Konoha: Becoming a God Starting with Aburame

Chapter 291 Hiruzen Sarutobi: Even if Danzo were reduced to ashes, I would still recognize him!

Both the Exploding Bug and the Shadow Bug are good, but they are not as important as the Void Eater.

Or rather, the development speed and role of the Suicide Bugs and Shadow Bugs are currently not as good as those of the Void Eater Bugs.

Currently, neither the exploding bugs nor the shadow bugs can easily damage the Otsutsuki unless they reach a certain scale.

For example, the self-destructing bug requires the blood of a sixth-level cultivator, while the shadow bug needs to devour enough of the Ōtsutsuki's heart in order to have an effect on him.

Shiki stretched and walked out of the training department's laboratory, where he saw an ANBU ninja who had been waiting for him.

"Lord Shii, the Hokage has convened a meeting and requires your attendance."

The ANBU ninja said respectfully.

"Nothing major has happened recently. What was the meeting about?"

Zhiyi thought back for a moment and realized that he hadn't done anything recently, so he asked in confusion.

"I don't know, I only know that the Third Hokage will also be attending this meeting."

"I understand, I will be there on time."

At the same time, Orochimaru in the Root Laboratory also received news of a meeting being held.

"I don't have time to attend any of those random meetings right now."

Orochimaru frowned and picked up the intelligence report to read it.

"The plan to collapse the Pure Land is progressing steadily, and the Dead Soul Worms are constantly devouring and replacing parts of the Pure Land."

"A crack that is tearing apart the pure land is slowly taking shape thanks to the efforts of the dead soul worms."

"I am not greedy. What I have divided is only the edge of the Pure Land, not the center of the Pure Land."

Orochimaru was quite self-aware; the essence of the Pure Land lay in its very core, and if he dared to touch it, the Sage of Six Paths would likely fight him to the death.

However, if it is only on the edge of the Pure Land, the Sage of Six Paths will have to weigh the pros and cons, and the possibility of success will greatly increase.

"However, even if the split doesn't occur in the central part of the Pure Land, it still requires immense power; otherwise, there's no way to deal with the Sage of Six Paths."

"The Eight-Headed Serpent Technique and the Giant God Armor are probably still not enough. We need to find a way to bring Manda on board."

"But I don't quite understand Manda now, it seems I need to think about it more carefully."

Orochimaru was looking at the meeting introduction absentmindedly, but something about the information caught his attention.

"Are teachers also attending this meeting?"

Orochimaru was a little surprised. He knew his teacher well; once he had successfully retired, his teacher would never interfere in any further struggles.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's current reputation is a result of a series of coincidences, far exceeding previous expectations. It's something the previous three Hokage wouldn't have dared to even dream of.

By not participating in politics, the reputation of three generations will not be damaged!

"Could it be... that the teacher still can't relinquish power?"

"If that's the case, then your aged and decaying appearance, teacher, is truly quite ugly."

……

In the Konoha meeting room.

There was an extra chair among the original three; it was for Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The four sat down and first brewed a pot of tea.

This made Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado extremely envious, their hearts filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

Why should I?

Why do they have to keep applying to attend meetings, and even if they are allowed to, they still have to stand like lackeys?

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi can sit on a chair!

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado expressed strong protest against this unfair behavior!

They believed that Hiruzen Sarutobi was just like them, all of the same kind of people, and that no one was stronger than the other!

The problem is not scarcity, but inequality!

But Hiruzen Sarutobi has no time to pay attention to his two friends now, because another friend of his has done something big for him!

He can't even retire peacefully!

"Don't be afraid of what I'm about to say," Hiruzen Sarutobi said solemnly.

"Third Hokage, please speak," Minato said, looking like he was listening intently.

He was actually puzzled by the Third Hokage's sudden appearance at the meeting.

The Third Hokage took out a photo of the new leader of Kirigakure, saying, "You've probably seen this photo before, haven't you?"

Minato, Shiichi, and Orochimaru nodded. This was a report sent back after the major changes that had occurred in Kirigakure, and they had all seen it, of course.

"Is there something wrong with this photo?" Minato asked, puzzled.

The Third Hokage took a deep breath and then took out another photo. "This photo is a group photo of us when we were young. Compare them."

Minato and Orochimaru picked up the photo and saw a young Danzo who looked exactly like the new leader of Kirigakure, and they were both surprised.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado glanced over, then exclaimed in realization, "I knew the leader of Kirigakure looked so familiar! He looks like Danzo when he was young."

"Alas, Danzo's image as an old man is so deeply ingrained in people's minds that I'm almost forgetting what I was like when I was young."

Koharu Utatane reminisced, "When Danzo was young, he was a famous handsome young man in the surrounding area."

Unfortunately, people tend to grow up crooked when they get old.

"Does the teacher mean that Danzo went to Kirigakure and became its new leader?"

Orochimaru spoke.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded heavily, then said with a sigh, "Yes, I originally thought I had killed Danzo in the battle at the Valley of the End."

"But not long ago, Danzo's giant armor - Nightmare King - was suddenly summoned away. At that time, I realized that Danzo might not be dead."

"Until I saw the photo of the new leader of Kirigakure... I never imagined it would be Danzo!"

"Could it be a case of mistaken identity? Looking alike doesn't necessarily mean anything; it could just be a coincidence," Minato said hesitantly, comparing the two photos.

"No way, those ambitious, cold eyes are exactly the same as Danzo's!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said firmly.

"Even if Danzo were reduced to ashes, I would still recognize him!"

The people present had different thoughts.

Shiki was somewhat speechless. Gray Gu's choice to use Danzo's younger appearance was unintentional, and he hadn't expected it to cause such a misunderstanding. He suddenly felt utterly bored.

Orochimaru was indifferent to the matter, letting the older generation handle their own affairs. If that didn't work, there was always Minato, the Hokage; as long as he wasn't bothered, it was fine. His mind wasn't on this at all; the Pure Land was taking up all his attention.

Minato, on the other hand, was in a bind. If this matter were to be exposed, Konoha might become the target of everyone's ire!

The annexation of Kirigakure signifies Konoha's intention to end the Five Great Ninja Villages system. This would mean facing not only the enemies encountered in the Fourth Shinobi World War, but also opposition from all ninja villages, commoners, and nobles in the ninja world!

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged a glance. Now that Hiruzen Sarutobi could not be relied upon, what about establishing contact with Danzo again?

They weren't betraying Konoha's interests; they simply wanted to act as a bridge between Konoha and Kirigakure, and incidentally, gain some power.

At least we can sit down during meetings!