"Kifu, have you forgotten about shogi during the day?" Suddenly, Hiruzen Sarutobi changed the subject.
Hearing this, Kifu scratched his head, "Uncle, you know, shogi... I've never been very good at it. I've spent most of my time training."
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't surprised and nodded, "Play a game with me."
"Alright..."
Kifu had anticipated this conversation, but he hadn't expected the content of this conversation.
There was absolutely no mention of Kirigakure, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, or how to deal with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Instead, they talked about the position of Hokage for a while.
Moreover.
Kifu, who wasn't very good at shogi, played about ten games of shogi with Hiruzen Sarutobi, and was completely defeated by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Seemingly satisfied with the crushing victory, Hiruzen Sarutobi contentedly put his hands behind his back and went to sleep.
Before leaving.
He intentionally or unintentionally left a sentence, "The expression you were trying to hide just now was a bit deliberate, but I understand what you meant."
Sitting in his seat, Kifu carefully pondered Hiruzen Sarutobi's words and the main content of this conversation.
"Was I too obvious in my preference for Minato? Or was I too obvious in my dislike for Danzo?"
Perhaps both.
Smiling and shaking his head, he stood up, "It doesn't matter to me anymore, but this conversation should have dispelled a lot of the wariness in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart, right?"
Stretching lazily, he looked at the bright moon in the sky, preparing to go back to sleep.
However, just as he left Hiruzen Sarutobi's residence.
He suddenly saw a figure in the shadows at the corner of an alley.
He couldn't help but click his tongue, "Tsk, what's with tonight? Why are all the village big shots coming to my door? Don't you guys need to sleep?"
Looking at the figure, he said with a hint of teasing, "What do you say? Elder Danzo?"
Under the shadows, vaguely, the figure's face was wrapped in bandages, and there was a clear X-shaped mark on his chin.
Chapter 175 Danzo's Deal
"Hiruzen Kifu."
Danzo walked out of the shadows, his voice low and hoarse.
"Elder Danzo is quite free, isn't he? Why are you wandering around the Sarutobi clan's territory so late at night?" Kifu teased.
The Shimura clan, to which Danzo belonged, had a relatively good relationship with the Sarutobi clan because of the relationship between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo.
Although it couldn't compare to the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans, who had maintained a good relationship with the Sarutobi clan since the Warring States period, the Shimura clan was the next best.
"There are some things I want to talk to you about."
Kifu raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
"Why don't we go to Root and sit down? This isn't the place to talk," Danzo said directly.
"Heh," Kifu chuckled, "Sorry, I'm busy. I need to sleep."
Kifu waved his hand directly, knowing without even thinking what Danzo wanted to talk to him about. It was nothing more than wanting the six ninja swords. Instead of bothering with him, he might as well rest.
However, as Kifu walked past Danzo, he heard him slowly say, "It's about the mysterious ninja you encountered in Kirigakure..."
Hearing this, Kifu's eyes narrowed, and he stopped.
He looked at Danzo with some surprise.
Does he know about the existence of Uchiha Madara?
That shouldn't be the case.
But since he's brought it up, Kifu shrugged, "Since Elder Danzo is so sincere, I've never been to Root before. It wouldn't hurt to sit down."
A subtle arc appeared at the corner of Danzo's mouth. He exerted force under his feet, and his figure flickered, heading towards the Root's base.
Kifu pursed his lips, a certain stream of light flashing, and followed.
Soon.
The two entered Root.
In the dark office deep inside, there were only Danzo and Kifu. However, Kifu could feel that there were chakra fluctuations everywhere around the office. Although they were very subtle and well hidden, it wouldn't be easy to escape his senses at such a close distance.
Kifu looked around the environment and said lightly, "Root's annual funding isn't small, is it? I didn't expect you to have quietly excavated such a large area under Konoha."
"Root is the root of the great tree Konoha, providing Konoha with the necessary energy in the dark, and handling some things that are not suitable to be brought to the surface. If you are interested, Kifu, Root just happens to be missing a deputy leader..." Danzo leaned on the table with both hands, propping up his head.
His exposed eye stared at Kifu with interest.
"Forget it, I still prefer to live in the sunlight."
The deputy leader of Root?
The entire Root is Danzo's one-man show. This so-called deputy leader is no different from a subordinate. If it were the deputy director of the Anbu, he might consider it, at least there would be real power.
Even someone like Orochimaru, who had contacted Danzo several times, couldn't get any advantage, and was even tricked by Danzo in the end. Although Orochimaru had his own intentions, it still shows that Danzo is definitely not an easy person to get along with.
"It's getting late. If Elder Danzo has anything to say, just say it directly. I still need to go back to sleep," Kifu yawned.
"Alright, then I won't beat around the bush. You have six ninja swords. I know that the lightning sword Kiba is very important to you. Give me the remaining five, and I can train five ninja who are no less inferior to the Kirigakure's Swordsmen in the shortest amount of time.
In exchange, I'll tell you information about the mysterious ninja you encountered in Kirigakure."
Danzo really didn't want to beat around the bush and directly stated his needs.
Kifu, however, showed an expression as if he was looking at an idiot. He didn't answer, just silently looked at Danzo, the mocking smile on his face becoming more and more intense.
Looking at Kifu's expression, the corner of Danzo's mouth twitched.
If it weren't for Kifu's current status in Konoha Village, let alone him, even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't easily manipulate him. He would have already used the power of Root to snatch the five ninja swords.
Although he might not be able to win.
Just as he opened his mouth to say something, he saw Kifu stand up directly and stretch lazily.
