Chapter 92: Konoha

After sending the reply, Danzo was eager to return to Konoha to proceed with the next phase of the Wood Release experiments. Only by cultivating a ninja with the Wood Release Bloodline Limit could he and Orochimaru win the battle to become the Fourth Hokage and enjoy true freedom within the village.

Taking a few days to travel, Danzo returned to his Root base, only to find Anbu directly under the Third Hokage waiting at the entrance.

As soon as Danzo returned, the Anbu ninja stepped forward respectfully, "Lord Danzo, the Hokage has requested your presence at the Hokage's office."

Despite his annoyance, Danzo followed them.

He was curious to see what Sarutobi wanted.

Arriving at the Hokage's office, Danzo saw the Third Hokage at work desk. The Hokage looked up, scrutinizing his long-absent subordinate and part-time friend with sharp eyes.

Unlike the elderly Third Hokage of ten years later, this Hokage was in his early fifties. Though his physical prowess had waned slightly from its peak, his extensive experience more than compensated for any physical decline, making him still one of the top ninjas in the world.

After a moment of contemplation, the Third Hokage looked at Danzo,

"Danzo, during your absence, the situation in the ninja world has changed significantly. Currently, aside from Kumogakure's unclear stance, Kirigakure and Iwagakure have both expressed a desire for peace talks. The war is about to end. And so, I plan to hold a jonin meeting in a month to elect the Fourth Hokage."

"What does the Hokage election have to do with me? The last time I nominated myself, only you, Koharu, and Homura vetoed it, didn't you?" Danzo scoffed and added, "And I don't believe someone as young as Minato Namikaze can manage the village well."

"Danzo, if we, the older generation, keep running for Hokage, it will make us a laughingstock. It's time to let the younger ones take the lead," the Third Hokage chuckled. He knew Danzo had always wanted to be Hokage, but he could not allow it, not even letting Danzo have a chance to run.

One reason was that Danzo had been in the shadows for too long, tainted by too much darkness. Another was that both he and Danzo were getting old, and even he had thoughts of retirement. A peer like Danzo was better suited as an advisor elder, contributing to the village from that position.

Creating another ninja willing to fall into the darkness would not be easy.

He also knew Danzo supported Orochimaru's bid for the Fourth Hokage, even considering fraudulent means. However, he doubted Orochimaru could defeat Minato Namikaze. Minato's achievements in this ninja war were too brilliant, overshadowing even the Hokage himself.

After discussing the Fourth Hokage, the Third Hokage's expression turned serious. He took a scroll from his drawer.

"Alright, aside from informing you about the upcoming Hokage election, there's another task I need you for. It's a request for help from the Daimyo of the Land of Wind. They need us to deal with rogue ninjas… I didn't want to trouble you at this time, but…" The Third Hokage hesitated, but Danzo already understood and snatched the scroll, glancing at it briefly.

The task was issued by the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, targeting rogue ninjas in Wind City.

On the surface, the mission was to target rogue ninjas, but in reality, it was to eliminate the spies placed by Sunagakure in Wind City to monitor the Daimyo. This was a joint mission between Konoha and the Daimyo of the Land of Wind to weaken their ally.

Such tasks could not be carried out by ordinary Jonin, and the Jonin capable of completing them valued their reputation too much. Only a ninja willing to dwell in the shadows, like Danzo, would be willing to execute such missions, and he had performed countless similar tasks over the years.

However, the Third Hokage's real intention was not just to have him execute this mission. It was a warning to Danzo not to meddle in the Hokage election, an excuse to send him away from the village during this critical time. The Hokage's strategy was indeed malicious.

After some contemplation, Danzo ultimately accepted the mission.

He glanced at the Hokage's chair before leaving the office.

Years ago, he had been just a step away from becoming Hokage, and years later, it was still the same. He had been waiting for this position for decades.

But now, at the crucial moment of the Fourth Hokage election, Sarutobi had sent him away.

If he couldn't become Hokage through the normal election process, could he follow Byakuya's example and use other means to achieve his goal?

Thinking about this made Danzo uneasy, but he suppressed his thoughts.

Even though he had lost most of his subordinates, even at the height of his power, his forces were far inferior to the Anbu. Moreover, he had no allies other than Orochimaru.

The odds were too low. It was better to stay in the shadows, surviving as a part of Root.

After dealing with Danzo, the Third Hokage went to the rooftop, overlooking most of Konoha from there.

Gazing at the peaceful village, the Third Hokage felt a strong sense of pride.

Although the village had suffered significant losses due to his failed decisions in the war, losing many young and strong Jonin, many young ninjas had also gained experience and grown.

Among them, his favorites were Minato Namikaze and Kakashi Hatake, the master and disciple.

Minato had grown into one of the top ninjas in the world, capable of assuming the responsibilities of Hokage, while Kakashi had shown the ability to stand alone. With proper guidance, he could become another White Fang of Konoha.

However, even though peace was imminent, there were still undercurrents in the shadows.

Danzo, who wanted to become Hokage, the Uchiha clan eyeing the Hokage position, and the powerful clans like the Hyuga that were difficult to control—all these had to be dealt with slowly.

The Hokage needed to weaken the clans and strengthen the power and influence of the Hokage's office.

It was his way of securing the position of Hokage and maintaining the village's stability, though he wondered if Minato Namikaze could manage it.

If Minato couldn't handle it…

The Third Hokage fell into deep thought, contemplating his relationship with the Fourth Hokage after his retirement.

However, even the Third Hokage didn't notice that his reflective moment on the rooftop was being observed by Obito and Black Zetsu.

After Black Zetsu persuaded Obito to become Madara's successor, they came to Konoha together.

On one hand, Obito wanted to visit his former friends and retrieve his own eye. On the other hand, they were scouting to see if there was an opportunity to weaken Konoha and obtain a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra.

Before the Third Hokage's gaze could sweep over their location, Obito and Black Zetsu used Kamui to disappear.

Standing in the Kamui dimension, Black Zetsu said to Obito, "Stop thinking about it. Konoha will never give you the Nine-Tails' chakra. It's better to take Kakashi's Sharingan and complete your pair of Mangekyo as soon as possible."

Obito looked around the distorted space of Kamui, his eyes narrowing with determination. "I know. But there's more to do before we can proceed. Konoha's defenses are strong, and we need to weaken them strategically."

Black Zetsu nodded, a sinister smile forming. "Exactly. The Nine-Tails' chakra is crucial, but we must bide our time and strike when Konoha is vulnerable."

Obito clenched his fist, his thoughts drifting back to his former friends in Konoha. "First, we need to ensure our plans align with Madara's vision. Once we have the Mangekyo, we can move forward more aggressively."

Black Zetsu's eyes gleamed with malevolence. "Patience and precision. That's the key. For now, let's focus on destabilizing Konoha from the shadows."

As they strategized in the Kamui dimension, the Third Hokage continued his musings on the rooftop, unaware of the looming threats and intricate plots that would soon engulf Konoha. The delicate balance of power within the village, the ambitions of Danzo, and the external threats posed by rogue ninjas and rival villages would all converge, testing the resilience and unity of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Back in Konoha, the preparations for the Fourth Hokage election were underway. The village was bustling with anticipation, unaware of the dark clouds gathering on the horizon. Minato Namikaze, with his growing reputation and unparalleled skills, was seen as the beacon of hope, but the shadows of doubt and uncertainty lingered.