Naruto: Systematic Shinobi Chapter 318: Monkey On Hold - 6

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"Are you completely certain that Daiki-kun’s correspondence with the Raikage wasn’t excessively provocative?" Hiruzen inquired, raising an eyebrow towards his old comrade as they engaged in a spot of fishing.

"Hiruzen, Daiki-kun personally requested that I supervise the terms he laid out for the Raikage. He was remarkably generous and quite polite," Danzo reassured the former Hokage. "Indeed, I find myself quite impressed by his adeptness in matters of diplomacy."

Hiruzen regarded his seasoned friend with a skeptical gaze. Daiki possessed numerous qualities: he was outrageously powerful, resourceful, bombastic, and possessed a cunning that would astound those who failed to look beyond his outwardly arrogant and cocky facade.

However, diplomacy was certainly not among them.

But then again, perhaps at this particular juncture, Konoha truly required a leader who wouldn't prioritize diplomacy above all else.

"The very notion that you, of all people, oversaw the drafting of that letter sends a shiver down my spine," Hiruzen snorted, drawing on his pipe and shaking his head. "And since when did you become so closely acquainted with Daiki-kun that he would entrust you with such a task?"

Danzo flickered his gaze towards him from the corner of his single visible eye. Despite himself, Hiruzen still felt the ingrained impulse to reach out and forcibly remove the other eye, now known to be concealed beneath the bandage, from his skull. "He is keeping a rather close watch on my progress with Root," Danzo responded, before his attention returned to the tranquil lake before them. "And I would hardly describe our relationship as 'close.' The Daiki-kun you typically encounter in his office is, more often than not, a clone, and they are rotated frequently. The genuine Daiki-kun is far too occupied to be constrained to an office all day, as you once were."

Was that a subtle dig at him?

Well, Danzo wouldn't be Danzo if he didn't occasionally try to provoke him with such remarks. So childish, even in his advanced years. "I recall when I used to do much the same," Hiruzen chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course, that was until Homura and Koharu incessantly lectured me on how disrespectful it was towards our people, other nations, and foreign dignitaries for a mere clone to handle my official duties."

Danzo scoffed. "And that, precisely, is why you are weak and necessitated a replacement," his old friend retorted with palpable disgust. "Do you honestly believe Daiki-kun would ever permit anyone to dictate his actions? To pester him incessantly like an annoying pair of flies until he capitulated to their demands, much like you did?"

Hiruzen suppressed the urge to sigh. For Danzo, matters often seemed so starkly black and white. He appeared incapable of comprehending the nuances of compromise. It was significantly more intricate than simply being weak and yielding to the persistent nagging of old friends who fancied themselves wiser.

Yet, simultaneously, he wasn't entirely incorrect. It was highly improbable that Daiki would ever entertain such behavior.

While the Hokage, in essence, had always wielded absolute authority, with their word being law, his predecessor and himself had adopted a considerably more lenient approach. Daiki, however, was a true-blue dictator who, despite holding office for a relatively short duration, had already steered the village towards conflict, annexed other territories, conquered neighboring nations, and seized the tailed beasts, among other significant actions.

He had even initiated a campaign of propaganda. Recently, Hiruzen had been privy to the most outlandish rumors circulating about the Fifth Hokage.

One such tale suggested he had donated blood to a wounded young boy, who subsequently went on to become the First Hokage.

As preposterous as it sounded, that particular rumor was among the tamer stories he had encountered concerning the 'Legendary Daiki'.

And the strategy, Hiruzen had to concede, was sheer genius. Conventional propaganda might sway the younger generation. However, the older, more seasoned veterans would undoubtedly see through it for what it truly was; they wouldn't be easily swayed.

Nevertheless, by framing these legendary accomplishments as humorous exaggerations, as Daiki was doing, and amplifying them to extreme levels while interspersing them with some factual accounts, they transformed into amusing cultural references. These were so entertaining that even the most experienced shinobi and kunoichi found themselves chuckling at a few of them.

Consider the anecdote about Daiki’s tears possessing the miraculous ability to heal any wound or ailment. It was just unfortunate, they claimed, that he had never shed a tear.

"No, I suppose you are correct in that particular aspect," Hiruzen admitted, shaking his head. "Poor Homura is currently treading on eggshells, deathly afraid to approach Daiki-kun after their rather heated confrontation during that inaugural council meeting."

Danzo scoffed. "As he rightfully should be, the fool. If he had an issue, he ought to have addressed it privately. Denouncing the Hokage in the presence of his subordinates only serves to make him lose face and appear weak," he derided. "He was fortunate that Daiki-kun showed him such leniency."

Well, Hiruzen doubted that Homura perceived being overwhelmed by the sheer raw chakra presence of the Hokage as an act of mercy.

He had been thoroughly humiliated.

But, Hiruzen supposed, humiliation was preferable to death.

‘They truly are more alike than different in several respects.’ Hiruzen mused, his gaze drifting down towards his own hand.

It was positioned precisely where the Dimension Force Seal, which had been replicated from Daiki, was marked upon his palm, and also where a specific collection of documents lay concealed for the present.

This revelation was unexpected, yet in hindsight, it wasn't entirely surprising given the circumstances. In fact, a certain logic began to emerge.

Considering all that had transpired.

"I surmise you are curious as to my reasons for summoning you here," he stated after a brief pause.

"Actually, I harbor no such curiosity," Danzo retorted, his solitary visible eye rolling, "I simply presumed this was a melodramatic effort to share some final moments with me before my impending execution."

"You are the very last individual I would choose to accompany me during my peaceful retirement, and Onoki is right behind you on that list," Hiruzen shot back, a snort escaping him. "Do you recall Tobirama-sama’s strategy for the Senju clan?"

"I was under the impression that such matters were prohibited from discussion?" Danzo inquired, raising a single eyebrow in a manner that seemed almost derisive. "The former Hokage openly disregarding the law? How utterly brazen."

Hiruzen suppressed the strong impulse to strike him. It was ironic that Danzo, of all people, would spew such nonsensical accusations.

Truly, his old comrade was an infuriatingly stubborn man.

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