They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 243 Shimura Danzo: The Era of Ninjas for All Officially Begins!

The purpose of Hozuki Shingetsu's Jonin promotion ceremony was not simply to lay the foundation for the upcoming "Star Ninja" strategy, nor was it merely to demonstrate Kirigakure's current strength to the outside world.

He had an even more important purpose: to make his villagers and ninjas clearly realize through this Jonin promotion ceremony that the Hidden Mist Village was no longer the Hidden Mist Village of the past.

With so many Jonin geniuses and its economic strength developed to its current state, Kirigakure has truly become an important force in the ninja world that cannot be ignored, and is no longer the last of the Five Great Ninja Villages.

In short, this Jonin promotion ceremony can be summarized as "unifying thoughts and preparing for war".

Judging from the feedback of everyone present, the appearance of a group of twelve or thirteen-year-old Jonin, especially the ten-year-old Jonin Kabuto Yakushi, truly filled everyone present with excitement. Therefore, Hozuki Shingetsu's subsequent remarks on unifying thoughts received very positive feedback.

Thus, the first-ever public Jonin promotion ceremony in the history of the ninja world came to a close amidst cheers.

This news, spread like wildfire throughout the ninja world, both intentionally and unintentionally by the Hidden Mist Village.

After all, this was the first publicly announced Jonin promotion ceremony, and especially with the presence of Hozuki Shingetsu's adopted son, the ten-year-old Jonin Yakushi Kabuto, the news immediately garnered attention from the general public in the ninja world.

While everyone was enjoying the show, they couldn't help but discuss the origins of Yakushi Kabuto.

Although the three-tiered ninja system, namely genin, chunin, and jonin, was established hundreds of years ago.

However, due to the high mortality and birth rates of ninjas during the Warring States period, and the need to accept bounty missions and intimidate enemies, the ninja rank of those ninjas was often not necessarily linked to their strength.

Therefore, people generally believe that the ninja ranks at that time were not very prestigious. Since the beginning of the ninja village era, the fastest Jonin promotion in each ninja village that has evidence is the record of Kakashi Hatake of Konoha, who was twelve years and six months old.

However, this time, the Kirigakure Jonin promotion ceremony not only produced two eleven-year-old boy Jonin, but also a freakishly talented boy of ten years and eight months, who not only broke the record for the fastest Jonin promotion in Konoha, but also improved the record by twenty-four months.

What's even more interesting to these onlookers is that a rumor has surfaced that this genius boy from Kirigakure was originally from an orphanage in Konoha.

However, due to Konoha's lack of attention to war orphans, the orphanage was on the verge of closing down several times. In the end, with no other choice, the entire orphanage, led by the director, traveled thousands of miles to Kirigakure to seek support. Finally, with the help of Hozuki Shingetsu, it took root and sprouted again in Kirigakure.

The news contained in this story was so explosive, and coupled with the fact that Konoha's actions in recent years after Shimura Danzo became Hokage were indeed too domineering and forceful, so much so that after this news came out, regardless of whether the news was true or not, the people of the ninja world couldn't help but look at Konoha with a tinted lens.

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"Phew... No need to pay attention to them. As time goes by, the hype surrounding this news will naturally die down. The more we react now, the more we'll fall into the trap of that naturally wicked brat, Hozuki Shingetsu."

Konoha, Hokage Building, Hokage's Office.

After hearing rumors that Kabuto Yakushi came from a Konoha orphanage and that Konoha was abusing war orphans, Danzo Shimura did not show any obvious anger.

Tossing the intelligence report on the table, Shimura Danzo exhaled slowly and calmly addressed Aburame Azuhiko.

Seeing that Shimura Danzo remained calm despite the turmoil, Aburame Azuhiko couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration.

As expected of Lord Danzo!

Judging from the composure he showed when faced with a major event, it's clear that Lord Danzo is a man of great vision and has probably already figured out how to counter them!

However, what he didn't know was that under the table, which he couldn't see, Shimura Danzo gripped his cane tightly with both hands, so tightly that he left deep finger marks on the cane, which was made of thousand-year-old ironwood.

Danzo Shimura never imagined that the deal he made to exchange for the discarded kaleidoscope from Shingetsu Hozuki—in exchange for Nono Yakushi—would result in him throwing away a genius!

No, it wasn't even a transaction. The child named Yakushi Kabuto was just an orphan in an orphanage at the time, and he wasn't even the subject of the transaction.

In other words, Hozuki Shingetsu took away a boy even more talented than Kakashi from him as a bonus, using a discarded kaleidoscope as a bonus!

How could this not make Shimura Danzo, who was used to taking advantage of others, feel aggrieved?

Since becoming Hokage, apart from the fact that Fugaku Uchiha became his assistant, which was indeed unexpected, Danzo Shimura has had everything go smoothly. However, he has repeatedly suffered setbacks when he encounters Shingetsu Hozuki.

Fortunately, his many years as Hokage have somewhat washed away the petty nature of him as the leader of Root, and he has finally become more shrewd and calculating.

At least they won't get so worked up over a little bit of public opinion like they used to.

"There is one more thing, Lord Danzo."

Aburame Azuhiko seemed to suddenly remember something and said to Shimura Danzo, "Sarutobi Hiruzen just came here with two advisors and Uchiha Fugaku. They left because they saw you weren't here... Judging from their words, it seems they wanted to ask you about Yakushi Kabuto and the Konoha orphanage."

"Ignore them; they're just a bunch of stubborn old fogies."

Danzo Shimura waved his hand, ignoring Aburame Azuhiko's words.

In the past six years, apart from the time when he suffered a loss because of Fugaku Uchiha becoming the Hokage's assistant, Danzo Shimura didn't really suffer much loss.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the village's ninja clans thought they could rival him with their strength and status as Fugaku Uchiha's assistant. They were seriously underestimating Danzo Shimura.

You have to understand, he's been eyeing this position for a full twenty years!

Given his previous status and prestige, becoming Hokage was practically impossible, so he had fantasized more than once about learning from Hozuki Shingetsu and launching a coup to become Hokage.

For this reason, he devised many ways to punish the ninja clan and strengthen the Hokage's authority.

Through his various methods, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Koharu Utatane, the two advisors, had long been sidelined by him. The already divided ninja clans were further weakened by his combined attacks and suppressions, creating numerous conflicts out of thin air.

As for Fugaku Uchiha, who served as Hokage's assistant... since the death of the old clan head Homura Uchiha, the Uchiha clan has not had a single person with foresight and vision.

Danzo Shimura simply tossed out the empty title of "Konoha's Number One Ninja Clan," and in a formal setting, in front of many ninja clans, especially the Hyuga and Sarutobi clans, he bestowed the title of "Konoha's Number One Ninja Clan" upon the Uchiha clan. The Uchiha clan was overjoyed and truly accepted this honor.

For this reason, the Uchiha clan has now become the public enemy of Konoha. How could Fugaku Uchiha have the energy to exercise the right to assist the Hokage and restrain Danzo Shimura?

Taking advantage of this favorable wind, Danzo Shimura used various methods to replace all the personnel in Konoha's important departments.

Not to mention that he also had the supreme brainwashing tool at this time—the Maitreya Cult.

Now, everyone in Konoha, from top to bottom, is Danzo Shimura's man. Hiruzen Sarutobi wants to restrain him and also wants to hold him accountable like he did six years ago.

Go dream!

Bang bang bang!

Just as the two were exchanging questions, a soft knock came from outside the door.

Twelve-year-old Kakashi Hatake pushed open the door, stood before Danzo Shimura with a cold expression, and knelt down on one knee with practiced ease.

"Lord Danzo, everything is ready. We are just waiting for your order. Methods of chakra training will be posted throughout Konoha, and the priests of the Miroku sect will do their utmost to teach the surrounding followers how to refine chakra."

Kakashi's words were incredibly calm, and there was no indication from him that he had known for six years that his true father's killer was Danzo Shimura.

"Oh? Very good, Kakashi, it seems you're doing a pretty good job as the leader of the Miroku Cult!"

Upon hearing this, Danzo Shimura's expression immediately relaxed, and he praised Kakashi Hatake.

Two years ago, when Kakashi was ten years old, Danzo Shimura formally informed him of the existence of the Miroku Cult and promoted him to the position of leader of the Miroku Cult based on the doctrine of "justification by faith," despite Kakashi's great contributions to the Anbu and his murderous aura.

Kakashi certainly did not disappoint Danzo Shimura's trust. Despite his young age, Kakashi's methods were exceptionally ruthless.

With its formidable strength, it quickly subdued the various factions within the Maitreya Sect, leading the sect towards greater power and influence.

Danzo Shimura now has a very simple task for Kakashi Hatake: to order all Miroku followers to train in chakra and begin ninja training.

During these six years, Konoha was developing, and the other ninja villages were not idle either. They all knew that the Third Shinobi World War would take place in a few years, so they all tore apart the Kirigakure system that was originally established in Kirigakure and started an arms race.

Compared to Konoha, the anti-Konoha alliance formed by the four ninja villages is undoubtedly developing at a faster pace. In fact, everyone knows that war will break out soon.

Although Danzo Shimura had considered using the Tailed Beast Sealing Technique and the threat of certain death to drag Iwagakure and Sunagakure into the mess, relying on manpower was ultimately not his style.

After much thought, he finally came up with a solution from the ninja academies built throughout the Land of Water.

That would mean turning Konoha into a "military force," or in other words, turning the entire Miroku sect into a "military force."

In the past few years, thanks to the vigorous promotion of Shimura Danzo, not all of Konoha has converted to the Miroku religion, but at least 80% of the common people have become believers.

While this has certainly made the Miroku Cult less secret and known to others, Konoha is now filled with a bloody atmosphere due to the influence of the Miroku Cult's doctrines of "blood kinship" and "reverence for killing".

This kind of atmosphere is undoubtedly a perfect breeding ground for cannon fodder ninjas.

Moreover, Orochimaru hadn't been working for nothing these past few years; he had already completed the research on the improved version of the Impure World Reincarnation technique, and Shimura Danzo was prepared to dig out Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha at the crucial moment.

Moreover, Orochimaru's Wood Release experiment plan has also achieved phased results after six years of relentless investment.

With Orochimaru's cooperation, he has now successfully transplanted Hashirama Senju's cells and combined them with the discarded Mangekyou Sharingan that he forcibly left behind six years ago when he and the Uchiha clan broke off relations, thus successfully suppressing the strong phagocytic nature of Hashirama's cells.

And just as he expected, the combined power of the Senju and Uchiha clans was indeed not as simple as one plus one equals two.

He clearly sensed that, under the influence of the power of the Thousand Hands, the almost non-existent eye power in the Mangekyou Sharingan was slowly recovering!

Of course, since it is the Mangekyou Sharingan and not the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, and since the Mangekyou Sharingan and Shimura Danzo are not related by blood, Shimura Danzo has no possibility of awakening the Rinnegan.

But this was enough to make the unsuspecting Shimura Danzo dance around like a baboon in heat.

There was no other way; after all, it was the Kaleidoscope, the "ultimate power" of the Uchiha clan that made Madara Uchiha famous.

With the addition of Wood Release, isn't Shimura Danzo now the undisputed number one ninja in the world?

With these two powerful tools to counter the Jinchuriki of the Tailed Beasts, Lord Danzo Shimura could crush Hozuki Shingetsu as easily as crushing an ant.

"The entire sect is a soldier," a modified version of the Impure World Reincarnation technique, a complete version of the Mangekyou Sharingan, and the method of sowing discord among the four major ninja villages—these are the trump cards that Shimura Danzo prepared for the Third Shinobi World War.

With these numerous plans, Danzo Shimura was even confident that he could fight the anti-Konoha alliance head-on!

If he wins this battle, then without a doubt he will be the greatest Hokage in Konoha's history. All the previous slander against him and the negative impact of his underhanded tactics will be swept away with this victory!

The thought of becoming a great Hokage, surpassing Hashirama Senju, his teacher, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, made Danzo Shimura tremble with excitement.

"Teacher, Hiruzen, I'll show you who truly is the greatest Hokage!"

As the sun set, Shimura Danzo turned to look at the Hokage Rock in the distance, muttering to himself.

In the shadows of the office, where the afterglow couldn't reach, Kakashi Hatake silently watched Danzo Shimura, just as Danzo had watched Hiruzen Sarutobi years before.

(End of this chapter)