Late that night, Senmei Asahi quietly arrived at the underground base of the Root organization.
The hidden entrance was buried deep beneath Konoha, far away from the eyes of ordinary villagers and even most shinobi. The corridors were dimly lit, illuminated only by a few flickering lamps placed along the walls. Shadows stretched long and silent across the stone floors, giving the entire base a cold and oppressive atmosphere.
This was the domain of Shimura Danzo.
Every step inside Root carried a suffocating pressure. Even veteran shinobi would instinctively become cautious here.
Asahi walked calmly through the corridors until he reached the inner chamber.
Danzo was already waiting.
The old man stood in the center of the room with his hands folded behind his back. His expression was extremely grim, and the single exposed eye beneath his bandages stared sharply at Asahi.
The moment the two met, Asahi did not bother with any polite greetings.
"Danzo-sama," Asahi said coldly, "what you did yesterday was far too impulsive."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"And completely lacking in wisdom."
The atmosphere inside the chamber instantly froze.
Danzo's expression darkened.
His eye glared at Asahi with dangerous intensity.
"What do you mean by that?"
The tone of his voice became heavy and threatening.
If Asahi could not provide a satisfactory explanation, it was obvious Danzo would not hesitate to take action.
In fact, the moment Asahi stepped into the Root base, he had already sensed something unusual.
The number of ninja inside the base had doubled.
Hidden presences lurked within the shadows of the surrounding corridors.
More importantly, among those hidden chakra signatures, two stood out.
Their chakra reserves were extremely large.
Even compared to elite-jōnin, they were far stronger.
Although Asahi did not know their exact identities, anyone capable of being hidden inside Root by Danzo was certainly not weak.
'Trying to eliminate me?' Asahi thought with faint amusement.
Unfortunately for Danzo, that plan would not succeed.
After mastering Sage Mode and storing massive natural energy within the Yin Seal, Asahi's strength had already surpassed what ordinary shinobi could handle.
Without a truly powerful opponent present, even if every Root ninja attacked him simultaneously, he could still slaughter them all.
If not for the fact that the time was not right to openly break with Danzo, Asahi might have already eliminated him.
Instead, Asahi merely sneered slightly.
"Danzo-sama," he said calmly, "you have hidden yourself in the shadows for many years."
"You have certainly contributed to Konoha."
"But tell me, how many ordinary shinobi even know you exist?"
Danzo's expression stiffened slightly.
Asahi continued.
"The ninja of Konoha recognize only one leader."
"The Third Hokage."
He folded his arms casually.
"And during yesterday's battle against the Nine-Tails… you did nothing."
The words struck like knives.
"Therefore," Asahi concluded calmly, "the ordinary ninja will never acknowledge you."
"Your attempt to openly challenge the Third Hokage yesterday only made you look foolish."
"It will earn you nothing but scorn."
"Damn it!"
Danzo's hand clenched tightly.
For a moment, the killing intent in the room intensified.
But slowly, Danzo calmed down.
After all, no one who could climb to his position was a fool.
Danzo was extremely intelligent.
His flaw was not stupidity, but narrow vision.
"Think about the Uchiha clan." Asahi said coldly.
"Your current situation is very similar to theirs."
Danzo's face darkened immediately.
"That despicable Sarutobi Hiruzen…"
He gritted his teeth.
In truth, Danzo already understood everything Asahi had said.
But he could not let go.
The power he held through Root was addictive.
He wanted more.
And that desire had pushed him into a position where he existed outside public recognition.
A shadow with no name.
Yet being confronted so directly by Asahi today made the anger in Danzo's heart boil.
But even if he raged, the reality would not change.
If he kept his power hidden, he would remain unknown.
If he abandoned Root and stepped into the open, he would still be suppressed by Hiruzen.
Danzo was trapped.
Unable to advance.
Unable to retreat.
Unless he became Hokage, his position would never change.
"As things stand now," Asahi said indifferently, "the Third Hokage has regained his prestige."
"No one in Konoha can compete with him."
"You should lie low for a while."
"If you provoke him further, the consequences will not be easy to bear."
Asahi had two purposes for coming here tonight.
First—
To ensure Danzo stopped causing trouble during the early days of Sarutobi Hiruzen's return to power.
Second—
To prevent Danzo from spreading rumours about Naruto.
Asahi did not want Naruto's childhood destroyed.
He was not sure whether Naruto would still become the same Naruto if his upbringing changed.
But if Ashura's chakra truly reincarnated within him, Naruto would still become Naruto.
And more importantly, giving Naruto a peaceful childhood could be considered repaying Minato's kindness.
Danzo stared at Asahi for a long moment.
Then suddenly, he chuckled.
"In Konoha, it is not true that no one can compete with Hiruzen."
His eye narrowed.
"You."
"You possess enough prestige among both shinobi and villagers."
"In the future, you could become the Fifth Hokage."
"But you are still too young."
"In a few years… perhaps Hiruzen will retire."
The smile on Danzo's lips was faint.
But the calculating glint in his eye betrayed his intentions completely.
"Me?"
Asahi laughed.
"Are you trying to recommend me as Hokage?"
"Thank you for the compliment."
"But unfortunately…"
"I have no interest in becoming Hokage."
Danzo frowned.
"Oh?"
"And why not?"
Asahi answered without hesitation.
"What I pursue is power."
His voice was calm.
"Becoming Hokage would consume too much time."
"There would be endless administration, diplomacy, and political disputes."
"All of that would reduce the time available for training and research."
"So, I will not become Hokage."
For once, Asahi was telling the truth.
If he had never known about the final battle against Otsutsuki Kaguya, he might have been tempted by the Hokage position.
But after seeing the true scale of the world's power…
Kage-level shinobi were nothing more than spectators.
In the final battle, they did not even qualify to participate.
Everything ultimately depended on strength.
Furthermore, Asahi still intended to capture the tailed beasts.
If he became Hokage, his movements would be restricted.
Every action would represent Konoha.
But as an ordinary ninja, if things went wrong, he could simply defect and disappear.
Freedom was far more valuable.
"Hmph."
Danzo snorted.
"Enough about Hokage."
His voice turned colder.
"How is the research on the First Hokage's cells progressing?"
Asahi smiled faintly.
"There have been results."
Danzo's eye sharpened immediately.
"I have successfully transplanted the First Hokage's cells."
"What?!"
Danzo's voice rose slightly.
"Then why have you not reported this earlier?"
Asahi shrugged calmly.
"Because there is still one crucial issue."
"Orochimaru's transplantation method has a ninety percent mortality rate."
"My method is different."
"It requires several years for the body to fully adapt to the First Hokage's cells."
"But the survival rate is approximately ninety percent."
Danzo's breathing became heavier.
"Ninety percent…"
Asahi continued calmly.
"If the final issue can be resolved, the survival rate could reach one hundred percent."
"But that research may still take several more years."
He paused.
Then added casually,
"Of course… if you are already impatient, I can provide you with my current research results."
Danzo fell silent.
He knew very well that he had played a role in Orochimaru's defection.
Otherwise, Hiruzen would already have discovered the evidence of Asahi cooperating with Orochimaru.
Despite his disdain for Danzo, Asahi still honoured their agreement.
If he said he would cooperate, he would not break his word.
Finally, Danzo spoke.
"The research will continue."
"But your current results…"
He stared directly at Asahi.
"I want them now."
Asahi smiled faintly.
"Alright."
*****
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✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
✓ Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer
✓ Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle
✓ Naruto: Who Made Him a Ninja?
✓ Bleach: In My Second Reincarnation, I Became The Ninth Kenpachi
✓ To Love-Ru: Spoiler Route [R-18]
✓ Naruto: The Accidental Incubus [R-18]