People in Demon Slayer: The Journey That Began with Demon Slayer

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned and asked, "How do you intend to resolve this?!"

"First, convert the Uchiha clan's territory into cash and return it to the Uchiha..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's furrowed brows immediately relaxed, and he agreed without saying a word. Compared to the value of the chakra metal ore, this amount of money was just a drop in the ocean.

"No problem!"

"Wait, I haven't finished yet. Your Konoha has returned all the Sharingan that you stole from the Uchiha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned again. Danzo had taken all of the Uchiha's Sharingan from Root. To return the Sharingan, they would have to go through Danzo, and Danzo was most likely unwilling to do so.

Hiruzen Sarutobi himself was not very willing to return the Sharingan.

Because the Sharingan is one of the three great dojutsu of the ninja world, Hiruzen Sarutobi hoped that Danzo's Root organization could unravel the mystery of the Sharingan, so that Konoha could once again have ninjas with the Sharingan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said solemnly, "I cannot do that, because at that time, we destroyed all the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan to prevent them from being leaked."

Yosuke sneered, "Heh, Third Hokage, you really know how to talk to people in a certain way."

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained unmoved by Yosuke's taunts.

"Since that's the case, let's just assume you destroyed it. Then I'll change my condition: Danzo's head."

Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his fist on the table in a fit of rage: "Yosuke Ubuyashiki, are you provoking me? Are you provoking Konoha?!"

"Provocation? What makes you say that? I was just stating my conditions. Besides, I remember that many people in Konoha wished Danzo dead. Only you have repeatedly indulged Danzo, protecting him like a father protects his son."

"Danzo is a member of Konoha. No matter what, it's none of your business to tell him what to do!"

Yosuke shrugged: "Alright, I've already stated my conditions: either the Sharingan or Danzo's head. It's up to you whether you cooperate or not."

Hiruzen Sarutobi left no room for negotiation: "Yosuke Ubuyashiki, don't even think about it! I will not agree!"

"There's nothing I can do about it. It's your freedom, and I can't force you to interfere."

Yosuke got up to leave, but before leaving, he warned Hiruzen Sarutobi: "By the way, if anyone threatens me or the three genin from Kagero Village who are participating in the Chunin Exams during your time here, regardless of whether they are from Konoha or not, our organization will declare war on Konoha."

After Yosuke left, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in a chair with a gloomy expression.

Yosuke's threat was obvious, but Hiruzen Sarutobi really couldn't do anything about it.

Yosuke, who was able to fight the Nine-Tails single-handedly, would inevitably have to pay a heavy price for Konoha to capture them.

The rest of the ^ organization members are very mysterious. Apart from the guy who used bombs, Pakura from Sunagakure, and the guy with the scythe who was hunting Itachi and the others, no one knows anything about the other members.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was worried that these people were lurking near the Land of Fire, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Therefore, leaving Yosuke, Sasuke, and the other two in Konoha would be pointless and would only threaten the safety of Konoha.

Moreover, behind Kagerou Village lies Iwagakure Village.

Even though Iwagakure wasn't invited to this joint Chunin Exams, those shameless guys still brazenly participated.

If they target Yosuke and his group, the ninjas of Iwagakure will inevitably join in.

If that old fox Onoki from Iwagakure gets hold of something, he'll definitely make a mountain out of a molehill.

Konoha now wants to restore its former glory, and Hiruzen Sarutobi has staked everything on this joint Chunin Exams.

There absolutely cannot be any mistakes in this joint Chunin Exam.

Chapter 290 Undercurrents in Konoha

Hiruzen Sarutobi suppressed his anger and summoned an ANBU member.

"Go and invite the consultant over."

Just as the Anbu were about to leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi said again, "This time, there's no need to invite Danzo over."

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado immediately arrived at the Hokage's office.

He learned what had happened from Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"This is outrageous! Do they think Konoha has no one left?!" Koharu Utatane angrily cursed.

Mitokado Homura chimed in, "Hiruzen, let's just drive these guys out of the village. Since they don't want to cooperate with us, they shouldn't expect to gain anything from this joint Chunin Exams hosted by Konoha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples: "It's too late. Now all the surrounding villages know that the Village of Blazing Suns has sent people to participate in the Chunin Exams. If we expel them without reason, Konoha will be branded as untrustworthy."

Moreover, Iwagakure also participated this time. Who knows what those wolves from Iwagakure might do if they are driven out.

Koharu Utatane was extremely unwilling: "Our Konoha is one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. Are we just going to swallow our anger if it's just a village with a strong yang energy?"

Normally, there should have been an unusual sound at this time, but today it was unusually quiet, making Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado feel very awkward.

"By the way, Hiruzen, where's Danzo?"

"I did not inform Danzo this time."

Mitokado Homura asked in bewilderment, "How could you discuss something like this without informing Danzo? Danzo certainly has a lot of ideas."

Hiruzen Sarutobi explained, "Forget it. Given Danzo's methods, he will definitely send Root to attack them. If they succeed, that's fine, but if they fail, the joint Chunin Exams of Konoha will have to go on, and they will also face difficulties from Iwagakure. Konoha can't afford any more risks. This Chunin Exams must go on successfully."

Hiruzen Sarutobi then sighed, "I thought it would be Itachi Uchiha leading the team this time, but I didn't expect it to be Yosuke Ubuyashiki. Yosuke Ubuyashiki already has conflicts with Konoha, and he is very certain that Konoha will not blame them at this critical moment, which is why he is so aggressive."

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado strongly agree with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

At this critical juncture, no problems can be allowed to occur. Konoha is relying on this joint Chunin Exam to revive its economy.

"In that case, Hiruzen, are you planning to keep it from Danzo? He'll find out sooner or later anyway."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "I have already sent the Anbu to monitor Root's movements. Even if we want to punish Kagerou Village, we will have to wait until after the Chunin Exams."

As soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, the office door was violently pushed open.

Danzo entered, leaning on his cane.

"Hiruzen, what's the meaning of your Anbu? Why are you monitoring and restricting Root's actions?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Tetsuya, and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances, realizing that Danzo had come to demand an explanation.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reassured Danzo, "You know your current image in Konoha. The villagers have a lot of complaints about you. The Chunin Exams are about to begin. If you and your Root members cause any more trouble, I won't be able to handle it at all."

Danzo sneered, "Hiruzen, you don't need to be so perfunctory with me. Isn't it just because the ninja leading the team from Kagerou Village is Ubuyashiki Yosuke that you sent the Anbu to monitor me, worried that I might do something to them?"

Seeing that Danzo already knew the truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped hiding it: "Since you already know, then I won't hide it anymore. Konoha needs stability right now, Danzo, you have to understand me."

"I'm not here to express my dissatisfaction. I can promise you that I and the Root ninjas will stay at the base until the Chunin Exams are over, but you have to withdraw your Anbu!"

"I can agree to this."

Then Danzo asked with a cold look in his eyes, "When I came here just now, I saw Yosuke Ubuyashiki leaving the Hokage Building, while you, Koharu, and Homura were having a meeting here without informing me. Does that mean your cooperation with Kagerou Village has fallen through?"

Danzo had already guessed it, and Hiruzen Sarutobi confessed: "That's right, Yosuke Ubuyashiki's condition is that you hand over the Sharingan you obtained on the night of the massacre, or your life."

Danzo sneered, "He really dares to think that way. Hiruzen, you probably can't swallow this insult either, can you?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned and warned, "Danzo, I've told you, you better behave yourself during the Chunin Exams!"

"Don't worry, but after the Chunin Exams, it's time to punish them. Those remnants of the Uchiha clan dared to set up their own sect and even got involved with those guys from Iwagakure. As the Hokage, you absolutely cannot let them develop so peacefully!"

"I will make my own decision on this matter."

Danzo said meaningfully, "That's good. Hiruzen, there are some things you can't do, you can leave them to me. Isn't that how it's always been between us?"

Danzo left, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty.

Danzo's power is far too great; now, the Root ninjas even outnumber the Anbu.

Furthermore, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Root ninjas were Danzo's private army, and they would never obey Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wants to give the next Hokage a stage to showcase his abilities, so he must weaken Danzo's power.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced discreetly at Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, who were discussing the matter.

To weaken Danzo's power, we need their support.

However, both of them belong to the neutral faction, neither favoring Danzo nor him.

Moreover, in terms of power, these two advisors are not much less powerful than him, the Hokage, and Danzo.

The excessive dispersion of core power in Konoha has led to the unlimited weakening of the Hokage's authority as the highest leader of Konoha.

For the first time, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a sense of crisis, secretly thinking that Konoha might need a reform.

However, sweeping reforms that weaken the power of advisors are bound to provoke a backlash.

Given Hiruzen Sarutobi's current prestige and power, it would be extremely difficult for him to implement reforms, and besides, he is old and no longer has the strength to do so.

Therefore, he needs a respected person to assist him.

The images of Jiraiya and Tsunade flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, and he felt a deep regret for having persuaded them to stay.

Chapter 291 The Exam Begins

When Yosuke was walking on the streets of Konoha, he happened to run into Sasuke and the others who were shopping.

Furthermore, Deidara and Kurotsuchi have already arrived in Konoha and are shopping with Sasuke and the others.

Shion, Kaori, and Kurotsuchi were strolling around the streets with great enthusiasm, while Sasuke and Deidara followed behind them with expressions of utter despair.

Over the next few days, the five of them explored every corner of Konoha.

Inside a tavern.

Yang Jie was sipping his drink.

Suddenly someone rushed in.

It was the Moonlight Gale, which had not been seen for a long time.

With tears welling in her eyes, Gekko Hayate called out to Yosuke, "Mr. Yosuke!"

Although Yosuke was confirmed to be alive by Gyutaro during the battle with Sunagakure, he did not actually see it with his own eyes.

But now that he has finally seen Yosuke again, Gekko Hayate is overwhelmed with excitement.

Yang Jie smiled gently and said, "It's been a long time since I've seen Jifeng. You look a lot more mature now! Come sit down, have a few drinks with me, and then tell me about your experiences over the years."

Through Gekko Hayate's words, Yosuke learned about his experiences over the years.

With the help of breathing techniques, Moonlight Gale mastered the breathing method. After that, his physical condition continued to improve, and he no longer coughed so often.

After his health improved, Hayate Gekko's strength also steadily improved, and his overall strength increased significantly. He no longer relied solely on Konoha-style swordsmanship and was promoted from Special Jonin to Jonin.