Chapter 367: Inheritor of the Will of Fire, Leader of Root: Aizen
"Aizen-sama!"
"Thank you, Aizen-sama! I want to grow up to be someone just like you!"
The children at the orphanage swarmed around Aizen,
their faces glowing with admiration as they chattered excitedly.
Aizen crouched down, gently patting the head of a little girl who looked up at him.
"So your name is Hinoki Riko? That's a beautiful name."
Seeing her cheeks flush red from being called by name,
Aizen's smile softened.
"I'm just an ordinary person. It's only because of the Will of Fire that I became someone worth remembering in your eyes.
So don't forget to study the Will of Fire."
"Only by understanding the Will of Fire… can you become a hero who protects the village."
His words, sincere and warm,
washed over the children's hearts like a gentle spring rain.
They all promised eagerly—
they would grow up to be heroes who would protect Konoha.
Leaving the orphanage,
Aizen made his way toward the Hokage Tower and soon arrived outside the Hokage's office.
He dusted off his clothes politely and waited until Danzo's voice invited him in
before turning the doorknob and stepping inside.
"Lord Third."
Through his glasses, Aizen wore an expression of respectful composure as he looked at the figure seated behind the desk.
Or rather… the man now possessing that figure.
The change in soul couldn't escape Aizen's perception.
In his eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi was already dead.
The man before him, wearing his skin, was a dark and oppressive soul.
Aizen had already investigated enough to determine who it was.
Shimura Danzo.
Former Hokage advisor. Leader of Root.
A man who had always longed to be Hokage—but had never succeeded.
And now, it seemed,
he had used some unknown means to hijack his dream.
Danzo said nothing at first,
simply reading through documents in silence.
Aizen remained perfectly respectful, smiling gently as he stood in place without uttering a word.
After a long pause,
Danzo finally looked up and, for once, offered a rare and complicated smile.
"Sōsuke, huh? Konoha's reconstruction has buried me in work—sorry to keep you waiting."
Recruiting civilian shinobi was a key strategy in Danzo's consolidation of power.
And among them,
Sōsuke Aizen was a shining jewel.
So flawless that even Danzo couldn't find a single fault.
At first, Danzo suspected he was a spy sent by enemy factions.
But the more he interacted with him, the more he realized—
Someone like Aizen would be a tragic loss to waste on espionage.
No faction would dare part with such talent.
Even Danzo, with his deep distrust of others,
had been moved when Aizen willingly accepted the curse seal.
Tongue Curse Seal – Severance.
A low-tier seal that prevented the bearer from speaking of certain topics.
Danzo had spent reward points and a [Rank-Up Scroll]
to upgrade it to [Tongue Curse Seal – Command], a Tier 2 version.
Anyone bound by it could not resist.
If they violated its terms, their body would suffer extreme backlash.
Because of that,
in just half a month, Danzo had begun treating Aizen as an invaluable tool—
even allowing him to handle Hokage paperwork.
"Aizen, the clans didn't get any loot and have been stirring up trouble. You've saved me a lot of headaches."
Danzo stood by the window, wearing the Hokage hat, gazing down at the street below.
"No need for such praise, Lord Hokage. It's all part of my duty."
Aizen responded with keen awareness,
gathering the separated stack of files and sitting quietly in a corner to process them.
They were mostly trivial matters—not related to shinobi—and a waste of time.
As for confidential intel and documents,
Aizen didn't even glance at them. He simply focused on his task.
Danzo, still at the window, asked without turning,
"Aizen… do you also think what I'm doing is wrong?"
"A Hokage is never wrong."
Aizen didn't even lift his head. His answer was instant and heartfelt, without hesitation.
Danzo studied Aizen's reflection in the window's glass.
No sign of deceit.
Aizen continued,
"This is the Will of Fire.
The burning tree that is Konoha must shine its warmth on everyone—not just the clans."
"Like a great tree…"
"If its branches grow too wildly, it burdens the trunk, eventually collapsing it."
"The trunk is the foundation."
He looked up and pushed up his glasses.
"The clans grew strong because the trunk fed them.
If they only know how to take, and refuse to sacrifice in times of crisis, then they are rotten branches."
"I understand you, Lord Hokage.
Everything you've done has been for the good of the village.
That's why I chose to follow you—to help carve a path through the thorns."
It sounded like flattery.
But in Danzo's eyes, Aizen's expression carried no hint of pretense.
Still… it felt like he was holding something back.
Danzo returned to his seat, opened a drawer,
and frowned when he saw the familiar tobacco pipe.
He tossed it into the trash can with a scowl.
"Aizen, you seem to be holding back something?"
He ran his fingers along the Hokage hat.
"Speak freely. I won't punish you."
"As expected of Lord Hokage… You noticed."
Aizen seemed startled, bowing his head slightly.
"But even a strong trunk… is not the core of the tree."
"In the eyes of most, the trunk is irreplaceable, the pillar of the tree."
"But actually…"
"It's the roots that sustain the tree.
Buried in the dirt, unseen, soaking up nourishment so the tree can grow."
"Dirty, muddy, even resented—but necessary."
Aizen lifted his gaze.
"Just like your old friend—Shimura Danzo—who bore all manner of slander to protect Konoha from the shadows."
"To me, that version of the Will of Fire is no less noble than any other."
"This is what the village lacks today.
If all the filth falls on the Hokage alone, then I'd feel guilty—it means I've failed in my duty."
To praise someone else's Will of Fire before the Hokage himself
was reckless.
But to Danzo, it felt like cool spring water beneath the blazing sun.
This was genuine.
Danzo hid his smile and said,
"You're right. But these days, ninjas willing to sacrifice everything to root themselves in darkness… are rare."
He snorted.
"Everyone just wants to be Hokage.
They seek glory and honor but don't understand the importance of roots."
"Ninjas today… they've been brainwashed by a shallow version of the Will of Fire.
They've lost the true meaning!"
"Aizen, you're impressive."
His eyes glowed with admiration, as if he had discovered a raw, flawless gem.
The perfect subordinate. The perfect embodiment of the Will of Fire.
After a moment of thought—
Danzo spoke:
"Starting tomorrow, five hundred elite players from the Shadow Organization will be reassigned to form Root."
"Aizen, you'll be the leader.
You will be the foundation of Konoha's darkness."
"Your Will of Fire… has been recognized."
"I'm honored. Thank you, Lord Hokage,
for giving me the chance to serve Konoha more fully."
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