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

Chapter 64 Fire Country Daimyo: Hiruzen, I want to learn ninjutsu!

"You two are disgusting!"

Xiaochun, who was turning over, gripped the book tightly in her hand, her pretty face flushed with anger, her chest heaving, and her slender knuckles turning pale white from the force, as she clenched the pages into a ball.

"Especially you, Danzo! I can't believe you watch this kind of stuff too!"

Koharu Utatane angrily rebuked Danzo Shimura.

She never imagined that one day she would be betrayed in a book. Moreover, the person who betrayed her was none other than her closest comrade-in-arms, especially since this comrade-in-arms seemed to have some ulterior motives in real life as well.

"And you, Hiruzen!" Koharu Utatane turned her head again and glared at the embarrassed Hiruzen Sarutobi. "I'll tell Biwako everything that happened today. I'm going to give her a good talking-to about how she disciplines you!"

Despite Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura's attempts to conceal their true intentions, she was not so easily fooled, having already sensed something was amiss. She had already spotted the book on the desk in Hiruzen Sarutobi's shifty gaze.

Thus, the scene described above occurred.

"Cough cough, Koharu, calm down. All of this must be a conspiracy by that inherently evil Hozuki clan brat. It has nothing to do with us. I was just discussing the deeper meaning with Hiruzen."

In a moment of quick thinking, Danzo Shimura devised a brilliant excuse in his panic.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes lit up, and he quickly nodded frantically in agreement.

"Oh? Is that so? Then tell me, what's the deeper meaning behind this?"

Koharu, however, did not believe it. The naked gaze that Danzo Shimura had just given her was particularly unfamiliar to her. She had never seen such an expression in the eyes of her old teammate.

"However... this also proves that I am still quite attractive!" This thought flashed through Koharu Utatane's mind.

"Ahem, Hiruzen, you tell me." Shimura Danzo was speechless. His words were just a pretext; how could they possibly contain any deeper meaning?

It can only be said that Hiruzen Sarutobi in Saint Mode is indeed quick-witted, coming up with a reason in the blink of an eye.

"Ahem, we were just discussing that, firstly, it's now clear that this was the work of that kid, Hozuki Shingetsu, right?"

"But have you noticed a problem? The intensity of this publicity campaign is much weaker compared to the past?"

"It's become much weaker?" Koharu Utatane frowned, trying to keep up with Hiruzen Sarutobi's pace.

"Not bad." Seeing the two nod, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly sorted out his thoughts, his speech becoming increasingly fluent. "Don't you guys feel that this propaganda offensive isn't quite like that kid's previous style? That kind of one-hit kill, like a surgical scalpel, precisely targeting weaknesses?"

Koharu nodded; this action was indeed strange.

This method of spreading rumors is actually quite childish. Apart from making Xiaochun and others feel embarrassed and annoyed, it doesn't serve any other purpose.

In this day and age, the fact that a leader has questionable personal conduct is hardly a big deal for the Hokage. Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't be affected by just a couple of simple rumors.

"Compared to the previous well-planned propaganda offensives, this propaganda achievement feels very rushed, as if it was a last-minute, forced counterattack," Hiruzen Sarutobi summarized.

"You mean, this weak counterattack is more like a retaliatory act by Hozuki Shingetsu, deliberately targeting our public exposure of the internal conflicts in Kirigakure?" As a master of conspiracy theories, Shimura Danzo gradually caught up with Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning.

"Hozuki Shingetsu's retaliatory action was probably intended to show the world that he was not affected by the infighting in Kirigakure and that he still had the ability to manipulate public opinion in the ninja world at any time. However, what he did not expect was that this demonstration of revenge would actually expose his weakness."

Shimura Danzo recalled a piece of information he had received earlier, which further confirmed his suspicions. "That's right, the Mizukage has already cut funding for Hozuki Shingetsu, so he's just bluffing."

Xiaochun nodded, having fully understood what her two old teammates meant.

"If that's the case... it seems like Kirigakure is truly on the verge of internal strife!"

"Therefore, we really don't need to be so vigilant about Kirigakure," Hiruzen Sarutobi concluded once again.

"So what are you planning to do about this?"

Koharu Utatane raised the book in her hand, her pretty face as cold as ice, and asked Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Are you really going to just let this go? Why don't you immediately order all of these things destroyed!"

"Actually, I think it's necessary to learn about the enemy's propaganda methods... I promise I'll destroy them completely!" Seeing Koharu Utatane's increasingly cold gaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly made a promise.

Soon, Hiruzen Sarutobi's last disciple, Fugaku Uchiha, received a strange order.

"Anti-pornography and anti-illegal publications campaign?"

Looking at the order in his hand, Fugaku Uchiha, unaware of the details, immediately began a market crackdown with his security team.

However, just as Hozuki Shingetsu had thought, ordinary people always have great interest in the private affairs of important figures, and this interest is often directly proportional to the level of prohibition.

With such a grand and enthusiastic slogan, those who had read it became even more convinced of some of the contents of the erotic book, while those who hadn't read it were itching to take a look.

As a result, these prohibited products spread like wildfire throughout the village.

Hozuki Shingetsu's important goal, Hiruzen Sarutobi's lecherous behavior, was finally accepted by the villagers of Konoha.

It wasn't just Konoha Village; with the help of other ninja countries who loved to watch the drama unfold, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as Hokage, became infamous throughout the ninja world.

Based on Hiruzen Sarutobi's pioneering and unprecedented approach to certain areas, some well-meaning individuals prematurely bestowed upon him the title of "Perverted Sage"—it's perfectly reasonable that someone like him could be a sage even when making sushi.

As this trend spread throughout the ninja world, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly received a notification that the Daimyo had dispatched an envoy to visit Konoha.

"Lord Hokage, please dismiss everyone else. Lord Daimyo has important matters to discuss with you."

Seeing the daimyo's serious expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi thought that the Land of Fire really had something important to discuss with him, so he quickly did as he was asked.

"Lord Hokage, the Daimyo would like to know if it is still possible for him to continue his ninja training and refine chakra?"

Seeing the envoy's serious expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi, somewhat puzzled, thought it over carefully and finally gave his advice.

"At your age, Lord Daimyo, refining chakra shouldn't be difficult. But I wonder why you choose to train as a ninja?"

As soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi finished answering, the messenger pulled out a stack of familiar books from his robes and said earnestly to Hiruzen, "That's wonderful. Ever since you learned that the Hokage has unique insights in certain areas and invented some distinctive ninjutsu techniques, you've been particularly fascinated. Therefore, you would like to ask the Hokage how to train these ninjutsu techniques, and whether there are any quick methods?"

"6".

Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious.

(End of this chapter)