[T/N: Four new chapters of Young Master, Please Become Hokage! await! š I'm so excited for you to read them! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments - I'm always eager for feedback! And, of course, Power Stones are deeply appreciated! š Happy reading! Don't miss out on the adventures in Naruto Paradise: An Evil Uchiha's Rise and One Piece: I'm Destined to Be the Son-in-Law King! either!
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While Sarutobi Ryo was busy learning how to use Steel Release, Yakushi Nonou quickly sent information about what happened in the dock town back to Konoha. She was as swift as the wind.
Deep under Konoha, hidden in Root's secret base, one of Danzo's Root Ninja was hard at work.
The ninja unrolled a scroll and focused his chakra on a set of special symbols written on it. Poof! A cloud of smoke appeared, and when it cleared, a small book, like a logbook, sat in the middle of the summoning circle.
The Root Ninja grabbed the book and rushed to the surface, finally giving it to Danzo in his Anbu office. Root Ninjas had their own special ways of sending messages. They regularly shared information using these summoned booklets.
Danzo opened the book, reading the report Nonou had written. It described everything that had happened.
When Danzo read that Sarutobi Ryo had killed several Yakuza bosses without hesitation and easily caught the person behind them - who turned out to be one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja - his face changed slightly.
The leaders of Konoha had more or less agreed on something: many of them thought Namikaze Minato was the best choice to be the next Hokage. They believed he was perfect because he had learned Senju Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique.
However, Namikaze Minato was Sarutobi Hiruzen's student's student and Jiraiya's student. Even though they were all connected to the Senju line, they weren't really part of Danzo's group.
Danzo closed the book, his eyes shining. He would rather become Hokage himself than support Namikaze Minato all the way. But he knew he had no chance as long as Sarutobi Hiruzen was in charge. So, he had to support someone else.
That person was Orochimaru, one of the Sannin. It was the only real option for Danzo, because he certainly couldn't support Jiraiya. He needed someone who would work with him and do what he said.
Maybe...
The thought of Sarutobi Ryo popped into Danzo's head. He was in the same class as Namikaze Minato, but he hadn't stood out as a child. In fact, he seemed quite average. But after the Second Shinobi World War, he had suddenly become a star. The mission in Land of Whirlpools and this Anbu test mission both had surprisingly good results.
Could this mean something?
Is he a late bloomer? Or has he been hiding his skills all along, keeping them a secret?
"Sarutobi Ryo... is a talented young man," Danzo thought. His heart began to race, and he considered trying to recruit him. He could train Sarutobi Ryo in Root, teach him his beliefs, and turn him into someone who would speak for him.
Even better, Sarutobi Ryo was Sarutobi Hiruzen's son. It would be great to turn Sarutobi Hiruzen's own son into one of his followers.
"Besides... unlike Hiruzen, that kid has a darkness in his eyes."
As the "Shadow of the Ninja," Danzo had noticed a darkness in Sarutobi Ryo's heart when he spoke at the Anbu office entrance.
Of course, Danzo thought Sarutobi Ryo was a very innocent person.
"So... the darkness in that kid's heart is also very innocent."
Danzo could take his time to find out exactly what kind of darkness Sarutobi Ryo was hiding.
He quickly returned the report. Then, he wrote new orders for Nonou in another log.
"Approve Sarutobi Ryo's request to stay for a week."
"Approve Sarutobi Ryo's plan to use Hyuga Ruri to help kill the Kirigakure Ninja after a week..."
"Nonou, you need to help Sarutobi Ryo and make his plans easier. I want to know every detail of the operation..."
After finishing the log, Danzo stood up. He was going to the Hokage Office to tell Sarutobi Hiruzen about the details of the test.
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Ten minutes later, Danzo arrived at the Hokage Office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was still working late, reviewing documents. After the war, there was so much to do. Working overtime for a while was necessary.
"Danzo?" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked surprised to see his old friend so late at night.
"I'm here to talk about Sarutobi Ryo's test..." Danzo said, sitting down in a chair.
After Danzo finished speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. "Sarutobi Ryo... he really makes me proud..."
Unlike his younger son, Asuma, who was always getting into trouble, Sarutobi Ryo had been steady and mature since he was a child. His parents had never had to worry about him. He had made progress slowly but surely. He might not be as brilliant as a shooting star, but he was reliable.
"He might be a late bloomer," Danzo corrected, highlighting Sarutobi Ryo's achievements in the two tests. "Just like... Namikaze Minato."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was surprised. Namikaze Minato hadn't been very special before he turned ten. But after graduating from the Ninja Academy at ten, he seemed to have suddenly improved and started growing rapidly. No one had expected him to become so strong.
"Danzo, are you saying... Sarutobi Ryo is also starting to improve now, like Minato?"
"Yes... I believe Sarutobi Ryo's future is unlimited. Anbu... is where he should be..."
Danzo revealed nothing. He was planning to slowly gain Sarutobi Ryo's trust and turn him into one of his own. First, he would use the regular Anbu position to mislead Sarutobi Hiruzen. Then... he would have Sarutobi Ryo promoted to Anbu Division Leader... or even the Captain of Anbu Squad Six. When that time came, he would completely bring Sarutobi Ryo under his control. Finally, he would try to support both Sarutobi Ryo and Orochimaru, betting on both sides, so that one of them would become Hokage.
Hehe...
Sarutobi Hiruzen was no different from any other parent: he was happy to hear others praising his child.
Smiling, he looked at Danzo and said sincerely, "Danzo... it's really great that you think so highly of Sarutobi Ryo..."
"It's nothing," Danzo said, shaking his head. "I even believe your son... Sarutobi Ryo has as much talent as Namikaze Minato. Maybe... he's the one who should become the next Hokage."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled even more.
And Danzo's lips also curved slightly upward.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was smiling.
Danzo was also smiling.
Everyone had a bright future.
Danzo: "Now, let's talk about the Twelve Guardian Ninja betraying state secrets and making recommendations to the Land of Fire Daimyo..."