Chapter 204 : Disagreement?

Observing Kazuhiko sitting there with an air of honesty, Sarutobi Hiruzen's mood was at an unprecedented low.

You might be unscrupulous and powerful, but now you're not sitting here obediently, ready to follow Konoha's orders in the future.

Since Kazuhiko arrived in Konoha, Hiruzen hadn't had many happy days. Not to mention the stab wound on his face, which now forced him to wear the Hokage cap constantly whenever he appeared in public.

Despite emergency treatment with specific therapeutic drugs, he no longer needed bandages, but the scar remained. For now, wearing the Hokage hat was the only way to conceal it from the influential clan.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt the scar on his face ache again, prompting him to involuntarily touch his left cheek. The stab wound had also put him in a coma for a while, leading his good friend Danzo to entertain thoughts he shouldn't have.

Even the other two council elders had begun considering emergency Hokage candidates in case Hiruzen was incapacitated again, with Danzo being their primary choice.

Contemplating this, Hiruzen cast a wary glance at the silent figure of Danzo sitting discreetly behind him. He had noticed Danzo's increasingly questionable behavior lately and knew he had to rein him in once more.

Not only had Kazuhiko injured him and his son, but several of his clan members had also been killed by Kazuhiko within Konoha. Yet, he could do nothing but bear it silently. He understood it was because they had overstepped before, and the Konoha elders had tacitly allowed Kazuhiko's actions.

Hiruzen considered himself fortunate that Kazuhiko hadn't targeted his son that day. Otherwise, even as the Third Hokage, he would've had to endure it. The elders' consent to Kazuhiko's actions made it impossible for him to directly confront Kazuhiko.

The Land of Whirlpool had become increasingly vital to Konoha, especially with Uzumaki Mito, the Jinchūriki, residing there. Additionally, with the Land of Whirlpool now possessing its own tailed beast, the elders wouldn't support Hiruzen's decision to antagonize them.

Unable to destroy the Land of Whirlpool like the Mist Shinobi wanted, Konoha had to court their alliance.

Despite not worrying about his son's life, Hiruzen visited Shinnosuke regularly. Although Shinnosuke's life wasn't in danger, he still needed months to recover at home.

However, over the past two days, when he visited Shinnosuke, he noticed that the incident had brought about a newfound maturity and stability in him. This was one of the few silver linings...

For a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind swirled with emotions, his impression of Kazuhiko becoming exceedingly complex.

Initially, upon discovering that many of his fellow clansmen had been directly killed by Kazuhiko and seeing his own son lying ill in the hospital bed, Hiruzen had harbored a fervent desire to have Kazuhiko swiftly eliminated.

But he restrained himself, not only holding back his urge for retribution but also feigning ignorance, as though unsure of the appropriate course of action.

However, circumstances had changed. With the emergence of this new agreement, Hiruzen couldn't ignore the escalating friction between nations in recent years, signaling an inevitable conflict within the ninja world.

In such times, it seemed rational to offer support to the Land of Whirlpools, dispatching operatives for seemingly perilous missions. After a few casualties, could they not orchestrate the collapse of the Land of Whirlpools?

By then, no one would dare utter a word of objection.

In the years leading up to this moment, granting advantages to the Land of Whirlpools had been a calculated move. However, with the impending war, all debts were to be repaid.

With these thoughts in mind, Sarutobi Hiruzen once again adorned his face with a benevolent smile...

He glanced at Kazuhiko standing before him, smiling inwardly.

At that moment, an ANBU ninja approached Hiruzen and whispered, "Lord Hokage, the ceremony may commence."

Hiruzen nodded and stepped forward, with Kazuhiko following suit.

Approaching the center, a square wooden table came into view, upon which rested the covenant between Konoha and the Land of Whirlpools.

Kazuhiko picked up the document and examined it. The names "Senju Hashirama" and "Uzumaki Ashina" were inscribed, along with their impressions.

Kazuhiko gazed at the scroll before him, his eyes filled with complexity. Few could have predicted that decades later, this very scroll would be branded as deceitful.

Beside him, the elder Uzumaki also regarded the scroll in Kazuhiko's hands with a mix of emotions. Some among them had been present during the original signing of this scroll alongside the First Hokage.

After a moment of contemplation, Kazuhiko inwardly sighed, accepting that everything had come to an end.

With a subtle motion of his hand, particles of light danced, emitting an intense heat. Soon, a wisp of azure smoke curled from the scroll, its aged parchment crumbling like dry leaves.

Below, the crowd began to murmur, perplexed by Kazuhiko's actions. They couldn't fathom why he would burn the scroll.

Even Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, was taken aback momentarily. However, upon realizing the necessity of a new covenant, he swiftly reassured the gathering.

"Don't fret, everyone! This was the old covenant, now consigned to history. A new era dawns, and we shall soon sign a fresh pact!"

His proclamation echoed across the expanse of Hokage Rock, quelling the unrest below.

Yet, in that moment, Kazuhiko's voice cut through the tranquility.

"Who said anything about signing a new covenant?!"

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