171-175

Chapter 171: Danzo - Why Can't I Become Hokage?

Thanks to Kaneki, Kou also got free time to train.

So the two of them trained in the training ground until night.

After Kaneki's explanation, Kou suddenly understood some of the things he had difficulty understanding before.

After all, Kaneki was the one who personally implanted the Wood Release in Kou. He understood Kou's body very well, and the suggestions he made could be said to be spot on, specifically solving the problems Kou encountered during his training.

"I'm really sorry to trouble you, Otsu. You haven't had time to practice your ninjutsu."

Kou said a little embarrassedly. After all, Otsu had been guiding his training all afternoon and had no time to familiarize himself with the two Wood Release ninjutsu he had just mastered.

Hearing this, Kaneki curled his lips and motioned Kou to look at the edge of the training ground.

"What?"

Kou looked in the direction Kaneki was pointing and saw the huge hole Kaneki had made in the afternoon using [Wood Release: Violent Spear Tree]. He couldn't help but laugh.

"That's true. A genius like you doesn't need to practice at all."

"Good to know."

Kaneki held his head in his hands, looked around, and then walked towards a passage.

Seeing this, Kou hurriedly followed and asked, "Otsu, where are you going?"

"To eat. Lord Danzo didn't even tell us where the cafeteria is."

Just as Kaneki was complaining, a figure walked out of the passage.

Grayish-white hair, wearing a pair of round-rimmed glasses.

He had a gentle smile on his face and asked Kaneki and Kou politely, "Are you two the new recruits who just joined Root, Kou and Otsu?"

"Yes, may I ask what's the matter, senior?" Kou stepped forward and said.

"Hello, my name is Yakushi Kabuto. You can just call me Kabuto."

Kabuto smiled and narrowed his eyes, then brought the lunch box in his hand to the two of them.

"This is a medicinal meal that Lord Danzo specifically asked me to prepare for you. It contains a variety of medicinal herbs that can effectively relieve the fatigue of your training and the damage to your body."

"Thank you, Lord Danzo and Senior Kabuto."

Kou smiled and took the lunch box from Kabuto, thanking him politely.

As for Kaneki, he was staring at Kabuto's eyes.

Kabuto naturally noticed Kaneki's gaze. He touched his face, the smile on his face not diminishing: "Is there something on my face?"

Kaneki raised the corners of his mouth in the exact same arc as the other party and said with a smile: "No, I just think your smile is very fake."

"Uh..."

The smile on Kabuto's face froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

"Mr. Otsu is really good at joking."

"I'm not joking."

Kaneki directly interrupted Kabuto's words to ease the atmosphere, then took his own lunch box from Kou, sat down cross-legged, and continued: "Your smile is indeed very fake, but you might become a very interesting person."

Fake, but interesting?

What kind of messy description is this?

Although he felt a lot of anger in his heart, the strong spy qualities in him still allowed Kabuto to quickly calm down. Just as he was about to say something, Kaneki spoke again.

"Mmm, the aroma is unexpectedly good."

Kaneki had already opened the lunch box, poured all the food in the lunch box into his mouth, chewed it twice, and swallowed it directly.

Kou, who was next to him and hadn't used his chopsticks yet, was dumbfounded.

This guy not only has terrifying ninjutsu talent, but his eating speed seems to be equally terrifying.

"It's delicious. Is there any more?"

Kaneki looked at the lunch box in Kabuto's hand.

"There is, but..."

Before Kabuto could finish speaking, the lunch box in his hand was snatched away by Kaneki again, opened, and swallowed in one gulp.

Done in one go!

Kabuto was also a little dumbfounded.

Because the last lunch box was a backup in case something happened, and it was also a medicinal meal with [hallucinogenic drugs].

This guy ate two servings of [hallucinogenic drugs] in one go. Wouldn't something happen to him?

Kabuto frowned slightly.

However, considering this kid's attitude towards him just now, it would be good to let him suffer. At worst, he could just save him when something happened.

Seeing Kaneki eating so fast, Kou felt embarrassed to slowly savor the delicious food made by Kabuto himself, so he could only speed up and eat.

After the meal, Kaneki finally patted his stomach and gave Kabuto a thumbs up.

"Although your smile is quite fake, the food you made is really good."

"Thank you..."

Kabuto was a little speechless.

This guy, his eyes are indeed quite sharp...

With his many years of experience as a spy, he should be flawless in terms of smiling, but he didn't expect to reveal a flaw in front of this kid.

But well, at least he praised his cooking.

Kabuto quickly put away the little anger in his heart. After all, under the influence of the hallucinogenic drug, they should soon be controlled by Lord Danzo and become Lord Danzo's dogs.

What's the point of this little taunt?

Thinking of this, he put on a standardized smile on his face again: "Thank you for the compliment. If you are full, please come with me. I will take you to your rooms to rest."

"Every Root member has a separate room in Root, with water and electricity, which can meet all living needs."

"You can go to the cafeteria for meals, but you should all need to eat medicinal meals to cooperate with your training recently. This is Lord Danzo's preferential treatment for you."

Kabuto pushed his glasses. This is indeed the 'preferential treatment' that only Root elites deserve.

He introduced the facilities of Root to the two newcomers while leading them to their rooms.

"This is your room. Get some rest early."

"Thank you, Senior Kabuto." Kou said politely.

As for Kaneki?

This guy had already yawned and walked into his room.

"Sorry, Senior Kabuto, Otsu is just not good at expressing himself."

Kou apologized on behalf of Kaneki.

Kabuto just smiled and didn't care.

"It's okay. Get some rest early. I'll take my leave first."

"Mmm, hmm, have a good trip, Senior Kabuto."

Kou waved his hand and then returned to his room.

Kabuto, who was leaving, pushed his glasses, feeling a little helpless.

These two newcomers don't seem to be very good at talking...

He walked around a corner, then calmed down and knelt down on one knee in the shadow at the corner of the wall.

"How is it?"

Danzo's hoarse voice came from within, and his body slowly emerged from the shadow.

Kabuto said with a blank expression: "The mission has been successfully completed. According to the effect of the medicine, they should be about to fall asleep."

"Mmm, good job."

Danzo stretched out a hand and patted Kabuto's shoulder lightly as encouragement.

Then his body passed Kabuto and walked towards Kaneki and Kou's rooms.

Back in his room, Kou immediately felt a burst of sleepiness, and then the whole world became blurred, and he fell tiredly on the bed.

The same was true for Kaneki next door. As a burst of sleepiness hit him, he simply lay down on the bed.

Then, as expected, an old man easily opened the door.

The dim light in the hallway was blocked, outlining an old figure.

Danzo chose to control Kaneki first.

He closed the door, and heavy footsteps sounded from the room, but Kaneki, who was lying on the bed, did not react at all.

After all, this kid ate two servings of hallucinogenic drugs in one go...

Danzo thought so.

The special hallucinogenic drug developed by Kabuto was quite powerful. It could effectively lower a person's mental defenses and make them fall into a coma. Coupled with the long-term influence of genjutsu, it could change a person's personality and even memory to a certain extent.

What Danzo had to do now was to take advantage of Kaneki's coma and mental confusion to cast genjutsu on him!

He slowly walked up to Kaneki and pulled off the bandage wrapped around his eyes.

In the darkness, a pair of scarlet eyes suddenly lit up, and three pitch-black tomoe slowly swirled within them.

If this scene fell into the eyes of others, it would definitely surprise them greatly.

Because at this time, what was embedded in Danzo's right eye socket was the unique bloodline limit of the Uchiha clan - the Sharingan.

After revealing his Sharingan, Danzo grabbed Kaneki's shoulder fiercely.

The sudden severe pain made Kaneki open his eyes involuntarily.

The powerful pupil power of the Sharingan instantly gushed out like a torrent, pouring into Kaneki's body.

Genjutsu, activate!

As Danzo continuously injected genjutsu chakra through the Sharingan, Kaneki's spiritual world underwent tremendous changes.

His past memories quickly became blurred as if covered by a layer of mist.

The people he had met and the things he had done became unclear.

In the mist, his own life seemed to have completely lost its color and meaning, only that one figure became clearer and clearer.

"Lord Danzo?"

Danzo's figure appeared in Kaneki mental world.

Not only him, but also many Root members, all knelt before Danzo at this time.

Danzo, the only one standing, seemed to have become the pillar of this spiritual world, and everyone depended on him for their existence.

"We are the roots buried deep in the ground, with no past, no future, no name, no self, all for Konoha, all for Lord Danzo!"

The slogans kept ringing in his ears over and over again.

Kaneki eyes became more and more confused.

Danzo smiled.

That's right, that's it, constantly forgetting the past, forgetting himself, forgetting his companions.

In the end, he could only rely on himself like a puppet, and he would become his spiritual pillar, the meaning of his existence in this world.

"Everything is for Lord Danzo."

"Is it?"

Danzo saw the corner of the kid's mouth suddenly curl up slightly.

Before he could react, all the Root members around him disappeared, and the pervasive white mist quietly dissipated.

"What's going on?"

Danzo's expression instantly became serious.

He just wanted to use his Sharingan to undo the genjutsu, but found that the bandages wrapped around him had disappeared at some point, and his right eye inlaid with the Sharingan had returned to normal.

Feeling the changes in his body, Danzo looked at his right hand in horror.

Under his gaze, his originally ferocious right hand also began to change.

The ten Sharingan eyes embedded on it slowly closed, then sank into the skin and disappeared, and finally there was not even a trace left. The entire arm made of Hashirama cells also returned to its original appearance.

"What's going on?"

Danzo was really panicked now.

What made him even more flustered was that the wrinkles on his face actually disappeared little by little, and even his body returned to its youthful appearance.

"Is it genjutsu?"

He looked around nervously.

As an elder of Konoha, the number one power in the ninja world, Danzo hadn't encountered this kind of crisis for many years. While nervous, his rejuvenated body inexplicably gave him a little confidence.

Then, the surrounding white mist dispersed.

The swaying shadows of trees emerged from the gradually dissipating white mist, and a touch of night spread from under his feet, quickly covering the entire spiritual world.

This was a forest shrouded in night, and the smell of gunpowder smoke from the tip of his nose made Danzo involuntarily nervous.

Although he hadn't participated in battles and missions for many years, he was an old ninja who had participated in the First Ninja World War after all, and he could almost instantly conclude that he was now on a battlefield!

The white mist finally cleared completely, and a male ninja with silver-white hair, wearing blue Sengoku-style armor, with red marks on his cheeks and chin, was speaking with a serious expression.

Although decades had passed, Danzo could still recognize this person's identity at a glance.

Konoha's Second Hokage, and also his teacher, Senju Tobirama!

As for the people around him...

Danzo turned his head to look left and right.

Hiruzen, Koharu, Homura, Kagami, Torifu...

The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, said with an extremely heavy expression, "Everyone, the situation is urgent now, we need someone to stay as a decoy to protect the others."

As soon as these words came out, Danzo was struck by lightning.

That's right!

That's right!

He was back to that time.

The First Ninja World War, the critical moment when they were besieged by the Gold and Silver Brothers!

At this time, someone had to stand up as a decoy, otherwise the entire army would be annihilated.

Of course, the person who chooses to be the decoy, when their chakra is almost exhausted, is basically equivalent to choosing death.

Thinking of this, Danzo's breathing began to become heavy.

Because he knew that the most critical moment had arrived!

The critical moment to decide who will become the next Hokage!

This was a test given to them by their teacher, Senju Tobirama. As long as he said that he was willing to be the decoy, he would be able to pass the teacher's test and become the Third Hokage!

Danzo was very excited. After all, becoming Hokage was his lifelong dream and obsession.

And now, this opportunity was right in front of him!

As long as he said those words, he could...

Danzo was almost about to say those words, but he suddenly thought of something.

What if...

What if the teacher really made him the decoy?

What if the teacher wasn't testing them, but simply wanted Hiruzen to stand up and become the next Hokage?

A moment of hesitation, another voice had already sounded from beside Danzo.

"Teacher, leave the decoy task to me!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward and said confidently, "Don't worry, I will definitely survive!"

Danzo opened his mouth wide, unable to say anything for a while.

He clearly saw surprise, relief, and... trust in his teacher's eyes.

A trust enough to entrust the future.

Danzo finally spoke, he wanted to say something, but Senju Tobirama was faster than him.

"You did a good job, Hiruzen. I decided to hand over the position of Third Hokage to you. Go back to Konoha, and you will inherit my Hokage position."

As soon as these words came out, everyone present was stunned for a moment, only Danzo lowered his head, his body trembling uncontrollably.

"Teacher, you are..."

Hiruzen certainly understood the meaning of these words. His teacher was going to use his own sacrifice in exchange for the lives of these disciples!

Before they could dissuade him, Tobirama continued, "No need to say more, I know my own body, I can't hold on until I go back. Before I die, I hope to escort you one more time."

"Teacher..."

The students present were instantly filled with tears.

"Don't be sad for my passing. Wherever the leaves of Konoha fly, the fire will also flourish. The flames I ignite can illuminate you new leaves. I am very happy."

"So, you must live well, assist Hiruzen, and take good care of Konoha's future."

After Tobirama finished speaking, he didn't give them any chance to stay, but just said to Hiruzen, "I'll leave Konoha to you."

After saying that, he disappeared from the spot without any hesitation, leaving only a very determined voice.

Soon, a terrible explosion sounded in the distance, as well as the tyrannical chakra aura released from Kinkaku and Ginkaku.

After all, in the eyes of Kinkaku and Ginkaku, Senju Tobirama, the Hokage, was much more important than these brats.

"Teacher, teacher he..."

Mitokado Homura couldn't control her emotions, tears involuntarily slipped from the corners of her eyes.

Akimichi Torifu also had a sad look on his face.

But Uchiha Kagami calmly said, "Homura, stop crying, the teacher sacrificed himself hoping that we can live, we can't let the teacher down."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had determination in his eyes, "Kagami is right, we must not let the teacher down, let's go, go back to Konoha, regroup!"

"Yeah."

Since Hiruzen was designated as the next Hokage by their teacher, this small group naturally began to center on Hiruzen and agree with his decision.

But there was one exception.

"Why? Why!"

Danzo suddenly roared angrily, "Obviously I want to stand up too, why can't I become Hokage!"

"Hiruzen?"

Under everyone's astonished gazes, Danzo's arm exploded.

In the diffused blood mist, thick, ferocious tentacles with a strange aura burst out!

Chapter 172: Danzo's Fantasy Time

"Danzo, what are you doing?"

"What are you doing, Danzo?!"

His companions' shocked voices rang out. They stared at their friend in disbelief, seemingly unable to believe he would do such a thing.

"Hokage."

"Why."

"Why can't the position of Hokage be mine?!"

Danzo roared like a defeated wild dog.

Friendship, bonds, comradeship – he could abandon them all. What he wanted was – to become Hokage!

For this goal, he could sacrifice everything.

Including the companions before him!

His eyes turned crimson, cracks appearing on his arm before spreading across his entire body.

A scarlet eye emerged from his stomach, its overwhelming power pinning everyone down.

Then, an evil and immense force erupted from Danzo's body, transforming into thousands of thick, grotesque tentacles. Like an endless tide, they smashed everything in their path to smithereens!

Seeing his four friends crushed and consumed by the tentacles, Hiruzen Sarutobi trembled with rage, his eyes burning with fury that threatened to consume Danzo entirely.

"Danzo, how could you do such a thing? I will never forgive you!"

Reduced to a fleshy mass, Danzo stared at the scene before him with his remaining eye, astonished.

What incredible power! With just one move, he had eliminated so many people.

Then, he looked up at Hiruzen, the Hokage's successor.

"Next, it's your turn! Once I kill you, the position of Hokage will be mine!"

The dense mass of tentacles surged again like a tidal wave.

The outcome of the battle was never in doubt.

Because no one could resist the might of a god.

Danzo looked at the fragmented flesh before him, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

"Now, no one can take the Hokage position from me."

The tentacles slowly retracted, and he finally returned to his familiar form.

Yet, he seemed different.

His eyes burned with a raging fire, the flame of power.

Returning to Konoha, Danzo announced to everyone the final decree of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

"Danzo Shimura, inherit the position of Third Hokage!"

This decree was like a bolt of lightning.

Faced with such a sudden order, some in the village naturally questioned it.

After all, in that unexpected battle, only Danzo Shimura had returned to the village. No matter what Tobirama's final order was, it was ultimately just Danzo's word.

However, after Danzo displayed his mastery of Wood Release and overwhelming strength, such doubts quickly vanished.

Moreover, Danzo was a highly politically astute individual. He proactively engaged in political dealings with the major clans of Konoha, exchanging favors for their support and trust in his ascension to Hokage.

After a series of complex political maneuvers and demonstrations of power that suppressed all opposition, Danzo's inauguration as the Third Hokage became a matter of course.

Thus, Danzo began to build his image, portraying himself as a survivor who inherited the will of the Second Hokage. It was due to the Second Hokage's trust and recognition, and the sacrifice and protection of his comrades, that he was able to escape with his life.

In other words, he was the product of the Will of Fire, the best proof of its existence and inheritance!

This propaganda was undeniably effective. The people of Konoha instantly felt immense sorrow and sincere admiration for the Second Hokage and the other fallen comrades.

They viewed Danzo, the survivor, as the one who could carry on their Will of Fire.

He himself also held the identity of "disciple of the Second Hokage," a genuine and legitimate lineage.

Coupled with the covert support of the major Konoha clans, Danzo finally obtained the hat he had long yearned for.

The Hokage hat, symbolizing the position of Hokage.

The one who presided over his inauguration ceremony and bestowed the Hokage hat upon him was Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

Danzo firmly placed the hat emblazoned with the character "Fire" upon his head.

The thousands of people gathered beneath the Hokage Tower erupted in thunderous cheers.

Looking at the surging crowd, Danzo revealed a satisfied smile.

I, finally, have become Hokage.

Next, Danzo collaborated with other clans to conduct a major purge within Konoha.

Following the guiding principles of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, his teacher, Danzo swiftly eradicated the Uchiha clan, deemed to be a threat.

Then, after a few years of recuperation and development, he mobilized all of Konoha's forces to launch the Second Great Ninja War.

With Danzo's terrifying strength, Konoha successfully defeated the other four Great Nations.

Like Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi who emerged during the Warring States period, he single-handedly ended the era of chaos and unified the entire ninja world.

Danzo Shimura, this name became even more illustrious than Hashirama Senju in the annals of ninja history.

And then…

He woke up.

Everything began to slip away from Danzo. His perspective fell continuously, returning to reality.

Looking at the dimly lit room, Danzo felt a rare sense of… loss.

"Was it all an illusion?"

He used his left hand to confirm the state of his right arm and right eye.

Indeed, they hadn't changed. It was the transplanted Wood Release prosthetic and Sharingan.

In other words, everything that had just happened was indeed a dream.

Danzo remained silent, lost in thought. After a long while, he muttered, "It seems I was backlashed by the genjutsu."

He gently covered his still unfamiliar Sharingan with his hand.

Recalling the scenes from the dream, first killing Hiruzen and the others, then ascending to the coveted Hokage position, eradicating the treacherous Uchiha clan, leading Konoha step by step to its peak, and pacifying the entire ninja world!

"Heh, the eye of the mind's reflection, huh?"

Danzo slowly rewrapped the bandage around his eye, concealing it once more, just as he concealed his inner desires and ambitions.

Having done all this, Danzo felt a deep fatigue.

"Let's stop here for today. There's still plenty of time."

Danzo made this decision after a moment of contemplation.

After he left, Kaneki slowly opened his eyes, gazing towards the corridor outside, and spoke thoughtfully, "What an ambitious man you are, Elder Danzo."

Of course, Kaneki hadn't truly fallen into Danzo's genjutsu.

Instead, he had taken advantage of the connection Danzo had actively established, invading his inner world and awakening the "desire" and "fear" within Danzo's heart.

If Kaneki were to give Danzo's illusion a title, it would be this:

It's Fantasy Time!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 173: Gaze in the Darkness

Steam slowly rose, veiling the bathroom's glass door in a thin layer of mist. Through the hazy glass, a figure gradually shed their clothes, revealing their body.

"Ahem!"

Danzo slowly took off his clothes and unwrapped the bandages around his arm and eye, layer by layer.

Then, he looked at himself in the mirror.

Due to the transplanted Hashirama cells, his bandaged prosthetic arm had an unnatural pale color and a wood-like texture. On the grayish-white arm, numerous eyes were examining the world.

Ten Sharingan.

Along with his one remaining eye, a total of eleven Sharingan.

It was precisely because of these eleven Sharingan that he could suppress the Hashirama cells from eroding his body.

But even this power, compared to the self in his dream, was still a world of difference.

"What kind of power was that?"

Danzo stared at himself in the mirror, lost in thought.

Scenes from the dream repeatedly played out in his mind.

Crimson tentacles erupted from his body, possessing the terrifying power to instantly kill Hiruzen and others.

It was with that power that Danzo was able to wreak havoc in the dream and ultimately become the new... God of Shinobi!

After finishing his bath, Danzo put on his usual kimono and wrapped his arm and eye with bandages again, layer by layer.

Both the Wood Release and the eleven Sharingan he possessed were Danzo's ultimate trump cards, and he absolutely could not reveal them easily.

Especially the Sharingan.

Although Danzo, like his teacher, regarded the Uchiha clan as evil, it was undeniable that the Uchiha were still very powerful.

If they discovered that he had transplanted so many Sharingan, it would inevitably cause a storm.

That guy, Hiruzen, would definitely not hesitate to make him remove all the Sharingan and return them to the Uchiha to appease them.

"What a rotten fellow."

Danzo stood on the balcony, overlooking the village shrouded in darkness.

On the surface, Konoha was still the number one power in the ninja world, flourishing.

In reality, since the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and his wife died sealing the Nine-Tails, Konoha had been fraught with crises.

One of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, defected from the village after his human experiments were exposed.

Jiraiya was busy searching for some prophesied child, wandering around the ninja world for long periods, only occasionally sending messages to Konoha.

As for Tsunade, this Senju descendant and a true Hokage lineage member, was disheartened and no longer participated in village affairs, only knowing how to hang around gambling dens.

Several times, creditors even ran to the Hokage's office to demand payment from Hiruzen.

The departure of the Sannin left Konoha severely lacking in high-end combat power in normal times. The only Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was not yet grown up and was currently more of a potential threat to Konoha than an asset!

In addition to the lack of combat power, undercurrents surged within the village.

The conflict and contradictions between the Uchiha clan and the higher-ups were intensifying day by day, with the risk of an eventual eruption.

What worried Danzo most was that the two geniuses who appeared after Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui, were both from the Uchiha clan.

Coupled with the Uchiha clan leader, Fugaku, so many powerful individuals posed a certain threat to Konoha's leadership.

Moreover, the atmosphere of resistance within the Uchiha was growing stronger. Recently, there had been more than one incident of clashes between the Military Police Force and the Anbu.

In Danzo's view, all of this was due to Hiruzen Sarutobi's incompetence and weakness.

If, after Minato's death, the Third had not taken office and he had become Hokage, he would never have let Orochimaru defect. Instead, he would have gathered the power of the Sannin and the Anbu to take advantage of the Nine-Tails incident to attack the Uchiha, eradicate the evil Uchiha, and ensure Konoha's internal security and stability.

Then none of this would be happening now.

"Hiruzen, you are still too weak."

Danzo sighed.

After sighing, he recalled the ending in the dream and couldn't help but snort: "It's still best for me to become Hokage!"

For Danzo, everything in the dream was a kind of reminder, wasn't it?

"Wood Release..."

Danzo murmured. He believed that as long as he nurtured Kinoe and Yamato well, especially Yamato, this kid would definitely become a sharp blade he could wield against his enemies in the future!

In a corner Danzo didn't notice, a tiny black beetle slowly crawled into a crevice.

Back at the Root base, a large number of black beetles gathered from all directions into Kaneki's palm, returning to his body through their mouthparts.

The moment Kaneki entered Konoha's barrier, he began scattering numerous eggs on the roads and within the village.

These eggs hatched easily within a few hours, transforming into black beetles that spread to every corner of Konoha.

These black beetles were purely living organisms, carrying no chakra. Therefore, even if someone discovered them, they would probably just think they were some kind of insect from nature.

In fact, they were all Kaneki's eyes and ears in Konoha.

Among them, Danzo's residence was the focus of Kaneki's surveillance.

After all, he was his superior, and Kaneki was very curious about what this "Darkness of the Shinobi" did every day.

In addition, there were the various clans of Konoha.

Before coming here, Kaneki had obtained a lot of information about Konoha from Nagato.

Those Konoha clans with secret techniques and Kekkei Genkai were the focus of Kaneki's attention.

Especially the Uchiha, Hyuga, and Aburame clans.

The first two were because they both possessed famous Kekkei Genkai in the ninja world.

The latter, well, it was because they also played with bugs.

Kaneki was very interested in the Aburame clan's Insect Secret Technique.

Of course, since they both dealt with insects, Kaneki intended to be more cautious when probing the Aburame clan, preferably not letting them discover any flaws.

Furthermore, Kaneki also wanted to take this opportunity to collect a large amount of information on Konoha personnel.

For example, who were the more powerful ninja, their combat characteristics, fighting styles, weaknesses, and so on.

Besides this, the relationships between the various clans in Konoha were also a focus of Kaneki's attention.

If there was a chance, Kaneki wouldn't mind stirring up some trouble in Konoha in the name of the Jashin Cult.

After all, Konoha was the number one ninja village in the ninja world. Although its dominance was not what it used to be, its foundation was still there.

If he didn't find an opportunity to weaken it significantly, it might hinder Kaneki's next plan.

Moreover, if the Jashin Cult could make some noise in Konoha, the increase in reputation points should be much greater than the Shukaku incident...

Kaneki gazed at Konoha in the darkness, like a demon contemplating how to dissect its prey.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 174: Lord Danzo, You Are the True Shadow of Konoha!

*Konoha, Root Training Ground.*

Danzo gazed intently at the two young men before him. His focus was primarily on Kaneki.

"Today, let's test the results of your training," Danzo rasped, his familiar hoarse voice echoing through the training ground.

A month had passed since Kaneki joined Root. During this time, he and Kou had been diligently following their training regimen. Every evening, they consumed the "medicinal cuisine" meticulously prepared by Kabuto, followed by a deep slumber in their respective rooms.

While they slept, a wizened figure, his body swathed in bandages, would silently slip into their chambers under the dim light. He would carefully unwind the bandages, revealing a crimson Sharingan.

(This almost sounds like the start of some kind of indecent movie, doesn't it?)

Fortunately, despite his twisted and dark nature, Danzo harbored no unusual fetishes. Otherwise, Kaneki might not have endured until today.

Each time Danzo performed his hypnotic jutsu, he would invariably recall the illusion he experienced during his first attempt. The sensation of becoming Hokage, ascending to the pinnacle of the ninja world, filled him with an intoxicating sense of power.

(Truly irresistible.)

If it were Kaneki, he would undoubtedly shout before activating the illusion: "This, that, and whatever else! Illusion activate! Activate them all!"

After days of hypnotic manipulation, the two Root recruits had undergone a noticeable transformation.

Ko looked at Danzo with a hint of respect in his eyes.

As for Otsu?

The guy had completely become Danzo's devoted follower.

As soon as Danzo finished speaking, Kaneki loudly proclaimed, "Respected, great Shadow of the Underground, Lord Danzo!"

Danzo was momentarily taken aback by the title "Shadow of the Underground."

He quickly interrupted Kaneki's "double clap" gesture and inquired, "What does 'Shadow of the Underground' mean?"

Kaneki responded with fervent zeal, "In my eyes, Lord Danzo is the greatest, the true inheritor of the First Hokage's Will of Fire. It is only due to that decrepit old Third Hokage that you have been unable to become Hokage."

Despite uttering such treasonous words, Kaneki's expression remained unchanged.

Danzo merely raised an eyebrow, not stopping Kaneki from continuing.

Emboldened by Danzo's silence, Kaneki's tone grew even more passionate.

"But in my view, even though Lord Danzo has been continuously suppressed by that old geezer, the Third Hokage, you have never abandoned the Will of Fire. Instead, you have become the roots buried deep underground, continuing to eliminate enemies for Konoha in the shadows, providing nourishment, and supporting this great tree of Konoha!"

"Although on the surface, that old Third Hokage is the Hokage, the true shadow of Konoha should be Lord Danzo!"

Kaneki stared at Danzo with burning intensity, his fist clenched against his chest, as if ready to offer his heart at any moment.

"In my heart, only Lord Danzo is the true shadow of Konoha, the one who continuously supports Konoha from the underground without seeking any reward!"

After this impassioned speech, Ko was completely dumbfounded.

(Good heavens, Otsu has already become this devoted to Lord Danzo?)

Not only Ko, but even Danzo himself was caught in a moment of self-doubt.

(Could it be... that I am truly the shadow of Konoha?)

It wasn't entirely unreasonable. Hiruzen had been in power for so many years, and Danzo had been the one handling all the dirty work, eliminating countless enemies in the shadows.

Hiruzen, that indecisive fellow, only knew how to play the balancing game within the village, leading to the Uchiha clan's growing power, which was now threatening Konoha's stability.

Yet, it was this weakling who had allowed Danzo to bear all the infamy while he basked in the villagers' respect and admiration.

(This is unfair!)

In the illusion, after becoming Hokage, Danzo had led Konoha to new heights of glory, even unifying the ninja world.

Although it was just an illusion, Danzo always believed that if he had become Hokage back then, he would have done a far better job than Hiruzen.

Perhaps, he truly should become Hokage, just like in the illusion.

(Konoha's glory must bloom in my hands!)

However...

Looking at Kaneki, who seemed ready to offer his heart with such fervor, Danzo couldn't help but ask himself: (Did I perhaps give him too much of the potion? Compared to Ko, Otsu reaction seems a bit excessive.)

(Or has my genjutsu become this powerful?)

While Danzo was still pondering how to respond to his subordinate's almost fanatical enthusiasm, Kaneki continued, "Lord Danzo, you are the fertile soil that nourishes Konoha's growth, the shadow that protects all the villagers..."

He raised his head, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

"Lord Danzo, allow me to eliminate that old Third Hokage! Such a decrepit person is not worthy of sitting in the Hokage's seat. Only you, the great Lord Danzo, can lead Konoha to glory!"

(Old man Hiruzen, wake up, it's time to cash in some coins!)

Hearing this, Ko's eyebrows shot up.

The Root ninjas hidden around them, tasked with protecting Danzo, gasped.

Even Danzo's heart skipped a beat.

However, he was, after all, the legendary "Shinobi of Darkness," and his composure was impeccable.

In other words, even if he truly wanted to assassinate Hiruzen and become Hokage himself, he would never say it out loud or agree to it.

Facing Kaneki's incredibly loyal suggestion, Danzo simply said, "Otsu, you are being too extreme."

He placed his remaining hand behind his back, assuming the posture of a seasoned leader, and said earnestly, "Although Hiruzen lacks talent, assassinating the Hokage is a grave crime. It will inevitably cause immense turmoil in Konoha. Without my order, you must not act rashly."

"Yes, sir."

Kaneki nodded.

(Without your order, I cannot act rashly? Meaning I can assassinate him once you're ready, you old fox!)

(Not a bad idea.)

As long as there was any possibility of internal conflict in Konoha, Kaneki felt he should strive for it.

If he could ultimately pin the blame on the Heretical God Cult and the great Heretical God, that would be ideal.

If not, blaming it on Akatsuki wouldn't be too bad either.

After all, Akatsuki was so powerful; taking the blame shouldn't be a big deal for them.

Seeing Kaneki agree, Danzo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

To be honest, he was genuinely afraid that this rising star of Root would act impulsively and actually try to assassinate the Third Hokage.

If the assassination were successful, it would be fine. But if it failed, wouldn't it expose the fact that Root possessed a Wood Release user?

Moreover, assassinating the Hokage was a serious crime. Otsu alone couldn't bear the consequences; he might even be executed!

Danzo couldn't bear to let such a talented shinobi, a sharp blade in his hand, go to his death.

(It's better to wait for the right opportunity.)

After concluding the treasonous discussion about assassinating the Third Hokage, the topic finally returned to showcasing the results of their training.

Kaneki immediately clapped his hands together.

"Wood Release: Wood Clone Jutsu!"

Chakra surged through his meridians and converged on his back. His skin and clothes rapidly began to lignify, extending like growing branches.

Then, patterns emerged on these branches, ultimately forming one "Kaneki" after another, who landed on the ground.

The four Kanekis grinned and simultaneously clapped their hands together.

"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"

The ground around the first clone instantly shattered, sprouting thick branches that formed a sturdy semicircle, encasing him within.

"Wood Release: Great Tree Technique!"

A thick wooden pillar suddenly sprouted from the ground in front of the second clone, reaching skyward.

"Wood Style: Silent Killing Bind Technique!"

The third clone's arm stretched out horizontally, quickly transforming into a flexible branch that entangled all the wooden stakes on the training ground.

A terrifying force erupted from the branch, and in an instant, the stakes were crushed to pieces under the immense pressure.

The last one, Kaneki's main body, smiled slightly and clapped his hands together.

"Wood Style: Great Forest Technique!"

Kaneki channeled a large amount of pre-gathered Wood Style chakra through the acupoints in his feet and into the ground. The chakra spread out like ripples, centering on Kaneki, then converging at the points he designated.

Then, a surge of life force exploded across the entire training ground! Even Danzo's eyes narrowed sharply.

The ground of the training ground was shattered by the rising tree roots, and countless vibrant trees grew from the broken soil at an incredible speed.

In just a few seconds, a green forest occupied the entire training ground!

This had become Kaneki's domain.

To be honest, Kaneki was also quite surprised when he first came into contact with Wood Style.

Such vigorous life force was truly amazing.

If it were in his past life, with such an ability, he wouldn't have to worry about desertification at all.

"Is this the true power of Wood Style?"

The boundless vitality, the terrifying control over the environment...

Danzo looked at the lush scene before him and once again affirmed Otsu's talent.

Although he had been prepared, Otsu's performance still exceeded his expectations.

No matter which jutsu it was, Otsu executed it perfectly.

Both the effects of the jutsu themselves and the control over chakra had reached the pinnacle; even Danzo himself couldn't reach this level.

Indeed, using genjutsu and drugs to firmly control such a genius in his hands was an extremely correct choice!

Danzo was filled with anticipation for the future.

If Otsu continued to grow at this rate, perhaps what he said about assassinating the Third Hokage and making him, Danzo, the Hokage might actually come true!

As for Ko, he stood to the side and sighed softly.

Everyone was a Wood Style user, so why was it that he had just learned two Wood Style jutsu while this guy could already use the Great Forest Technique to this extent?

It could only be said that people's constitutions were different.

Of course, Ko didn't have any cliché feelings of jealousy.

After all, he was able to learn two Wood Style jutsu within a month entirely thanks to the other party's guidance.

Without Otsu, Ko would be lucky to have learned the first jutsu by now.

Faced with Kaneki's outstanding performance, Danzo didn't hold back his praise.

"Well done, Otsu."

However, there was no joy on Kaneki's face; instead, he said sullenly, "Reporting to Lord Danzo, I haven't done enough!"

"Oh?"

Danzo looked at Kaneki with interest. "Your progress has been quite obvious. What's wrong? Not satisfied?"

Kaneki clenched his small fists.

"Lord Danzo, you're unwilling to let me assassinate the old Third Hokage because I'm not strong enough, afraid I'll just throw my life away, right?"

Uh...

Danzo was a bit taken aback. Though he did have this consideration, was this something that could be said out loud?!

It was only because they were in Root. If this were outside, Hiruzen Sarutobi would immediately have the ANBU come knocking.

Seeing that Danzo didn't speak, Kaneki continued to clench his fists and gritted his teeth. "If I become strong enough, Lord Danzo won't have to worry about my safety, and you can kill the old Third Hokage, making Lord Danzo become..."

"Alright, say no more."

Danzo interrupted Kaneki in time.

Again, this child was too extreme! Why did he always say these things that could get him beheaded?

However, what he said did make some sense.

Kaneki immediately fell silent after being interrupted by Danzo, but his stubborn expression and determined eyes still revealed his thoughts.

What was that old Third Hokage anyway? Once my power reaches its peak, I will definitely storm the Hokage Tower and seize that bird's position. Then, Lord Danzo will be the First Hokage, and I will be the Second Hokage...

Seeing Kaneki's expression, Danzo suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

Although Otsu was a bit... much, he was quite loyal and wholeheartedly devoted to him. He was a good kid.

In order not to discourage his subordinate, Danzo took out a scroll from his pocket.

"Otsu, this is a jutsu left behind by the First Hokage, called the Wood Human Technique. It is one of the most powerful jutsu the First left behind."

"Grow strong. There will come a time for you to give your all."

To be honest, Danzo had hesitated for a long time before choosing to hand this scroll over to Kaneki.

After all, it was one of the most powerful Wood Style jutsu left behind by the First Hokage.

If it weren't for Kaneki's heartfelt words today, he wouldn't have handed such an important jutsu to anyone else.

Taking the scroll, a delighted smile immediately appeared on Kaneki's face.

After waiting for so long, that old geezer Danzo was finally willing to hand over the precious Wood Style jutsu left behind by the First Hokage to him.

It had to be said that this Wood Human Technique was completely different from those flashy jutsu before. The difficulty had increased considerably, and even with Kaneki's processing power, it was somewhat challenging to comprehend.

But it was precisely these more difficult jutsu that Kaneki loved to challenge! After all, this was the power of the legendary God of Shinobi...

This was also the reason why Kaneki had been working hard to perform ever since he entered Root. Only by demonstrating his talent and loyalty could he obtain more resources and information.

As long as Danzo still had the ambition to become Hokage, he would have to find ways to increase Root's strength.

And the best and fastest way to increase Root's strength was to invest resources in him, this genius!

(End of chapter)

Chapter 175: The Shape-Shifting Herculean Weapon

*Uchiha Clan Training Grounds by the Lake*

Two young men were drenched in sweat as they trained relentlessly.

One had light blonde hair and wielded a knight's lance with his only arm, charging forward with fierce determination.

The other had raven black hair, clad in a black high-collared shirt beneath a standard Konoha ninja flak jacket. He gripped the ninjato strapped to his back with a single hand, his eyes warily fixed on his approaching opponent.

Indeed, these two were none other than the first man to create and master the Herculean weapon, the survivor from the Village Hidden in the Hot Springs, Arima .

His sparring partner was the Uchiha prodigy, son of the clan leader – Uchiha Itachi, personally appointed by the Third Hokage as Arima's protector at Kakashi's recommendation.

Itachi's expression hardened as Arima attacked.

With lightning speed, he drew his ninjato and met the incoming lance with a resounding clang.

Against such a powerful blow, Itachi, who wasn't particularly known for his taijutsu, wisely chose not to meet it head-on.

Instead, he used the impact to propel himself backward, pushing off the ground with his toes and retreating like a nimble panther.

However, as an elite ninja skilled in combat, Itachi wouldn't simply dodge.

Mid-air, he unleashed a volley of shuriken.

Four in total.

Two flew straight towards Arima's face, while the other two traced an uncanny curved trajectory, flanking him from both sides.

Furthermore, each shuriken flew at a different speed.

This meant Arima couldn't simply deflect them all with a single sweep; he had to either dodge or block them individually.

This was the beauty of shurikenjutsu.

"As expected of the Uchiha, renowned for their shurikenjutsu," Arima remarked.

He had been in Konoha for several months now, training under Itachi for the past month, and had gained some understanding of this prominent clan.

Their mastery of shurikenjutsu was one of their hallmarks.

And indeed, Itachi's display was impressive. Faced with a three-pronged attack, Arima was forced to halt his advance.

But after months of rigorous training, Arima had grown considerably, and he wasn't one to be easily overwhelmed.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than he thrust his lance forward, effortlessly deflecting the two shuriken aimed at his face.

He then took a step back, using the lance to swat away the shuriken coming from the left.

By now, the shuriken from the right was closing in fast.

It was too late to redirect the lance.

In a flash, Arima tightened his grip on the lance's shaft, yanking it to the right and precisely blocking the incoming shuriken with the handle.

He's improved significantly, Itachi noted to himself.

He didn't voice his thoughts, as he wasn't one for idle chatter during combat.

But his counterattack was far from over.

He raised a single hand, revealing four thin wires glinting silver in the sunlight.

These wires extended from his fingertips, connected to the four shuriken Arima had just blocked.

With deft manipulation of his fingers, Itachi pulled the wires with varying force and direction, causing the deflected shuriken to arc back towards Arima, who was now at the center of their converging paths.

Once the shuriken converged, Arima would be trapped like an insect caught in a spiderweb.

Faced with Itachi's masterful shurikenjutsu, Arima remained calm.

After all, this level of control was child's play for Itachi.

He released his grip on the lance, then grasped it firmly once more.

"Herculean Transformation: Swordsman!" Arima declared, his eyes sharpening.

If he couldn't even break through this level of restraint, how could he ever hope for revenge?

With a surge of power coursing through his arm, he swung the massive lance, and a spiral crack appeared on its surface.

Following the crack, the lance unfolded, transforming into an incredibly sharp and flexible sword!

As Arima brandished the hilt, the sword seemed to come alive, writhing like a serpent in the air.

Not only did it deflect the four shuriken, but its sharp blade also sliced through the wires Itachi was using to control them!

Freed from Itachi's control, the shuriken clattered harmlessly to the ground.

Arima resumed his attack, charging towards Itachi while swinging his sword.

This time, Itachi didn't dodge. He swiftly formed hand seals, gathering chakra in his mouth and expelling it as a blazing fireball.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

The grass beneath them blackened from the intense heat of the enormous fireball, and the rapidly rising temperature warned Arima of its destructive power.

Without hesitation, Arima released his hold on the Herculean weapon and performed hand seals with his free hand.

"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"

A wall of earth rose with a rumble, blocking the incoming fireball.

Even so, the resulting explosion created a thick cloud of smoke.

Itachi emerged from the smoke, ninjato in hand, and attacked from the side.

Just as he was about to strike, Itachi froze. Arima's Herculean weapon, now in its Swordsman form, had somehow appeared beside him.

Its sharp blade hovered inches from his neck.

"Gotcha, Itachi," Arima said with a smirk.

Itachi merely smiled faintly. "Have you really, now?"

A crimson light flared in his eyes, two black tomoe swirling within.

Arima was taken aback, then watched in disbelief as Itachi began to crack.

Literally.

Countless fissures appeared on his body, breaking him into fragments that transformed into crows. The crows took flight, then reformed into Itachi in mid-air.

"Is this... genjutsu?"

Arima found himself completely helpless, his vision consumed by Itachi's swirling crimson eyes.

A hand gently touched his shoulder, jolting him awake as if from a nightmare, his heart pounding.

He gasped for air and turned to see his visitor.

Kakashi, with his masked face, grinned. "Not bad, kid. You managed to force Itachi to use his two-tomoe Sharingan in just a month."

"Kakashi-senpai?"

Arima turned around, recognizing the figure. He sighed dejectedly. "This level of strength is still far from enough."

Kakashi offered no words of comfort.

He knew that compared to the dream Arima sought to fulfill, this level of strength was indeed insignificant.

As a witness to the destruction of the Village Hidden in the Hot Springs, Kakashi knew firsthand the terrifying power of the Jashinists.

Even Jiraiya-sama, one of the Legendary Sannin, couldn't defeat them...

At his current level, Arima would be walking straight into a death trap.

As they spoke, Itachi approached them.

"Kakashi-senpai," he greeted Kakashi respectfully.

Unlike his fellow clansmen, the gentle and quiet Itachi harbored no animosity towards Kakashi, an outsider who possessed the Sharingan.

"Arima-kun likely could have broken free from the genjutsu on his own, even without your intervention, Kakashi-senpai."

Itachi's eyes returned to their normal black color, then he glanced at the Herculean weapon lying at Arima's feet.

Kakashi noticed this too and chuckled sheepishly. "Seems I was meddling after all."

Arima quickly reassured him, "Not at all. If you hadn't intervened, I would have had to make the Herculean weapon attack me to break free..."

Itachi smiled at Arima. "In any case, your progress has been remarkable. I might have to use my full strength in our next spar."

Arima grinned playfully. "Then you better watch out, Itachi-kun. Don't be surprised if you can't defeat me even with your full power."

Itachi didn't reply, only smiled faintly.

Despite his approachable demeanor, as an Uchiha prodigy, Itachi had his pride.

In other words, he didn't believe Arima could truly surpass him.

Especially not in such a short time.

"Alright, seeing you two get along so well puts my mind at ease. I'll head to the Hokage Tower to report on my mission now."

"Bye!" Kakashi said before vanishing in a flash.

Watching Kakashi leave, Arima sighed. "Kakashi-senpai must be going on a very important mission, right?"

Itachi nodded. "Given Kakashi-senpai's strength and experience, the missions he undertakes are usually quite important."

After a brief moment of reflection, Arima resumed his training.

His dedication and the sheer amount of time he spent training each day were even greater than Itachi's.

Arima's daily training was divided into four parts.

First was physical conditioning and taijutsu training.

Second was honing his synergy with the Herculean weapon and developing new offensive techniques.

Third was practicing the ninjutsu taught by Itachi.

Fourth was attempting to integrate ninjutsu with his Herculean weapon attacks.

The fourth part was the most challenging.

Through his recent ninjutsu training, Arima had determined his chakra nature: Earth, Lightning, and Fire.

However, he had yet to figure out how to integrate corresponding ninjutsu with his Herculean weapon.

As for the second part, Arima had made considerable progress.

He had already developed three forms for his Herculean weapon: Knight, Swordsman, and Shield-bearer.

These corresponded to thrusting, slashing, and defensive combat styles, respectively.

(End of Chapter)