Jixo

070 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

As sunlight bathed Konohagakure, the streets quickly filled with merchants and villagers. The recent expansion had attracted many outsiders seeking new opportunities.

Knock knock knock. The office door of the Hokage Tower echoed with the sound of knocking.

"Come in," Minato's calm voice invited.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped inside slowly, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings, a trace of nostalgia in his gaze.

Minato put down the scrolls he was working on and stood t...

069 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

The Shinobi World had finally calmed, and time passed quickly.

It had been a year and a half since Namikaze Minato became the Fourth Hokage.

His prestige in Konoha was quietly approaching that of the "Strongest Hokage," the Third Hokage.

This wasn't due to strength alone but rather his influence within the village.

Even the proud Uchiha clan had been won over by Minato's broad-minded nature and personal charisma.

His policy of treating everyone equally and the in...

068 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

"Don't look at me like that. Once you know the truth, you'll thank me. If you have any questions, ask him..."

Danzo remained indifferent to her hateful glare—if anything, he seemed mildly entertained.Pakura suppressed her fury, though her heart was filled with confusion.

"Baki, has Maru's left leg healed?"

Baki's vacant, hollow gaze stared into the distance as he answered mechanically:

"Maru injured his right leg. It was amputated a year ago."

A wave of complex...

067 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

The birth of the Kazekage's second child brought a rare air of joy to Sunagakure.

Though the villagers still lived in poverty, life was far better than during the war.

At the very least, they had enough basic supplies to survive. The Kazekage occasionally distributed extra rations or necessities, like the gifts the villagers received to celebrate the birth of his second child.

Compared to other villages, Sunagakure didn't have many powerful clans or those with kekkei genkai,...

066 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

Danzo realized that with each system reward, his soul seemed to undergo a qualitative transformation.

His formidable will and mental strength subtly influenced those around him, especially after solidifying his chosen path. The feeling became even more pronounced. Danzo couldn't help but feel that the strengthening of his soul was the real reward, and the system's visible "rewards" were merely add-ons.

However, the system's mission completion criteria frustrated him.

Logical...

065 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

"Lord Hokage, good evening…""Lord Hokage…""..."

As the setting sun bathed the village in warm light, Namikaze Minato left the Hokage's office. On the street, he was greeted with respect by merchants and villagers alike.

He watched children playing and vendors shouting out their wares. It was only during moments like this that he could cast off the burdens of his political duties. He smiled and returned each greeting with warmth.

Although he had only been in office for a ...

064 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

A month later, Jiraiya left Konohagakure, saying he was heading out for "research." In truth, he found himself caught between the Third Hokage and Namikaze Minato, which made him feel incredibly uncomfortable.

Unable to convince either side, he accepted a secret mission proposed by Danzo to track down Orochimaru.

When the Third Hokage learned of Jiraiya's departure two days later, he was so furious that he didn't sleep that night.

With the support of Danzo and the Uchiha cla...

063 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

That night, Fugaku convened a family meeting, mandating the attendance of all jōnin.

He announced Shisui's acceptance into the Anbu...

…and the Hokage's return of the clan's original station.

He explained the rationale behind their political investment and the substantial return it had now yielded.

The Uchiha Clan would integrate into Konoha's upper ranks, paving the way for the clan's resurgence.

Fugaku's speech was filled with confidence and passion, a stark...

062 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

Half a month after the Fourth Hokage officially took office, emissaries from Sunagakure and Iwagakure—villages that had signed peace treaties—arrived in Konoha to offer their congratulations. However, their true intent was likely to gauge Konoha's current strength.

Danzo had already assumed a visible role in the Hokage's administration as a senior advisor. Even though Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two elders had objected when Minato proposed this arrangement, they couldn't stop the...

061 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

The day of the Hokage election arrived—a rare and momentous occasion in Konohagakure.

From early morning, families gathered outside the Hokage Tower, with even villagers from settlements beyond the village walls showing up to witness the historic event. A sea of people filled the streets, waiting anxiously for the final result.

Ninja perched on balconies, rooftops, and tree branches, maintaining order as the crowd grew restless.

On the rooftop of the Hokage Tower stood the...

060 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

Danzo set down the letter from Uchiha Fugaku and looked at Uchiha Shisui, who was kneeling before him.

"The clan head has no intention of competing for the Hokage position. However… the rest of the clan…"

After hearing Shisui's explanation, Danzo couldn't help but sigh.

"These truly are turbulent times."

Among the Hokage candidates, some had withdrawn, some had fled, and others had simply stepped aside. The only remaining competitor was a young Namikaze Minato, bar...

059 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

Orochimaru's defection had indeed shaken Konohagakure.

The many supporters he had gained on the Iwagakure battlefield refused to believe the truth. Numerous shinobi who were close to Orochimaru went directly to the Hokage Tower to demand an explanation from the Third Hokage.

Within a single week, six incidents of defection had already occurred.

Rumors even spread about villages outside of Konohagakure being raided by rogue Konoha shinobi.

But the Third Hokage seemed to...

058 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

As reports on the affairs of the Land of Rivers and the Higashikawa Trading Company trickled in, even Danzo—who had been focused on adapting to his newfound strength—found himself with a headache.

The scope of his operations was expanding rapidly, yet the number of people truly capable of handling things independently remained unchanged. Even Yakushi Nono had been stationed in the Land of Rivers, leaving Danzo with fewer capable hands.

The increasingly complex matters of Root ...

057 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

"Lord Danzo, everything is ready."

The assistant stepped back, leaving Danzo alone in the dimly lit laboratory. In front of him, a cloning pod stood illuminated by the pale glow of monitoring instruments, displaying precise data on the subject inside.

"Good. Leave. Without my command, no one is to enter."

As the door closed behind his subordinate, Danzo turned his attention to the clone floating in the pod—a body worth five hundred million ryo. Among all the Tsunade clones...

056 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

In just three months, the entire shinobi world had undergone drastic changes.

Kirigakure, as always, remained independent and indifferent to political diplomacy. By the time Konoha realized what was happening, the Mist's forces had already quietly withdrawn from the Land of Waves, returning to the Land of Water without a trace.

On the other hand, the envoys Konoha had sent to Kumogakure for peace talks were completely ignored. Everything about the Raikage's stance made it clear—...

055 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

The Konoha and the Land of Rivers forces were preparing to return home, and news of the peace treaty had already spread throughout the village.

As the victor, Konoha not only ensured the sovereignty of the Land of Rivers but also received a hefty war indemnity of 4 billion ryo from Sunagakure.

For the common folk, the outcome wasn't particularly significant—whether it was Iwagakure or Sunagakure, Konoha had still won. However, for the higher-ranking jōnin and the clan shinobi w...

054 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

The name "Yellow Flash" once again echoed across the shinobi world.

Single-handedly, he repelled the Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, cementing his status as a Kage-level powerhouse.

On the battlefield, encountering the "Yellow Flash" meant you were allowed to abandon your mission immediately—without consequences.

His prestige wasn't limited to the battlefield, in Konohagakure, he was just as revered. The tales of Namikaze Minato, the Yellow Flash, spread like wild...

053 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

"Tsunade is going along with his reckless behavior." The voice carried barely restrained anger.

In Konohagakure, the Third Hokage frowned upon the decision to engage Sunagakure after receiving intelligence that war had already begun. He was deeply dissatisfied with their unilateral actions.

"Has the intel from Root been verified?"

"The information is accurate," an ANBU operative confirmed respectfully. "Furthermore, the loss of the Three-Tails, along with internal instabilit...

052 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

The four of them returned to the Konoha camp.

"Danzo, what is the meaning of this?"

Tsunade's voice carried a trace of anger, but Danzo was well-prepared for this confrontation.

"Tsunade, can't you see? This so-called peace negotiation is meaningless—unless we're willing to abandon the Land of Rivers and let the other great nations witness Konoha's weakness."

"You want me to give the order to go to war with Sunagakure?" Tsunade's gaze grew cold.

"No. This war h...

051 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

At the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind, the Konoha forces had set up camp. The arrival of a squad of several dozen Root members instantly drew everyone's attention.

Inside the command tent, Tsunade lounged lazily in her chair, her expression tinged with irritation as she looked at the unwelcome visitor who had interrupted her moment of relaxation.

"What the hell are you doing here, old man? I didn't receive any orders about you."

Even though Danzo had ...

050 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

Deep within a forest in the Land of Rivers, three Sunagakure shinobi hid near a flowing stream, alert and waiting for something.

"Water Release: Surging Sea!"

The water in the stream suddenly swirled and surged toward the three Sunagakure shinobi.

"Enemy attack!" One of them shouted as they hastily jumped back to avoid being swept into the rapid currents.

A figure dashed out from the shadows, lightning crackling in his hand, accompanied by the piercing sound of chirpin...

049 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

Deep underground, not far from Kannabi Bridge, a dimly lit base lay hidden in the shadows.

The flickering candlelight swayed with the subtle currents of air, as if it could be snuffed out at any moment.

A pale figure slowly emerged from the earth.

"It's all set, but this is a bit too cruel for Obito, don't you think?" The voice was lighthearted yet filled with anticipation.

Leaning against the cold stone wall like a lifeless corpse, Uchiha Madara slowly opened his wear...

048 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

The wind carried fine grains of sand, swirling in the air—a scene that never changed in this desolate land.

Deep within the desert lay Sunagakure, a village that looked abandoned at first glance. The war had left its mark, adding a layer of silence to the already bleak landscape.

...

Inside the Kazekage's office,

Rasa was fuming. The squad he had sent to Fire Country for a raid had vanished without a trace.

"Damn that daimyo… Damn Konoha…" ...

047 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

The peace treaty with Iwagakure, under the guidance of the Third Hokage, was finally established.

As for the opposition from the Land of Grass? In this ninja world, where only the strong have a voice, it was naturally ignored.

Within Konohagakure, only the major clans and a few jōnin knew the full details. Some people grumbled about it, but their voices were drowned out by the overwhelming chorus celebrating the victory.

—

On the border between the Land of Rivers an...

046 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

In the Hokage's office,

Danzo leaned on his cane as he reported the detailed state of the war with Kirigakure.

"It's better to stay in the village and let the younger generation pave the way outside."

The Third Hokage, puffing on his pipe, gazed at the aged Danzo. It was unclear whether he was speaking to himself or to his old comrade.

"We truly are old. If we go out now, we'd likely die on the battlefield," Danzo responded flatly, waiting for what Sar...

045 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

Late at night, in the Water Country's main encampment, a lone tent remained lit by candlelight.

Inside, the head of the Yuki Clan—who had previously clashed with Danzo—paced back and forth, deep in thought.

For the second time today, he had urged the Fourth Mizukage to order a retreat, to pull their forces back to the Water Country.

Their foundation wasn't on the mainland, and they had already gained enough from their initial victory. There was no need to remain locked i...

044 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

As Danzo stepped out of Uchiha Fugaku's tent, Uchiha Shisui followed closely behind.

Danzo's expression remained calm, but inwardly, he was ecstatic.

Shisui was now within his grasp—could Itachi be far behind? And once he had both, the system's reward wouldn't be far off either…

"When the time is right, I'll recommend you for the ANBU. But for now, your priority should be increasing your strength. Power is what gives you a voice in this world…"

Shisui had already...

043 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

Inside the main command tent, only Uchiha Fugaku remained, sitting alone in deep thought.

The two elders who once stood by him were nowhere to be seen.

Across from him sat Uchiha Fugaku, his dark expression unreadable. Meanwhile, beneath his bandages, Danzo's Sharingan reacted inexplicably to the man before him.

"Danzo-sama, what exactly happened with the Third Elder that day? Is there a chance he's still alive?"

Fugaku cut straight to the point. The Uchiha Clan had su...

042 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

This defeat was more than just a costly loss—it forced them to abandon the main encampment in the Land of Water.

Fortunately, the situation for the Mist ninja wasn't much better. In terms of high-level combat power, aside from the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, whose fate remained unknown, even the clan head of the Kaguya clan had fallen on the battlefield.

According to Root's intelligence, after Konoha's main forces were breached, Uchiha Fugaku led his personal guard into battle....

041 Naruto: The Hidden Danzo

A fresh wound cut deep into his chest, exposing the bone beneath.

"Cough... Cough..." His consciousness was slipping, and his control over his body was deteriorating.

As the battle dragged on, his injuries worsened, blood loss increasing despite the specialized Root medication he had taken. With his arm severely damaged, his ability to perform jutsu was significantly hindered, leaving his combat strength far below its peak.

"Keep stalling him! He won't last much longer... Da...