Chapter 62: Killing Danzo

Aoba noticed with some exasperation that the Root forces around him had diminished. It seemed Root had shifted its focus towards Kakashi.

Aoba found this both amusing and frustrating.

Kakashi himself was puzzled. Root seemed to be openly monitoring him.

"This is my fault, Kakashi," Aoba said.

"What... what are you planning now, Aoba?"

"The plan is... I'm going to kill Danzo."

Pff... Kakashi spat out his tea.

"You're crazy, Aoba. Danzo is a high-ranking official of Konoha, the head of Root. You want to kill him? That's tantamount to betraying the village!"

"So what? During the Third Shinobi World War, White Fang was the frontline commander and a candidate for the Fourth Hokage. Danzo did the same thing. Why wasn't he considered a traitor?"

"...My father committed suicide."

Kakashi struggled to say this, but Aoba didn't indulge him this time.

"No, we both know very well that White Fang was killed by the village. Danzo, Hiruzen, and those advisors—along with the manipulated villagers—killed him.

Kakashi, a powerful ninja like White Fang wouldn't be mentally fragile. The blade of war couldn't defeat him, and rumors and slander couldn't truly harm him.

Yet he still died, under his own sword. Why do you think that was?"

White Fang's death was a taboo subject for Kakashi. Although he and Aoba had been close for years, Aoba had never delved deeply into this topic until now.

Aoba's sudden insistence on discussing it left Kakashi at a loss.

"I..."

"Are you going to say you don't know, or that you're too afraid to say it?" Aoba pressed further, making it even harder for Kakashi to respond.

"You..."

"If you're too afraid to say it, I'll say it for you. What is the Will of Fire? It's the burning, falling leaves nourishing the roots, allowing new shoots to grow strong. That's what the First Hokage established as the Will of Fire.

Madara defected, and the First Hokage personally pursued him, ending up gravely injured and dying of depression. The Second Hokage was besieged by the Cloud Village and chose to stay behind to protect Konoha's new generation.

These two Hokage demonstrated the Will of Fire through their actions.

But look at our Third Shinobi World War. Konoha sent ungraduated children to the front lines as cannon fodder, sacrificing the new generation of Konoha for the survival of a few old men in the village.

Kakashi, tell me, is this the Will of Fire?

White Fang was executing a highly confidential mission, but within a day, the entire Konoha knew about it. Was that still a confidential mission?

A trivial matter stirred up a storm, and the entire village condemned him. And then there's Orochimaru. Do you know how many civilians and fellow ninjas he experimented on?"

"..."

Kakashi remained silent, realizing that Aoba's words were not only directed at him but also served as a release of his own frustrations. He seemed to have been unhappy with these matters for a long time.

"Don't know, right? To this day, I don't know if the villagers of Konoha have the right to know. The people who died were right next to them, but they knew nothing. I don't even know how many people died back then.

And the result? Orochimaru committed countless atrocities, and Hiruzen actually let him go! Why do you think that is, Kakashi?"

"Because Orochimaru is the Third Hokage's disciple, and he was too soft-hearted."

"Exactly. Because Orochimaru is the Third Hokage's disciple, while the dead civilians and ninjas were not. So they died in vain.

Kakashi, is this the Will of Fire?"

Kakashi was completely speechless. However, he understood what Aoba was trying to convey. His father's death was not just a result of being driven to suicide by rumors.

It wasn't merely that he was too weak to handle the pressure.

White Fang, back then, realized that the Konoha he believed in was no longer the same as before. This led to a collapse of faith and ultimately to his self-destruction.

"So, Aoba, you not only want to kill Danzo, but you also want to completely cleanse Konoha's higher-ups?"

"Yes. Danzo is just the beginning. Even Konoha is just the start. In my mind, the entire ninja world is on the wrong path. Someday, I will personally correct this mistake."

Aoba became somewhat emotional as he spoke. He had been holding these frustrations for too long and used this opportunity to vent his grievances.

Moreover, what he said was somewhat idealistic. Konoha indeed needed change, but he wasn't particularly interested in personally guiding it.

His true targets were Obito, Nagato, Madara, and even Kaguya Ootsutsuki and other behind-the-scenes BOSSes.

In the ninja world, concepts like paths and directions were abstract. True power was the ultimate asset.

The First Hokage was able to forcefully end the ninja world's wars because he was invincible.

Aoba shared this mindset. Once he became invincible, the ninja world would be his to reshape.

Kakashi hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.

"How do you plan to do it?"

"It's not about how I'll do it; it's about Danzo. The plan is very simple: as long as Danzo leaves the village, I will go and kill him."

"...Danzo's strength, even if not on par with the Hokage, is still formidable. Even if we both work together, we couldn't defeat him in a short time. Plus, he's the head of Root, with his subordinates..."

"Kakashi, don't worry about that. As long as he leaves the village, I am confident I can kill him."

"But Root's operations are very secretive, and Danzo usually..."

Kakashi suddenly stopped speaking.

"You've already made a move, haven't you? That's why Danzo is watching me. He thinks I'm the one behind it."

"Heh, you've figured it out. Why do you think Danzo suspects you?"

"..."

Kakashi, being intelligent, quickly understood the situation with a bit of thought.

He drew the short sword from his back and held it in his hand.

"Is it because of this?"

"Look, you've admitted yourself that you're the culprit. Afraid you might seek revenge."

Kakashi hadn't initially considered seeking revenge against Danzo, but Danzo's actions made him feel that if he didn't avenge his father, he would be letting down his father, himself, and Danzo.

"Since Danzo thinks it's me, then let it become a fact. I'll act as bait to lure out Danzo. Use whatever means you have."

"Good, let's team up and kill Danzo!"

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Currently on Chapter 104 - A Funeral