When Danzo was invited to Sarutobi's house, he saw that in addition to Sarutobi, Koharu and Mito Kabuto were also there, and Akimichi Takafu also came.
Sarutobi and Mitomon were playing chess there, while Koharu and Akimichi Tofaze went to bed and watched.
It was a rare occasion for several old friends to get together again, and Danzo was quite surprised.
"Duanzo is here." Akimichi Tofū saw Danzo and said hello with a naive smile.
Danzo laughed lightly and said, "What's going on today? Sarutobi wants to invite us to have dinner together."
Sarutobi glanced over and said, "What, you're not happy to treat you to dinner?"
Danzo saw Biwako busy in the kitchen. He also walked to the side of the crowd and sat down, looking at the chessboard where Sarutobi and Mito Monen were playing.
Mito Katoyan frowned, thinking hard, but Sarutobi seemed to be able to do it with ease.
After a long time, Mitomon moved the chess pieces, which made Danzo laugh out loud.
After turning to bed, Xiaochun said: "Yan's chess skills are as bad as ever."
As expected, Sarutobi completed a decisive victory on the chessboard. Mito Katoyan twitched the corner of his mouth, and then helplessly threw down the chess piece in his hand.
Danzo said: "Don't show your skills to shame."
Mito Monoyan said angrily: "You're not any better than me at playing chess."
Sarutobi smiled confidently and said, "The only one who can match me in chess is Kagami."
Uchiha Mirror is dead.
Everyone was very calm when mentioning him. Danzo said: "Kage is letting you down every time, fearing that you will lose miserably."
Sarutobi said dissatisfied: "I sometimes let him."
The five people, who together were more than 300 years old, gathered together to chat. Danzo thought it was because Sarutobi felt life was boring after he left office that he came to them.
Lake Biwa prepared wine and food and called a few people over.
During the dinner, we pushed cups and changed cups, and reminisced about the past again, talking about each other's half-life in the military and the prosperous years. Perhaps these are the only things we can talk about when we grow old.
Danzo said very little, he just drank quietly and watched Sarutobi and the others sighing and sighing.
He knew that these people were already satisfied and at ease.
But he didn't. Although he was already over fifty years old and more than half of his life had passed, he still had not found a suitable ending for himself.
At least, to reach the same height as Sarutobi... no, it should be further than him!
"Danzo." Sarutobi's soft call suddenly sounded.
"Yeah." Danzo looked calm.
Mito Menyan's face was red from drinking, and he put his arm on the table to support his forehead.
"I'm talking about you..." Sarutobi was already a bit tongue-tied when he spoke.
"It's time to let go. Why hold on to something so tightly?"
Danzo rubbed the wine glass in his hand, his mind was very clear. Looking at Sarutobi's drunken appearance, he didn't know whether he was really drunk or fake.
"Sarutobi, I'm different from you." Danzo said slowly.
"You are admired by thousands of people. Even if you step down as Hokage, you are still loved by the villagers."
"However, all the ninjas in the village avoided me."
"You are the shadow of light, I am the darkness of obscurity."
"Now that you have achieved success and retired, you are relieved of everything, but for me, I have not yet lived the way I want in this life."
"..."
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, patted his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced at the people next to him and saw that Akimichi Tofaze was already lying on the table and fast asleep, with bursts of snoring coming from his mouth.
Mito Monobu and Koharu, who had moved to bed, also seemed to be a little unconscious.
Sarutobi asked: "What do you want, the position of Hokage?"
Danzo asked: "Sarutobi, what does the position of Hokage mean to you, a responsibility? An honor?"
Sarutobi didn't answer the question.
Danzo then said: "Do you still remember the teacher's last wish?"
"..."
Danzo said: "I know you will not forget it, but there is nothing you can do."
"In such a large ninja world, just being a Shouchi Kage is your limit. Just a few wars have worn away all your blood and fighting spirit."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and said: "The teacher's last wish is that Konoha can prosper and the villagers can live in harmony and stability."
Danzo sneered: "Are the people under the Daimyo's rule running out of food or clothing? Do they need you to give them a stable life?"
"Sarutobi, you have forgotten the meaning of ninja itself! Has Konoha ever been so humiliated under the rule of the first and second Hokage?"
At this time, Biwako suddenly came over, brought a few cups of tea, and said calmly: "Drink some water, sober up."
Qiu Daofeng raised his head sleepily and asked blankly: "Am I asleep? What time is it?"
Danzo drank the tea in his cup and said, "We've finished the meal and finished the wine. It's time to go."
Akimichi stood up unsteadily and said with a naive smile to Biwahu: "Biwahu, your cooking skills have improved again. I haven't eaten your cooking for a long time."
Bipahu smiled faintly: "If you want to eat, you can come here often."
When they went to bed, Koharu also stood up unsteadily with Mito Menyan's support. Biwako stepped forward to support the two of them. She said helplessly: "Why do you have to drink so much? I won't have no chance in the future."
Several people left, and Danzo also left.
Lake Biwa began to clean up the mess, removing the leftovers one by one.
She kicked Sarutobi, who was sitting there motionless: "How long are you going to pretend to be dead?"
Sarutobi moved away angrily.
He sat down in front of the living room door, leaning against the door frame and looking up at the sky.
He remembered every dispute he had with Danzo in the past.
Asma returned home at this time and saw her father sitting there. As soon as he wanted to get closer, he smelled a strong smell of alcohol.
"Have you been drinking?" He wrinkled his nose and said in disgust.
"Um……"
"Asma."
Asuma was about to enter the house when Sarutobi called out to him again.
"ah?"
"Go to my study and get the envelope with the red signature from the drawer on the left."
"……oh."
Not long after, Asuma came over with a letter and handed it to Sarutobi. When he got close to Sarutobi, he couldn't help but hold his breath.
Sarutobi opened it. It was an invitation letter, sent by the royal family of the Kingdom of Fire. The content of the letter had no other meaning, it was just an invitation to him as a guest.
There are more or less connections between some wealthy families in the village and the royal family officials and ministers of the Fire Country. This is inevitable.
He originally thought that since he had resigned as Hokage, he would no longer care about such political matters and let go step by step.
But when he got to this point, he realized that when he really gave up everything, he would be powerless if he tried to prevent something he didn't want to happen.