Chapter 16: Danzo: I Never Accept Losers

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Kawaki Aoba departed, leaving the Hokage’s office. Guided by two companions, he returned to his home, taking with him a scroll that detailed sensory ninjutsu from the Hokage.

Along the way, the three traveled in silence. Kawaki Aoba reflected on the unforgiving nature of the shinobi world. Even outside the battlefield, the ninja—defined as mere tools—were far from safe. Particularly when drawn into higher-level conflicts, a simple scheme or clash could result in the careless loss of an elite jonin. Serving as a guard for an elder of the Hyuga main family, that man was surely of elite jonin caliber.

Though much of the blame for his death fell on the foolishness of the Hyuga’s second elder, and though Hiruzen Sarutobi had already given him a chance, the loss remained significant—a precious elite jonin gone.

A vassal’s vassal is not truly my vassal, Sarutobi must have thought.

Alas, even if Kawaki Aoba now wished to serve under Sarutobi, acceptance was uncertain.

As for his camaraderie with Asuma Sarutobi, that was merely superficial. Without proving his worth, Kawaki Aoba was not indispensable; instead, he had become a burden on Asuma.

A sense of urgency welled up within Kawaki Aoba: he must grow stronger, and fast.

The two companions’ silence bore witness to this cruel, though not yet fully-fledged, confrontation; it must have shaken them deeply. Sarutobi made no effort to shield them, allowing them to witness the entire ordeal firsthand—perhaps a deliberate lesson for his youngest son. As for Kurenai Yuhi, she was likely there only with his tacit approval, accompanying the scene.

For a ninja, a greater understanding of harsh realities is no harm—unless one is like those children thrown onto battlefields too young, witnessing endless death and becoming psychologically warped.

Back in the Hokage’s office, after dismissing the three youngsters, Kurenai Yuhi, Inoichi Yamanaka, and another special jonin squad tactfully took their leave, leaving the spacious office to the two old comrades.

The Hyuga guard who had suffered brain injuries was already carried away, awaiting the Hyuga clan to retrieve him.

At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo Shimura had both received reports from the Anbu and Root.

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Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared calm and unreadable, seemingly unbothered by Kawaki Aoba’s disdainful glare.

Danzo Shimura, however, wore a grim expression. Having coordinated so seamlessly with Kawaki Aoba moments before, he had believed Root’s operation was flawless.

Unexpectedly, his men had arrived too late—the Byakugan had already been swallowed by that brat.

“Hmph, such a waste of a pair of Byakugan… utterly foolish,” Danzo grumbled, trusting Root’s intelligence gathering implicitly and refusing to believe a child could hide those eyes right beneath their noses.

“At such a young age, to think so alike as you and to have the heart to gouge out one’s own eyes—that’s already remarkable. No need to ask for more,” Sarutobi offered a fair assessment.

Ever since noticing Kawaki Aoba near graduation, Sarutobi had genuinely admired the boy. Whether for his ninja aptitude or his cautious, thoughtful demeanor, he regarded him as one of Asuma’s best potential right-hand men.

Especially his recent reactions left no fault to find.

If Kawaki Aoba could truly develop to that degree, Sarutobi would gladly appoint him as a Hokage’s aide, but…

“Such a pity,” he sighed, lighting his pipe once more.

His gaze shifted to Danzo, and with a spark in his eyes, he ventured, “Danzo, you saw Aoba’s performance just now. His excellence needs no further praise, and you know his ninja talent well. Though he lost his eyes, with proper nurturing, he could be a rare asset.”

Sarutobi’s words were blunt but clear: he hoped to recruit Kawaki Aoba into Root, ensuring his survival while drawing the Hyuga clan’s firepower more completely—raising control from eighty or ninety percent to a full hundred.

Though Sarutobi’s plan was clever, Danzo was no fool.

“Losing his eyes, that brat is a cripple now. Finding compatible eyes is no easy task. Our Anbu have too many missions; we don’t have time to hunt for eyes for him.”

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“Besides, haven’t you already given him a scroll of sensory ninjutsu? With his talent, becoming a skilled sensory ninja shouldn’t be a problem,” Danzo blurted, speaking nonsense.

In the forty-three years since Konoha’s founding, there have been blind ninjas surviving by relying on sensory skills after accidents, but expecting such a ninja to resume regular missions is pure fantasy.

Moreover, Danzo was pragmatic. Offending the Hyuga clan to extract meaningful concessions was one thing; provoking their lasting hatred was quite another.

If they continued to antagonize the Hyuga without relief, it would surely breed enmity.

Of course, the Uchiha clan was a different matter altogether.

Though the old comrades now harbored some disagreements, their conversation remained cordial. Thanks to the presence of that troublesome second elder, the toughest obstacle had been quickly dealt with. Once Kyosuke and Kasuri—the true power holders of the Hyuga—returned, they could make their move.

Dividing the spoils is always a pleasant affair for beneficiaries, so long as no party behaves disgracefully.

But those treated as the spoils themselves rarely fare well.

Indeed, that was the case here.

“Bastards! All of you damned fools—Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo Shimura, and that lackey Inoichi Yamanaka! Who do you think you are? Even if you band together, you have no right to stand equal with the Hyuga clan. Who gave you the audacity to humiliate me? The worst is that brat—how dare he defy me, a member of the Hyuga! If I let him live, how can I face the Leaf Village...”

Within a lavish Hyuga mansion, furious curses filled the air, punctuated by the sounds of objects smashing to the floor.