Chapter 654: Inheritance

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

Sarutobi Hiruzen guessed that Muyue had helped with the arrangements, because there was no blood or wounds on Shimura Danzo's body, and the combat uniform was completely intact, without even a speck of dust—clearly changed afterward.

"How thoughtful." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded inwardly.

He felt certain that Muyue had tried his utmost but failed to save Shimura Danzo, and felt so guilty that he wanted Shimura Danzo to look good in death, at least with no visible external injuries on his body.

"Sigh."

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

No matter how well Muyue had done, Shimura Danzo's bloodless face made one thing clear: he was already dead.

Even though Hiruzen had already gotten the news from Muyue before seeing the body, the moment he actually saw Shimura Danzo's corpse, sadness still surged uncontrollably from his heart.

After all, this was a friendship of decades; even a pet would have developed deep feelings, let alone Shimura Danzo, who had been a comrade-in-arms through life-and-death battles.

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

He had thought that invitation was a sign of Shimura Danzo's change, but it turned out to be the foreshadowing of his sacrifice.

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help feeling a twinge of regret—that had been their last meeting and conversation, yet it ended in discord over political matters.

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

"Did Danzo leave any final words before he died?" Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a breath and turned to look at Muyue, whose face was filled with grief.

When Muyue rescued Shimura Danzo, he wasn't dead yet; with a ninja's tenacity, he should have been able to leave some words.

Muyue nodded, his eyes slightly moist. "Lord Danzo was thinking about how to protect the village and the younger generation until his very last breath. Even in his final moment, he still urged me to protect Konoha."

"To make sure I had enough chakra to prevent unforeseen circumstances, he even refused to let me use medical ninjutsu to treat him."

Hearing Muyue's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt dazed, as if transported back to the past, to that unforgettable, killing-filled night.

During the Kumogakure coup, they had been hunted by elite forces. The team needed a decoy, and both he and Shimura Danzo had volunteered to act as decoys, but were turned down by Tobirama Senju.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had never forgotten the words Tobirama Senju left him when he stayed behind to cover 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 that certain-death operation, there was not a trace of hesitation or fear on Tobirama Senju's face—only resolve.

"Danzo, you carried out the teacher's final instructions." Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a sense of inheritance in this.

Tobirama Senju had told him to protect Konoha and nurture the next generation before taking the rear; now Shimura Danzo, on his deathbed, told Muyue to protect Konoha. And Muyue 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." Muyue continued answering.

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

If anyone else had told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Shimura Danzo's last wish was to hand over Root to him, Hiruzen would most likely have ignored it.

But since it was Muyue, Sarutobi Hiruzen believed it immediately.

Simply put, Root meant nothing much to Muyue now.

Currently, Root had only one ninja in total; if Muyue took over Root, he would only be a commander with no subordinates.

Moreover, Muyue himself had a special designation within the Anbu, which strictly speaking was not inferior to the leader of Root.

There was no need for Muyue to lie—the potential gain was small compared to the risk of exposure.

Besides, from Shimura Danzo's perspective, Muyue was indeed the best candidate to rebuild Root: he had been trained by Root since childhood and possessed great strength.

"So, Muyue, what are your thoughts?" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Muyue and asked.

"Root is a department directly under the Hokage; all decisions rest with the Third Hokage." Muyue thought for a moment and said.

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

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

"The Anbu training team 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 team, Root members will become your subordinates, and all of Root's assets will be inherited by the training team."

Making Muyue the leader of Root is not very meaningful, and Hiruzen Sarutobi also does not want Muyue to become a second Danzo Shimura; Muyue has a better future.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi could not ignore Danzo Shimura's will, and also felt that Muyue should be rewarded, so he ultimately decided to turn the remnants of Root into nourishment, allowing the newly established training team to grow.

"Is it not appropriate to disband Root the moment Lord Danzo sacrifices himself?" Muyue showed hesitation on his face and did not accept immediately.

Although in Muyue's view this was the best outcome, still he had to go through the proper procedure of declining three times and accepting, to save face for the deceased Danzo Shimura.

"Root has not disappeared; it just exists in a different form. Danzo's Will of Fire spirit will forever endure." Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said.

"Whether it's the training team or Root, both strive to protect Konoha."

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

"Before he passed, 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 ninja, Uchiha Madara is merely a legendary powerful ninja, a traitor eliminated by the First Hokage himself.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi and the older generation of ninja who were born before the founding of Konoha are different; they have witnessed the prime of Uchiha Madara, a fearsome monster that only the God of Shinobi could defeat.

"I absolutely did not mishear; I remember every single word Lord Danzo left with perfect clarity." Muyue said seriously.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not question further. Having experienced Tobirama Senju's sacrifice, he could understand Muyue's feelings. Not to mention it had just happened; even if ten years had passed, it would be hard to forget.

He had just questioned 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 thoughtful expression.

Uchiha Madara is not young; even if he survived peacefully to now, he couldn't possibly still have the ability to harm Konoha.

But Danzo Shimura would not joke with Muyue on his deathbed, so Uchiha Madara's existence and danger must be real.

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

If Uchiha Madara really wasn't killed by Hashirama Senju, then spending so many years training a successor is not surprising.

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

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

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

"Lord Danzo's words are all I have." Muyue shook his head and replied.

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

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

Because even if Muyue told Danzo Shimura's last words and Hiruzen Sarutobi promised not to let Orochimaru research it, in the end Orochimaru would still obtain Danzo Shimura's body tissue.

Orochimaru's identity and status in Konoha are too high; he is not only one of the legendary Sannin renowned across the ninja world, but also widely recognized as a candidate for Hokage.

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

As Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders can prevent Orochimaru from obtaining Danzo's body on the surface, but Orochimaru is not an honest person; if you don't allow it openly, he'll just do it in secret himself.

With things at this point, it's really uncertain who will 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 of Shippuden during the Third Great Ninja War.

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

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

But this also matched Muyue's experience; Muyue was not originally a Root ninja, he helped Danzo Shimura out of personal obligation, and Danzo Shimura didn't give Muyue specific intelligence.

"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 injured, so I quickly approached him and used Flying Thunder God to leave." Muyue thought for a moment and replied.

"But I saw his jutsu; it's very strong. I'm not confident I can defeat him."

Muyue wasn't lying; he really had no confidence to beat himself.

"I see." Hiruzen Sarutobi did not think it was an exaggeration.

Orochimaru had the achievement of defeating Hanzō with a Fire Release technique. Just this battle alone shows that Orochimaru is by no means an ordinary ninja.

"Muyue, you've been busy for so long and you're tired. Go get some rest." Sarutobi Hiruzen forced a smile and said to Muyue.

Muyue had not only traveled to the Rain Country to help Shimura Danzo, but also brought Danzo's body back overnight. Just the traveling alone was no easy task.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you tonight."

Muyue slightly bowed to Sarutobi Hiruzen in apology, then bowed to Shimura Danzo lying on the ice platform, and finally left the Root base with a heavy expression.

"What a good kid." Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly.

Muyue could have simply ignored Shimura Danzo, since Danzo had no authority to command him, but Muyue still went to help Danzo.

If it weren't for Muyue, Shimura Danzo's body might not have even made it back to Konoha.

So even if Muyue had slightly violated Konoha's rules and regulations during this process, Sarutobi Hiruzen simply ignored it.

After all, who could dislike a person of deep loyalty and righteousness, especially when Muyue was on his side.

Then Sarutobi Hiruzen called over the only remaining Root ninja.

There were still too many mysteries. Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't be able to sleep if he went back now.

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

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

As Sarutobi Hiruzen expected, the Root member who stayed behind at the base had even less information. Aside from knowing that Shimura Danzo went to the Rain Country, he knew nothing else.

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

The Root ninja shook his head blankly.

He was at the very bottom of Root; how could he possibly know Shimura Danzo's schedule.

The Root ninja was extremely bewildered. He had only guarded the base for a few days, and inexplicably became the publicly recognized top expert of Root.

"Bring me the recent classified documents of Root to review." Seeing that the Root member truly had no useful information, Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered.

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

If it weren't for the fact that Shimura Danzo's head had too many protective measures, making it impossible to directly read his memories, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have called in a Yamanaka clan ninja to do just that.

Although doing so would be somewhat disrespectful to Shimura Danzo's corpse, since it involved Uchiha Madara and the safety of Konoha, personal honor and disgrace had to be set aside.

Sarutobi Hiruzen worked until three in the morning with little to show for it.

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

He was the Hokage; he couldn't lose his rationality to hatred. There were many other matters to attend to.

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

Tonight was yet another unforgettable night.

Although neither the Rain Ninja Village nor Konoha publicized Shimura Danzo's death—in fact, they deliberately concealed it—

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

In particular, the other four great ninja villages immediately gathered this important intelligence.