From the night of genocide, marching towards the strongest.

Danzo narrowed his eyes slightly and explained calmly, "This is not a secret. Many people know about Hiruzen."

Seeing that the Third Hokage remained silent, seemingly accepting his explanation, Danzo continued, "Hiruzen, you must prohibit Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki from interacting, otherwise it will be very dangerous!"

"I don't see anything dangerous here, Danzo!" The Third Hokage replied calmly, "The bonds between children are often the purest and most innocent, without the interests and motives of adults, which is why they are so precious."

“But he’s different, he’s an Uchiha!” A shadow of gloom flashed across Danzo’s eyes as he reminded him, “Don’t forget, many people saw the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails’ pupils when it wreaked havoc in the village eight years ago.”

Upon hearing this, the Third Hokage paused slightly, then adopted a serious expression and said earnestly, "Whether the Uchiha did what happened eight years ago is still unclear. Moreover, the Uchiha clan no longer exists. We shouldn't place these suspicions and burdens on Sasuke; he's just a child."

"As expected, you're still so soft-hearted, Hiruzen." Danzo's voice rose slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Uchiha Sasuke is indeed a child now, but don't forget, Hiruzen, Uchiha people are inherently evil. Our teacher said that himself!"

Hearing Danzo use the Second Hokage's words to pressure him, the Third Hokage's expression changed slightly. He stared at Danzo without backing down and said, "Our teacher did say that, but don't forget that the most precious quality a person can have is to refrain from evil and do good. Our teacher believed that education and continuous training could eliminate the evil in a person's heart and allow the good in their heart to blossom. It was because our teacher believed in this that he took Kagami as his disciple. And Kagami is our comrade, Danzo!"

"But not all Uchiha are like Kagami, Hiruzen!"

Upon hearing the Third Hokage mention Uchiha Kagami, Danzo's tone became more complex.

"Just tell me straight, what's the purpose of your visit?"

The Third Hokage had no intention of continuing the debate with Danzo on this issue and went straight to the point.

Danzo narrowed his eyes slightly and replied directly, "Hand over Uchiha Sasuke to me. He's too dangerous and uncontrollable in the future!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

The Third Hokage rejected Danzo's request without the slightest hesitation, leaving no room for negotiation.

Hearing the resolute tone of his former comrade, Danzo felt a surge of anger. He said in a deep voice, "Hand over Uchiha Sasuke to me. I will train him to become a sharp blade protecting Konoha, forever loyal to Konoha. This is the best outcome for everyone."

"If I hand Sasuke over to you, you'll only drag him completely into darkness, Danzo!"

"Where there is light, there is shadow; light and shadow coexist." Danzo did not deny this, saying calmly, "The Leaf Village, bathed in sunlight, must also have the dark 'roots' hidden in the shadows of the Leaf Village that support the great tree underground!"

"Sasuke will become a Konoha bathed in sunlight. I believe that with the guidance of the village and the bonds of his comrades, he will become a mirror-like successor to the Will of Fire, and a pillar of the village to shoulder its future!"

The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes and replied with an extremely serious expression:

"Furthermore, your Root organization has already disbanded, Danzo. If one day Sasuke is truly willing to become the shadow of Konoha, I will only place him in the Anbu, not hand him over to you. Because while he is in the Anbu, he is only temporarily bowing down underground, but I believe he will eventually break through the soil and become a towering tree supporting Konoha!"

"You really believe that Uchiha Sasuke will become someone like Kagami?"

Danzo was incredibly surprised; he simply couldn't understand why his old friend would trust that brat Uchiha Sasuke so much.

"Of course!"

The Third Hokage closed his eyes and responded with an air of composure.

His trust in Sasuke stemmed not only from Sasuke's promise to Naruto under the moonlight some time ago, but also from his observations over the past few months.

He paid a lot of attention to Sasuke during this period, and sometimes even more so than to Naruto.

He noticed that whenever Sasuke finished a training session, he would take out "The Will of Fire" and study it intently during his breaks.

That serious expression was impossible to fake; at least the Third Hokage, who had known people for many years, had never seen any trace of pretense.

Even when watching something touching, Sasuke would unconsciously gesture with his hands.

This behavior clearly shows that he genuinely agrees with the Will of Fire written by the first generation!

(Sasuke, unaware of the situation: ???????)

In addition, the promise Sasuke and Naruto made under the moon had deeply moved him. He believed that the child was just someone who appeared closed off on the surface, but who deeply craved bonds and valued his companions.

Danzo Shimura stood there for a long time without speaking, looking at the Third Hokage with his eyes closed. After a long silence, he said in a deep voice, "Hiruzen, you are too..."

Are you trying to say I'm too naive?

Before he could finish speaking, the Third Hokage reopened his eyes, interrupting him.

"But I believe in my decision!"

Danzo Shimura was taken aback.

This guy has actually learned to answer first?

Danzo Shimura stared at the Third Hokage for a long while, and seeing his resolute expression, he remained silent for a moment before saying, "Then let's end our conversation here for today."

After saying this, Shimura Danzo turned and left, leaning on his cane, but as he reached the door, he seemed to remember something.

Just as he was about to turn around and say something, the Third Hokage's calm voice came.

"Go back, Danzo, I won't regret it!"

Danzo Shimura: "............"

"Hmph!" Shimura Danzo snorted coldly and slammed the door shut as he left.

small theater:

The wooden door to the Hokage's office was pushed open.

Danzo: Hiruzen, hand that child over to me. A child with such talent can only fully unleash his potential under my command and become Konoha's sharpest sword in the future!

Third generation: Impossible!

Danzo: Hiruzen, you're too naive. He's too dangerous and uncontrollable!

Third Hokage: Danzo, remember, I am the Hokage!

Danzo: (Squinting at him) Hiruzen, you'll regret this! (Slams the door and leaves)

Chapter 26 You're betraying Hiruzen Sarutobi, what does that have to do with me, Danzo Shimura?

Inside a secret base somewhere underground in Konoha Village.

Danzo Shimura walked into the hall with a gloomy expression. The Root members who came and went, seemingly sensing his bad mood, did not dare to breathe loudly and simply bowed their heads in greeting.

Although he himself had once lost power and was removed from his positions as elder and advisor, and his "Root" organization had been ordered to be disbanded by the Third Hokage, many of his subordinates still continued to serve in the Anbu and even pledged allegiance to "Root".

Moreover, he himself was a cunning fellow, leaving behind several hidden bases throughout Konoha to gather Root members and to research certain unspeakable things.

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

Sitting alone in the dimly lit room, Danzo Shimura's eyes flashed with gloom as he muttered to himself.

After saying this, Shimura Danzo seemed to have been holding something in for a long time, and suddenly felt relieved and calmed down.

Danzo Shimura had very mixed feelings about his longtime buddy, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Although he had already taken Uchiha Shisui's Kotoamatsukami Mangekyou Sharingan, he never intended to use it on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

First, although Uchiha Shisui said that the effect of Kotoamatsukami is to manipulate others at will without their knowledge and to permanently and thoroughly change their thoughts and will.

However, it is unclear whether this was because he was unable to perfectly control the Mangekyou Sharingan and unleash the power of Kotoamatsukami, or because Uchiha Shisui exaggerated it.

Suspicious by nature and cunning, he did not fully trust Uchiha Shisui's words because he had previously discovered that the First Hokage's cells in his possession could significantly shorten the cooldown time of Kotoamatsukami.

After obtaining the Shisui Mangekyou Sharingan, he did not use it on Hiruzen Sarutobi, nor on the village advisor or the clan head, but on his own subordinates.

Through experimentation, he discovered that Kotoamatsukami was not as powerful as Uchiha Shisui had claimed. The so-called ability to manipulate others effortlessly was immediately detected by a member of the Root organization from the Hyuga branch family under his command.

It does not permanently or completely change a person's thoughts and will; on the contrary, it can only change the mind and will of the person under its spell for 10-15 days, and this time will vary depending on the strength of the individual's will.

This is also one of the reasons why he did not use the Mangekyou Sharingan on Hiruzen Sarutobi to turn him into his puppet after obtaining it.

Secondly, deep down he didn't want to change his old friend's mind.

Just like the words he often said to the Third Hokage.

"You are the leaf of the tree bathed in sunlight, while I am the root buried in darkness!"

The biggest grudge he held was that he lost to the Third Hokage of Konoha, who was bathed in sunlight.

He could use all sorts of underhanded tricks and dirty tricks to deal with the Third Hokage, or even kill him.

But that only applies to the Leaf Village bathed in sunlight, not to the Third Hokage who became his puppet and turned into the Root of Darkness.

Defeating or assassinating the Third Hokage would be utterly pointless for him.

"This eye is too much of a burden for me..."

Coming to his senses, Danzo touched his bandaged right eye and murmured.

The Sharingan is extremely taxing on non-human beings and cannot be freely turned off. Even a genius like Kakashi struggled to withstand the Sharingan's demands during his youth, let alone Danzo, who is now almost seventy years old.

only....

Danzo unwrapped the bandage on his right hand, his face turning extremely gloomy.

His arm, from his palm to his elbow, was completely necrotic and had turned into a woody state. Moreover, the woody part of his arm was still being eroded and spreading.

"Even the Mangekyou Sharingan couldn't stop the First Hokage's cells from eroding my body?"

Danzo was very annoyed. He knew that the First Hokage was very strong because he had watched the battle at the Valley of the End from afar under the guidance of his teacher, Tobirama Senju.

I witnessed the two unleash power that was like a myth!

But he never expected that even the First Hokage's cells couldn't suppress the Mangekyou Sharingan, even though Madara Uchiha's Sharingan was just the Mangekyou Sharingan.

Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan is now a huge mental burden for him, but in order to barely resist the erosion of the First Hokage's cells, he has no choice but to bite the bullet and transplant it into his right eye.

This is like drinking poison to quench thirst!

We must find a solution quickly!

Danzo could sense that in ten years at most, even if he didn't die of old age, he would be eroded by the First Generation's cells and die.

With this in mind, Danzo got up with a gloomy look and walked towards a biological research institute in the base.

"Lord Danzo!"

After Danzo entered the room, a group of people dressed in white lab coats and looking like researchers immediately knelt down and bowed.

Danzo nodded slightly, glanced at the corpses preserved in formalin and the pairs of scarlet eyes immersed in nutrient solution around him, and said calmly:

"Has there been any progress in the research on the Uchiha's corpse and Sharingan?"

Upon hearing this, all the researchers broke out in a cold sweat and stammered, unable to utter a single word.

"Hmph! Useless trash!"

Seeing his subordinates' performance, Danzo already knew the answer and gave them a sinister reprimand.

Their research on the first generation of cells had already made almost no progress, and after losing Yamato, they were even more lost.

In order to solve his physical problems, Danzo had no choice but to turn his attention to the Sharingan.