CH 334

Tower's third floor, watchtower.

The first ray of sunlight shone on Aoba's body.

Aoba slowly opened his eyes.

"As expected!"

Aoba softly sighed. During this half night, he had been reading Danzo's memories.

The entire memories were like a thick book written with complicated grammar. Not only was the story very long, but it was also obscure and challenging to understand.

This time, Aoba was not in a hurry. He did not start reading the recent memories but at the beginning. Aoba wanted to re-examine the relationship between Danzo and Hiruzen in a field that no one knew.

...

Danzo was born in the Shimura clan It belonged to the Konohagakure founding clan. He had known Hiruzen since he was a child and became the Second Hokage student along with him.

It was just that...

With the warm sunshine that Hiruzen passed to people, Danzo seemed to be more decisive.

The two were good friends who competed and admired each other while learning ninjutsu. They both used each other as their goal to surpass each other and urged each other to advance.

In comparison, Tobirama's other students were not particularly close to them, only maintaining the bonds between normal companions.

Aoba saw many such fragments in Danzo's memory.

It was the mutual love between Danzo and Hiruzen. The two constantly worked hard to become stronger in their training and the continuous collision of ideas to make the village a better place.

From that time on, Danzo began to feel that Hiruzen's style of doing things was a little weak, completely inferior to his iron-blooded methods.

Gradually, Danzo began to have the desire to become the Hokage. However, he did not say these words out loud.

Instead, he was like an honest man who buried these dreams in his heart. He did not say anything, nor did he express it. Instead, he secretly drew the image of Konohagakure's future.

With day-to-day interactions and routines. Danzo and Hiruzen had established a bond behind every mission.

In fact, Danzo, at that time, was still quite naive. His heart was filled with longing for the future. He had yet to bear any evil deeds.

Although his methods were slightly ruthless, there was no problem using the heavy code in troubled times!

But...

The turning point of everything.

It was that battle!

It was the First Ninja World War since the establishment of the Ninja Village System!

It was also the first large-scale war in the history of the ninjas. After all, it used to be only a clan battle, so there was no way a large-scale battle would break out. Because of this, this war left a mark in the history of the Ninja World.

Because of the death of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. The whole Ninja World was in chaos. The four Ninja Villages attacked Konohagakure one after another.

Among them, the one with the strongest fighting power was Kumogakure.

After a long and drawn-out war. Danzo and Hiruzen became the top experts of Konohagakure's younger generation.

The two maintained a strong friendship, and in this war, they competed with each other, competing to show their strong side.

They admired each other.

They competed with each other.

They could see each other's strengths in each other's eyes.

But what their mouth said was all about the shortcomings of the other party.

They looked like enemies and usually didn't accept each other, but they had more tacit understanding in the battle arena than anyone else.

While Aoba was quickly observing from the side, he gradually understood these things. He also discovered that the growth period of Danzo and Hiruzen was very similar to Sasuke and Naruto.

However, they were different from Sasuke and Naruto. It was just that they were slightly similar.

The appearance of war became a catalyst for the relationship between the two.

It made Danzo pay more attention to Hiruzen.

It also made Hiruzen pay more attention to Danzo.

Gradually.

A few years passed.

As the war gradually came to an end. Kumogakure chose to lower their head to Konohagakure.

The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, was prepared to go to Kumogakure to negotiate with him. He only brought along his six students as his attendants.

The entire process of the peace talks was very smooth.

It was just that...

Just as the peace talks ended.

A change occurred.

Kumogakure's Kinkaku Force suddenly appeared in the venue. They assaulted the Second Raikage, who was in the peace talk while carrying the Sage of the Six Path's five treasured tools and directly set off a coup d'etat.

After that, they then began to chase after Konohagakure's Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. Because Kinkaku Force was extremely good at tracking. The Tobirama's team had no way to shake off them.

If they caught up, Tobirama had no guarantee that he would be able to protect the six students who followed him when he fought against the two ninjas who had the Sage of the Six Path's treasure tools.

One must know...

These six students, they were the future of Konohagakure's next generation.

At this time, through the perspective of Danzo, Aoba saw the scene that happened to Danzo and Hiruzen.

The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, brought his six students to rest under a tree for a short period. Everyone's physical strength had reached the limit. If they continued like this, they might not be able to escape. All of them would die here.

"We are surrounded."

Tobirama slowly opened his mouth and said. At this time, he closed his eyes. His right hand stretched his index and middle fingers together and poked the ground. He used his chakra to sense the location of the surrounding ninjas.

"Judging from this tracking ability, it should be the Kinkaku Force who has the strongest tracking ability in Kumogakure. I didn't expect the Kinkaku Force to betray Kumogakure at the last moment. We will be in great danger if we continue to be in a stalemate." Tobirama slowly said. His tone was indifferent and calm, with no slight bit of panic.

By looking at the memory of that time. Tobirama seemed to be mentally prepared.

To be the bait.

To protect his six students by sacrificing himself.

This was what Aoba thought. It was also the most reliable plan. Because whether it was Hiruzen or Danzo, they would not be able to lure the enemy away as bait because the enemy's biggest target was the Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage at the time.

Except for Tobirama, anyone else who would go up would be a meaningless sacrifice.

There would be no effect at all.

So, this was not a multiple-choice question at all. From the moment this situation appeared, it had already been decided that the only person that could act as bait would be the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.

However, Tobirama didn't directly say these words. Instead, he left the choice to these people.

"The enemy has yet to grasp our exact location. We will hide here and make a surprise attack, then take advantage of it to escape." Utatane Koharu immediately suggested. You could even see beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. In fact, after she said this, she knew that it was impossible.

"In this case, one person must pin down the enemy and act as bait. Otherwise, we will not succeed in breaking out of the encirclement!" Uchiha Kagami also saw the current situation and said nervously.

"The person who was used as bait will die!" Akimichi Torifu said in a low voice. His heart was filled with fear.

Right at this time.

In the first perspective that Aoba saw.

Danzo clenched his fists tightly. He clutched his knees. His breathing became rapid, and his heartbeat also accelerated, but his body could not help but tremble.

Just like this...

Time ticked by.

Danzo was still half kneeling on the ground. He did not say a word.

"Let me be the bait!"

All of a sudden, Hiruzen's voice rang out. It entered everyone's ears and immediately attracted everyone's attention.

At the same time, Danzo stopped trembling. He couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief. He was in a state of shame, frustration, and unwillingness.

"Don't worry!"

Hiruzen's voice rang out again, clearly transmitting into everyone's ears, including Danzo, who was currently in a dazed state.

"It's not that I'm praising myself, but I'm the strongest of you all. I definitely won't die so easily!"

Hiruzen's voice rang out once more.

As he spoke out, the few people at the scene who were worried all stopped.

Actually, just now, everyone had experienced the same psychological activity as Danzo. Even Hiruzen was not an exception.

As ninjas, they had long been prepared to sacrifice themselves. However, in the face of death. Who could truly be unafraid of death?

Even if he was mentally prepared to die, it was still tough for him to make a brave decision when facing real life and death situations.

When Aoba saw this. He discovered it in his heart. Hiruzen, at this time, was really courageous.

Tap!

Hiruzen patted Danzo on the shoulder and smiled.

"I'll leave everyone to you in the future. Danzo, if it's you..." However, before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Danzo.

"Shut up!"

Danzo glared at Hiruzen. He stared straight into Hiruzen's eyes.

"I was just about to accept this mission!"

"Don't even think about showing off by yourself!"

"Let me be the bait!"

"My grandfather and father both died on the battlefield like true ninjas!"

"Self-sacrifice is the duty of a ninja!"

Danzo let out an almost heart-wrenching roar, his voice was booming, and he looked fierce.

However.

Aoba could feel it. Danzo did not have that kind of consciousness. This roar was more like to strengthen his courage.

"Danzo..."

Hiruzen looked deeply at Danzo, his eyes full of all kinds of deep emotions.

'Wait!'

When Aoba saw this, he couldn't help but wonder.

His mind moved.

He immediately stopped the scene.

Aoba was focused on Hiruzen's eyes through Danzo's perspective and carefully examining the latter's eyes.

"Something is wrong!"

Aoba immediately controlled the memory fragments in front of him and chose to backward it. He returned to the time when Hiruzen spoke.

"Let me be the bait!"

Hiruzen's voice slowly sounded. His tone was rather indifferent, as if he had made a straightforward decision. It was not as heart-wrenching as Danzo just now. It seemed that he had already seen through life and death.

But at this time, Danzo's eyes were focused on the ground. There was no way to see Hiruzen's expression and eyes. There was no way to make a precise judgment.

However, this doesn't stop Aoba from thinking that something is wrong.

He began to re-enter this memory, adjusting the speed of the memory, feeling what happened at this time node bit by bit.

After that, Aoba returned the memory fragment.

The moment he heard Akimichi Torifu say "bait". Danzo's body began to tremble, and gripped his knees tightly. His breathing was rapid, and his heart beat faster. He was extremely nervous.

In this state, Danzo looked extremely terrified. He really wanted to stand up and act as bait for his companions.

"It's here!"

Aoba immediately put his eyesight to the extreme. In his sight, he glanced at Hiruzen on the left through Danzo's perspective.

It was that one glance. Aoba suddenly realized something he had never thought of before.

Hiruzen was also looking at Danzo!

This...

Aoba suddenly realized something terrifying.

Right now, he needs more evidence. But he wants to verify it through the following things.

"Let me be the bait!"

Hiruzen repeated the same thing, and the memory returned to this scene. After hearing Hiruzen's words, Danzo suddenly widened his eyes, and the fear in his heart stopped.

Aoba immediately fast-forwarded the memory.

Tap!

In this memory, he saw the scene of Danzo being patted by Hiruzen.

This attracted Danzo's attention. Then, it was Danzo's heart-wrenching roar. After Danzo said these words. Hiruzen did not say another word. He kept quiet.

Next.

The memory continued.

After observing everyone's performance, Tobirama slowly spoke with a low face.

"I will definitely be the bait!"

Tobirama's tone was very determined. It could be seen that he already had a perfect plan for this matter.

"You are all the young successors of the will of fire which will protect the village from now on!" Tobirama said firmly.

"No!"

Danzo widened his eyes, and his emotions fluctuated violently. It could be said that he was extremely shocked. It was as if he had never thought that this would happen.

His entire mood was stirred up.

"You are the Hokage!"

"You are the most important ninja in the village!"

"Why do you want to be the bait!"

Danzo shouted. At this time, his heart was already in a very emotional state.

"Danzo, you and Saru always quarrel all the time, but now the companions have to be united. Don't quarrel over personal grudges!" Tobirama shouted coldly.

"When you made your decision, you did hesitate. You have to recognize yourself first. Don't lose your cool. You have to know what you are doing. Otherwise, if you continue like this, you will only put your companions in danger."

Tobirama slowly said. When he said this, he slowly stood up.

"In short..."

"Danzo, Saru, all of you are adults."

"Don't be so anxious!"

"One day, that moment will come, and then hand over this life!"

After the words were said, everyone present heaved a sigh of relief.

In fact, it was not just Sarutobi and Danzo. Including the other four people. They all wanted to be the bait and sacrifice. However, they also did not dare to.

"Saru!"

Suddenly, Tobirama focused on Hiruzen, his eyes flashing with determination.

"Protect the people in the village who admire you and trust you!"

"And..."

"Nurture people who can be entrusted the next era!"

"Starting tomorrow."

"You are the Hokage!"

The entire place fell into a deathly silence as soon as these words came out. Especially Danzo; his entire body was numb.

However, Aoba stood in Danzo's perspective. He could faintly see a trace of surprise in Hiruzen's shocked eyes.

However, this emotion was hidden very deeply. It was difficult to discover in the dark and anxious environment at that time.

'Stop!'

Aoba's memory stopped here. He took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.

He felt the first ray of morning sunlight bathing his body and ended the memory-reading work that had been going on for almost half a night.

Although he had yet to check all of Danzo's memories, he knew that now was not the time to continue watching. He had to go back to the Anbu dormitory. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain the follow-up if Eaton came over and did not see him.

Then, Aoba's mind moved. He directly communicated with the Flying Thunder God Formula in Anbu's dormitory and used Hiraishin no Jutsu(Flying Thunder God Technique), then disappeared from where he was and instantly appeared in Anbu's dormitory.

At this time.

There was no one in the dormitory. It was just as Aoba had predicted.

No matter how anxious Eaton was, he would not come to Konohagakure Intelligence Division in advance at this critical juncture. After all, if he did that, he would expose that the mysterious medical ninja might be Konohagakure Intelligence Division's people.

This was something that Eaton could still notice.

Aoba immediately changed into Anbu's ninja clothes and put on his mask, turning back into Konohagakure Intelligence Division's cat-faced demon.

After Aoba was dressed up. He did not immediately leave Anbu's dormitory. Instead, he sat on the iron bed and waited silently for a while.

While waiting.

Aoba thought of the scene he saw in Danzo's memory.

"There's something wrong there!"

Aoba's pupils suddenly contracted. He had sensed something was wrong, but he wasn't too clear about it. Now, with a sudden flash of inspiration, he realized something.

Aoba directly sat on the chair and took out a brand new blank book in his hand. That book was what he had originally planned to use to write the second novel.

Now, he was temporarily requisitioning it and writing some other content. Anyway, he had a lot of blank books, so he wasn't lacking one.

Aoba opened the book on the table, took out a pen, and wrote two names on it.

Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Shimura Danzo.

After writing these two names. He thought about it. He wrote down the third name.

Senju Tobirama.

Then he began to draw lines between the three names.

"Hiruzen has always been very cowardly and weak. Why would he suddenly stand up to be bait then?"

"Is it really because he wants to be the bait from the bottom of his heart?"

"Can a person's personality change so much?"

"Although being in a high position for a long time can reduce the sharpness of the youth's will and make him less sharp, the contrast is too big!"

"Then..."

"I'll make a bold assumption!"

"What if Hiruzen guessed that it was Tobirama's test?"

Behind the mask, Aoba frowned. He suddenly felt that he had discovered a new continent. There may be another unknown side to the things people were familiar with back then.

"Is this Hiruzen's plan?"

Aoba began to add various conditions to the paper.

There were two points that left the deepest impression on him.

The first point.

After Hiruzen said that he was going to be the bait. He deliberately patted Danzo. Then, he said that he would leave everything to Danzo. If that's the case… Did he intentionally provoke Danzo? After all… Even Tobirama had said that Danzo was opposing Hiruzen.

The second point.

Danzo said he wanted to be this bait, and Tobirama also said he would be this bait. Hiruzen didn't say a word. He didn't look as emotional as before. Even Danzo was emotionally struggling for a while. If Hiruzen had already guessed that the bait could only be Tobirama and they would be able to leave, this was another story.

Aoba thought about it quickly. He felt that he was not speculating on the third generation for no reason. After all, when there was a problem at the negotiation table in Kumogakure, and they ran into the woods together, he had too much time to think about it.

Hiruzen stepped forward when he knew that he would not be the bait. After saying a few words, he found that Tobirama did not say anything. He immediately patted Danzo and used words to stimulate Danzo to let Danzo take over the bait.

Aoba silently analyzed in his heart. His thinking became faster and faster. From the beginning, he did not believe that Hiruzen was a truly pure and flawless person. He just held Danzo tightly.

"After all, Hiruzen did not say even fight for it after Danzo said he wanted to be the bait."

"If my guess is correct."

"Hiruzen reaped the benefit first and then pushed Danzo to take on the role of bait."

"Isn't this what he always does!"

Aoba knew that he still needed more memories to prove this point because what made him think of this was all based on one detail. That was when Hiruzen patted Danzo when Danzo was in a daze.