Dialogue

"Lady Tsunade, is something wrong?"

With Chu Xin’s help, Gu Sheng managed to sit up. He looked at Tsunade in confusion. He had just returned from her office and had only been lying down for a short while. If something had happened, why had she not said so earlier?

"Teacher is back and wants to see you."

Tsunade’s words left Gu Sheng even more puzzled. Why was the Third Hokage looking for him at a time like this? He was a severely injured patient who had lost his combat ability!

Although he was confused, Gu Sheng still quickly got to his feet. As he walked out of the room, he noticed the complicated look in Nawaki’s eyes—a mixture of envy, jealousy, and resentment. Had he unintentionally forced this kid to eat dog food?

"Lord Hokage!"

Gu Sheng followed Tsunade to Sarutobi’s temporary office. After opening the door and waiting for him to enter, Tsunade turned around, went out, and closed it behind her. The spacious room was left with only Gu Sheng and Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Sit down, Lord Sheng!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen greeted Gu Sheng with a beaming smile. Although Gu Sheng’s heart was filled with questions, he still sat down in the chair opposite Sarutobi Hiruzen. He had Azure Spirit, the Jade Azure Serpent, with him at all times. If this old man had any malicious intentions, they could at least fight each other to mutual destruction.

It was not that he was being overly suspicious. Those who failed to be suspicious sooner or later ended up dead. A real world was not some hot-blooded manga. Anyone who truly believed Sarutobi Hiruzen was nothing more than a kindly old man probably already had several yards of grass growing over their grave.

"How are your injuries?"

Sarutobi picked up the teapot beside him, poured Gu Sheng a cup of tea, and pushed it in front of him.

"I’m recovering well. Lady Tsunade’s treatment has been very effective."

Although he had no idea what Sarutobi was thinking, Gu Sheng still lifted the teacup and took a small sip. His resistance to poison was anything but ordinary. Although his physique had yet to fully transform into that of his descended body, Azure Spirit was right beside him. If things really went wrong, the little creature could still help him detoxify the poison.

"That’s good…"

Sarutobi nodded with a smile, as if relieved of a heavy burden. "The reason I asked you here is that there’s something I’d like to ask your opinion on.

"Our war with Sunagakure can’t be concluded for the time being. But now, word has come from the village that we’ve run into some trouble with our neighboring Mountain Country."

"Mountain Country—the one with the Yang Flame Ninja Village, which specializes in explosives?"

Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow. If he remembered correctly, Konoha’s main war with Sunagakure would end this year or the next, but the Second Shinobi World War would continue for another five or six years.

After Sunagakure, Konoha would go to war with several other countries in succession: the Yang Flame Ninja Village in Mountain Country, the Sky Country with the Zero Tails, and the Cloud Ninja, who intended to abduct Uzumaki Kushina.

Gu Sheng did not know whether the Cloud Ninja would engage Konoha in a major battle during the Second Shinobi World War, but Mountain Country and Sky Country had definitely been destroyed by Konoha. Their remnants would even lead to several minor plot threads that were not resolved until Naruto’s era.

A major reason those two countries were destroyed was their strategically important locations, which made it easy for them to threaten the Land of Fire. So people should never mistake Konoha for a pushover. When it was time to act, Konoha did not hesitate.

"That’s right. Sigh… Things are rather complicated, and I can’t explain them clearly all at once."

Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a long sigh, growing increasingly irritated by someone’s actions. "The situation with Sunagakure is basically stable now, so I’m planning to withdraw some people. Who do you think would be best to return and take charge of the overall situation?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s words left Gu Sheng stunned. Then he lowered his head and began to ponder. The Third Hokage had not said it outright, but the person most likely to stir up trouble at a time like this was Danzo, that pest who muddied every situation.

The Third Hokage’s meaning was obvious: send some people back to restrain Danzo and stabilize the rear. That person needed to be capable of keeping Danzo in check. Ideally, the Third Hokage himself would return, but the Third Kazekage was still planted on the front lines. If Sarutobi left, that severely injured man might very well risk his injuries and break through Konoha’s main camp.

People should never doubt the Third Kazekage’s abilities. Against someone of his strength, Azure Spirit’s poison could only affect his combat power. If it did not take effect immediately, it would be difficult for it to threaten his life. His mastery of Magnet Release allowed him to suppress the poison in one place, leaving him with only a slight reduction in combat strength.

Although the Third Kazekage was in a severely injured state, he remained extremely powerful. At least at their current level, the Three Ninja and White Fang were still no match for him. Only Sarutobi could personally hold the line.

"What Lord Hokage means is that someone should return to calm the unrest among the people."

After thinking it over, Gu Sheng said, "But why not have several of the honorable advisors come here to reinforce us? I heard Lord Danzo is always eager for battle, and his tactics are brilliant. Wouldn’t it be suitable to have him face the Kazekage?"

Gu Sheng’s words left the Third Hokage stunned. Having Danzo come to the front lines to deal with the Kazekage seemed surprisingly feasible. Wasn’t Danzo the one in the village who most loved talking about fighting? His strength was not much weaker than the Kazekage’s. Having him deal with an already severely injured Kazekage… It actually might work.

Sarutobi Hiruzen lowered his head and pondered for a moment, his expression shifting between light and shadow as though he were considering something.

Gu Sheng slowly drank his tea, a few thoughts forming in his mind as well. Sending Danzo to the front lines would actually be quite useful. Judging from how Danzo had sabotaged the operation against the Akatsuki, that man was an extraordinarily sinister schemer. If he were put in charge of construction or made Hokage, he would certainly be out of his depth. But if he were sent to cause trouble, he would succeed every time.

"No. We can’t let Danzo leave Konoha."

In the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen still shook his head. Danzo had caused so many problems right under his nose. If he were allowed to run free, who knew how far that bastard would let the war spread? It might even end with the entire world joining forces against Konoha.

"I see. Slurp…"

After taking another sip of tea, Gu Sheng said, "Then let Lady Tsunade return. Compared with Manda, Lady Slug is at a disadvantage against Shukaku… Besides, Teacher Orochimaru is more skilled in battle than Lady Tsunade. Manda is a creature that requires sacrifices, so leaving it here to deal with Sunagakure would be just right.

"And Danzo is, after all, a veteran advisor. Given Teacher Orochimaru’s background, I’m afraid he won’t be able to keep Danzo in check!"

Gu Sheng’s words sent Sarutobi Hiruzen into deep thought. Suddenly, he seemed to realize something and raised his head to look at Gu Sheng. "Kid, when did I ever say Danzo was a problem?"

"The Third Hokage just admitted it, didn’t he?"

Gu Sheng smiled as he poured himself another cup of tea. He raised the cup toward the Third Hokage, then brought it to his lips and drank.

"Haha! You little brat!"

Sarutobi laughed as well, looking delighted. After thinking for a while, he regarded Gu Sheng with a strange expression, then raised his teacup and drank with him.

"Does the Third Hokage have anything else?"

After finishing his cup of tea, Gu Sheng set it down and asked.

"There’ll be a strategy meeting shortly. Come with me."

Sarutobi Hiruzen put down his teacup and smiled at Gu Sheng. His smile was unfathomable.