.
He had heard of the perfect Jinchūriki of Kumogakure, the Eight-Tails!
I heard that he can freely control the power of the tailed beasts, and doesn't need to be as reclusive as many village jinchūriki!
Moreover, if Naruto were truly turned into a weapon of war, he would be letting down the Fourth Hokage and his wife, who sacrificed themselves so early.
He wasn't entirely without feelings for his perfect grand-disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Although he was shrewd and had mastered various political maneuvers over the years, he hadn't yet reached the point of being inhuman.
Now, in the blink of an eye, more than a decade has passed since Minato Namikaze's sacrifice, and memories are gradually fading. Back then, the two Hokage were perhaps a bit older, and there were some power struggles, but ultimately, they didn't have time to escalate into a major conflict.
Now, the only vague memories I can recall are all thanks to the fourth generation of the game.
Most importantly, he also realized that he was really old. Unlike Danzo, he still had a bottom line. He did not make any strange modifications to himself. So while Danzo could still maintain his peak, he was already powerless.
Although he manipulated power, he genuinely loved and felt a sense of belonging to Konoha. At this moment, he even thought that if he had been the one who died on the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, he probably wouldn't have to worry about these things now.
The Fourth Hokage, who is in his prime, will not need to consider the matter of succession for the next ten or twenty years.
As people get older, their hearts become softer!
To find a successor, the next generation needs to grow up healthily, so he would never allow Danzo to harm the next generation of Konoha.
If fewer people had died or left back when Konoha was full of powerful ninjas, I wouldn't be struggling to hold this up alone now.
"Hiruzen, you're acting too emotionally. Each of those Jinchuriki is a ticking time bomb. If they can't be completely controlled, they'll become a huge threat to the village. Think about it, twelve years ago, what was the Nine-Tails like when it appeared outside the village?" Shimura Danzo tried to say. "That was outside the village, and the damage it caused, do you even know how much it was worth now?"
Now, someone is deliberately approaching the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Have you considered the consequences if they release it and the Nine-Tails appears directly in the village? Do you even dare to think about it?
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained unmoved, simply saying, "Do you think I know him better than you do? You don't even want to call him by his name. It's true he's the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but he's also a ninja from the village, Kakashi's student, and the Fourth Hokage's son. He shouldn't be treated like this. Over the years, there have been rumors that he's some kind of Nine-Tails Demon Fox incarnation. Do you think I don't know anything about that?"
"Even if Minato Namikaze were alive, I would say the same thing: he's just a son." Danzo paused, then continued, "The Hokage's son should be even more willing to sacrifice for Konoha, shouldn't he?"
Anyway, it wasn't his son who was sacrificed.
"You're so stubborn!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed in exasperation. What did he mean by "the son of the Hokage"? The Hokage's son should sacrifice himself for Konoha. It felt like he was being mocked. He also had a son who sacrificed himself for the village's mission.
Isn't this just saying to his face that he deserved to die, that he died a worthy death, and that he died in the right place?
"Danzo, I am now issuing this order in my capacity as Hokage: you are relieved of all your duties and are not allowed to leave your home without my permission. I will also arrange for someone to keep an eye on Root, and from today onwards, Root will be taken over by the Anbu."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious, but he quickly calmed down and spoke directly.
"What? You..." Danzo broke down in anger upon hearing this.
What did he do wrong?
He did all this for the Party and the country—no, for Konoha. What crime has he committed? He loves the village, what crime has he committed?
He realized something was wrong. Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had given similar orders before, he hadn't taken them as seriously as he was now.
Whether or not many orders are executed depends on the will of the person in power, but he is unaware that the loss of control over Root has completely angered the Third Hokage, his old friend.
Konoha cannot have an independent kingdom!
After giving the order, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned and left without giving Danzo any room for argument.
After a long while, Danzo slammed his cane to the ground, furious. Just now, he had almost impulsively used Kotoamatsukami to change Hiruzen Sarutobi's will.
But he held back!
Such an opportunity is too precious for him to squander.
Because he didn't know if this Kotoamatsukami was as powerful as Uchiha Shisui had boasted about, and whether it could really change a person's will without leaving a trace and without being detected.
He knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi's ANBU squad was no pushover; some of them even included members of the Hyuga clan's branch family who operated within the ANBU. Even high-ranking Konoha officials like himself were subject to regular checks to ensure they weren't being secretly controlled by genjutsu.
Although it was complicated, nothing was more important to these Konoha leaders than their own safety.
If they are like this, what about Hiruzen Sarutobi? He probably has to undergo such an examination every day.
If he uses Kotoamatsukami now, and Kotoamatsukami isn't as powerful as Uchiha Shisui claimed, then he's truly doomed.
He attempted to manipulate the Third Hokage with illusions, but no matter how deep his friendship with Hiruzen Sarutobi was, he would not escape death.
So he held back!
Kitahara Kaede, Kitahara Kaede!
Who exactly is this Kitahara Kaede? Why does Hiruzen Sarutobi become so furious whenever his affairs are mentioned, as if his sore spot has been touched? There must be a secret behind this.
Or are these people he's secretly training?
Danzo was unaware that it was his control over Root that had made Hiruzen Sarutobi wary. He still thought the crux of the problem lay with Kitahara Kaede, and he was furious, determined to uncover Kitahara Kaede's secrets.
Kitahara Kaede was naturally unaware that his actions today had led to a confrontation between two prominent figures from Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura.
Inside a barbecue restaurant, the four members of Akai's team, who hadn't been together for a long time, reunited.
It was almost dinnertime, and the barbecue restaurant was quite busy, with many of the customers dressed as ninjas.
"Cheers!"
The four of them raised their glasses in a cheerful toast.
However, Japanese sake was quite bland for Kitahara Kaede.
"Today was so satisfying! Those bastards were so arrogant. Let's see how they can be so arrogant in the future."
Xiang Tianyuanlong burst into laughter.
This was the second time their squad had clashed with the Root Squad. After killing someone from the Root Squad last time, he was terrified for a long time, fearing that the Root Squad would come after him.
This is the second time they've won so decisively!
However, he was also very clear that from now on, even those who had no prior grudges would become enemies.
Especially since they were directly exposed to that adult, who, according to Kitahara Kaede's description, was a ruthless person who dared to assassinate the Hokage.
"The Hokage already knows about what happened today, and he won't ignore it. If that person makes things difficult for you again in the future, come to me, and I can pass on a message to the Hokage for you," Akai Akimoto said.
Of the three, Kitahara Kaede was the highest-ranking Chunin, and under normal circumstances, he wouldn't be qualified to request an audience with the Third Hokage.
It's only possible if it's during a particularly important mission report or when summoned by the Third Hokage.
However, as a squad leader in the Anbu and a special Jonin, he had the opportunity to request an audience with the Third Hokage.
"However, after what happened today, that person probably won't dare to openly cause you trouble anymore," Akai Akimoto said.
Kitahara Kaede nodded. With the Third Hokage involved, Shimura Danzo should not dare to attack him in the village for a short time, or forcefully invite him like today.
However, such a guarantee will not last long, because the third generation of the self actually only has a few months left to live, which is about half a year.
The Chunin Exams will be held in six months, after which the era of the Third Hokage will come to an end.
After the Third Hokage's death, the story begins with the search for the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, to return. During this process, the Advisory Group will emerge. The Advisory Group wielded immense power during the Third Hokage's time, a power fostered by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Ultimately, Hiruzen Sarutobi's position as the Third Hokage wasn't exactly legitimate. When the First Hokage died after Hashirama Senju, the position was properly passed on to the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
Moreover, given Tobirama Senju's achievements and strength, with Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju no longer in the village, he was the rightful first person to succeed him as the Second Hokage. Who would dare to disobey him?
Even among the Uchiha clan, no one dared to disobey.
Since Madara Uchiha left, no one in the Uchiha clan has been able to step up and take the lead. Not to mention reaching Madara's level again, there isn't even anyone who can reach a level slightly below Madara's. Back then, Izuna Uchiha was no match for Tobirama Senju.
However, the situation was different when it came to the Third Hokage. Due to the emergency, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, appointed Hiruzen Sarutobi as the Third Hokage on the battlefield. Although he went through a so-called test, he was convinced that Hiruzen Sarutobi was capable of being the Third Hokage.
However, this matter, which troubled Danzo his entire life, was most likely just a little trick used by Tobirama Senju to make Hiruzen Sarutobi gain the support of his followers.
In other words, regardless of whether Hiruzen Sarutobi's reaction was fast or slow at the time, the only possible choice for the Third Hokage, chosen by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was Hiruzen Sarutobi.