The low voice echoed through the office.
Minato Namikaze's expression froze, and he fell into a brief silence.
The Second Shinobi World War, Hanzo of the Salamander, bestowed the title of Sannin upon Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru.
For a time, the Sannin were in the limelight throughout the vast ninja world.
Wherever they appeared on the battlefield, they could turn the tide of war.
If they were still around now, and they were stationed on every battlefield, the three great nations would have to think twice before attacking the Land of Fire.
Unfortunately, Orochimaru's betrayal, Tsunade's post-traumatic stress, and Jiraiya's departure were all huge blows to Konoha.
If Kai, this new force, joined them now, it would be perfect for ending the Third Shinobi World War.
"Hokage-sama, don't worry. I have a good relationship with Fugaku. With him helping, Kai will just be a lazy bum at most," Minato Namikaze said, recalling Kai's words, he couldn't help but smile wryly.
The Third Hokage also shook his head with a wry smile. "With your words, I'm reassured."
"There's new news from the Kannabi Bridge. I hope you can take a trip there as soon as possible. The Iwa ninjas have mobilized a large number of elite forces. It seems their clash with the Cloud ninjas is about to end."
Outside, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado walked out of the Hokage Tower with gloomy expressions.
"It's Danzo!" Homura Mitokado's eyebrows rose.
"Let's go see."
Koharu Utatane said this and quickly walked over.
"Why are you two down here? Where did that kid go?" Danzo was just about to return to the Hokage Tower.
"Hmph, that kid is too arrogant. He actually used genjutsu on us in the Hokage's office. But his eyes are terrifying. He must be proficient in genjutsu," Homura Mitokado said angrily.
"Danzo, didn't you send the S-rank rogue ninja, Kakuzu, who once attacked the First Hokage, to assassinate him? Why did he fail?"
Powerful genjutsu?
Danzo's expression changed slightly. "It seems Sarutobi's intelligence network is still so powerful. He even knows who I hired."
"I did hire Kakuzu, who once attacked the First Hokage, the rogue ninja from Takigakure, and the Fūma clan to assassinate him. But looking at the kid's expression, he probably changed his route and escaped."
"Hmph, I knew it. He's just a coward who's afraid of death. How could he be a match for the S-rank rogue ninja, Kakuzu?" Homura Mitokado snorted.
"This kid is too rebellious. I'm worried he can't be used by Konoha. Danzo, you should contact Kakuzu as soon as possible and try to get rid of him."
Koharu Utatane didn't speak, but her expression made her meaning clear.
Seeing Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, who had been standing with Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo's face broke into a smile.
"Don't worry. This time, Sarutobi's decision has already endangered Konoha's foundation. I'll contact Kakuzu as soon as possible and try to get rid of that kid. But about the next Hokage position, I think you two should also think about it."
For Danzo, this was his best chance to take the Hokage position.
With Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, two high-ranking officials, and evidence of Sarutobi Hiruzen's failed decisions, he would have enough leverage to compete with Minato Namikaze for the next Hokage position in front of the Daimyo.
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were stunned.
They had already anticipated this.
But they didn't expect Danzo to be so blatant about the Hokage position.
"Danzo-sama, Fū Yamanaka is back," Aburame Torune suddenly said.
Danzo glanced at Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, who were hesitant, and said, "You two don't have to make a decision too quickly. I'll have Fū Yamanaka contact Kakuzu and have him eliminate Kai as soon as possible."
"Go back and think about it. This is a crucial time in the war. The four great nations are attacking the Land of Fire at the same time. The Daimyo is furious. It's all because of Sarutobi's so-called steady thinking. What kind of recuperation? If he had listened to my advice earlier and used strong-arm tactics to intimidate the four great nations, we, Konoha, would be the only ones in the world. Who would dare to offend us?"
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane fell silent.
Fū Yamanaka also rushed over, sweating profusely and looking anxious. If he hadn't been gasping for breath, he would have been the first to speak.
"Fū, take your time. They're on our side now," Danzo said with a smug smile. "Now, go contact Kakuzu. The target has returned to Konoha. We'll try to create an opportunity for him to make his move. This time, success is the only option. Failure is not allowed."
"Fail, failure. Danzo-sama, Kakuzu and the Fūma clan probably failed," Fū Yamanaka couldn't hold back.
Danzo's smile instantly froze. He said with a twitching face, "Fū , what are you talking about? What happened?"
In Danzo's eyes, no matter how powerful Uchiha Kai was, he couldn't compare to an S-rank rogue ninja who had been famous for a long time and had even massacred high-ranking officials.
"They're dead. All the elites of the Fūma clan were killed. There are signs of a large-scale battle at the post station," Fū Yamanaka said with a pale face.
"From the damage of some of the jutsu, it seems the power reached an S-rank level."
What?
The expressions of Danzo, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane all changed.
Although Kai was with two others, they didn't believe that the two rookies, Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yūgao, could use such powerful jutsu.
As for the S-rank jutsu, if it came from Kakuzu, then Kai wouldn't have been able to return alive.
After careful consideration, it was clear that the S-rank jutsu must have come from Kai.
Since he was able to return alive, it meant that the S-rank rogue ninja, Kakuzu, whom they had placed their hopes in, had probably fallen.
Thinking about this, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado's faces turned pale.
They had just been confronting Kai. If they had accidentally fallen under his genjutsu, and the Third Hokage hadn't rescued them in time, and if Kai had attacked, they would have been doomed.
"Hiruzen, Koharu, don't forget what you promised me," Danzo said anxiously, quickly returning to the topic.
"Koharu, the weather is nice today. We haven't had coffee together in a long time," Homura Mitokado said suddenly.
Koharu Utatane nodded. "Good idea. It feels like we haven't gotten together in a long time."
Watching the two turn and leave after saying these meaningless words, Danzo's face turned ashen.
"Damn it, damn it!" Danzo was filled with resentment.
This should have been his closest chance to become Hokage.
However, now, even Kakuzu had been killed by Kai. This was beyond his expectations.
"Danzo-sama, what should we do now?" Fū Yamanaka couldn't contain his anxiety. "Now that even the S-rank rogue ninja, Kakuzu, couldn't kill Uchiha Kai, are we just going to watch him swagger through Konoha?"
"Fū, don't be impulsive. Danzo-sama will have a way," Aburame Torune quickly tried to dissuade him.
But although he said this, he couldn't think of a solution either.
If even someone like Kakuzu couldn't deal with Kai, who else would dare to make a move?
"Don't worry, I've thought of a good candidate."
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