socalfunplaces Chapter 250: Danzo's Coup
Chapter 250: Danzo's Coup
Upon hearing the words "Hokage," Tsunade's eyes widened, and she sat up straight on the bed, looking at Manji.
"What was your answer?"
Tsunade immediately asked.
Manji shook his head: "I don't want to be Hokage, so I refused outright."
"You actually refused?!"
Tsunade's face instantly filled with disbelief.
His younger brother's dream was to become a ninja; almost everyone dreamed of becoming Hokage when they were young.
Wanci refused outright.
Wan nodded repeatedly: "Yes."
"Those are seats that countless people would kill for! You just gave them up like that? Why?"
Tsunade pressed for an answer, her face full of confusion.
Wan chuckled softly, "If you don't want to do it, it's that simple."
Tsunade smiled upon hearing this, then suddenly leaned forward, hooking her arm around his neck, and whispered in his ear, "You don't want to be Hokage, so... do you want to be?"
Wan Ci was taken aback, then gave a helpless look: "I'm really too tired."
Since getting married, Tsunade's needs have become increasingly unrestrained.
To meet this need, Tsunade even stopped gambling.
I come every day, anytime, anywhere.
..........
"Orochimaru, after this is accomplished, we will jointly take control of Konoha."
In the dark basement
Danzo looked at Orochimaru, who was conducting an experiment, and spoke slowly.
Orochimaru nodded as he conducted the experiment.
"Is the daimyo ready?"
Orochimaru asked.
Danzo stroked his chin and smirked: "The Daimyo has agreed to let me become Hokage, but those old foxes need more money."
Orochimaru nodded calmly after listening and then said, "But after it's done, I don't want you to hurt my teacher."
Upon hearing this, Danzo immediately replied, "What are you saying? Hiruzen is not only your teacher, he is also my brother. Of course I, Danzo, would not harm him!"
After listening, Orochimaru slowly nodded.
........
A few days later, Hiruzen Sarutobi went to the Daimyo's residence.
Because Hiruzen Sarutobi completely trusted Danzo and Orochimaru, he wasn't on guard much.
At noon, Orochimaru, as the head of the Anbu, used his authority to transfer the Anbu from the Hokage Building.
Logically, the Anbu only obeys the Hokage.
But since the Hokage isn't here, we'll listen to the department head.
Danzo then placed his Root organization in the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked into the Hokage Building alone.
He had just finalized this year's border defense budget with the Daimyo, and was already planning to discuss the expansion of the Anbu with Danzo and Orochimaru later.
But as soon as they entered the Hokage Building
Hiruzen Sarutobi abruptly stopped in his tracks.
The familiar faint scent of hidden ninjas was gone from the air; instead, there was a cold, murderous, and bloody smell.
"Is this the Anbu?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked around.
Standing on both sides of the corridor were all Root ninjas wearing tanuki masks. They stood ramrod straight with empty eyes, and not one of them bowed to him.
The dark squad leader, who would immediately appear to report whenever he showed up, was nowhere to be seen at this moment.
"Orochimaru did it?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi tightened his grip on the pipe slightly, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to turn around, but then...
Hiruzen did not turn around, nor did he summon any ninjas.
He simply walked step by step toward the wooden door engraved with the Hokage emblem.
The door was ajar.
He pushed open the door and the first thing he saw was Danzo standing by the window with his back to him, and Orochimaru slowly wiping a Kusanagi sword.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting two long shadows on the floor, completely enveloping his figure in shady territory.
"Hiruzen, you're back."
Danzo smiled slightly, turned around, his face showing no remorse, but rather a calm confidence that he was determined to succeed.
"Perfect timing!"
Danzo took out a white and red imperial edict from his pocket and gently placed it on the desk.
"The appointment letter from the Daimyo: From this day forward, I, Shimura Danzo, shall assume the position of Hokage."
"Danzo, Orochimaru..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept over the wax seal on the imperial edict, then landed on Orochimaru.
The latter raised his head, his golden vertical pupils expressionless, and simply nodded slightly in confirmation.
"Teacher, I obey the name of the lord."
Orochimaru spoke calmly.
Why?
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was calm, revealing no emotion, only a barely perceptible hint of weariness.
"For Konoha."
Danzo walked up to him, his tone heavy.
"You're too merciful, Hiruzen. Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to your own people."
Over the years, Konoha has appeared peaceful under your rule, but in reality, it is outwardly strong but inwardly weak.
The Hidden Cloud Village is watching with predatory eyes, and the Hidden Sand Village is itching to act; only an iron fist can truly make Konoha strong.
"Your incompetence was fully exposed in the Second Shinobi World War. If it weren't for the fighting spirit of us ninjas, we would never have won the Second Shinobi World War with just your command!"
Danzo paused, patted Hiruzen Sarutobi on the shoulder, and deliberately softened his tone:
"Don't worry, I won't hurt anyone."
"You are a hero of Konoha, always will be. You can retire in peace and enjoy your old age. Leave the burden of Konoha to me and Orochimaru."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him, his brother who had grown up with him and gone through thick and thin with him.
He then looked at Orochimaru, his most prized disciple, the one on whom he had once placed great hopes.
He has the ability to resist.
At his command, the loyal Jonin would arrive immediately, and if he were willing to take action, even Danzo and Orochimaru combined might not be a match for him.
But he can't.
If action is taken, Konoha will descend into civil war.
The Anbu and Root are fighting amongst themselves, splitting the Jonin hierarchy. The surrounding ninja villages will immediately pounce and tear this village, which has stood for decades, to pieces.
Countless innocent villagers will die, and countless young ninjas will sacrifice themselves in vain.
Moreover, Danzo had close ties with the Uchiha clan, and the Uchiha clan was clearly on Danzo's side.
If the Uchiha clan sided with Danzo, Konoha would be plunged into civil war.
This is something he absolutely does not want to see.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"What are you trying to do? I'm warning you, my strength, Danzo's, is no less than yours, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
Danzo's eyes narrowed slightly, and his grip on his cane tightened unconsciously. Orochimaru also stopped wiping his Kusanagi sword.
Hiruzen Sarutobi removed the Hokage hat from his head and gently placed it on the desk.
"I see."
"I will abdicate."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly.
Danzo's heart finally settled, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his face: "Hiruzen, you really are someone who considers the big picture."
"Summon all elders and Jonin for a meeting this afternoon."
Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored him and simply instructed, "I will publicly announce my abdication and pass the Hokage position to you."
However, Danzo immediately stopped.
"No! You don't need to go in person. Just write it now! After that, you can go back to the sanatorium I've arranged for you to recuperate."
Danzo dared not allow Hiruzen Sarutobi to gather all the Jonin.
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded: "Okay."
He had long since given up on becoming Hokage, which is why he wanted to choose Manji in advance.
If he had agreed back then, he would have become the Sixth Hokage long ago.