harleyscars Page 300
Page 300
Danzo was stunned, as if he had gone mad.
"Danzo, do you know?" Uchiha Izuna leaned down slightly, looking into Danzo's eyes, and said solemnly, word by word, "I actually think more highly of you than Hiruzen."
Danzo's mind went blank for a moment, and he felt a buzzing sound in his ears, almost doubting that he had heard correctly.
He stared wide-eyed in disbelief: What...is this guy saying?
Danzo involuntarily raised his head and met Uchiha Izuna's honest and sincere gaze, feeling his heart leap into his throat.
This evil Uchiha, whom he had always hated, actually said... he thought more highly of himself?
From childhood to adulthood, Hiruzen Sarutobi was always a heavy burden on Danzo's mind.
In terms of talent, reputation, and the expectations of others, Hiruzen Sarutobi was always the praised and highly anticipated genius, the best successor of the Will of Fire in his teacher's eyes.
Danzo Shimura, on the other hand, always lived in his shadow, forever being the one used as a foil for comparison, and ultimately ignored as a substitute.
It's as if we were born to wipe monkeys' butts...
Thinking of this, Danzo clenched his fists, a flash of bitterness and resentment crossing his eyes.
Even Tobirama, the teacher he respected most in his life, ultimately chose to pass the Hokage position to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Danzo would never forget the sense of loss and resentment he felt when his teacher entrusted the Hokage position to Hiruzen at the critical moment of life and death!
This fact became a wound in his heart that could never heal!
All the power and status he has pursued over the years is, in the end, nothing more than desperately trying to prove that he is stronger than Hiruzen Sarutobi and more worthy of inheriting the name of Hokage!
Seeing that Danzo remained silent, Uchiha Izuna assumed that he was still upset about what had just happened.
He patted Danzo on the shoulder and continued, "Hiruzen's talent is certainly outstanding, but he is too idealistic, too soft-hearted, and indecisive."
He changed the subject, staring meaningfully at Danzo: "And you, Danzo... you have ambition, you have skill, and you have the decisiveness to do anything to achieve your goals. These are the qualities that are needed more in turbulent times."
Upon hearing this, Danzo shuddered and looked up at Uchiha Izuna in shock.
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Shimura Danzo have been detected! Emotional value +500!]
The other party appeared calm and composed, their gaze open and honest, clearly stating the facts from the bottom of their heart.
Uchiha Izuna's words struck Danzo's heart with every single one!
Tobirama-sensei doesn't understand him!
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't understand him!
The one who understands him best is actually the Uchiha in front of him, whom he regards as a symbol of evil?!
How could someone who is clearly an Uchiha so profoundly understand his ambitions and beliefs?
For a moment, Danzo's gaze towards Uchiha Izuna became complicated.
The face that he used to loathe so much now seemed much more pleasing to the eye.
He stared blankly at Izuna, his inner resistance and hostility gradually crumbling.
Uchiha Izuna smiled slightly and said slowly, "Healthy competition among comrades is a good thing, as it can help each other improve. However, if one is too obsessed and cannot see what is truly important, one will go astray, ultimately harming oneself and failing the expectations of those around one."
He gazed at the disciple before him and said earnestly, "Danzo, I hope you can think this through carefully."
Danzo looked up and met Izuna's concerned and attentive gaze, and his heart pounded wildly.
A bold idea suddenly popped into his mind, even making his blood boil.
In reality...
Hashirama Senju was the First Hokage, and Tobirama, as the younger brother of the Hokage, succeeded him as the Second Hokage. He valued Hiruzen Sarutobi the most, so Hiruzen became the Third Hokage.
And in this world...
The First Hokage was Madara Uchiha.
Uchiha Izuna, also the younger brother of the Hokage and our teacher, said... he has higher hopes for me!
Doesn't that mean...
Danzo's throat was dry, and his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest.
He swallowed hard, his breathing became rapid, and the thought in his mind became clearer and clearer.
In Izuna-sensei's eyes, he himself is the Third Hokage in preparation?!
In an instant, he felt his blood rush to his head, and the image of himself wearing the Hokage's robes and standing at the highest point of Konoha, receiving the admiration of everyone, even appeared uncontrollably in his mind!
[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Shimura Danzo have been detected! Emotional value +1000!]
In that instant, Shimura Danzo felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck his mind, completely hitting what he longed for most deep in his heart!
He was breathing heavily, his eyes burning as he looked at the man before him.
The confusion and hostility that had previously shrouded his face had vanished, replaced by a burning and fervent desire and conviction!
His gaze became incredibly fervent, as if he had rediscovered his direction in life at that moment.
Uchiha Izuna took in the huge change in Danzo's eyes and couldn't help but smile with satisfaction, nodding slightly.
"Figured out?"
Chapter 231 Crying Counts as Time Too
As the dream ended, the system interface in front of Shiyu lit up.
Overnight, Shi Yu gained far more emotional points than expected, and the conditions required for the system upgrade were successfully met.
However, to his slight disappointment, the legendary special reward effect of the Dream Machine was not triggered this time.
However, Shigure didn't feel too much regret.
After all, the Dream Machine is so powerful that if it could be triggered every day and level up every day, that would be too exaggerated.
He looked around to make sure no one was approaching before calming himself down and looking at the notification panel that appeared in front of him.
[The Dream Master System has been successfully upgraded!]
[Congratulations, host, you have reached level 17]
Please select one of the following enhancement effects.
[1. Audience size +3]
[2. Dream intensity greatly increased (more specific targets can be selected)]
[3. Dream Goal +1]
Shi Yu glanced back and forth between the three options, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally moved the pointer to the second option.
"Dream intensity has been greatly enhanced...?"
"What exactly does this so-called 'special target' refer to?"
Curiosity prevailed.
Shi Yu took a deep breath, made up her mind, and decisively confirmed option 2.
The system panel trembled slightly in an instant.
A new line of text appeared on the semi-transparent light screen.
The enhancement effect 'Super Enhancement of Dream Intensity' has been successfully selected!
The level 17 upgrade reward has been claimed.
Shi Yu opened the list of candidates for realizing her dream and began to look at it.
Upon closer inspection, he indeed discovered a change that was completely different from before.
At the end of the list, nine new names appeared out of nowhere.
"One-Tailed Shukaku, Two-Tailed Matatabi, Three-Tailed Isobu, Four-Tailed Son Goku... Nine-Tailed Kurama?!"
"That's it?"
Shi Yu paused for two seconds, her expression somewhat speechless.
The so-called special target...
Are these the nine tailed beasts?
Can't you?
……
The next morning.
In the dense forest near the Valley of the End in the northern part of the Land of Fire.
Two colossal statues stand majestically facing each other on either side of the cliff, while a waterfall cascades down the valley.
The waterfall plunged down with a thunderous roar, its echo reverberating through the silent forest.
Jiraiya stretched and sat up from the flat rock where he had been staying the previous night, yawning.
He turned his head to look to the side and saw that Orochimaru had already gotten up and was gazing at the direction of Konoha in the distance with his back to him, seemingly lost in thought about something.
Jiraiya greeted him with a smile: "Good morning, Orochimaru! This place is really nice, isn't it? The air is fresh and the scenery is beautiful, it's just that the waterfall is a bit noisy, I almost couldn't sleep last night, haha..."
Orochimaru slowly turned around, his golden vertical pupils coldly staring at Jiraiya, his eyes sinister, his face full of impatience and suspicion.
"Jiraiya," he interrupted the other's pleasantries, "Why did you suggest resting here last night? If we had traveled all night, we should have arrived in Konoha by now."
He took another step forward, staring intently at Jiraiya, and said coldly, "Tell me the truth... Are you stalling for time? Or are you simply lying to me, and the whole Nawaki thing is completely fabricated?"
Faced with Orochimaru's aggressive questioning, Jiraiya not only did not panic, but instead showed a confident smile.
He spread his hands and said easily, "Don't worry, Orochimaru. I guarantee you with the honor of the Toad Sage that Nawaki is perfectly fine and waiting for you in Konoha!"
"Besides... if you hadn't slept last night, how would we have seen such a good show?"
Upon hearing this, Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly.
Orochimaru's mind flashed back to the images from his dream.
He couldn't help but hum softly.
"Hmph... last night's dream was indeed quite interesting."