My Sign-in System in Naruto

Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally didn't believe Haru's claim that he had been "terrified at the time."

Back at the Hyūga compound, Haru had said the same thing, only for the Hyūga clan to end up being the ones who were terrified.

This time was likely no different. After witnessing Haru's terrifying Wood Release, Danzō's heart had probably been filled with fear.

However…

Where there is light, there must be darkness. The world cannot function properly without both.

Konoha needed genius ninjas like Haru to inherit the Will of Fire, but it also needed ninjas like Danzō to inherit the Will of Root.

If Danzō had died at Haru's hands, it wouldn't be good news for Hiruzen.

He needed Danzō not just for the village, but also to bear the burdens that he himself couldn't shoulder.

"Kakashi."

Looking at the towering tree before him, Hiruzen understood that this was likely the technique Haru had used in his battle with Danzō.

It was with this technique that Haru had killed Danzō.

Turning him into a true "root."

"Lord Hokage."

Kakashi stepped forward, responding to Hiruzen.

"Take Haru and help him settle into a new residence." Hiruzen's voice was calm and emotionless.

Danzō was not only the root that bore Konoha's darkness but also Hiruzen's childhood friend and rival.

Throughout his life, Danzō had always wanted to surpass Hiruzen and become Hokage.

However, Hiruzen wouldn't blame Haru or hold him accountable for killing Danzō.

After all, Hiruzen knew very well.

It was Danzō who had made the first move, who had harbored the intent to kill. Haru had merely defended himself.

Moreover, Haru's power far surpassed Yamato's.

Hiruzen needed him, and so did Konoha.

After a brief moment of thought, Hiruzen simply instructed Kakashi to take Haru away and help him settle into a new home.

After all, the Senju compound had been completely destroyed by the Advent of a World of Trees.

Even if they cut down the sea of trees, it would be impossible to rebuild the compound in a short time.

Perhaps…

It was time for the Senju compound to disappear from Konoha.

"Yes." Kakashi responded promptly and walked over to Haru, signaling for him to follow.

Haru glanced at the Third Hokage, then at Kakashi, before finally nodding to indicate that he understood.

'I thought Hiruzen would ask me a bunch of questions. It seems Danzō still holds a significant place in his heart.'

Haru couldn't help but sigh inwardly as he followed Kakashi away.

"Yamato."

Once he was sure that Kakashi and Haru's chakra had faded into the distance, Hiruzen spoke again.

"Lord Hokage."

Yamato responded, kneeling on one knee.

"Detain the Root operatives first. We'll deal with them later." Hiruzen ordered.

Of all the Anbu members, Yamato was the most familiar with Root. Entrusting this task to him put Hiruzen at ease.

"Yes."

Yamato responded crisply, then looked at his former comrades. Unlike him, these individuals had no emotions.

'Perhaps, in their hearts, I was never a comrade to begin with.'

Yamato couldn't help but sigh as he led the Anbu to take away the Root operatives.

In no time at all, the Senju compound was empty except for Hiruzen.

He removed his Hokage hat, revealing his graying hair, and stood before the towering tree.

However, at that moment, Danzō, who had chosen to die alongside Haru, suddenly separated from the giant tree and fell to the ground with a thud.

He had lost an arm, but the wound on his chest was gradually healing. He was gasping for breath, struggling to lean against the tree trunk behind him.

With great effort, he raised his head and saw that the person standing before him wasn't Haru but the Third Hokage.

"Hiruzen…"

Danzō was in a pitiful state, extremely weak.

"You don't seem… very surprised…"

Danzō swallowed hard before managing to squeeze out a coherent sentence.

This time, he had truly been defeated. Not only had Haru taken Shisui's eye, but he had also nearly lost his life here.

And yet, Hiruzen stood here like a victor.

Could it be…

Was this also part of your plan, Hiruzen…?

"I just didn't think you'd die so easily." Hiruzen said nonchalantly.

In Konoha, no one understood Danzō better than Hiruzen.

Perhaps Haru was indeed powerful, but killing Danzō was no easy feat.

Without exaggeration, if Danzō had truly died here, Hiruzen would have felt it was a waste.

"So, that's your secret weapon."

Hiruzen glanced at Danzō's right arm. Although it was now in tatters, the faint outline of Hashirama's face could still be seen.

If Hiruzen wasn't mistaken, after Yamato's human experiments had succeeded, Danzō had also transplanted Hashirama's cells into himself.

And because this power couldn't be exposed, Danzō had hidden his right arm in the shadows.

It was very much in line with his usual methods.

"But a copy is still just a copy, Danzō. After this battle, you should understand. Haru is the true inheritor of Hashirama-sama's power. So… from now on, I want you to abandon any thoughts of assassinating him."

Danzō looked up, staring directly at Hiruzen.

After learning that Haru had inherited Hashirama's Wood Release, Danzō had no longer wanted to kill him. He had only wanted to control him with Kotoamatsukami.

Just as you took Yamato from me, I wanted to take Haru from you.

But unfortunately, he had failed.

Faced with Haru's terrifying power, Danzō's preparations had been insufficient.

If it hadn't been for the fact that he had discovered the greatest secret of the Sharingan when he had stolen Shisui's eye, allowing him to transplant the Sharingan he had collected during the Third Great Ninja War and use Izanagi at the critical moment, he might have truly died here.

"And the secret of your arm… I'll continue to keep it hidden."

Seeing Danzō remain silent, Hiruzen continued.

"Where there is light, there must be darkness. The world cannot function properly without both."

"I need you, Danzō. So I won't tell anyone about what happened today. But as a condition…"

"You must relinquish your position as a Hokage advisor and give up your right to attend Konoha's high-level meetings."

Hiruzen's voice was low.

Although the battle between Haru and Danzō had shocked him, the outcome was ultimately favorable.

Most importantly, Hiruzen now held Danzō's greatest weakness. From now on, Danzō would no longer have the ability to oppose him.

That was enough.

Danzō's gaze sharpened as he looked at the man who had outmaneuvered him time and time again.

Haru had pushed him into a corner, and Hiruzen had appeared at just the right moment.

"Hiruzen… was all of this… part of your plan?"