Hiruzen smiled and said, "This proves that the ninja clans are struggling to adapt to the times. Are we handling them the right way?"
"Right now, the ninja clans have turned into a means for their leaders to secure personal benefits. If we take drastic action against them, the lower-ranking members will feel that the entire clan is being targeted, which will only breed resentment toward the village."
"That's why we can't be too aggressive. If we go too far, it will tear the village apart. Instead, we need to create a divide between the elite ninjas and the lower-ranking ones."
Danzo shifted his posture. "But we can't be too lenient either, or they'll take advantage of it. Look at what happened with the daimyo. Even if we eliminate the top-ranking ninjas, someone else will just replace them, and we can't guarantee they won't cause trouble in the future."
It was clear now—Danzo claiming to act for the village was a lie.
Doing it for his clan? Impossible. For world peace? Nonsense.
Hiruzen finally understood—Danzo was doing all of this for himself.
During the day, he hesitated in the office, but now he acted like a zealot determined to dismantle the ninja clans. He seemed eager to destroy the Shimura clan itself.
Why the sudden shift? There were only two possible explanations.
The first was that Torifu had informed him about the hidden threat.
The second was that he had learned about the Shimura clan's schemes and was angry, wanting revenge.
The first was a matter of power, the second was personal frustration.
Perhaps it was both. Either way, it was all for his own benefit.
Hiruzen still planned to appoint Danzo as the "Vice-Kage," using him as a blade poised above the ninja clans while gradually absorbing their strength into the village.
Seeing Danzo's apparent dedication to Konoha, Hiruzen decided to pacify him. "That's why we need balance—neither too harsh nor too soft. We must focus on raising the next generation of ninjas and ensure their education is solid. With so much happening in the village, we have to be careful."
Hearing this, Danzo finally relaxed. Since Hiruzen wasn't planning to punish him for the Shimura clan's mess, he could ease up on his act.
Scratching his head, Danzo asked, "Hiruzen, do you have a concrete plan? You're the Hokage, after all. Just give the order, and I'll follow it."
Hiruzen smirked at Danzo's attempt to play the role of a loyal but simple-minded subordinate, but he chose not to expose him.
Regardless of Danzo's true intentions, his motivation was useful. At the very least, it was better than having an incompetent ally. Right now, strong and capable people were in short supply.
"I believe that every person harbors selfish desires. These desires drive social progress, but if left unchecked, they can also be destructive. Whether it's an individual or a ninja, they all have their own aspirations."
"For an individual, desires are straightforward—gaining power, living a comfortable life, and so on."
"For a ninja clan, things are more complex. Weaker clans simply want to ensure their people have enough to eat, while the stronger ones seek power, influence, and lasting prestige."
"Human desires are ever-changing and limitless. If they are not properly controlled, they can lead to great harm."
"Take the Warring States Period as an example," Hiruzen continued. "Back then, the constant dissatisfaction among nobles and ninja clans led to endless wars. The First Hokage saw this and resolved to change the era. His vision was for all clans to set aside their differences and unite under the village."
"To set an example, he had the entire Senju clan abandon their surname and integrate as ordinary villagers. But after his death, the clans gradually returned to their old ways, and even the Second Hokage could only encourage them to uphold the system rather than enforce true reform."
"That's why I believe that suppressing the ninja clans through force alone is not a viable solution."
Danzo frowned, looking discouraged. "Then what do we do? We can't overpower the First Hokage in strength, and we can't outmaneuver the Second Hokage in strategy."
"Don't lose hope," Hiruzen reassured him. "Human effort determines everything. The First and Second Hokage have already laid a strong foundation for us. Can't we take things a step further from here?"
"Have some faith in yourself. Besides, I've found a clue." Hiruzen spoke with confidence. "With our knowledge and experience, these issues aren't impossible to solve. The ninja clans are not true aristocracies, after all."
"This world is governed by strength," he added. "And personal power can shape most events."
Danzo smirked. "I knew it, Hiruzen. You never act unless you're confident, and you wouldn't call a Jōnin Conference unless you had a solid plan."
Then, with renewed interest, he asked, "So what's your solution for controlling the ninja clans? Is there anything you need my help with?"
Though Hiruzen knew Danzo was mostly putting on an act, he still found his enthusiasm satisfying. It was better to share his plan now so that Danzo could cooperate effectively.
"The key lies in creating a system that prioritizes the village's interests above all else," Hiruzen explained. "I propose establishing three main ministries—the Ministry of Government Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will oversee Anbu, the newly formed Foreign Relations Department, and the upgraded Intelligence Division."
"The Ministry of Defense will manage border security, patrol units, and a restructured Guard Division covering the central district."
"The Ministry of Government Affairs will temporarily include the newly created Medical, Education, and Assessment Departments. It will be an expanded version of the current administration, responsible for managing all village affairs. It will consist of nine members, and major decisions will be made through voting—where the majority rules."
"To maintain the Hokage's authority, however, I propose giving the Hokage the authority to overrule decisions."
Danzo raised an eyebrow. "Isn't this just weakening the Hokage's power? And what exactly does this power entail?"
"I've never been concerned with power," Hiruzen said slowly, gazing up at the light. "What I care about is the village and everyone in it."
Danzo had to admit—Hiruzen was still ahead of him. The longer time passed, the more he realized he couldn't compare. Back when the Second Hokage chose his successor, Danzo had thought, Why not me?
When Hiruzen successfully managed the village's affairs, he told himself, I could do that too.
But now, as he reflected, Danzo couldn't help but think,
'It was a good thing Hiruzen became the Hokage instead of me.'
Hiruzen turned to look at Danzo, expecting a response, but Danzo remained silent.
'What's going on? I raised my cup—why aren't you reacting?'
Can't you at least play along?
Seeing Danzo's lack of cooperation, Hiruzen immediately lost interest.
Who else understands the pain of setting up a moment, only for no one to follow through?