Danzo frowned the moment he felt Hiruzen's gaze settle on him.
He didn't need the words spelled out.
He understood.
Hiruzen wanted him to take two hundred men and personally garrison the River Country border.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been routine. Hiruzen had often dispatched Danzo on external assignments.
But timing… was everything.
If not for the unexpected explosion at Kikyo Mountain, Konoha should already have begun the selection process for the Fourth Hokage.
After such a brutal war, morale would demand it even more.
Which meant—
The election would resume as soon as the frontline forces returned.
And if Danzo were sent away now, stationed at the border "until the war formally ended," he would miss it entirely.
By the time treaties were signed with Iwa, Suna, and Kumo—
The Fourth Hokage would already be decided.
His chance would be gone.
Danzo's face darkened.
"Hiruzen," he said evenly, "you want me to lead?"
Hiruzen nodded calmly.
"Most of our named shinobi are outside the village."
"Even the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki has been deployed."
"I am injured and must coordinate internally."
"Homura oversees logistics."
"Koharu commands the Medical Corps."
"That leaves only you."
Danzo fell silent.
It was infuriating.
But it was true.
He was the only free high-ranking authority left in Konoha.
After a long pause, he shook his head.
"For a weakened Sunagakure, you require me personally?"
"Send two elite jōnin."
"If manpower is short, I can dispatch an experienced Root operative."
Truthfully, Suna escalating further was unlikely.
They were crippled.
Provoking Konoha now would be suicide.
This wasn't about border defense.
It was about removal.
And Danzo knew it.
Since he couldn't dismantle Hiruzen's plan outright, he chose to confront it directly.
Even if it painted him arrogant.
Even if it risked blame should something happen at the border.
At least he wouldn't forfeit the Hokage election.
Hiruzen studied him for a moment.
"Sending Root personnel is acceptable," he said slowly.
"But understand this."
"If they go to hold a border command, they cannot operate in shadows."
"They cannot return to Root afterward."
Danzo's brow tightened.
So this was the fallback plan.
If Hiruzen couldn't remove him—
He would weaken him.
Still, there was no room to refuse.
"Very well," Danzo said coldly. "Then I will send—"
"Send Tenzo."
Hiruzen cut him off.
No hesitation.
No room for negotiation.
Danzo's pupil shrank.
So that was it.
The true objective had never been Danzo.
It had been Tenzo.
Hiruzen continued:
"Transfer Tenzo's file from Root to ANBU."
"Remove all seals and restrictions."
"His prior actions… will not be pursued."
He emphasized those final words.
Will not be pursued.
Danzo felt the implication immediately.
The assassination attempt.
The collusion with Kumogakure.
He had prepared contingencies.
He believed he could survive exposure.
But even suspicion would stain his campaign irreparably.
If this matter could be buried quietly—
It was worth a concession.
After weighing the balance carefully, Danzo spoke.
"Fine."
"After this meeting, Tenzo will be transferred."
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
But in the depths of his eyes—
There was faint contempt.
Danzo was still dreaming.
Still believing the Fourth Hokage seat remained within reach.
Hiruzen had already decided.
In a few days—
He would wake his old friend from that dream.
Hiruzen exhaled slowly and shifted the conversation.
"There is another matter."
The room focused on him.
"Earlier, I did not raise it due to urgency at the front."
"But now that the situation has stabilized…"
He paused.
"You are aware that my trip to the Daimyō was to secure funding."
The others nodded.
"The Daimyō approved a budget."
"Thirty billion ryō."
Three pairs of eyes widened.
Thirty billion was staggering.
Then—
"I did not receive it."
Silence.
Confusion.
Homura frowned.
"What do you mean you did not receive it?"
Hiruzen's expression hardened.
"At some point… the Uchiha clan established direct contact with the Daimyō."
"The entire thirty billion was allocated to the Uchiha."
"And from now on…"
"All funding will be sent directly to them."
The room froze.
This—
Was not merely a financial issue.
This was power.
And the board had just changed.
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