https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-103-If-They-Dare-to-Ask-for-a-Commander-Today-I-Don-t-Even-Want-to-Think-About-What-They-l/12832106/
Chapter 104: The Scapegoat Has Arrived!
Chapter 104: The Scapegoat Has Arrived!
Kikyou Mountain!
This largest fortress guarding the western entrance to Konoha was unusually bustling today.
Ninjas gathered on both sides of the entrance, some holding flowers, clearly preparing to welcome a high-ranking official.
However, everyone's faces were far from cheerful.
It was understandable.
No one would be in a good mood if they were suddenly called away from their work early in the morning to welcome a new commander.
But with the masked figures maintaining order, everyone kept their smiles in place.
If they dared to show any displeasure, they might find themselves on the receiving end of Root's post-meeting retribution.
Other departments wouldn't dare, but Root's fanatical devotion to Danzo made it a real possibility. To avoid trouble, everyone put on a welcoming front.
Fortunately, ninjas weren't as formal as nobles, so they quickly got to the point.
Danzo had arrived!
He wasn't alone but brought the second wave of reinforcements with him.
Kikyou Mountain Fortress, already housing the Southwest Ninja Army and the first batch of reinforcements, now numbered over a thousand. With the addition of these few hundred more ninjas, the total neared two thousand.
Combined with the fortress's defenses, it was no wonder Danzo was confident as he took command.
With such overwhelming strength, how could he possibly lose?
The Sand ninjas would never dare to attack, and even if they did, he would ensure they met with a crushing defeat.
Danzo looked at the welcoming party on both sides, his face expressionless, but his heart was filled with intense excitement as he murmured to himself.
"Monkey, I will prove that only I can ‘make Konoha great again.’ The teacher's choice was wrong!"
Soon, the meeting began.
As usual, only jonin were allowed to participate.
Touhei had recently been promoted to jonin and thus had the right to attend.
His temporary position as commander had been officially revoked before Danzo's arrival.
Yes, he had been in command for just a few days before being dismissed.
So when he entered the meeting room, the jonin who had arrived early looked at him with complex expressions.
There was no hint of schadenfreude.
After all, even if he wasn't the commander, he was still a jonin, on equal footing with them. Not to mention his terrifying strength, which had humbled many of them for decades.
Touhei scanned the room under these gazes before joining Shouhei, who was sitting in a corner with a few civilian jonin for company.
"Jonin Touhei!"
Shouhei greeted him quietly.
"Jonin Shouhei!"
Touhei replied cheerfully as he sat down.
He couldn't help but be happy, for the scapegoat had arrived, and how could he not be relieved?
True to his reputation as the "Shadow of the Hokage," taking the blame was second nature to him.
Free from the burden, Touhei could now relax and watch the show.
The benefits of his previously displayed strength were evident.
Even if Danzo found him annoying, he couldn't easily move against him and had to respect his authority.
Tap, tap!
The sound of a cane tapping the ground echoed from the meeting room entrance.
Danzo, now in civilian clothes, entered with a group of Root ninjas.
Yes, he understood the importance of making an entrance.
The number of jonin among the Root ninjas was impressive, a clear sign of their strength.
There were only about twenty jonin in Kikyou Mountain Fortress, and Danzo had brought five of them, demonstrating Root's formidable power.
This wasn't surprising.
Root's brutal training methods, while turning ninjas into killing machines, also pushed their potential to the limit. Coupled with his focus on capturing talented individuals from both ninja clans and civilians, it was no wonder they were so strong.
And these were just the ones he had revealed. Who knew how many more he had in reserve?
With such power, it was no wonder he coveted the position of Hokage.
"Now, I, Danzo, will take command of the Southwest Ninja Army and hold the line at Kikyou Mountain against the Sand ninjas!"
Danzo wasted no time in declaring his new role.
No one dared to challenge or question him.
The Hokage's office wouldn't dare to lose face, and the other jonin, like Shouhei, were as meek as quails.
The example of the White Fang was still fresh in everyone's minds.
If they truly offended him, they might find themselves "committing suicide with seventeen shuriken in their back."
Rewritten Text
Uchiha Douglas, from now on, you will be in charge of the warehouse, a crucial location!"
Danzo kicked Douglas to the warehouse to serve as the custodian.
Warehouse custodian! Above him was the Logistics Department, and below were the Administrative Ninjas. It was a position where he would be under pressure from both sides and easily blamed for any mishaps.
"Understood!"
Douglas's face was indifferent, and there was even a hint of a smile in his eyes.
This was the result of his own planning.
So, even if he were thrown into a warehouse custodian's position, or even a prison, his good mood wouldn't be affected in the slightest.
Danzo frowned at Douglas's attitude but didn't lash out.
It wasn't that he didn't want to, but such behavior would easily give the impression of lacking "tolerance," and he was aiming to become the Hokage. He couldn't afford to damage his image.
In a way, from the moment Danzo stepped into the open, he was destined to fail.
He was better suited for working in the shadows, which was why he earned the intimidating title of "The Dark Shinobi."
But once he stepped into the light, his previous advantages vanished, and failure was almost inevitable.
"The rest of you..."
Danzo issued his commands methodically.
Just from his directives, it was clear that he was no stranger to leading shinobi, which boosted the morale of the Hokage's supporters.
Even civilian Jonin like Kobayashi, though still wary and fearful, looked more composed.
No one liked a weak superior.
Especially not a shinobi!
A weak superior could cost you your life with their incompetence.
The meeting concluded in a "perfect" manner.
Danzo had taken control of all the key areas—personnel, intelligence, and finance. Even Nara Tani's assistant role was stripped of its power. How could it not be perfect?
"Uchiha Douglas, can you explain your actions from before?"
Just as everyone thought the meeting was about to end, Danzo suddenly spoke up, his voice sharp.
Here it comes, thought Douglas, his lips curling into a smirk that would be hard to suppress, even with an AK.
He had sensed something off about Danzo today. Just being kicked to the warehouse without further repercussions seemed unusual. He had initially thought Danzo had changed his ways, but it turned out he was waiting to secure his power before making a move.
Confronting the F4 head-on was a delight.
These old men were either stupid or evil, and their double standards had cost many "honest" people their lives. Not standing up to them would be a disservice to his own conscience.
In the past, he wouldn't dare, as he would have been "suicided."
Now, with his newfound strength, if he couldn't even face them head-on, what kind of Time Traveler would he be? He might as well become a turtle.
The behind-the-scenes approach was outdated.
"I don't know what you want me to explain. Isn't the most important thing right now to strengthen the defenses of Willow Fort?"
Douglas countered while smearing Danzo with his words.
This would give Danzo the impression of someone who "enjoys internal strife."
"Hmph, what did you do with the two million Ryo worth of nutrient solution from the hospital?"
Danzo asked triumphantly.
Root had been monitoring him, and the missing nutrient solution was a perfect leverage point.
"I accidentally broke it and it spilled!"
Douglas remained seated, showing no signs of panic.
He didn't take Danzo seriously at all. What could Danzo do to him?
"Those two vials of nutrient solution could have saved so many lives. If it's because of you...!"
Danzo stood on the moral high ground, accusing Douglas.
This was an attack on his reputation. Once his name was tarnished, Danzo could manipulate him as he pleased.
But Douglas didn't bother to defend himself.
He had no intention of creating a "clean" image to gain popularity. People like White Fang, who had such high prestige, lived difficult lives and were easily manipulated.
So, this kind of accusation didn't bother him. Besides, it couldn't be used to convict him.
Accidentally breaking two vials of nutrient solution while temporarily in charge of the hospital was understandable, right?
In the end, after venting his frustration on Douglas, Danzo declared the meeting over.
However, he didn't get to enjoy his newfound power for long. He soon realized he had celebrated too soon.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
