Something big had happened.
Staring into the crystal orb, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt sweat beading on his forehead.
The Jinchuriki… had mastered space-time ninjutsu?
He could already envision Naruto flickering across the village here unleashing a Rasengan, there launching a Tailed Beast Bomb.
As for what kind of space-time jutsu it was
Did he even need to ask?
The son of Minato Namikaze. What other technique could it be?
The boy… had actually mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique?
Hiruzen didn't doubt Naruto's words. From a chakra control perspective, being able to form a Rasengan with one hand already meant the boy had the aptitude to perform the Flying Thunder God.
And as the son of Minato, inheriting talent for space-time techniques wasn't the least bit surprising.
But what chilled Hiruzen to the core was the possibility that, just as he suspected, the Fourth Hokage and Kushina had left chakra inside Naruto.
If that were true, did it mean Minato disapproved of how the village had treated his son? Was that why he had passed down the Flying Thunder God to serve as a warning?
"Someone, come!"
"Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen put away the crystal ball. His voice was low and grave. "Notify Jiraiya immediately. There has been a development with the Jinchuriki. He must return to the village at once."
"Yes, sir!"
The ANBU disappeared in a flash. Alone in his office, Hiruzen sighed deeply, finally giving up the idea of trying to approach Naruto.
He had watched the boy for long enough to know better than to treat him as just an ordinary five-year-old child.
Now that Naruto had mastered the Flying Thunder God, anything Hiruzen said would come across as weak and hypocritical a desperate attempt to cover up past mistakes.
And he was almost certain now: Minato and Kushina had indeed left behind chakra to guide Naruto's growth.
All he could hope for now was that Minato, out of respect for Jiraiya, would continue to influence Naruto in a way that benefitted the village…
Just as Hiruzen was mired in troubled thoughts, the door to his office suddenly swung open. A shadowy figure appeared at the threshold, exuding a heavy, oppressive aura.
Hiruzen's brows immediately furrowed.
"Danzo? What are you doing here?"
"I heard there's been a change with the Jinchuriki."
"And what does that have to do with you?"
Danzo Shimura didn't flinch at the rebuke. He tapped along with his cane and slowly walked forward, face emotionless.
Leader of Root. Known in whispers as the Shadow of the Shinobi World.
He'd done more than his fair share of dirty work for the village over the years. A little scolding was nothing to him.
"The Jinchuriki is a matter of grave importance. As a member of the Elder Council, I have the right "
"You don't."
Hiruzen slowly lifted his gaze, the usual softness gone from his eyes. What replaced it was a steely glint sharp and dangerous.
"Danzo, don't you think your hands are reaching too far?"
"Hiruzen, you"
Danzo froze as he met Hiruzen's gaze.
It had been years since he'd seen this look in Hiruzen's eyes the same look from decades ago, when Hiruzen's power was so great that Danzo had no choice but to set aside any ambition he might have had.
Now that look had returned, and it shook him to his core.
"This is my final warning, Danzo. Don't touch what isn't yours."
Hiruzen's voice was calm but ice-cold. He knew Danzo all too well they'd been comrades for too long.
A man who once tried to assassinate the Hokage now had the audacity to demand control over the Jinchuriki?
He wanted to take the knife from the one who held it… not realizing the blade was never his to begin with?
Was this man still so naive?
"And one more thing. Naruto has inherited the Fourth's Flying Thunder God."
"…Flying Thunder God?"
Danzo's face darkened again. "How could such a jutsu be taught to a Jinchuriki"
"Minato left his chakra inside Naruto."
Hiruzen didn't even look up as he added flatly, "I'm sure you know exactly who he meant to guard against."
Laying the blame squarely at Danzo's feet brought Hiruzen a strange sense of satisfaction.
Danzo's expression soured like he'd just swallowed a fly. "That man… how could he…"
"Did he need your permission?"
Hiruzen's tone dropped like a stone. "Are you really going to accuse a Hokage who gave his life for the village?"
Hiruzen knew Danzo's ambitions better than anyone. He'd always dreamed of being Hokage and when the Second passed the title to Hiruzen instead, a part of Danzo had never recovered.
Out of guilt for dashing his old friend's dreams, Hiruzen had once entrusted Danzo with powers usually reserved for the Hokage himself.
But Danzo had only grown more brazen. Now he dared to barge into the Hokage's office and speak ill of a fallen hero?
Did this man understand nothing about the politics at play?
Hiruzen's patience was wearing thin.
"I didn't mean it like that!" Danzo quickly backpedaled.
The office might look empty, but they both knew it wasn't. Hidden ANBU watched from every corner many of them loyal to the Fourth Hokage.
If Danzo's words were heard and twisted into rumors, they could spark public outrage.
You could criticize a living Hokage. But a hero who had died to protect the village?
That was sacrosanct.
"I'm telling you, Danzo this is the critical moment to forge a bond between Naruto and the village. I've already warned you."
Hiruzen's voice was calm again, but beneath it ran a steel thread of unyielding authority.
Danzo clenched his jaw. "And what if that bond fails?"
"Then it's still none of your concern. I've already summoned Jiraiya."
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened. "And one more thing your little schemes against the Uchiha? Cut it out. My patience is running thin."
Danzo's face darkened again. "The Uchiha are ambitious. The Nine-Tails' attack"
"I've already told you without solid evidence, do not accuse our own."
Hiruzen shook his head. He did have his suspicions about the Uchiha. But that wasn't something to say aloud.
And so far, their reaction in the wake of the Nine-Tails' attack though extreme suggested they were not responsible.
What he wanted was to neutralize the Uchiha hardliners and bring the clan into the village's fold.
Not destroy them entirely.
Danzo's methods, in Hiruzen's eyes, were far too aggressive.
Now, having been shot down completely and twice humiliated with warnings Danzo finally lost control.
"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
"Perhaps."
Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe, his eyes like sharpened blades.
"But until that day, Danzo remember this. I am the Hokage."
Danzo's expression twitched. That line hit him in the one place it hurt most.
He let out a cold snort and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Outside the office, one of the ANBU crouching in the treetops scratched his ear.
All this shouting…
His ears were starting to develop calluses.