Hi guys, starting tomorrow I won't update two chapter daily. It will be 1 chapter only, instead of two. The reason is because I feel it drag more of my time.
Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 70: Worry
Hiruzen sat alone in his office, starting to feel regret on his past action especially dismissing Danzo. He stood up and went towards the windows watching the village, the sounds of children playing could be heard from Hokage office.
Konoha was indeed a peaceful place to live. Yet, despite the calm atmosphere, the Third Hokage heart felt heavier than ever.
He was worried, truly worried about the future of Konoha.
Since dismissing Danzo and disbanding the Elder Council, the village political balance had begun to shift in unpredictable ways. What was once a structure held together by years of shared experience and unspoken understanding had now fractured into something fragile, something uncertain.
Before this, they had been bound by trust between friends. But everything changed when he discovered Danzo crimes.
He shouldn't have dismissed Danzo so hastily. Perhaps he should have replaced him with Homura or Koharu instead.
He had acted out of conscience, believing that Danzo's methods though effective were endangering the very core of the village. The revelation about Root secret experiments had been the final straw. Hiruzen had thought that by removing Danzo and the other elders, he could bring light back into Konoha's administration.
Danzo had been punished and now he had lost his position and are in his home being prisoned by Anbu.
But as he stared down at the list of new council members on his desk, a cold wave of doubt washed over him.
Six people had been chosen to form the new council. Only Utatane Koharu had managed to retain her position after winning the vote, while Homura had lost. The other five were freshly appointed, Nara Shikajin, chosen for his high intellect, Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha and one of the most respected shinobi in the village were chosen too, though he had been pressured into accepting the position and three civilians, Akiyama Kenji, Tanaka Haruto, and Ito Masanori.
At first, the idea had seemed ideal, a balance between shinobi and civilians, experience and progress. But now, it only brought him unease.
Hiruzen rubbed his temples. "I dismissed a man like Danzo because I feared the darkness he carried," he muttered softly. "But I forgot that sometimes, darkness is what keeps the light from being devoured."
His words echoed through the quiet office.
Without Danzo, he realized, many of the small yet vital matters that used to be handled efficiently were now tangled in endless discussion and debate. In the past, if there was a dangerous spy or a suspected traitor, all Hiruzen had to do was mention it during a meeting, and Danzo would take care of it, no questions, no hesitation. It had been ruthless, yes, but effective.
Now, things had changed.
Every decision required votes. Every suggestion required paperwork. Every operation needed moral justification and council approval. The Hokage authority, once unquestioned, now felt bound by invisible chains.
He leaned back on his chair, exhaling slowly. "Was it a mistake?" he murmured. "Did I make the wrong choice?"
As he spoke, his mind drifted back to that final confrontation, his last argument with Danzo before he was imprisoned in his home.
"Your obsession with control will destroy Konoha!" Hiruzen had shouted, slamming his hand on the desk. "You experiment on children, you manipulate clans, and you claim it's for the village! That's not protection, Danzo, that's tyranny!"
Danzo had remained calm, his single visible eye narrowing. "You call it tyranny because you're afraid to face what must be done. The world outside this village is not kind, Hiruzen. You lead with kindness, but kindness alone cannot keep wolves from the gate."
"I will not allow Konoha to lose its humanity in pursuit of safety," Hiruzen had replied firmly.
"And I will not watch it burn because of your sentimentality," Danzo had countered, his tone low but threatening. "One day, you'll realize that peace cannot exist without shadows. When that day comes, remember that it was you who extinguished the last man willing to stand in them."
The memory struck like a kunai to the heart. Hiruzen sighed heavily, his hands trembling slightly.
He could almost see Danzo now, standing by the window, arms folded behind his back, staring at the village he claimed to love so fiercely.
"Was I wrong, old friend?" he whispered to the empty air.
Just then, a knock came at the door. "Hokage-sama," a voice called softly. It was Shikajin.
"Enter," Hiruzen said, quickly straightening his robes.
The young Nara stepped in, holding a stack of documents. "The council has requested approval for the new trade policy with the Land of Tea. They're waiting for your signature."
Hiruzen nodded absently. "Thank you, Shikajin. Leave it there."
As the boy turned to leave, Hiruzen spoke again. "Tell me, Shikajin… do you think this new council structure is effective?"
Shikajin hesitated, then replied carefully, "It has potential, Hokage-sama. But too many voices make decisions slow. Still, perhaps we should wait a few months before judging."
Hiruzen smiled faintly. "You speak honestly. That's good."
Shikajin left the room, leaving Hiruzen once again alone with his thoughts.
The Hokage looked out the window toward the Hokage Monument. The stone faces of Hashirama and Tobirama seemed to gaze down at him, their silent expressions a reminder of the weight he carried.
He remembered the time he first wore the hat of Hokage, full of confidence and ideals. He had wanted to lead with compassion, to honor the dreams of his teachers. But now, decades later, he wondered whether those dreams had blinded him to reality.
"If only you were here, sensei," he muttered, staring at Tobirama's carved face. "You always said the balance between light and shadow was essential… but what happens when the shadow refuses to return?"
His gaze shifted toward the village below, the rooftops, the training grounds, the busy streets filled with laughter. Somewhere out there, Jiraiya was probably scolding his students. Minato, Kushina and that girl, Maruku... they were the future of Konoha.
He wanted to believe they would bring peace, that they would inherit a better world than his. But deep down, doubt lingered.
Raiken recent report about the Zetsu cells had only deepened that unease. The discovery that the Uchiha could now wield Wood Release disturbed him more than he dared to admit. Power had a way of corrupting even the purest hearts, and he knew how fragile the line between justice and ambition could be.
Hiruzen leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Danzo… you were right about one thing. The world beyond these walls is not kind. But perhaps… neither am I anymore."
Author Notes: To read advanced chapter you can go to my patreon.
Chapter 98: Leaving A Seed
Chapter 99: Emergency
Chapter 100: Strongest Hokage
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