I Got Reincarnated As Danzo!?

"Patriarch, Danzo Shimura has arrived."

"Oh? That fast?" Uzumaki Ashina raised an eyebrow in surprise.

The journey from Konoha to Uzushiogakure wasn't too long, but for a Chunin traveling on foot, it should have taken at least another day.

"Yes, because he has a flying summoning beast! It's incredibly cool and adorable!" Uzumaki Rugan, the messenger, practically had stars in his eyes, looking like an excited fangirl.

'Shouldn't the focus be on how fast he got here…? *Cough*, young people these days...'

Ashina sighed, stroking his long white beard. Grabbing his tall wooden staff, he stood up and made his way outside.

"Hey, Patriarch, wait for me!" Rugan hurriedly followed.

As they neared the village entrance, they saw a crowd gathered, buzzing with excitement.

Curious, Ashina approached, only to find the villagers completely captivated.

"Wow! It's so cute and majestic!"

"The Sage of Six Paths must have created this divine creature!"

"My heart is melting!"

Danzo's black-scaled dragon, Toothless, was basking in the attention, happily accepting fish from the villagers. Every little movement it made drew cheers of admiration.

Ashina observed the scene for a moment before clearing his throat.

"*Ahem.*"

No one paid attention.

"*AHEM!*"

Still nothing.

Finally, after an exaggerated cough, someone turned around and frowned at Danzo.

"Hey, kid, if you're sick, go home and rest! And why is your hair black? You're not from the Uzumaki Clan, are you?"

The crowd immediately became cautious, instinctively shielding Toothless from Danzo as if protecting a village treasure. Even Toothless tilted its head curiously at him.

Danzo sighed, resisting the urge to facepalm. A few black lines practically formed on his forehead.

Even *Ashina* was looking at him with suspicion.

Silently cursing Mito for not informing her clan in advance, Danzo pulled out the letter of introduction and handed it over.

Ashina read it carefully. His expression shifted subtly, and then—without missing a beat—he put on a grandfatherly smile, tapping his staff against the ground.

"Hahaha! So it *is* Danzo Shimura! My memory must be slipping in my old age. Come, come! Welcome to Uzushiogakure!"

Danzo forced an awkward smile as he followed Ashina toward the village. Or rather, he followed the crowd that was still more interested in Toothless than him.

---

Once inside Ashina's home, the villagers reluctantly said their goodbyes to Toothless.

Ashina sat down and studied Danzo with an assessing gaze.

"You know," he mused, "you're only the second outsider to be allowed to learn our clan's sealing techniques."

Danzo raised an eyebrow as Ashina stood up and walked to a bookshelf. After rummaging for a moment, the old patriarch pulled out a slightly worn scroll. Blowing off a thin layer of dust, he hesitated before reaching for a second, more pristine scroll.

"The first person was Senju Hashirama—also recommended by that rascal Mito. He put our teachings to good use." Ashina chuckled with nostalgia before handing over the scrolls.

"The first contains sealing techniques that can be learned without an Uzumaki bloodline. The second… well, it's my personal notes and records from my younger days. It might help you."

He smirked. "I'm giving you the second one because your summoning beast is that impressive."

Danzo accepted the scrolls with both hands, storing them carefully.

Ashina, satisfied, pulled out a bottle of sake and called for some food.

"You don't mind drinking with an old man, do you?"

Danzo wasn't sure where this was going, but as long as he was cautious, there was no harm in humoring the clan head.

By nightfall, the table was cleared of food, and Ashina swayed slightly, shaking the now-empty sake bottle.

"Ah, out already?" he sighed.

Danzo, now in his assigned room, went over the evening's conversation in his head. Satisfied that he hadn't said anything problematic, he dismissed the thought and turned his attention to the second scroll.

He unrolled it with curiosity.

**Entry 1:** "Today is my first day learning sealing techniques! Writing this journal will keep me disciplined. I must work hard to become the Uzumaki Clan's top sealing master!"

**Entry 2:** "Drank sake. Played cards."

**Entry 3:** "Drank sake. Played cards."

**Entry 4:** "Drank sake. Played cards."

**Entry 5:** "Uzumaki Ashina! What are you doing with your life?! I must reflect on myself! This is unacceptable!"

**Entry 6:** "Drank sake. Played cards."

**Entry 7:** "Drank sake. Played cards."

Danzo stared at the scroll in silence.

Then, he burst out laughing.

---

Meanwhile, back at Ashina's home…

"Hmm, that Danzo kid has potential. Needs some refinement, but he's got the right qualities."

He muttered to himself as he reached for his personal journal. As he opened it, his eyes widened in horror.

'Wait. Did I give him the wrong scroll?'

Ashina bolted upright.

'He *definitely* hasn't read it yet. *He definitely hasn't!*'

Moving at a speed that belied his age, the Uzumaki patriarch dashed toward Danzo's residence, slamming the door open.

Danzo, looking half-asleep, blinked at him.

"Senior Ashina? Something wrong?"

The old man spotted the second scroll lying beside the bed—*unopened*.

Relieved, he let out an exaggerated chuckle. "Oh, nothing, nothing! Just wanted to make sure everything was in order!"

Picking up the scroll, he quickly swapped it with another.

"Well, enjoy your rest! Goodnight!"

He closed the door behind him, patting his chest.

'Whew, close one…'

But as soon as he walked away, laughter erupted inside the room.

"Hahahahaha!"

Ashina froze. His eyes twitched.

Kicking the door open again, he found Danzo sitting there with an innocent look.

"Something else, Senior Ashina?"

Ashina squinted. "I *swear* I heard laughing just now."

Danzo shook his head solemnly.

"Must've been the wind. I'm a trained Konoha ninja—I wouldn't laugh out loud."

(*Unless I can't help it.*)

Ashina narrowed his eyes but ultimately sighed.

"…Maybe I *am* getting old."

As soon as the door shut for the final time, Danzo smirked.

This was what you called *experience*.