Konoha.
Hokage Office.
A meeting was being held at this moment, the atmosphere in the room being heavy.
"Hiruzen, you're too soft let me handle the situation at the border" said Danzo to Sarutobi sitting in front of him.
The friction between small countries has intensified even more recently, as some of the area at the border of Land of Fire was destroyed due to it.
"Danzo, I'm not afraid of those small countries causing chaos at the border but the other villages are looking at us like a prey, all they need is a reason to start a war, we can't waste our resources on small countries" said Sarutobi shaking his head.
"Konoha is the strongest village, what's there to be afraid of we can easily__"
"Stop it! Danzo I'm the Hokage I know what's best for the village" interjected Sarutobi giving no room for any more discussion.
"I know you are the Hokage already so don't say it anymore" roared Danzo in his heart.
Whenever Danzo hears Sarutobi saying "I'm the Hokage" his heart burns from jealously.
His dream has always been to be a Hokage but one wrong decision cost him the Hokage title.
During a mission, Second Hokage asked for someone to be the bait for others to escape from Kinkaku squad.
At that time Sarutobi presented himself and Tobirama Senju nominated him the next Hokage.
"If only I could back to that moment" Danzo thought in his heart with extreme regret.
Throwing these thoughts out of his mind, Danzo said to Sarutobi with angry tone
"Hiruzen! Your soft attitude will only harm Konoha" saying that Danzo stood up going back.
Knock....
At this time the door was knocked as Danzo who was about to leave sat down again wanting to know what happened.
"Come in" said Sarutobi immediately putting a benevolent smile on his face like a kind grandpa.
Tch...
Danzo sneered at Sarutobi's action as he knew of his true face.
Creak...
The door was pushed open as a figure strode in.
"Oh it's you Shinku wasn't today your squads first day" asked Sarutobi looking at Shinku.
"Yes! Hokage Sama and I'm here to report on it" said Shinku with a serious expression.
Sarutobi expression turned serious as normally Shinku won't show such an expression.
"Hokage- Sama the matter is...' Shinku started telling the whole matter including his defeat at Kozuki's hands.
After Shinku narrated the whole matter, the Whole office had a strange silence.
"You...lost to him" said Sarutobi with an unbelievable expression as his words were too shocking.
Who was Shinku, one of the elites of Konoha, even among Jonin he was one of the best but he lost to a freshly graduated Kid.
"And I think he didn't use his full strength" said Shinku after hesitating for a while.
"Ha-ha... isn't this a good thing, Konoha has another talent" suddenly Sarutobi started laughing as the suspicious atmosphere was broken.
"Well, Shinku I leave him in your hands he maybe strong but still needs to learn a lot of other things to survive" said Sarutobi.
"I'll do my best Lord 3rd" saying that Shinku went out as the happy expression on Sarutobi's face changed into a thoughtful one.
"Hiruzen, leave that kid to me I'll shape him into an excellent Ninja" said Danzo who sat aside as he breathing was a little fast.
"If I can get him I'll have an excellent Trump card against Sarutobi" thought Danzo excitedly.
But how could his thoughts be hidden from Old fox Sarutobi.
Sarutobi knew Danzo might use Kozuki one day against him if he got him, as he knew that Danzo's obsession with Hokage title was enough for him to even kill his best friend.
"Don't even think about it, the War may start at any time Konoha needs such genius I can't let you make him an emotionless puppet" said Sarutobi strictly pouring cold water on his hopes.
"Damn you!" Danzo was furious in his heart as he didn't expect to get rejected but suddenly had another thought "If I can't have him, then no one can"
Danzo had a cruel expression on his face as he said to Sarutobi.
"Hiruzen don't you find it suspicious he had such strength but he kept hiding it and you remember the spy four years ago he died from a sword and you know that Kid has the dream of being a swordsman".
As expected, after hearing his words, Sarutobi remembered the spy killed four years ago whose killer was never found.
"He's just a Kid, you are too suspicious Danzo" said Sarutobi as he couldn't believe a child of that could have any hidden motives.
You should know when Kozuki killed the spy he was only 5.
"I just told you my thoughts the rest is up to you" saying that Danzo stood up to leave.
"Once you're suspicious of someone Sarutobi, he'll never have a good end" thought Danzo as he knew he had succeeded in making Kozuki suspicious for Sarutobi.
As Danzo thought, after he left, Sarutobi called the Anbu and asked him to monitor Kozuki and took out Kozuki's file looking through it once again.
______________
Kozuki didn't know after he revealed his strength both Sarutobi and Danzo had gotten suspicious of him.
After parting with Minato and other's, he quickly arrived home and after talking a bath he fell asleep immediately a bit tired after the whole day.
(Read 35 chapters ahead on patreon.com/NavyKing6666)