CHAPTER 206: DANZO'S CRUSHED AMBITION
Deep beneath Konoha Village, adjacent to the ANBU stronghold, absolute darkness reigned. The only sounds were the occasional drip of water echoing through the tunnels—like the inside of some vast underground pipe system.
Shimura Danzo sat upon his stone pedestal, wrapped in bandages and shadows. He had not returned to the front lines since the First Battle. There was no point.
Though he held the title of Hokage's Assistant, overall command remained firmly in Hatake Sakumo's hands. With Sakumo in charge, Danzo couldn't maneuver freely. It was better to remain in Konoha. The battlefield would proceed with or without him—no one realistically expected him to personally engage the enemy. That was not his role.
And that annoying presence—Rakshasa—made staying there even less appealing.
Besides, if he had been on the battlefield when Tsuchikage Onoki appeared, according to Hiruzen's calculations, the situation might have been less dire.
Danzo, Sakumo, and that brat Ragnar working together could probably hold Onoki at bay. Defeating him would be difficult, yes—but stalling for time was achievable.
Regarding Danzo's true strength—rarely displayed in the original timeline, often reduced to the laughingstock who stabbed Susano'o with a kunai to no effect—there was no doubt he was Kage-level. A very special kind of Kage-level, armed with a collection of forbidden arts and secret techniques.
In the original history, Danzo had only revealed Izanagi and the Uzumaki clan's Four Symbols Seal. But the techniques he truly mastered went far beyond those. It was simply that in his final battle, Izanagi was the only practical option—resurrection upon death was essentially a "no-solution" technique.
Unfortunately, his chakra wasn't infinite. He never had time to deploy his full arsenal.
Otherwise, Danzo—that treacherous old schemer—might have tricked even a peak Kage-level opponent if they weren't careful.
Why else would the Second Hokage have favored him? Why else would he have been chosen as brother-in-arms to the Third Hokage himself?
But for all his strength, he had still failed to become Hokage. That failure had festered in his heart for decades.
Sarutobi, that bad old man, is still in his prime. How many more years must I endure him?
And even when Sarutobi finally stepped down, would they choose Danzo? By then, they would all be old men. The Hokage was a village's symbol—choosing a decrepit elder was inappropriate.
The injustice burned within him.
"Is the Hokage still in the village?"
After his customary daily bout of brooding, Danzo's voice emerged calm and cold, directed at the darkness before him. He might have been speaking to himself—or to someone waiting in the shadows.
SHUN!
A burst of movement. A Root ninja materialized before Danzo, dropping to one knee with perfect deference.
"Reporting to Danzo-sama. The Hokage has assembled his forces at the village gate. They are prepared to depart at any moment."
"Mm."
Danzo nodded slowly. A strange light flickered behind his eyes.
Since Sarutobi Hiruzen was rushing to the battlefield, Danzo—as Hokage's Assistant—would naturally remain in Konoha to maintain control.
On the surface, the Tsuchikage's appearance on the Rain Country battlefield seemed catastrophic for Konoha. It could lead to massive losses. Perhaps the complete destruction of the frontline forces.
But for Shimura Danzo personally? This was an opportunity.
An opportunity to realize the ambition burning in his heart for so many years.
If Hatake Sakumo fell—if Konoha's White Fang died on that battlefield—one of Sarutobi's strongest arms would be severed. Konoha would be weakened, yes. But Root would remain intact. Stable. Ready.
And with Sarutobi's power diminished, Root's influence could rise. Danzo could ascend.
In this sudden turn of the war, Danzo found himself hoping White Fang would die. Hoping Rakshasa would die with him. Out of sight, out of mind, as they said.
The best outcome? Sarutobi Hiruzen rushed to reinforce, walked into an ambush, and was severely wounded—incapable of continuing as Hokage.
Then Danzo could legitimately claim the title.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
For Danzo, what did the deaths of others matter? How many died was irrelevant.
From the original timeline—the masked man controlling the Nine-Tails attacking Konoha, Orochimaru's destruction plan, Pain's Six Paths devastating the village—through every catastrophe that nearly annihilated Konoha, Danzo had held back. Watched. Waited.
In his view, everything could be sacrificed in the face of greater interests.
At this moment, Danzo's eyes grew distant, shining with an almost frightening light. He could almost see it—himself as Hokage, conquering the ninja world step by step. Konoha ruling everything. Reaching the peak.
That day was not far off.
Let Sarutobi be Hokage now, with his peaceful development, his reluctance to act until bullied. Why was Konoha always reacting instead of acting? Always waiting for others to make the first move?
If he were Hokage, he would initiate war immediately. Destroy the other four great nations. Annex the scattered minor countries. Unify the ninja world under Konoha's absolute rule.
A rustle in the darkness.
Another Root intelligence ninja appeared, dropping to one knee.
"Danzo-sama. Urgent report from the front lines."
Danzo's expression shifted slightly.
Could it be? News of the front line's destruction has arrived already? Heaven truly favors me.
He maintained his calm facade, speaking in a deep voice:
"Speak."
Casually, he lifted a cup of herbal tea to his lips. He would need to steady himself for the good news.
"Good news, my lord! Frontline Commander Hatake Sakumo, in coordination with ANBU Rakshasa, has decisively defeated the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure—Onoki—and the Kazekage of Sunagakure in a single engagement! They have also killed the Five-Tails Jinchuriki!"
Danzo's hand froze.
"The Iwa-Suna coalition forces have been crushed! Over half their forces are dead or wounded! They have been forced to surrender unconditionally to Konoha! An armistice agreement will be signed in the Land of Rain in seven days!"
CRACK!
The cup in Danzo's hand shattered. Tea and ceramic fragments scattered across the stone floor, ignored.
His face sank. Darkened. Became something terrifying to behold.
"You speak truth?" Danzo's voice dropped to a dangerous register. His aura pressed down on the kneeling ninja like a physical weight—crushing, suffocating, almost impossible to breathe through.
"It is absolutely true, my lord! Lord Hokage himself received a secret letter from Hatake Sakumo at this very moment! He has already disbanded the support forces! They have returned to their duties!"
"Impossible."
Danzo's voice rose.
"No matter how powerful Hatake Sakumo is, he cannot defeat two Kage-level opponents! And Onoki stands at the peak of Kage level! Even with Rakshasa added, it's impossible!"
"According to the reports, Danzo-sama..." The Root ninja's voice trembled. "It seems the one who defeated the Tsuchikage and Kazekage... was ANBU Rakshasa."
"IMPOSSIBLE!"
Danzo's roar echoed through the underground chamber.
"How old is that boy?!"
"Kage level?!"
"Do you think Kage grow like cabbage?!"
"IDIOTS! ALL OF YOU!"
(End of Chapter)
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