Chapter 269: Forebearance
"Hmm...?"
Noticing that his view had abruptly changed from the interior of his tea room to a cube-shaped stone room covered in paper sealing talismans, Danzo's brows furrowed. He didn't panic, but after habitually looking left and sweeping his gaze right, his furrow deepened at the sight of Hiruzen, Minato, and Jiraiya gazing at him from opposite a wall of gridded, black-iron prison bars.
"Hiruzen...what is the meaning of this...?" asked Danzo, his raspy voice calm, masking his growing displeasure as he directed a withering stare at Minato with his sole visible eye, asking, "Don't tell me you've decided to support Minato's bid for the position of Hokage. No one can deny that he distinguished himself during the war, but being a Hero doesn't qualify him to lead a village. And being the most skilled doesn't necessarily grant one the competency, experience, and the other traits necessary to navigate a village through tumultuous times such as these..."
"This guy...I know you've never been the sharpest kunai in the pouch, but tell me..." started Jiraiya, standing with his arms crossed and sporting an annoyed expression as he asked, "You're even older than Gramps here. If he's reached an age where he believes it's time for him to step aside and make way for the next generation, how can you possibly think you're even remotely suitable as his replacement? You're older, weaker, and less liked, and the only reason your subordinates in the Foundation obey your orders is because the alternatives are torture and death. You don't know the first thing about being a true leader. All you know is control."
"And what of it?" asked Danzo, meeting Jiraiya's gaze as he asserted, "It isn't compassion or inspiring speeches that win wars. It is the willingness to do whatever it takes—including sacrificing one's life. So long as Shinobi live in the shadows of society, we will forever remain tools. Those who fail to comprehend that they have no place at the helm of a hidden village. If such weak sentiments were to spread among the villages, Konoha's hard-earned superiority would diminish, and the other villages would devour us to our bones in the next war..."
Shifting his gaze to Hiruzen, a glimmer of deeply rooted hatred flashed across Danzo's eye as he proclaimed, "Your predecessor and our Master, Tobirama-sensei, understood. The other villages are not friends—they're breeding pens for the animals known as Shinobi. Because those born with power can't help but use it to wage war, impose their beliefs on others, or seek vengeance against those they believe have wronged them. And the only way to keep beasts in line and prevent them from baring their teeth and biting those they shouldn't is to bring them to heel..."
"Danzo..." sighed Hiruzen, closing his eyes and appearing to age ten years with a single, exasperated exhale. He had hoped against hope that his old friend would be reasonable and accept the sentence about to be imposed upon with him solemn defiance. Then, perhaps in ten to twenty years, he could be freed to see how their world had changed—hopefully for the better.
"You're wrong, Shimura-san," said Minato firmly, stepping forward. His tone wasn't loud, but it rang with the quiet authority of someone who'd confronted death a thousand times over and chosen mercy as often as circumstance allowed. "Though I did not know him personally, I refuse to believe Nidaime-sama viewed Shinobi as beasts or weapons. If that were the case, he would not have chosen Hiruzen-sensei as his successor, nor would he have sealed so many Jutsu within the Forbidden Scroll. No, even more than Shodai-sama, I believe Nidaime-sama wanted Shinobi to break free from the Cycle of Hatred. That's why he chose to sacrifice himself to ensure the lives of his team when he could have readily escaped with the Flying Raijin..."
"Addressing your elders casually...such impertinence..." growled Danzo, unable to refute Minato's logic, so he defaulted to shielding himself with formality and decorum.