Chapter 140: Danzō: Sarutobi, Do You Want to Be a Dog

Fugaku and the heads of the various clans departed quickly.

Today's events shocked them too deeply; they all needed to return immediately to deliberate and formulate a decision.

The development of events had exceeded expectations, and Ishihara also needed to think.

Originally, he had planned to slowly acquire Konoha's secret techniques and forbidden jutsu while spending time cultivating to strengthen his own power.

But now it seemed the speed at which these secret and forbidden techniques would fall into his hands might be even simpler than he imagined.

In any case, he was not in a hurry; he calmly returned to continue researching the Mangekyō.

But Konoha at this moment could not remain calm.

The Third Hokage, along with the heads of the major ninja families, moved out together; such a huge commotion naturally drew the attention of the entire village.

Some even suspected that war was about to break out again.

Various rumors grew loud and clamorous, causing the atmosphere throughout Konoha to become somewhat uneasy and turbulent.

But the people of the various clans paid no mind; upon returning to Konoha, they immediately convened clan meetings.

And after the Third Hokage returned to the Hokage Tower, Danzō, Nara Koharu, and Mitarashi Homura, who had already been alarmed, were waiting for him.

As soon as he walked into the office, Nara Koharu asked dissatisfied:

"Sarutobi, where did you go that caused such a huge commotion? The entire village is somewhat turbulent."

The Third Hokage frowned slightly, walked to the window, and looked out.

He immediately saw a large number of Konoha ninja exchanging words quietly on the streets of Konoha, and they were slowly approaching the Hokage Tower.

"Coincidentally, I also have something to ask you; I need your decision."

He sighed, rubbed his brow with a headache, sat in his seat, and looked at his three old friends, whose expressions varied.

Mitarashi Homura, his face grave, said: "What exactly happened this time? Could it be that the Uchiha are about to make a move?"

Although Shisui's death some time ago had made the Uchiha quiet for a while.

They had never relaxed their guard; instead, they had tightened their nerves, constantly on guard against the madness the Uchiha might unleash at any moment.

Upon hearing this, Danzō's spirits immediately lifted.

The affair of the Uchiha clan was something he had orchestrated himself; could it be that he had finally pushed the Uchiha to their limit?

"It is not the Uchiha."

The Third Hokage shook his head; Danzō was immediately somewhat disappointed.

Nara Koharu and Mitarashi Homura then breathed a sigh of relief, followed by some confusion: "Then what is going on?"

"This matter might be even more serious than the Uchiha."

The Third Hokage's expression was grave.

Danzō and the other two immediately felt their hearts sink and looked on with full concentration.

The Third Hokage asked: "Do you remember the incident some time ago when Kakashi and Itachi went on a mission and suffered heavy casualties?"

"Of course I remember; my Root lost several people, but you had Itachi and Kakashi keep it secret, so we still don't know the specific situation."

Danzō said somewhat angrily.

As a high official of Konoha, he could not even learn the cause of his subordinates' deaths; he had already noted this matter in his little book.

The Third Hokage: "This matter is related to that incident."

Then he stopped playing coy and directly recounted the intelligence he had obtained from Itachi, as well as today's events.

Listening to Ishihara's intelligence, the expressions of Danzō and the other two shifted from shock to disbelief, and finally to silence.

The office was utterly quiet.

Nara Koharu hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Sarutobi, it is not that we don't believe your words; it is simply... simply what you said is too far-fetched!"

Developing a large number of S-rank secret techniques!

Suspected to have mastered the Lightning Release Chakra Mode of the Cloud Ninja Village!

Possessing power comparable to a Kage!

Suspected to have mastered space-time ninjutsu!

Improving the Uchiha's forbidden jutsu Izanami within a few minutes!

And the one who accomplished all this was only a six-year-old boy.

No matter how she looked at it, she felt it was unreliable.

The Third Hokage's expression was heavy: "Although it is indeed incredible, after my own verification, this is very likely true!"

"Most importantly, the Uchiha clan has now established contact with Ishihara; you should understand how disadvantageous this is for us!"

War could break out at any moment between the Uchiha and Konoha's high command.

This was the point he worried about most.

Mitarashi Homura: "What are you worried about?"

The Third Hokage took a deep breath, stared at the three of them, and said gravely: "I am worried that Ishihara will help the Uchiha awaken the Mangekyō!"

"That is impossible!"

As soon as the words fell, Nara Koharu and Mitarashi Homura immediately refuted.

That was the Mangekyō Sharingan; even the Uchiha clan had no way to do it; how could Ishihara, an outsider, possibly achieve it?

It was simply a tall tale.

The Third pulled at the corner of his mouth: "He himself could develop the Sharingan; is it really impossible for him to help the Uchiha clan awaken the Mangekyō?"

Upon hearing this, Nara Koharu and Mitarashi Homura immediately fell silent.

If the intelligence was true, then it was indeed not impossible!

Thinking of this, the two exchanged a glance, and their hearts immediately filled with unease.

"Sarutobi, what do you plan to do?"

The Third Hokage clicked his pipe, exhaled a thick plume of smoke, and said in a distant voice, "I wish to cooperate with Ishihara."

"And then become Ishihara's dog?!"

Danzo's cold voice made the Third Hokage pause, then erupt in rage. "Nonsense! What nonsense are you spouting?"

Extract

: Eight Six

One Zero

Six Four Seven

Four Six