381. Danzo's Vision Manifests

*Shinobi World United News, February 1, Year 54 of Konoha:

"The Konoha High Council has officially passed Regulation No. 1, formally establishing Konoha as the capital of the Land of Fire... The responsibilities of various departments have been clearly defined, with new and reformed departments as follows... Additionally, other specific reforms include..."

If Danzo's previous reforms were considered minor adjustments, this one was nothing short of a seismic event—a super bomb powerful enough to shake the entire shinobi world!

The birth of Regulation No. 1 completely negated the current system of governance in other nations, which was dominated by daimyos and aristocrats.

This marked the end of the aristocratic system that had persisted for over a thousand years in the Land of Fire.

As the undisputed leading nation in the shinobi world, such a monumental internal transformation in the Land of Fire was bound to have a profound and far-reaching impact on neighboring countries and the entire shinobi world.

In response to these changes, the daimyos of other nations naturally issued condemnations.

Some even resorted to threats and intimidation, warning that if the Land of Fire continued down this path of radical reform, they would not hesitate to declare war.

However, after the farce of the previous joint military intervention, no one within the Land of Fire took these verbal threats seriously.

Konoha was now brimming with military strength.

Even if other nations decided to go to war, Konoha was ready.

After all, they had already survived three shinobi world wars.

What were a few empty threats compared to that?

Amidst the flood of condemnations and threats, Konoha held a grand ceremony to commemorate this historic moment.

Even the Daimyo, who had been absent for some time due to illness, attended the event.

In front of thousands of citizens, he delivered a brief speech, his last as the leader of the Land of Fire.

He then formally announced that he would voluntarily renounce his aristocratic status and transfer all power to the current Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

This decision was met with thunderous applause from the crowd.

Following this, Minato delivered an important speech, celebrating the enactment of Regulation No. 1 and marking the Land of Fire's entry into a new era.

His passionate speech once again ignited a wave of cheers from the audience.

Overall, the ceremony was a resounding success.

Not only did it formally announce the Land of Fire's leap into a new era, but it also significantly boosted the prestige of the young Hokage, solidifying his position as the nation's leader.

The only puzzling aspect was the absence of Konoha's hero, Danzo Shimura, from the event.

On a rooftop near the Hokage Building, Jiraiya withdrew his gaze, filled with satisfaction, and turned to Tsunade with a look of surprise.

"I didn't expect that old man Danzo to disappear at such an important occasion. I thought he would use this massive reform to establish himself as the leader of the Land of Fire."

Jiraiya's assumption wasn't unfounded.

Over the past few years, while Minato had been the nominal Hokage, the real power behind Konoha had always been Danzo.

From multiple reforms to the far-reaching Capital Incident, Danzo had been the driving force.

In many ways, the current Konoha was entirely his creation.

With his immense influence within the village, a single call from Danzo could have easily overshadowed even Minato's authority as Hokage.

Or rather, Minato wouldn't have even tried to stop him.

After all, Danzo was not only a respected elder who had guided Minato but also the savior of his family.

If Danzo had expressed even the slightest desire to become the leader of the Land of Fire, Minato would likely have handed over the Hokage position without hesitation, allowing Danzo to rightfully claim the coveted role.

Yet, under these circumstances, Danzo chose not to seize the leadership position.

Instead, he quietly faded from the public eye, embodying the image of a sage who retreats after accomplishing great deeds, leaving no trace of his involvement.

This was why Jiraiya was so surprised—and even felt a twinge of guilt for his earlier assumptions.

Tsunade, brushing a strand of golden hair from her forehead, replied thoughtfully, "Perhaps we've never truly understood Danzo's real intentions."

Her words left Jiraiya in silence.

As he looked out at the bustling streets, the towering buildings, the roaring trains on the tracks, and the cars speeding down the roads, it was hard to imagine that just five years ago, this village had been struggling in the quagmire of war.

All of this—every bit of it—was the result of that one man.

It was Danzo who led Konoha to victory in that brutal war, bringing peace to the Land of Fire.

It was Danzo who initiated reforms, dismantling the corrupt aristocratic class and setting the nation on the right path.

It was Danzo who vigorously developed technology, industry, and commerce, allowing the people of the Land of Fire to truly prosper.

He was a man of immense power, with endless innovative ideas and an inexhaustible wealth of knowledge.

He was a radical in many ways, yet in certain matters, he possessed an extraordinarily broad mind.

If Jiraiya, the great literary master, had to sum up Danzo in one word, it would be "mysterious."

If he had to use two words, he would add "miraculous."

…………………

Meanwhile, in the home of the former Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had confined himself to his residence, slowly put down his crystal ball.

His face was filled with confusion as he turned to the elderly man sitting across from him.

"Why? I thought you would make your move. Wasn't that your lifelong ambition?"

The man sitting across from Hiruzen was none other than his former friend and current Hokage Advisor, Danzo Shimura.

Hearing Hiruzen's question, Danzo gently set down his teacup and replied, "It's simple. I just don't want to become a slave to power."

Seeing Hiruzen's continued confusion, Danzo sighed.

"I suppose you think that back then, I didn't become Hokage because you stood in my way. And now, with you no longer an obstacle, I would naturally seize the opportunity to claim the position of leader of the Land of Fire?"

When Hiruzen remained silent, Danzo knew he had hit the mark.

He chuckled wryly and said, "To be honest, if I had truly wanted to become Hokage back then, your presence—or absence—wouldn't have made a difference.

I simply didn't want to sit in that position and watch myself slowly corrode under the weight of power.

The ones who will lead the Land of Fire forward are not old men like us, but the younger generation. The future lies with them."