Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 413 Danzo: Leave Sasuke to me

Hiruzen Sarutobi gently placed the pipe that had been with him for many years on the sleek desk, making a soft "click" sound that was particularly clear in the suddenly quiet office.

"Kakashi," the Third Hokage's voice was deeper than usual, carrying a rare hint of pleading.

"I hope... you can go and talk to Sasuke."

The morning light shone through the window, making the deep wrinkles on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face even more prominent.

Kakashi's right eye, which was the only part of his face visible, twitched slightly. In fact, this request was not unexpected to him; he had guessed it before he came.

Ever since Uchiha Shisui led a diplomatic delegation to Konoha as the envoy of the Land of Stars and met Sasuke, Sasuke's condition has clearly been off.

In the entire Hidden Leaf Village, at least openly, he is the only person who possesses the Sharingan, and he also has a certain teacher-student relationship with Sasuke.

Despite the fact that the origin of his eye is a scar that will never heal.

Kakashi raised his hand and habitually scratched his silver hair, his posture still looking somewhat lazy.

"Third Hokage," Kakashi began, "I remember the Chunin Exams report mentioning that Sasuke... awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan during the second exam?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, picked up the pipe on the table again, but did not light it immediately.

"Yes, three tomoe." He said in a deep voice, his words accompanied by a sigh.

"As you know, the evolution of the Sharingan requires extreme emotional stimulation... anger, sadness, despair."

"Whether Uchiha Shisui's appearance this time was intentional or unintentional, and regardless of what he said during his brief contact with Sasuke today," Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze sharpened as he stared directly at Kakashi.

"All contact between them must be kept to a minimum, and ideally... completely cut off."

He paused, lit a pipe, brought it to his lips and took a deep drag. The bluish smoke he exhaled swirled and rose in the sunlight, blurring the complex emotions in his eyes.

"Konoha and the Land of Stars are destined for war." The Third Hokage's voice came through the smoke, carrying a clear understanding of the ninja world's situation.

"Whether it's to retaliate against the 'defection' of that year and the subsequent friction, or to curb the Star Country's undisguised expansionist ambitions, Konoha and the Star Country have irreconcilable conflicts. The apparent peace and exchange of the Chunin Exams are nothing more than a brief and fragile calm before the storm."

Kakashi listened quietly, understanding the deeper meaning in the Third Hokage's words.

Sasuke, as the only "orthodox" bloodline of the Uchiha clan remaining in Konoha, is a genius who awakened the three-tomoe mantra at the young age of twelve. His identity and potential are too sensitive.

With the two major powers about to clash, he must not side with the Star Kingdom, nor become a pawn or flag in their hands.

The very appearance of Uchiha Shisui was incredibly tempting.

"I understand, Third Generation Lord. Since it's your wish, I will try my best. However..."

He hesitated slightly, as if considering his words.

"But what?" Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his eyelids slightly.

"My use of the Sharingan mostly stems from practical experience, and is limited to basic applications and copying." Kakashi pointed to his left eye, which was covered by his headband.

"I know very little about more advanced eye techniques, the secrets of the Uchiha clan, and the deeper mysteries of the Sharingan. With such limited knowledge, I am afraid I would be unable to 'guide' an Uchiha genius who has just awakened the three tomoe and whose emotions are extremely unstable. It might even backfire."

He raised his head and looked at the Third Hokage with a frank gaze: "Therefore, if possible, I hope to obtain the permission to access the Uchiha clan's secret techniques and scriptures."

As he finished speaking, Kakashi's tone became cautious, and he carefully observed Hiruzen Sarutobi's reaction.

He knew that the request touched on some sensitive areas.

After the "night of defection" when the Uchiha and Hyuga families separated, the Uchiha's vast assets in Konoha became a tempting target for various parties.

The clan lands, shops, farmland and other real estates were quickly divided up by the major clans of Konoha under various pretexts. Meanwhile, more valuable "legacy" items such as ninjutsu scrolls, secret manuals, and bloodline limit research data were confiscated by the Konoha leadership under the pretexts of "confiscation," "safekeeping," and "preventing loss," and sealed in the secret ninjutsu storage warehouse.

This is both a means of controlling knowledge and, to some extent, a form of plundering.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a moment, his pipe hovering in mid-air.

Only the faint hissing sound of tobacco burning quietly remained in the office.

"Okay." Finally, he slowly nodded.

"I'll speak to the secret treasury and get you limited access. The Uchiha legacy... really should be used to guide the Uchiha's descendants."

Kakashi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but his face remained expressionless as he bowed slightly: "Thank you, Third Hokage. I'll go and make the preparations now."

"Yes, go, Kakashi." As Kakashi turned to leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice rang out again, carrying a rare gentleness and affection.

"That child... must be suffering so much inside, please."

Kakashi paused slightly, but without turning around, he simply nodded, opened the office door, and left, closing it gently behind him.

After the soft click of the wooden door closing, the office fell silent once more.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly sat back in the large Hokage chair, leaning back as if he had unloaded a heavy burden.

He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers hard against his throbbing temples, trying to clear the jumbled thoughts in his mind.

Sasuke's placement, the threat from the Land of Stars, the safety of the Chunin Exams, the balance of power among the major clans, Danzo's growing ambitions...

However, this moment of tranquility did not last long.

Bang--!!

The office door was suddenly pushed open from the outside, slamming heavily against the inner wall with a loud bang, causing even the windowpanes to tremble slightly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly opened his eyes, his brows furrowed, and looked towards the doorway.

Danzo Shimura, leaning on his ever-present cane, slowly walked in.

His single eye burned with rage, every wrinkle on his face seemed to be twisted with anger, and he exuded a chilling aura.

He didn't even bother to knock politely or wait for someone to announce his arrival as usual; he simply barged into the Hokage's office as if it were his own territory.

"Hiruzen!" Danzo's voice was hoarse and grating, suppressing his anger. He walked to the desk and slammed his cane heavily on the ground with a dull thud.

"Look at this! Look at what Sasuke Uchiha has done today! Where has he put Konoha's reputation?! Where has he put the safety of the village?!"

His roar echoed through the spacious office, a stark contrast to the quietness when Kakashi left earlier.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened.

He slowly sat up straight, placed his hands on the table, and slowly met Danzo's single eye, which seemed to be spitting fire.

This act of barging in and shouting reprimands is itself a transgression and a blatant challenge to the Hokage's authority.

"Danzo." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a unique aura of authority befitting a Hokage.

"A twelve-year-old child who lost all his relatives at a young age and grew up in loneliness, suddenly encounters his clansmen whom he thought were long dead. In his emotional state, he does some outrageous things. I think that's... understandable."

"After all, he is still just a child, and he has suffered too much that he shouldn't have to bear."

His words, seemingly to exonerate Sasuke, actually highlighted Sasuke's experiences and age, characterizing the incident as "juvenile impulsiveness" rather than "political action."

"A twelve-year-old child?" Danzo seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. A mocking smile appeared on his lips as he stared intently at Hiruzen Sarutobi with his one eye.

"An Uchiha who awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan at the age of twelve?! Hiruzen, you and I both know what this means! Even in the most prosperous era of the Uchiha clan, those who could awaken the three-tomoe Sharingan at the age of twelve were extremely rare! That's a talent worthy of being recorded in the clan's history!"

He took a step forward, leaning slightly forward, which made the sense of oppression even stronger.

"According to the historical records preserved in Konoha, even Madara Uchiha, who stood shoulder to shoulder with the First Hokage... only awakened a single tomoe Sharingan when he was thirteen years old!"

When Danzo uttered Madara Uchiha's name at that moment, the air in the office seemed to freeze instantly, and the temperature plummeted.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes suddenly became incredibly sharp.

Danzo's words were not unfounded.

While the timing of awakening one's Sharingan cannot completely determine future achievements, there is no doubt that the earlier one awakens a high-level Sharingan, the sooner one gains powerful strength, longer growth time, and a first-mover advantage.

The three-tomoe jade pendant at the age of twelve...

Its potential is terrifying!

Seeing the seriousness in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, Danzo knew that his words had had an effect.

He continued to escalate the situation, his voice carrying a deliberately exaggerated sense of crisis: "And look at the kind of people Uchiha Shisui brought back to Konoha this time! Not only are there three Ninja Swordsmen, but also the Kaguya clan's Shikotsumyaku, the Ice Release bloodline limit... and even Wood Release!"

"This team is strong enough to wipe out a medium-sized ninja village without a sound! Why are they making such a big fuss? Is it really just to escort a few genin to the exam? Or is it...?"

"Did they have ulterior motives all along?"

A cold glint flashed in his single eye: "For example, taking advantage of the Chunin Exam participants being mixed in and their defensive attention being diverted, to 'bring back' Uchiha Sasuke, this genius seed they 'forgot' outside?!"

"Danzo!" Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his voice, interrupting Danzo's increasingly dangerous speculation.

"The Anbu report is clear! Sasuke did attempt to break in today, but was immediately stopped by the guards of the Land of Stars and Gaara. Shisui then appeared, and the two only had a very brief encounter before Yamato arrived in time to take Sasuke away. The entire process was under our surveillance; they didn't have a chance to speak alone!"

"No chance?" Danzo scoffed, making no attempt to hide his distrust.

"Hiruzen, you're too naive! Who knows if they have some secret methods of transmitting information?"

"Just like Uchiha Shisui back then, his Mangekyou Sharingan ability 'Kotoamatsukami' allowed him to modify other people's wills without anyone noticing, right? If they used a similar method, wouldn't they have already planted 'hints' or 'commands' in Sasuke's mind?"

His suspicions were tinged with conspiracy theories, yet they were difficult to completely refute due to certain facts, such as Shisui's pupil technique.

"Hiruzen! We can't take the risk! We must nip the danger in the bud!" Without giving Hiruzen a chance to refute, Danzo suddenly stood up straight, his single eye shooting out an almost fanatical light, and revealed his true intention.

"Sasuke Uchiha's talent is a double-edged sword. If used well, he will be a pillar of Konoha's future; if used poorly, he will be a kunai plunged into our hearts! In his current state, we have no way of guaranteeing that he will be completely devoted to Konoha once he grows up!"

"So—" He paused, his tone shifting to a self-righteous, "responsible" solemnity.

"The best and safest way now is to hand him over to me, to 'Root'!"

"I will train him in the harshest, yet most effective way, to erase any unnecessary weakness, hesitation, and obsession with the past from his heart!"

"The refinement of 'Root' will guarantee to mold him into a sharp weapon of absolute loyalty to Konoha!"

"Only in this way can we completely eliminate the possibility that he might be misled by the Land of Stars and even turn against Konoha!"

See the picture poorly.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo's face, which was slightly flushed with excitement and ambition, and listened to his high-sounding but selfish remarks, the last bit of patience and tolerance in his heart was completely worn away.

He knew Danzo too well, and he understood what the training of "Root" meant.

That is a complete destruction of personality, turning a living person into a tool that only knows how to execute orders and has no independent thought.

Handing Sasuke over to Danzo?

What's the difference between that and personally killing that child and turning him into Danzo's private army?

"Is it yours?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice turned cold. He slowly stood up from his chair. Although he was old, his aura as the Hokage rose like a mountain, pressing down on Danzo.

"And then turn him into a puppet, a mindless walking corpse, completely subservient to you, Shimura Danzo?!"

"Danzo, stop with your act!"

"Hiruzen! You!" Danzo's face turned ashen from the blunt revelation and rebuke. Blood vessels appeared in his single eye as he glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, as if he had been greatly insulted.

"Are you questioning my loyalty to Konoha?!"

"Everything I've done is so that the danger to Konoha can be eliminated, and that the great tree of Konoha can flourish even more!"

"Your loyalty?" Hiruzen Sarutobi did not back down. He walked around the desk and stepped in front of Danzo. The two were very close, and their eyes clashed fiercely in the air, sparking invisible flames.

The aged Hokage straightened his back, his gaze piercing, and uttered each word with deadly force as he addressed Danzo: "You know perfectly well what you're plotting! But don't forget!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice suddenly rose, carrying the unquestionable absolute authority of the Hokage, booming through the office like thunder:

"Danzo! I am the Hokage!!"

“!!!!!!”

The last few words struck Danzo's heart like a hammer blow.

His body trembled violently, his single eye filled with shock, anger, and a sense of resentment at being exposed in public.

After a long silence, Danzo squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth.

"Hiruzen! You'll regret this!"

Door: Bang!

The office door was slammed shut again, causing the Hokage hat on the wall to sway slightly.