"Hmph… with such exceptional talent in medical ninjutsu, if he also possesses the Will of Fire, perhaps Tsunade could take him as her apprentice," Hiruzen mused to himself, puffing thoughtfully on his pipe.
"If we can brand him with the identity of a direct disciple of the Hokage, then influencing and molding him will be much easier."
With such a status, it would also be simple to stir discontent among the clan, pushing Ren Takashi into being rejected by his own people. Over time, that isolation would breed resentment toward the Uchiha — eventually turning him into Hiruzen's tool to manipulate and suppress them.
This tactic was familiar to Hiruzen.
After all, Uchiha Kagami had been a similar case. Though Tobirama had never intentionally used him that way, Kagami's attitude and loyalty to the village had already distanced him from his clan, causing internal alienation.
If Hiruzen gave that natural divide a little push, the outcome would be even better.
Of course, this all hinged on whether Ren Takashi truly held the Will of Fire.
Bang!
Just as Hiruzen was grinning to himself, the door to his office slammed open.
His thoughts interrupted, Hiruzen frowned deeply, smoke curling from the pipe in his hand. He looked up irritably—
"Hiruzen!"
Danzo stormed in, cutting straight to the point: "You've heard the news about that Uchiha boy, Ren Takashi, haven't you?"
"Let me handle him. Bring him into Root. I'll train him into a perfect tool to deal with the Uchiha."
Hiruzen's face darkened further.
"Danzo," he growled, "you're a high-ranking Konoha elder. Can you not act with some restraint? Could you at least knock?"
Danzo scoffed. "Is this really the time to worry about such petty matters?"
"Answer me. Yes or no?"
Hiruzen's frown deepened.
Had he allowed Danzo to become this arrogant? Did he think he no longer needed to respect the Hokage?
Hiruzen's gaze chilled.
"Danzo… you're overstepping."
"For years, I've tolerated your Root division going far beyond the three squads I originally permitted. But that's no excuse for continued overreach."
Originally, Root was only supposed to consist of three squads — fewer than twenty shinobi.
Now, Hiruzen knew of at least eighty. And there were likely even more hidden from his sight.
That wasn't acceptable anymore.
As the Hokage's power grew stronger and his grip on the village tighter, his tolerance for anything outside his control had diminished.
The Uchiha were a threat.
The Senju were a legacy.
Danzo and Root were another matter entirely.
Only Mito Uzumaki, with her lineage, power, and reputation, was beyond his reach.
Everything else had to fall in line.
Danzo's face twisted.
"You've got to be kidding," he spat. "You're bringing that up over one Uchiha brat?"
"What about everything I've done for you all these years? All the filth I've cleaned up? All the blame I've taken?"
"Do you really not understand why Root had to grow? It was all to handle things you couldn't touch yourself!"
To Danzo, this was betrayal.
His frustration — and ambition — surged.
If I were Hokage, he thought bitterly, I wouldn't be treated like this.
"I know what you've done," Hiruzen said quietly, eyes flickering with a brief flash of guilt. "And for that, I won't punish you for Root's overreach."
"But I will not allow it to expand further. Don't test me, Danzo."
Danzo gritted his teeth, but pressed on.
"Fine. No more expansion. But give me Ren Takashi."
"No." Hiruzen's answer was immediate and absolute.
Danzo snapped. "Why not!? This is the only right way to deal with him! Do you realize the threat he could become if left with the Uchiha?"
"Have you forgotten their attempted coup? Uchiha Setsuna is still rotting in a Konoha cell! I can show you the files if you want a reminder!"
"To let a genius like this grow in enemy hands is insanity!"
"You're being shortsighted, Danzo."
Hiruzen shook his head.
"Ren Takashi is the son of Uchiha patriarch Shin'en. With his temperament, do you really think we can take the boy by force, brand him with a Curse Seal, and indoctrinate him?"
"That would backfire. Spectacularly."
"I have my own plan for him," Hiruzen continued. "Let me handle it."
"If it works, we'll be able to suppress and even divide the Uchiha with ease."
Danzo stared at him in disbelief. "You… you're planning to take him yourself? To train and brainwash him under your hand?"
Hiruzen didn't reply.
But his silence said enough.
Danzo's face contorted in fury.
"Hiruzen, you've gone too far."
"I am the Hokage," Hiruzen replied coldly, narrowing his eyes.
Danzo: (╬￣皿￣)
That damn line again.
Every time he heard it, Danzo's blood boiled.
But he knew this argument had reached its limit.
Snarling, he fixed Hiruzen with a hateful glare.
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen."
And with that, Danzo turned and stormed out, face like thunder.