Chapter 59 - A Conversation with Hiruzen Sarutobi
As Might Duy and his team exited the Hokage's office, the air inside remained thick with tension.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, exhaled deeply, sending a slow stream of smoke curling into the dimly lit room.
He was tired.
Tired of the never-ending conflicts. Tired of the Feudal Lord's pressures. And now—he had one more battle to fight.
But this time, it wasn't on the battlefield.
It was at his own desk.
He reached into a drawer, retrieved a set of classified intelligence reports, and placed them in front of Kazane.
"Kazane, take a look at this."
His voice was calm yet heavy, filled with an unspoken weight.
Kazane didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, picked up the reports, and began reading.
Hiruzen took another drag of his pipe, his brows furrowed deeply as he continued.
"Just yesterday, Kirigakure launched a full-scale invasion into the Land of Fire."
"I've also received a letter of reproach from the Feudal Lord."
He tapped the sealed letter sitting on his desk, his expression grim.
"The Mist Army has already occupied Fūmon Village. If they advance two more towns, they'll be dangerously close to Konoha itself."
Kazane's gaze remained impassive as he scanned the report.
But Hiruzen wasn't done yet.
"These two towns are coastal trading hubs—some of the wealthiest regions in the Land of Fire. Their economy relies heavily on fishing and maritime commerce."
"If Kirigakure seizes control, it won't just be a blow to the Land of Fire's economy—it will cripple Konoha's future as well."
His voice grew more serious.
"If these towns fall, Konoha's mission assignments will decrease by at least a third."
"And that means… in the future, countless shinobi will struggle just to survive."
Hiruzen leaned back slightly, watching Kazane's expression.
This wasn't just a briefing.
It was a test.
He wasn't just giving information—he was pushing Kazane to act.
He was making Kazane understand the burden of leadership.
Kazane, of course, saw right through it.
The Hokage wanted him to volunteer for battle.
But Kazane wasn't a fool.
There was a world of difference between volunteering himself and being formally requested by Hiruzen.
If he offered himself up, he would have no leverage.
But if Hiruzen personally asked for his help—
Then negotiations were possible.
So, instead of answering immediately, Kazane simply tilted his head and asked,
"So, Hokage-sama, what exactly do you want from me?"
Hiruzen silently cursed in his heart.
This little fox...
He had waited for Kazane to step forward voluntarily, but it was clear now—the boy wasn't going to make the first move.
If he didn't state his request directly, then this conversation was going nowhere.
Taking another slow puff of his pipe, Hiruzen finally said it outright:
"Kazane, I need you to lead Konoha's shinobi forces, support Danzo, and drive the Mist Nin out of the Land of Fire."
Kazane's gaze darkened slightly, but his expression remained unreadable.
Without hesitation, he posed his first question.
"Hokage-sama, how many shinobi can the village allocate for this battle?"
He tapped the intelligence report on the desk, his tone calm but firm.
"The Mist Army has an estimated 8,000 troops. Over a hundred Jonin. At least two S-rank shinobi. More than fifteen Elite Jonin."
"So tell me—how many men can you give me?"
Hiruzen frowned slightly before responding.
"The village can only spare 2,000 shinobi."
His voice was heavy, laced with the burden of leadership.
"As for Jonin... we simply don't have enough to send. However, Danzo has a few hundred Root ANBU under his command—all of them at least Chunin-level. Many of them are Jonin as well."
He sighed.
"I hope you can understand our limitations, Kazane."
Kazane scoffed lightly, his smirk tinged with amusement.
Who doesn't know how to play the sympathy card?
His tone remained light, but his words cut straight to the core of the issue.
"Hokage-sama, I'm willing to fight for Konoha."
"But I won't throw my life away in a battle that's already lost."
His gaze sharpened.
"You're asking me to take 2,000 men against 8,000. An enemy force with an overwhelming advantage in both numbers and high-level combatants."
He leaned slightly forward, his voice unwavering.
"Even I can't wipe out the entire Mist Army alone."
Hiruzen exhaled slowly, his frown deepening.
The wrinkles on his forehead pressed together, his frustration evident.
He wasn't pleased.
But Kazane wasn't wrong.
This wasn't just complaining—it was negotiation.
The boy knew his worth.
Finally, after a long pause, Hiruzen sighed.
"Very well, Kazane Jonin. Tell me your conditions."
Kazane didn't answer right away.
Instead, he smirked and casually placed a scroll onto the Hokage's desk.
"Hokage-sama, I haven't even finished reporting my last mission yet."
"And… I brought you a little gift."
Hiruzen's gaze flickered with curiosity.
"What's this?"
Kazane leaned back slightly, making himself comfortable.
"On my way back, I ran into the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."
His voice was utterly casual, as if he were discussing the weather.
"I engaged them in battle and completely crushed them."
"They split up and fled, but I still managed to kill four."
"The other three got away, but I confiscated their weapons."
For the first time in the conversation, Hiruzen's mask slipped.
His eyes widened, shock flickering across his features.
"You killed four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?!"
For a moment, his emotions fluctuated between admiration, disbelief… and something else.
Kazane remained indifferent.
"Hokage-sama, you can check for yourself."
With a single hand seal, he released the scroll.
Boom!
Four legendary swords crashed onto the desk.
Hiruzen's breath hitched.
For a long moment, he was silent, his gaze flickering between the weapons and Kazane's composed expression.
Eventually, a deep chuckle escaped him.
Then—
He laughed.
"Ha! Kazane, I've watched you grow up. How could I ever doubt you?"
He shook his head in disbelief.
"You've truly exceeded expectations… far beyond even what I imagined."
His laughter faded, replaced by a knowing look.
"But let's get back to the main issue."
His eyes settled on Kazane, more serious than before.
"What will it take for you to support Danzo?"
At that moment, both of them understood—
This was no longer a request.
This was a deal.
Hiruzen had no choice but to listen.
Just as he had once cornered Orochimaru into an agreement, the tables had turned.
Now, he was the one being cornered.
And Kazane knew it.
A small smile played at Kazane's lips.
He moved behind Hiruzen's desk, resting his hands lightly on the Hokage's shoulders.
His fingers pressed into the old man's stiff muscles, a mock gesture of relaxation.
"Relax, Sarutobi-sama."
His voice was low, edged with amusement.
"I'm not asking for much."
"Just a few small requests."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
"...Speak."
Kazane's smile sharpened.
"First, I want absolute command over the battlefield."
His tone remained light, but there was no room for negotiation.
"If you can't agree to that, then there's no point in continuing this conversation."
"I refuse to fight while watching my back for a knife."
Hiruzen's expression stiffened.
"...You're worried about Danzo, aren't you?"
He sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Kazane, I believe you're being misled by Orochimaru's paranoia."
"Danzo would never harm you. He's a loyal advisor to the village. Everything he does is for Konoha's future."
His voice softened, as if speaking to a child who didn't yet understand the complexities of leadership.
"Besides, at your age, you don't have the authority to lead such a force—"
"Then there's nothing more to discuss."
Kazane's voice turned cold.
He released Hiruzen's shoulders and stepped back.
"Since you can't agree, I'll take my leave."
He turned toward the door without hesitation.
"When you change your mind, you know where to find me."
Hiruzen gritted his teeth.
Damn it.
He was cornered.
If he refused Kazane's conditions, the Mist Army would reach Konoha within the week.
And if Konoha fell, then none of this would matter anyway.