"You don't understand. The person I want is only Kurenai Yuhi, other women I simply do not care about."

  The Third Hokage sighed, Asuma was really an infatuated person, and infatuated people often do not have good results.

  The ninja world is not a pce for love affairs, this fact must be understood.

  "Don't let love blind your eyes."

  "This time, the position I arranged for you as the Daimyo's guardian ninja is a good opportunity to gain prestige. After serving your one-year prison sentence, I will find a way to have you reassigned as the Daimyo's guardian of the Land of Fire."

  "The Daimyo, for my sake, should not pursue your responsibility too much."

  Asuma heard the Hokage's words and became even more enraged.

  "Bastard, don't mention the position of the Daimyo's guardian ninja to me again."

  "If I had not gone to the Daimyo's mansion to serve as a guardian ninja, but had stayed in the vilge, then that guy would not have had the opportunity to take advantage, and he would not have stolen my woman. Kurenai would not have left me."

  "This is all your fault. I will never listen to your arrangements again."

  The Third Hokage was really so angry that his eyebrows furrowed, truly disappointing. Over a mere woman, Asuma had become like this, what future could he possibly have?

  "Foolish."

  Sarutobi Asuma, however, looked at his father and said, "If you want me to go, fine."

  "You must find a way to kill Uchiha Ryosuke, I know you have a way. Then, I will listen to you and go serve as the guardian ninja at the Daimyo's mansion."

  As long as Uchiha Ryosuke was eliminated, then Kurenai would still be his. At that time, never mind being a guardian ninja, he would do whatever his father told him to do.

  The Third Hokage's expression changed drastically—how could Asuma say such words?

  Even if he thought this in his heart, how could he say it out loud? Did he forget where this pce is?

  This was the Uchiha Police Force Headquarters—there could be eavesdroppers.

  This child had completely lost himself.

  "You sit in prison properly and reflect on yourself."

  The Third Hokage went straight back to his Hokage office and sat down to calm his emotions.

  Today, he had been utterly infuriated.

  If only his eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, were still alive—he was the true hope of the Sarutobi cn.

  Unexpectedly, as an Anbu, he had perished young in a mission, while his second son, Asuma, was truly useless—he had already fallen completely into the obsession with Uchiha Ryosuke.

  Although he did not like this second son, his son was still reted to the future of the Sarutobi cn.

  Whether he wanted to or not, he had to save him.

  He had to make this brat pull himself together again. He could only let Danzo take action—he himself certainly would not do it personally, but others could handle it.

  Otherwise, he would not have given Danzo so much power. After all, that man was the sharp bde in his hand.

  At this moment, Danzo, stationed at the Root headquarters, had naturally received news of Sarutobi Asuma's arrest.

  His cold face even showed a rare trace of amusement.

  The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had truly lost face.

  As the most powerful ninja leader in the vilge, his own son had actually been arrested. His reputation had been utterly trampled on by the Uchiha cn.

  But the Uchiha Police Force's authority was simply too great—perhaps the authority given to them by the Second Hokage should be revoked.

  If one day, they caught hold of his weaknesses, would they come to arrest him as well?

  The Third Hokage should take this opportunity to see the true face of the Uchiha cn—they would never truly submit to the higher-ups of Konoha.

  With this, the Third Hokage should start leaning towards eliminating the Uchiha cn.

  At that moment, a subordinate pushed open the door and walked in.

  "Lord Danzo, the Third Hokage requests your presence at the Hokage office."

  Danzo slightly narrowed his left eye.

  'To think he summoned me this quickly—so fast. Interesting. And he actually did not come to my Root headquarters. Ever since I attempted to assassinate him st time, he has never set foot in my territory again—how cautious.'

  "Tell the Anbu who came that I will go shortly."

  ———

  Inside the Hokage office.

  Shimura Danzo stepped forward and pushed open the door, then casually found a pce to sit. With a rexed expression, he said, 'Hokage-sama, what do you need me for?"

  The Third Hokage looked at Danzo and said, "Your previous pn to eliminate the Uchiha cn was quite good."

  "Especially the dangerous individual, Uchiha Ryosuke. Taking advantage of this war, eliminating him—what do you think?"

  Danzo slightly narrowed his eyes. 'Trying to make me act in secret again? But this Uchiha Ryosuke… isn't he the one Asuma attacked?'

  "Not possible. Right now may not be the best time to eliminate him."

  "As you said, Hokage-sama, I have also received intelligence that the Hidden Cloud Vilge is preparing to send troops to attack Konoha."

  "Rather than assassinating him, why not send him to the battlefield to fight against the Cloud ninjas in a life-or-death struggle?"

  The Third Hokage squinted, 'So, Danzo already received such information? Yet I have not—seems like he has spies in other vilges. When it comes to intelligence gathering, I really am not as capable as he is.'

  'But even if two armies csh, Uchiha Ryosuke might not necessarily die—his strength is extremely formidable.'

  He couldn't help but say, "This Uchiha Ryosuke is too talented. He has even mastered the Eight Gates technique—he must be eliminated as soon as possible, or he could become a disaster in the future. This war is the perfect opportunity, and I know making people 'disappear' during wartime is your specialty."

  Danzo's left eye slightly narrowed—making people disappear on the battlefield was indeed his specialty.

  Could it be that the Hokage suspects something? But even if he does, so what? There's no evidence.

  However, this matter could not be agreed to so easily. Even though eliminating Uchiha Ryosuke aligned with his interests, he had to get something in return.

  "Actually, my Root is currently cking talented individuals. If I can recruit some geniuses from the vilge's ninja cns into my Root, then eliminating him is not impossible."

  'Right now, the one who is anxious is not me, but the Third Hokage. I can take this chance to expand my power.'

  The Third Hokage listened to Danzo's words and immediately understood his demand.

  'So, he wants to take this opportunity to expand his influence. Asuma can't afford to wait—his obsession must be removed as soon as possible. If he is consumed by it, he may never return to normal.'

  'Letting Danzo recruit a few more people is acceptable—it would make him an even sharper bde in my hands, useful for handling matters. Danzo probably thinks he's truly clever.'

  Seeing the Third Hokage agree to his request, Danzo kept a composed expression, but inside, he was already rejoicing.

  Even though he was not the Hokage, his Root had developed well, rivaling the Hokage's Anbu in strength—he had taken away a significant portion of the Hokage's power.

  He smiled and said, "Hokage-sama, I can handle this matter for you. However, he must be sent to the battlefield, otherwise, it will be difficult to deal with."

  Even he would not assassinate someone within the vilge.

  If an assassination attempt were discovered, the consequences would be dire.

  'I hear that kid is incredibly strong—even for Root, only I have a high chance of success. If I make a move in the vilge and fail, it will alert them. That would be foolish. But outside the vilge—there, it would be effortless.'

  'I can even arrange for someone from an enemy vilge to take him out—like the Fourth Raikage, for example. He would be a useful tool to remove this unstable element.'

  The Third Hokage, hearing Danzo agree, was pleased.

  "That is easy to arrange—I will send him to the battlefield."

  'After all, I am the Hokage—I have the authority to deploy him.'

  Danzo's left eye narrowed slightly.

  "Of course, there is one more condition to make this work."

  Hearing this, the Third Hokage became annoyed.

  "Danzo, are you never satisfied? I already agreed to your request."