Chapter 564: Inheritance

Shimura Danzo lying on the ice platform was not wearing his usual black-gray kimono, but the standard combat uniform of a Konoha ninja.

Sarutobi Hiruzen guessed that Mu Yue had handled it, because not only were there no bloodstains or wounds on Shimura Danzo's body, the combat uniform was also completely intact, without even a speck of dust—clearly changed afterward.

"How considerate." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded to himself.

He felt that Mu Yue must have tried his utmost but still failed to save Shimura Danzo, and felt very guilty, so he wanted to make Shimura Danzo look decent in death, at least with no visible external injuries.

"Sigh."

Looking at Shimura Danzo lying motionless on the ice platform, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but let out a deep sigh, the wrinkles on his face deepening because of it.

No matter how well Mu Yue had handled things, Shimura Danzo's bloodless face made it clear—he was dead.

Even though Sarutobi Hiruzen had already received the news from Mu Yue before seeing the body, when he actually saw Shimura Danzo's corpse, an emotion called grief still couldn't help but surge from his heart.

After all, this was decades of friendship—even a pet would have developed deep feelings by now, let alone a comrade who had faced life and death with him.

"No wonder you were willing to treat me that day—you were going to do something dangerous." Sarutobi Hiruzen showed a helpless expression.

He had thought that treating him that time was a sign of change in Shimura Danzo, but it turned out to be a foreshadowing of sacrifice.

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help feeling somewhat regretful—that was their last meeting and conversation, yet it ended in discord over political matters.

If given another chance, Sarutobi Hiruzen still wouldn't compromise on political views, but he would choose not to discuss politics.

"Did Danzo leave any words before he died?" Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and turned to look at Mu Yue, who looked deeply grieved.

Shimura Danzo was not dead yet when Mu Yue rescued him; with a ninja's tenacity, he should have been able to leave some words.

Mu Yue nodded, putting on a slightly tearful expression. "Lord Danzo was thinking of how to protect the village and the younger generation until his very death. Even in his final moment, he still instructed me to protect Konoha."

"To ensure I had enough chakra to prevent any accidents, he even refused to let me use medical ninjutsu to treat him."

Listening to Mu Yue's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a trance, as if he had returned to the past, to that unforgettable, murderous night.

During the Kumogakure coup, they were pursued by elite troops. The team needed a decoy. He and Shimura Danzo both stepped forward to be the decoy, but were rejected by Tobirama Senju.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had never forgotten the words Tobirama Senju left him when he covered their retreat.

"Protect those who admire the village and trust you, and nurture the children who can be entrusted with the next era."

Sarutobi Hiruzen even remembered clearly the expression on Tobirama Senju's face when he said those words.

Even in a mission with a near-zero chance of survival, there was not a trace of hesitation or fear on Tobirama Senju's face—only determination.

"Danzo, you have fulfilled the teacher's instructions." Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a sense of inheritance from this.

Before covering the retreat, Tobirama Senju instructed him to protect Konoha and nurture the next generation; now, before his death, Shimura Danzo instructed Mu Yue to protect Konoha, and Mu Yue happened to be a Root ninja whom Shimura Danzo had trained for some time.

"Anything else?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked. Shimura Danzo should have said more than just that.

"Lord Danzo also said that I should take over Root in his place and bear the darkness of Konoha." Mu Yue continued to answer.

"Root..." Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was complicated.

If someone else told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Shimura Danzo's dying wish was to hand over Root to him, Sarutobi Hiruzen would most likely ignore it.

But since the subject was Mu Yue, Sarutobi Hiruzen believed it directly.

Simply because Root meant nothing to Mu Yue now.

Currently, Root only had a single ninja overall. If Mu Yue took over Root, he would only be a leader with no subordinates.

Moreover, Mu Yue himself had a special position within the Anbu, strictly speaking not inferior to the leader of Root.

Mu Yue had no reason to lie; compared to the risk of exposure, the benefits gained were not much.

Also, from Shimura Danzo's perspective, Mu Yue was indeed the best candidate to rebuild Root—trained by Root since childhood and possessing great strength.

"Then what are your thoughts, Mu Yue?" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Mu Yue and asked.

"Root is a department directly under the Hokage; the decision rests entirely with the Third Hokage." Mu Yue thought for a moment and said.

He had already shown enough sentimentality toward Shimura Danzo; now it was time to act more rationally.

"Root's original purpose was to train Anbu, but it only gradually developed into the Root you know." Sarutobi Hiruzen first explained the origin of Root.

"The Anbu Training Squad you now lead is very similar in function to Root, so I think there is no need for Root to exist independently. From now on, Root will merge with the Training Squad. Root members will become your subordinates, and all assets owned by Root will be inherited by the Training Squad."

Making Muyue the leader of Root was not a very meaningful thing, and Hiruzen Sarutobi also did not want Muyue to become a second Shimura Danzo; Muyue had a better future.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi could not ignore Shimura Danzo's will, and also felt that Muyue deserved a reward, so he ultimately decided to turn the remnants of Root into nourishment for the growth of the newly established Training Team.

"Isn't it a bit inappropriate to disband Root right after Lord Danzo's sacrifice?" Muyue showed a hesitant expression, not immediately accepting.

Although in Muyue's view this was the best outcome, the customary procedure of thrice declining and thrice yielding still had to be followed, to save face for the deceased Shimura Danzo.

"Root has not disappeared; it simply exists in another form. Danzo's Will of Fire spirit will last forever." Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said.

"Whether the Training Team or Root, both strive to protect Konoha."

In the end, moved by Hiruzen Sarutobi's reasoned and heartfelt persuasion, Muyue came to understand and no longer declined, resolutely accepting the great responsibility of protecting Konoha.

"Before he left, Lord Danzo mentioned a very strange thing to me: he told me to be wary of Uchiha Madara." Muyue said with a puzzled expression.

"Uchiha Madara? Are you sure you didn't mishear?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked with a serious expression.

For the new generation of shinobi, Uchiha Madara was merely a legendary powerful ninja, a traitor eliminated by the First Hokage himself.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi and other elder shinobi who were born before the founding of Konoha were different; they had witnessed Uchiha Madara at his peak, a terrifying monster that only the God of Shinobi could defeat.

"I absolutely did not mishear. I remember every word Lord Danzo left with utmost clarity." Muyue said earnestly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not question further. Having experienced Tobirama Senju's rear-guard action, he could understand Muyue's feelings; let alone this just happened, even if ten years had passed, it would be hard to forget.

He had questioned only because the news was too shocking.

"Even if he wasn't killed by the First Hokage, he should be too old to move." Hiruzen Sarutobi showed a contemplative expression.

Uchiha Madara was certainly not young; even if he had lived peacefully until now, he couldn't possibly still have the power to harm Konoha.

But Shimura Danzo wouldn't joke with Muyue on his deathbed, so the existence and threat of Uchiha Madara must be real.

"Could it be that Uchiha Madara secretly trained a successor?" Hiruzen Sarutobi thought of a possibility: that Uchiha Madara's successor was acting under Madara's name.

If Uchiha Madara truly wasn't killed by Hashirama Senju, it wouldn't be surprising that he had cultivated a successor over the years.

"Regarding Uchiha Madara, did Danzo say anything else?" Hiruzen Sarutobi continued asking.

If Shimura Danzo's death was also related to "Uchiha Madara," then things might not be as simple as he had previously thought; there might be a conspiracy targeting Konoha.

Even Shimura Danzo's death itself could be the result of a conspiracy.

"That's all Lord Danzo left behind." Muyue shook his head and replied.

Except for the matter of Hashirama's cells, he had basically told everything from Shimura Danzo's last words.

As for the fact that Shimura Danzo's body had Hashirama's cells, Muyue did not want to reveal it.

Because even if Muyue revealed Shimura Danzo's last words, and Hiruzen Sarutobi promised not to let Orochimaru research it, Orochimaru would still end up obtaining Shimura Danzo's corpse tissue.

Orochimaru's status and position in Konoha were too high; he was not only one of the legendary Sannin renowned throughout the ninja world, but also a widely recognized candidate for Hokage.

Given the resources Orochimaru possessed and his level of interest in Hashirama's cells, the experiment on Hashirama's cells could certainly not be hidden from Orochimaru.

As Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders could prevent Orochimaru from openly obtaining Shimura Danzo's body, but Orochimaru was no saint; if you don't let him, he'll just do it in secret.

At this point, it was really uncertain who would achieve results first.

In the original story, Orochimaru's research ability left a deep impression on Muyue.

So Muyue chose a handling method similar to the White Zetsu incident; he did not want to face the monsters and demons of Shippuden during the Third Great Ninja War.

After asking around, Hiruzen Sarutobi had a general understanding of the information Muyue possessed.

Actually, Muyue didn't know much; he was almost blank on why Shimura Danzo went to the Land of Rain, and the main content he held was Shimura Danzo's last words.

However, this was consistent with Muyue's experience; Muyue was originally not a Root ninja, he helped Shimura Danzo out of courtesy, and Danzo did not give Muyue specific intel.

"Did you fight Sosuke? How did you find his strength?" Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly asked.

"We didn't fight directly. At that time, I saw Lord Danzo was injured, so I quickly approached Lord Danzo and then left using Flying Thunder God." Muyue thought for a moment and replied.

"But I saw his ninjutsu; it was very powerful. I'm not confident I could defeat him."

Muyue wasn't lying; he indeed was not confident he could defeat himself.

"I see." Hiruzen Sarutobi did not find it exaggerated.

Sōsuke has a record of defeating Hanzō with Fire Release; that single battle alone proves Sōsuke is no ordinary shinobi.

"Mu Yue, you've been busy for a long time and must be tired. Go get some rest." Hiruzen Sarutobi forced a smile and said to Mu Yue.

Mu Yue had traveled to the Rain Country to help Danzo Shimura, then brought Danzo Shimura's body back overnight—just the journey alone was no easy task.

"Sorry to disturb you tonight."

Mu Yue gave a slight bow to Hiruzen Sarutobi in apology, then bowed once more to Danzo Shimura's body on the ice platform. Finally, with a heavy expression, he left the Root base.

"What a fine young man," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly.

Mu Yue could have simply ignored Danzo Shimura, since Danzo Shimura had no authority to order him, but Mu Yue still went to help Danzo Shimura.

If not for Mu Yue, Danzo Shimura might not have even returned to Konoha as a corpse.

So even if Mu Yue had somewhat violated Konoha's rules and regulations during the process, Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to overlook it.

After all, who could dislike a person who values loyalty and friendship, especially when Mu Yue was on his side?

Next, Hiruzen Sarutobi called over the only remaining Root shinobi.

With so many puzzles still unsolved, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't sleep if he went home now.

He had to figure out why Danzo Shimura went to the Rain Country and how Danzo Shimura got involved with "Madara Uchiha."

Whether to avenge Danzo Shimura or protect Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi had to unravel the mysteries as much as possible.

The interrogation results were as Hiruzen Sarutobi expected—the Root member left to guard the base had even less information. All he knew was that Danzo Shimura had gone to the Rain Country; beyond that, he knew nothing when asked.

"Has Danzo met anyone suspicious recently?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked finally.

The Root shinobi shook his head with a blank look.

As a mere low-ranking Root member, how could he possibly know Danzo Shimura's schedule?

The Root shinobi was completely dumbfounded—he had just been guarding the base for a few days, and somehow he had become the nominal top fighter of Root.

"Bring me all the recent classified documents from Root so I can look them over," Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered, seeing that the Root member had no useful information.

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned the Anbu and instructed them to search the Root base, trying to find clues.

If Danzo Shimura didn't have so many protective measures in his mind that made direct memory viewing impossible, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have already called a Yamanaka clan shinobi to read his memories directly.

It might be a bit disrespectful to Danzo Shimura's corpse, but since it concerned "Madara Uchiha" and the safety of Konoha, personal honor had to be set aside.

Hiruzen Sarutobi worked until three in the morning without finding anything.

Since he had official duties the next day, Hiruzen Sarutobi had to delegate the task to the Anbu and go home to rest.

He was the Hokage; he couldn't lose his reason due to hatred. There were many other things to deal with.

"I hope tomorrow brings some good news," Hiruzen Sarutobi thought as he lay in bed with his eyes closed.

Tonight was another unforgettable night.

Although neither the Rain Village nor Konoha publicized Danzo Shimura's death, and even deliberately concealed it,

the news of Danzo Shimura's death still spread across the shinobi world at an eerie speed.

In particular, the other four great shinobi villages gathered this crucial intelligence immediately.

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