Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"Yes, I know exactly what you were trying to do—turning Naruto into an unfeeling tool, no different from the other members of Root. Didn't you disband them yourself years ago, by your own decree?"
She said, her voice slightly probing.
Though she never said it outright to Naruto, after learning about his true origins, she had always regarded him as family, even if they weren't particularly close.
After everything that happened, she was deeply angered by what Naruto endured in Root. She had heard how the organization operated, so she was genuinely surprised that Naruto had turned out so balanced and capable of using his powers so wisely.
Danzo frowned, shaking his head.
"I've never lied to that boy. Before we even began training, I told him exactly what he would face, yet he never backed down. He joined of his own will—he was never my puppet. Of all the recruits I've trained, he was the finest. But if he had stayed with me all along, he wouldn't be as valuable to Konoha as he is today."
"What are you saying?" Tsunade asked warily, fully alert to the old fox's intentions.
Danzo tapped the bottom of his cane against the ground before continuing.
"He has both the strength and skill of a ninja, and is also a Jinchuriki, which makes him naturally far stronger than his peers. You must have already noticed the Kazekage Gaara's power. I believe Naruto is surpassing him now, and he'll only grow stronger. More importantly, he has the support of several major countries."
Both the Land of Snow and the Land of Waves regard him as a hero. Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and possibly Kirigakure as well—all because of Naruto acting alone, friendly relations were established between these hidden villages.
This was an undeniable fact.
Though only sixteen, Naruto had already become one of Konoha's most influential ninja, with his strength widely recognized across the ninja world. Stories of his victories against Sasori, Kakuzu, and many others have spread across the continent.
This boy was now on bounty lists across multiple hidden villages.
Danzo continued presenting his argument.
"He has your support, Jiraiya's support, and the backing of many powerful and high-ranking shinobi within the village. He's also adored by the next generation of ninja. I know back when he was at the Ninja Academy, he used to tell his friends stories of his battles and missions. They see him as a hero—even the most gifted prodigies of his generation count him as both a friend and ally."
Tsunade nodded again slowly.
"I know where you're going with this, but I still don't understand your intent."
Danzo smirked slightly.
"You can't remain Hokage forever, Tsunade. Eventually, you will take off that hat. And I believe we both know who the ideal successor is."
"Naruto," she replied, unsurprised.
The only reason he had said all that was to lead her here — she couldn't think of any other explanation.
She had to admit, she hadn't found anything suspicious. Naruto had experience working in ANBU, and Danzo had said that during their joint missions, he demonstrated the potential of a true ANBU operative. Besides, Danzo wouldn't have spoken up like this if he didn't genuinely support him.
Since Naruto's promotion to Chunin, his mission completion rate had been impeccable. It had been three years since his last failure — the ill-fated mission to retrieve Sasuke.
With growing experience, she could already imagine preparing him to succeed her in the role by the time he turned about twenty-one.
"That's right," Danzo said. "I've seen that boy's strength and his unwavering willingness to sacrifice everything for the village. That's why I'm here to tell you, I fully support Naruto Uzumaki's future candidacy for The Sixth Hokage."
Tsunade's eyes flickered with confusion.
"You actually want to support someone who wasn't your student becoming Hokage? What kind of trick are you playing now, Danzo?"
Danzo shook his head and stood up.
"I'm not playing games, Princess Tsunade," he simply said, then turned toward the office door. "Isn't it natural for a teacher to believe in their greatest student and want to support them?"
"It's not strange at all," Tsunade replied.
The idea of Naruto being Danzo's student still struck her as strange, but that was exactly what had happened. Danzo really was the first person to train Naruto — before anyone else.
As Danzo reached the door and was about to open it to leave, he turned back around:
"No matter what path that boy chooses in life, no matter how much you and Jiraiya may try to keep him from me or pretend none of this ever happened, the truth will remain unchanged. First and foremost, he is my student. It was I who taught him how to survive; I was the one who raised him into the excellent ninja you're proud of today. He's becoming a man you can count on, a ninja capable of protecting this village like a Hokage should. He earned your trust through risking his life for you and the village countless times, rising steadily from rock bottom to where he stands today. All of this foundation was given to him by me, instilled through my teachings as a ninja."
"There is one thing you must remember when you see me as a threat," he added.
"What's that?" she asked, her voice slightly tense.
"Everything I've done has never been for myself," he said calmly. "Nor was it for Root. I saw that four-year-old child who longed for recognition, who wanted to become a great leader, and I dedicated myself fully to helping him fulfill his destiny because he was destined to surpass us all. I believe I've succeeded."
He grasped the doorknob and walked out. "Goodbye, Princess Tsunade."
After Danzo left, Tsunade offered a faint, resigned smile.
"Yeah, Danzo... I guess you really have succeeded."
That's undeniable. If it weren't for your training, I can't begin to imagine him being this reliable or powerful.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>