The Third Hokage was a master of the political machinations of the ninja world.
From the moment he received the information about a Wood Release ninja, to how he would utilize this information to the greatest extent, it all took less than twenty minutes.
Firstly.
Uchiha Itachi was participating in the Chuunin Exam alone.
From a moral and practical standpoint, the emergence of such a youthful genius was a stroke of luck for Konoha.
Unfortunately, Itachi was a member of the Uchiha clan, the largest unstable factor in Konoha, always at odds with the village.
If this ten-year-old genius ninja were to pass the exam on his own, it would undoubtedly make the already haughty Uchiha clan even more arrogant, making them look down on the other ninjas of Konoha even more. The conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village would escalate.
However, at this time, a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja appeared in Konoha village. Regardless of the current strength of this Wood Release ninja, it would definitely pacify the Uchiha clan for a period of time.
After all, during the Warring States Period, the First Hokage of Konoha, Hashirama Senju, used his Wood Release to defeat the most powerful clan leader of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Madara, and thoroughly thwarted the Uchiha clan's quest for dominance in the ninja world.
The most ingenious part was...
This Wood Release ninja happened to be a subordinate of Danzo Shimura.
The clan leader of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku Uchiha, knew that Danzo Shimura was the one who was most antagonistic towards the Uchiha clan in Konoha and had been suppressing the development of the Uchiha clan.
Six years ago, during the Nine-Tails' rampage, most of Konoha was destroyed. Danzo Shimura, in front of many clan leaders of Konoha, moved the Uchiha clan's residence to the edge of the village.
Now, one of Danzo's subordinates suddenly has a potential Wood Release ninja who could suppress the Uchiha clan. This would definitely put pressure on Fugaku Uchiha.
As the Hokage, the highest leader, this would provide him with room for mediation.
The Third Hokage, who had ruled Konoha for the longest time, was not only shrewd in his actions but also somewhat gentle. He didn't need any harsh measures to maximize benefits.
The people chosen by the Third Hokage to deliver the exam registration forms alone sent a strong warning signal. Yamato was the previous Wood Release inheritor of the Root organization, and Kakashi was the one who guided Yamato away from Root, even causing a ruckus to rescue Yamato.
Without a doubt.
Danzo Shimura detested these two to his very core.
However, not much time had passed since the last time the Anbu had surrounded the Root organization. The current Danzo Shimura dared not lay hands on the Hokage's messengers, he could only accept the warning from the Third Hokage and was forced to obey the Third Hokage's orders.
"Off you go."
The Third Hokage had arranged everything and waved Kakashi and Yamato off to deliver the goods to Root, planning to relax by puffing on his pipe again.
The Third Hokage glanced at the crystal ball on the table and seemed to feel something in an instant. He abruptly lifted his head and glanced around!
The next moment.
The old man himself couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"It seems I'm really getting old, and my body is not as good as it used to be. I have this strange feeling that Danzo is watching me..."
"..."
Inside the Root's training ground.
[System Prompt]: [New work task: Participate in the Chunin Exam of Konoha in the second half of the year, as requested by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.]
This working system could even accept work assignments remotely!
Indeed.
Any ninja within the Konoha system is technically a subordinate of the Third Hokage. That Hokage himself does not even know who I am, yet he can assign tasks to me!
However...
This Hokage's intuition is quite keen!
No wonder he is a voyeur!
No...
I should say, no wonder he's a seasoned old ninja!
Inside the Root organization's training ground.
The young Kagura Akihara was somewhat amazed at the Third Hokage's sharpness and somewhat admired the usefulness of the "Shadows of the Ninja World" feature provided by the system.
This feature was extremely handy.
It could gather intelligence without exposing oneself.
Even if someone did sense they were being spied upon, they would only feel that they were being watched by Danzo Shimura...
Kagura Akihara couldn't help but glance at Danzo next to him, feeling a little guilty in his heart. He guessed he would have to let his boss take the blame in the future...
However...
That was only fair.
If a boss couldn't take the blame for his subordinates, who would be willing to work for him?
Kagura Akihara looked at Danzo beside him. Danzo had taken the blame for so many things in his life, surely he wouldn't mind taking the blame for his subordinates, right, Danzo?
Danzo Shimura had no idea about his subordinate's thoughts. He was still preoccupied with how to hide the existence of Kagura Akihara, planning on cultivating Kagura well to give Hiruzen Sarutobi a big surprise in the future...
"I will teach you a new ninjutsu tomorrow."
Danzo Shimura was still immersed in the joy of having gained a powerful hand. He had already planned out the life of Kagura Akihara...
"Yes, Danzo-sama!"
Akihara Kagura quickly nodded.
He hoped that Danzo would still be in such a good mood later.
Not much time had passed.
Inside the base of the Root organization.
When Danzo Shimura returned with Akihara Kagura, he was greeted by two very familiar Anbu ninjas who had been stopped at the entrance of the base...
"Kakashi Hatake!"
Upon seeing one of the silver-haired Anbu ninjas, Danzo Shimura's face immediately turned exceptionally cold: "You dare to come here..."
However, when Danzo Shimura saw the other Anbu ninja, his entire demeanor turned gloomy: "Hmph, you dare to come here too..."
"Danzo-sama..."
This Anbu ninja was obviously a straightforward man. When he saw Danzo Shimura, he seemed to lower his head in some shame: "I..."
"Yamato, we're here to deliver Hokage-sama's order."
Kakashi Hatake knew his teammate would find it difficult to face Danzo Shimura, so he quickly stepped in front of his teammate and said coldly: "Hokage-sama's orders are for the child with the Wood Release bloodline to participate in the Chunin Exam in the second half of the year."
After Kakashi Hatake finished speaking, his gaze quickly shifted to the young boy standing beside Danzo Shimura: "I suppose Hokage-sama is referring to this child, right? He caused quite a commotion at Training Ground Nine just now..."
"..."
Danzo Shimura could not refute it.
The old man was somewhat uneasy.
Did that bastard Hiruzen Sarutobi intend to snatch Akihara Kagura away again? This child's talents were even more terrifying than that traitor now called Yamato standing next to him!
How would he ever get the chance to turn things around then!
Danzo Shimura wished he could immediately kill Kakashi Hatake and Yamato right there, then lead the Root to storm the Hokage mansion and kill Hiruzen Sarutobi out of rage!
However...
Rebellion was a bit difficult.
The memory of the last time when Hiruzen Sarutobi led a group of Anbu to surround the entire base of the Root organization was still fresh in his mind. One command from him could easily deal with Danzo Shimura and the Root...
Kakashi Hatake took out a prepared application form and handed it to the young boy, whispering: "This is your Chunin Exam application form."
"..."
Akihara Kagura stared at Kakashi Hatake in silence.
"Take it."
Kakashi Hatake urged, somewhat nonchalantly: "You are a ninja of Konoha, you must obey the orders of the Hokage-sama."
"I will only follow Danzo-sama's orders."
Akihara Kagura suddenly turned his head towards Danzo Shimura and asked: "Danzo-sama, they have upset you. Can I kill them?"
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