The failure in pursuing Orochimaru didn't exceed Danzo's expectation. As Orochimaru's collaborator, he understood Orochimaru's abilities better than the Hokage, Hiruzen. Orochimaru was like a poisonous snake that couldn't be killed. If pushed pushed to a corner he could be potentially dangerous.

From his point of view, even though he maintained a cooperative relationship with Orochimaru, Danzo still remained vigilant.

Kakashi's information aligned with his suspicions. Even if the Anbu was dispatched with the two ministers, a Sannin wouldn't be easily subdued. Despite those two also being skilled Jonins, their combined strength merely approached Orochimaru's level. If they had succeeded in capturing Orochimaru, they would earn his respect.

"However, it's really strange." Ryoma within the room spoke with doubts.

"What's strange?"

"Why would Orochimaru use civilians and ninjas from the village for human experiments? As long as we were notified, we could provide countless bodies without the need for such risks."

Ryoma pondered, aware of Orochimaru's cautious nature. Unless he did it deliberately, like a joke, but the joke was on a large scale. Not even the Third Hokage could cover it up entirely, he could only try to suppress it. But Orochimaru had defected, even if the subsequent impact isn't suppressed, the loss can't be recovered.

Handling this, like the mass defection incident five years ago, might control public opinion but it can't change the cruel fact that Konoha's strength was declining. It was just a disguise.

"Because to this, Hiruzen will be deeply affected by this matter."

Danzo didn't provide a direct response to Ryoma's question, instead, he uttered these words and sighed lightly. Orochimaru's defection occurred unexpectedly, surpassing even his own expectations.

Orochimaru's act of defection was intentionally performed in a way that everyone could witness. If it were a normal defection, it wouldn't impact Hiruzen so hard. It was the cunning form of betrayal that was fatal to him.

Orochimaru denied not only the village but also denied everything associated with his sensei, Hiruzen. Compared to Orochimaru's defection, these rejections inflicted by it were like sharp blades thrust directly into Hiruzen's heart. This level of betrayal was equivalent to a father and son turning against each other.

Ryoma nodded with partial understanding. Suddenly, he recalled something and spoke to Danzo: "By the way, Orochimaru may have defected, but he sent someone ahead to deliver what we need. It's currently stored in the lab. Danzo-sama, when do you plan to proceed with the transplant?"

A glint of ambition flashed across Danzo's eyes; he suppressed his excitement and replied, "There's no rush for now. We have the item in hand, and the transplant can happen at any time. How is Uchiha Itachi?"

"He's officially entered the academy. How far he can grow depends on his own fortunes. But, will someone like him really join the Root?" Ryoma said as heexpressed his doubts.

"Of course. The will in his eyes is darker than any within the current Uchiha. He's a perfect fit for the Root. He's completely opposite to the situartion with Kagami back then." Danzo assessed.

"Since Danzo-sama says so, I'll be looking forward to it." Ryoma said, never doubting Danzo's ability of seeing people. Especially those with darkness within their eyes, they were drawn to the darkness in Danzo, joining Root. So was he as the deputy, and so were all the ninjas in Root. They were attracted to the darkness inside Danzo, they willingly dedicate everything to Danzo and the village everything to Danzo and the village.

"When he graduates from the academy, contact him again. Before that.... there are two things to deal with."

"Two things?"

One Ryoma was aware of was the ongoing war with Kumo, which had intensified. Root was now needed due to the situation. So Root needed to dispatch of a large number of personnel to support Konoha troops against Kumo on the front line.

Similar to the previous wars in the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain, Root needed to prioritize Konoha's victory regardless of the cost.

The means used by Root may be despicable and cruel, but what mattered was securing victories for Konoha. It is the true objective of Root's existence. Also, the dispute with the Third Hokage can be temporarily set aside. As for the other matter Danzo mentioned, Ryoma remained in the dark. It might be a decision made by Danzo on the spur of the moment. What could it be?

"Orochimaru's defection..... we can use this to pressure Hiruzen. Moreover, I want to give Hiruzen a chance for redemption. I hope he can be more decisive this time and not let me down again." Danzo rose from his seat, walked to the window, and sighed softly.

"What should we do then?"

"Spread the news that Uzumaki Naruto is the nine-tailed demon fox in the village." Danzo turned his back to Ryoma, delivering his order coldly.

"Yes, Danzo-sama." Ryoma shook slightly and nodded. He understood the consequences for the Fourth Hokage's son once the news spread.

Yes.

Ryoma understood the life the Fourth Hokage's son would face after the news spread. The only way to change the situation was to reveal his other identity as the Fourth Hokage's son, changing from a despised Jinchiriki into a "hero" who protects and is loved by the villagers. But... how would the Third Hokage handle it? To reveal the truth or keep it secret?

Ryoma eagerly anticipated the result.

....

Orochimaru's defection eventually became widespread in the village. The Third Hokage personally issued an order to classify him as an S-rank wanted criminal, notifying all countries in the ninja world.

Reactions from major ninja villages vary, but there was likely hidden mockery. Furthermore, Kumo's attacks on the Land Of Fire intensified, increasing pressure on Konoha. Yet, all of this seemed distant for Itachi, whose current goal was becoming stronger. In the forest belonging to the Uchiha clan, another day of training with Shisui continued

"So Itachi, how's life at the academy? Have you settled into there?" After completing the warm-up exercises, Shisui asked with a smile.

Itachi, now six years old, started attending the academy in early April this year, and as of now, it's been almost a month. Observing Shisui, who showed no signs of exhaustion after the warm-up, Itachi felt a slight dissatisfaction but still responded.

"It's alright, but I think training with you can make me stronger." Itachi candidly shared his thoughts, expressing his recognition and respect for Shisui.

"Really? Aren't there any rivals at the academy who had caught your interest?" Shisui became somewhat curious.

Considering the numerous new students enrolled this year, not to mention from the major clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga, who had students enrolled in the academy. Shisui thought there were some promising talents among them, they were potential future pillars of Konoha.

"I don't pay any attention to them."

Itachi picked up a shuriken and skillfully aimed at a target ten meters away, maintaining a standard posture. His movements were precise, showing a level of speed and strength that surpassed his peers.

"Why?"

"Because it's meaningless. Judging from their performance in regular training sessions, I don't see any powerful person among them, and they don't deserve my attention."

'Is there truly no one else who had caught your interest?' Shisui thought with a slight headache.

"You're a lot like how I used to be." Shisui sighed.

"Oh? Shisui, do you feel the same way?"

Itachi seemed to have found a topic that resonated.

But Shisui remained silent. In the past, he had indeed shared Itachi's perspective. However, after becoming a true ninja, he realized how insignificant and powerless his own strength was.This sense of insignificance and powerlessness wasn't about his lack of personal strength. Shisui was satisfied with his abilities. Rather, he felt small and powerless because despite his strength, he couldn't bring peace to the village and his family. No matter how powerful he was alone, it seemed futile.

Facing clan members who incessantly complained about the village, Shisui felt powerless. Confronting the villagers who kept on slandering the Uchiha clan behind their backs, also made him feel powerless.

The issue extended beyond the clan, it encompassed the village.

'Just... how to deal with it?' Shisui's eyes once again clouded with confusion.

Setting aside these complex thoughts, Shisui shifted the focus to Itachi's well-being, skillfully changing the subject and asking another question.

"Itachi, after graduating from the academy, you all will be grouped in a team of three, guided by a Jonin. At that time, teamwork is important, and you..."

Before Shisui could finish, Itachi responded, "Don't worry, Shisui, I understand. If they are weaker than me, I will protect them. If they are as strong as me, I will fight side by side with them. If they surpass me, I will try my best to catch up and avoid holding them back."

Shisui stared blankly at Itachi, momentarily speechless.

While Itachi's response was nearly correct, Shisui sensed something wrong. The answer seemed too... normal and accurate.

With Itachi's answer, it appeared he didn't truly understand the importance of teamwork. Yet, he still seem to have a deep regard for his so-called teammates.

This revelation eased Shisui's concerns.

Two hours later, as Itachi immersed himself in training, Shisui interrupted him.

"Let's stop the training for today."

"What's wrong?"

Itachi looked at Shisui inquisitively.

Shisui smiled and explained, " Because i have other tasks to attend to. I'm sorry, but I won't be able to train with you next time."

As a member of Anbu directly under the Hokage, Shisui had unique responsibilities outside the normal Anbu system, making his schedule unpredictable.

Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, had defected, and his work had become busy recently, so it was impossible for him to train with Itachi all the time.

"It's okay, Shisui. Your mission is important; don't worry about me."

Itachi didn't mind.

Although he was curious about Shisui's mission and had never met with his teammates, Itachi recognized Shisui as a powerful ninja.

'He must be going on a difficult and secret mission.'

So, choosing not to ask was the wisest choice.

"See you in a few days."

After Shisui's parting words, he disappeared from the spot.

.....In the Hokage Building's office, an Anbu stood reporting to Hiruzen.

".... Hokage-sama, the above is the situation. All people involved in the case have been monitored."

"I see, you can leave now. I'll think about it."

Hiruzen sighed, gesturing for the Anbu to withdraw.

"Yes. However, the minister suggests that Hokage-sama makes a decision as soon as possible. After all, the impact of this matter isn't favorable." After conveying this, the Anbu stepped back.

After the Anbu retreated, Hiruzen's face darkened, and he was on the edge of rage. The aftermath of Orochimaru's defection hadn't subsided, and a new development which had occurred in the village annoyed him even more—

The leak of the Nine Tails Jinchuriki's identity.

Rumors were spreading from nowhere, portraying Uzumaki Naruto as a harbinger of destruction, the fox incarnation who had destroyed Konoha, fanning the emotions of the public and inciting a frenzy of negative opinions. The women who once cared for Naruto had abandoned him, leaving the building. And they had refused to return nomatter he they said, refusing to feed Naruto due to belief that he was a menace.

Currently, within the village, there was only one person capable of orchestrating such chaos in the village. Because this incident was too similar to White Fang's public opinion manipulation, executed with the same method and speed. But the difference this time was targeting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who was currently a baby under a year old,.

"Danzo... why exactly... are you doing this?" Hiruzen gritted his teeth, clenching his fist on the table tightly, his bloodshot eyes reflected the accumulation of overwhelming anger.

Leaving aside Naruto's identity as the Fourth Hokage's son, exposing his status as a Jinchuriki was a grave mistake. This information was top secret and should never have been made public.

Hiruzen couldn't understand why Danzo would do something so reckless. Despite Roots' extreme methods, but even he wouldn't be stupid enough to risk Konoha's safety by revealing the identity of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. No matter how it was viewed from, for the current Konoha, it was all harmful but not beneficial.

Hirizen looked at another document on the table. A transfer letter concerning the Root.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Root leader Shimura Danzo led a large number of ninjas to the battlefield with Kumo to assist. Realizing that Danzo had already left early. He realized that the subject of his anger couldn't be found.

Danzo had already left early, and Roots support was tied to Konoha's victory against Kumo. Hiruzen knew he, as Hokage, couldn't take action against him.

...

It took a while for Hiruzen to quell the anger in his heart.

Naruto's identity as the Nine Tails Jinchuriki was exposed, and it was a foregone conclusion. Increasing Naruto's protection was important, even if his identity as the Jinchuriki was exposed Konoha's protection wasn't so weak. But the more troublesome part was redirecting public opinion.

Naruto was wrongly depicted as the evil nine-tailed demon fox responsible for attacking Konoha and killing numerous ninjas. Many villagers had signed a petition, hoping for Naruto's immediate execution as the nine-tailed demon fox, believing him to be a threat to the village's safety.

Hiruzen was angered by Danzo's audacity and even more disheartened by the villagers' ignorance.

Therefore , rectifying Naruto's tarnished reputation becomes the key. This was the only way to dismantle the prevailing misinformation.He wanted Naruto to experience a happy and peaceful childhood, a return, which could be regarded as repayment towards Minato and Kushina.

Since things had come to this, Hiruzendecided to rectify Naruto's name as the son of the Fourth Hokage and he would also guide him through the challenging period.

Otherwise, Naruto's standing in the village would only worsen. It was an unfair fate to the son of a hero.

Hiruzen realized this and promtly drafted a document intending to publicly announce that Naruto wasn't the mine-tailed fox that attacked Konoha, but a hero of the village. This would reverse the unfavorable public opinion surrounding Naruto.

After writing the document and Hiruzen planned to have the Anbu release the announcement, but the movements of his hands suddenly stopped. He suddenly realized that the situation might not be as simple as he thought.

What if he chooses to do this and was directly playing into Danzo's hands?

Being the sone of theFourth Hokage was Naruto's last line of defense within Konoha. If he used the card now, it might not calm the village's opinion but further intensify them. Danzo could exploit this, and as Hokage, Hiruzen might not withstand the backlash.

And If that happened, what was Danzo's true goal?

Hiruzen chuckled wryly, and immediately thought of something. It was because of his position as Hokage.

Danzo's motive wasn't hard to guess. With Orochimaru's defection, Danzo's had reduced greatly. And now was an opportune moment for him to strike, especially as dissenting voices within the village. Danzo's traps were intertwined one after the other, and breaking through them wouldn't be easy.

Hiruzen also considered the possibility that Danzo orchestrated the entire incident, even turning the revelation of Naruto's identity as the Fourth Hokage's son into a trap.

Disclosing Naruto's identity might not resolve the problem, but it could open another avenue for Danzo to exploit, launching a new public opinion attack using the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Not only Naruto, but even his position as the Hokage may be lost. Once he lost his position as Hokage, Naruto could fall into Danzo's hands, which would be disastrous for Konoha.

Hiruzen released a soft breath and put down the written document.

"Let's observe for now. As for Jiraiya, I hope he can calm things down..."

An unresolvable concern etched across Hiruzen's aged face, resembling an old man on the brink of a final journey.

.....

'People must never compromise to their own hesitation.'

That stood as Danzo's most painful and regrettable memory.

A momentary hesitation cost him his victory against his close friend Hiruzen to the position of the Third Hokage, causing him to miss out on the position.

Since then, Danzo embraced the understanding that tasks must be undertaken with unwavering determination, without even the slightest hesitation or fear. Always looking forward and backward.

Weak people couldn't achieve greatness. Hesitation lead to defeat and further compromises.

So, Danzo who broke free from this fate perceived himself as an excellent and powerful ninja. Breaking free from the shackles of fate, persisting in one's will without hesitation or compromise was the true ninja way. This mindset allowed him to amass a large number of ninjas, establish the Root, and becoming the sole pillar in the hearts of all Root ninjas.

"Danzo-sama."

In the forest on the way to the eastern border of the Land of Fire, Ryoma caught up.

Twenty-two people, including Ryoma and Danzo, were acting together, with more than half being Jonin.

In preparation for the battle against Kumo, Root had assembled their best team this time.

Danzo turned his head slightly to look at Ryoma.

"Explain."

"News from the village." Ryoma whispered.

"What's the final situation? Has Hiruzen cleared the name of that kid called Naruto?" Danzo asked.

Ryoma shook his head, smiling, "No, the Third didn't take action.. He compromised.."

This marked the first true victory for the Roots since their reestablishment, overcoming the suppression by the Third Hokage. The success this time was attributed to the Nine Tails Jinchuriki's unique identity. They used a cunning strategy that confused the Third Hokage.

"Really? A compromise..." Danzo expressed his thoughts.

Ryoma gave him a strange look, expecting Danzo to mock the Third Hokage upon hearing the news.

"Danzo-sama, what's wrong with you?"

"It's nothing. I just feel that Hiruzen now is very similar to me back then." Danzo's eyes reflected a complex mix of pain, regret, sighs, and mourning, without mocking or excitement.

Ryoma fell silent, withholding his words.

"What's happening with Jiraiya?"

Danzo redirected the conversation. As a Sannin and Naruto's godfather, Jiraiya couldn't remain indifferent to the situation in the village.

"According to the information i received, he was found drunk in a tavern on the second day of the incident, and he was eventually carried back home by Anbu. He seemed to be very drunk Ryoma sighed.

Hiruzen compromised with Root, and Jiraiya compromised with his sensei. The relationship between the master and disciple was truly interesting.

Was the legacy of the Third Hokage a policy of cowardly compromise?

Ryoma pondered and thought of the late Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato. Had he not died in the battle, the third might not have had a chance to stand up.

The Yellow Flash showed no mercy to enemies on the battlefield, leaving opponents unwilling to face him again. Even within the Roots, many ninjas admired him.

"It seems Jiraiya is now the same as Orochimaru. He's mow disappointed with Hiruzen... he's getting old after all. Now he's become cautious, switching places with me just like I was back then. Orochimaru's defection hit him harder than I anticipated."

Danzo acknowledged that a seed of fear had taken root in Hiruzen's heart, ready to sprout at any time.Immediately, he changed the topic, Danzo's eyes became sharp.

"However, his hesitation and compromise now provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Root. The more a tree grows, the deeper its roots go into the bottomless darkness. Since the light has lost its meaning, let the darkness of the Root completely replace the village's light!"

.....

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