Naruto, starting with immortality, I'm going to buy up the ninja world!

Chapter 166 My Shadow, Your Regret

"Damn Sarutobi! Why?! Why did this guy do this?! Ah—!"

Back at the Root Base, Shimura Danzo once again transformed into a desktop cleaning master, sweeping everything off the table onto the floor.

"Hehe, Elder Danzo, things have come to this, why are you so angry? You should think about how to get more compensation from your teacher instead."

Danzo Shimura suddenly turned around and stared at Orochimaru with his only eye.

"Orochimaru, did you already know this would be the outcome?"

"You can't say that. I only found out when I got there. But I had a premonition before that."

"Had a premonition? What do you mean?"

Orochimaru said, a strange emotion flashing in his eyes.

“My teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is no longer the formidable ninja he once was. He has lost his former spirit and has become more greedy for power.”

As he spoke, he recalled his teacher's reluctance to relinquish the Hokage position during the Hokage handover ceremony.

Even though Minato had been in power for a year, the Anbu, which was the Hokage's direct subordinate organization, was still under the jurisdiction of his teacher.

As a Hokage, Minato often had no one to rely on except for his four personal guards, and had to do things himself.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Elder Danzo, I've done what you asked me to do. Shouldn't you fulfill your promise to me now?"

Orochimaru smiled evilly.

"Don't say that none of this matters if you don't become Hokage. After all, our agreement was that I would support you, not that I would necessarily push you to the position of Hokage."

Of course, you can also choose not to keep your promise, since there's nothing I can say even if you don't.

However, in that case, I think I'll have to slow down my experimental progress.

Danzo Shimura's brows furrowed as he listened to Orochimaru's words, but he ultimately held back. After all, he had already failed to become Hokage, and he couldn't afford to lose the chance to become stronger.

"Hmph, you just want to conduct human experiments, don't you? There are plenty of people in the Root's prison who can be used as materials, use them as you like."

"The Root Prison?"

Orochimaru carefully recalled the number of people in the prison and then licked his lips.

"Well, that should be enough for me to complete one phase of the experiment. That's all for now."

"Then I won't bother you any longer, Elder Danzo. You should go ask your teacher for some compensation as soon as possible. After all, my next phase of experiments, besides living people, will require a considerable amount of funds and supplies."

With that, Orochimaru turned and left.

"Damn it! You're just as annoying as that monkey guy."

But that's all he could complain about, since he did need him to do things for him at this stage.

Danzo flicked his sleeve and walked towards the Hokage Building.

After Orochimaru's reminder, he realized that he really should go and have a good talk with his old friend.

Now that you've taken the Hokage position, shouldn't you compensate your old friend with something?

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi held the infant Naruto in his arms, his face full of loving smiles.

Putting everything else aside, this little one is indeed quite adorable when he's not crying or fussing.

This reminded him of his son when he was a child.

That's right, as your son gets older, he becomes more and more unpleasant.

"Bang!"

The Hokage's office door was suddenly pushed open with a loud bang, and then a person walked in.

"Monkey, I've come to talk to you about something!"

"Waaaaaah~! Waaaaah~!"

The sudden noise startled Naruto awake from his deep sleep, and he immediately burst into tears.

Danzo!

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had finally managed to coax Naruto to sleep, glared angrily at Danzo when he saw Naruto wake up again.

Danzo was also stunned. What was going on? Why was the monkey holding a child in its arms?

"A monkey? Is this your grandson? I haven't heard that any of your sons have had a child. Aren't Shinnosuke and his wife on missions in the Anbu every day? Or did your youngest son Asuma have a child while he was out having an affair, and the mother of the child came looking for him? That brat Asuma is only a teenager."

"Go away, go away! How old are you? Still thinking nonsense. This is Minato's son. I don't believe your Roots haven't sent you any news."

Upon hearing this, Danzo finally understood.

"This kid is Minato's son?"

The Root ninjas naturally told him this news, but he was so angry about Hiruzen Sarutobi becoming Hokage again that he didn't think about the possibility of Minato's child.

"Yes, his name is Naruto, Minato's son."

Danzo immediately realized something.

"This child possesses incredibly abundant chakra, and the Nine-Tails also disappeared suddenly back then, so! Hiruzen, this brat is the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, right?"

Danzo's tone had changed; his previously unexpected tone now carried a hint of greed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately became alert.

"Danzo, what do you want to do? He's Minato's child, the last bloodline of Minato and Kushina."

"I know, but he is also a Jinchūriki of Konoha."

"I said in a serious tone," said Danzo Shimura.

"Hiruzen, hand this brat over to me. I guarantee that my Root will nurture the Jinchuriki into a perfect weapon of war."

"Enough, Danzo. He is Minato's child, not some weapon of war."

"Don't be so naive, Hiruzen! You should know the power of the Tailed Beasts. Konoha has just suffered a major blow and is currently at a low point in its fighting strength. If we don't use the Jinchuriki as weapons, what will we rely on when Konoha is in danger in the future? Will we rely on you and me, who are already old? Or will we rely on your good-for-nothing son, Asuma?"

"Danzo! Our Konoha hasn't fallen to that level yet. Don't forget that we still have the son of Konoha's White Fang, the Uchiha clan, the Hyuga clan, and so many other ninja clans!"

"Do you really think those people can be relied on? Especially the Uchiha and Hyuga. One of them is extremely arrogant, and the other is involved in that divisive system and doesn't care about the village's rules at all. Can they really be relied on?"

Danzo kept trying to persuade Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hiruzen, hand this brat over to me. I will train him properly."

"Danzo, I've already said Naruto isn't a weapon, he's a member of the village!"

"Hiruzen, you will regret your weakness and mercy."

"Enough, Danzo. I told you, I am the Hokage."

"Bam—!"

Enraged, Danzo slammed the door and left.