Chapter 37
Danzo Shimura was furious.
People always hate it when others talk behind their backs.
Even Danzo Shimura was no exception, especially when the one gossiping happened to be his lifelong adversary, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hearing that Hiruzen had mentioned him to Akihara Kagura, he even put aside his brainwashing of Akihara, all he wanted to know was what the old geezer had said.
"The Third Hokage didn't say anything..."
Akihara Kagura seemed somewhat frightened by Danzo Shimura's gaze, hurriedly using poor language to cover up, so as not to make his superior too angry.
"Akihara, tell me everything as it is!"
Danzo Shimura saw through Akihara Kagura's thoughts in an instant, saying in a low voice, "Don't hide anything about tonight. The monkey is always hypocritical, it's easy to be deceived by him..."
"Yes."
Akihara Kagura slowly nodded.
"After passing the second round of the Chunin Exams, it was already late. On my way back, I ran into the Third Hokage and a kid named Naruto Uzumaki..."
"The Third Hokage wanted me to go fishing with them. Worried about making you angry, I just wanted to rush back to the base...
"But the Third Hokage wouldn't let me rush back, telling me that in the village, even you have to obey his orders..."
When Akihara Kagura got here, he seemed somewhat upset and worried, "I am afraid that defying the Third's order might bring trouble to you..."
"Hmph..."
Danzo Shimura coldly snorted when he heard this, saying coldly, "Don't worry about causing me trouble in the future, no one in the ninja world can trouble me."
"Yes."
Akihara Kagura quickly agreed.
No matter whether the boss was bragging or not, as long as the boss made a promise, it was best to remember it first, so as not to let himself, a subordinate, take the blame when things go wrong in the future.
"By the way."
Sensing that his superior was showing signs of wanting to vent his anger, Akihara Kagura had to temporarily reverse the order and say something that his superior liked to hear.
"The Third Hokage also said that he and you are old friends..."
"The Third Hokage seemed to bring up some past events, mentioned something about the Hokage, but I didn't understand it well..."
Akihara Kagura rubbed his forehead, and while recalling, he conveniently shifted the blame, "Because Naruto Uzumaki was constantly making noise about becoming Hokage, I didn't hear it clearly. I'm not sure if I remembered it incorrectly..."
"Just tell me what you heard."
Danzo Shimura did not doubt that Akihara Kagura would lie.
Naruto Uzumaki, that little brat with the Nine-Tails inside him, indeed, had been instilled with the idea of becoming the Hokage by Hiruzen Sarutobi since he was young, always making a fuss about becoming Hokage...
This kind of thing...
Many people know about it.
"The Third Hokage said..."
"The Hokage is not a position to be fought for, but one that needs to bear the expectations and approval of the whole village, the responsibility to protect the village..."
"Even when the Third Hokage said these things, he mentioned that you once also wanted to compete with him to become Hokage, but Hokage needs to bear many people's responsibilities, you thought that you didn't have the burden and responsibility to become Hokage, so you gave up on the idea of serving as Hokage..."
"..."
Danzo Shimura's face suddenly fell.
That old bastard Hiruzen, it's one thing for him to like instilling the Will of Fire into the village's kids, but this time he even took the opportunity to attack himself!
Who said that I lack the responsibility and burden to be Hokage?
As long as I'm given the chance to be Hokage, I could take up the responsibility of Konoha, and do it better than that old monkey!
"I was a little angry, so I argued with them..."
Akihara Kagura carefully glanced at Danzo Shimura and continued, "I told them that Konoha can be without anyone, but absolutely cannot be without you, only you could be the next Hokage of Konoha."
"...Hmm."
Danzo Shimura nodded slightly.
This was the most satisfactory moment for Danzo Shimura tonight, these words have always been what he wanted to say, but he didn't dare to say it to anyone's face.
"Continue."
Danzo Shimura wanted to hear more.
"I remember after I finished speaking..."
Akihara Kagura's expression was a bit strange, he continued, "The Third Hokage's face seemed a bit scary, but he quickly smiled again..."
"Hmph, still so hypocritical!"
Danzo Shimura immediately criticized his old friend.
That bastard Hiruzen, upon hearing Akihara Kagura mentioning that he could be the next Hokage, became unhappy. He never considered letting me take up the position of Hokage!
"What else did you talk about?"
Danzo Shimura glanced at the slightly hesitating Akihara Kagura, continuing, "The monkey... didn't talk about anything else? For example, did he mention anyone in the village who can bear the responsibilities of Hokage?"
"..."
Akihara Kagura felt that Danzo Shimura wanted to know a bit too much.
Sometimes, superiors would also be curious about certain things, and such curiosity could cause trouble for their subordinates, so it was necessary to find a way to stop it in time.
Moreover...
The more one speaks.
The easier it is to expose flaws.
Most importantly, the goal today was not to sow discord, but to remind this superior that he still held a crucial piece of information about himself.
Akihara Kagura wanted to tell Danzo Shimura that as long as he had this piece of information, there was no need to doubt whether he would betray him after entering the Anbu.
"The Third Hokage didn't mention those things."
"And it's a bit strange..."
Akihara Kagura frowned, seeming a bit confused, "Tonight was a bit chaotic, probably because Naruto Uzumaki was making a fuss nearby, I don't know why I brought up my own secret past with the Third Hokage..."
"What?!"
The color on Danzo Shimura's face immediately tightened.
"I was still guessing, how he suddenly met you!"
This old man finally couldn't sit still, he cursed in a low voice, "That bastard monkey actually used an interrogation method on you, trying to find out your background, if he knows..."
"I only mentioned that I came from an orphanage."
Akihara Kagura immediately reassured his superior, regaining control of the conversation, "The Third Hokage already knows that I am an orphanage child, who was originally kidnapped for Wood Release human experimentation..."
"That's good."
Danzo Shimura slowly nodded, his expression easing, he quietly observed Akihara Kagura, finally recalling an important matter.
This brat couldn't possibly betray him!
Because this brat was not a child from the Konoha orphanage, but a test subject from Orochimaru's side, he always held the threat to his life.
"Go rest."
Danzo Shimura gestured to Akihara Kagura, his attitude turning cold, even reverting to the haughty demeanor he had when they first met.
"I believe..."
"You won't disappoint me in the Anbu."
"Don't forget one thing, it was I who brought you to Konoha."
--x--
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