"Ow, ow, ow—damn, that hurts... I need a medical-nin..."
Takeshi lay sprawled on the ground, muttering under his breath about Uchiha Hikari's rough handling.
For some reason, the arrow wound that pierced his knee showed no sign of self-healing, and Takeshi was starting to suspect that the Isobu inside him had simply gone on strike.
Uchiha Inaho, who had lost both arms, and Hakuyun Sōken, who had lost his lower legs, exchanged glances. The best medical-nin on the scene was clearly none other than the Fifth Hokage himself.
"Ahem. You two, come over here. I'll give you some emergency treatment first."
Seeing their stares, Takeshi couldn't keep playing dumb any longer. He dragged himself over to the two of them.
From afar, the three of them looked like a squad of crippled beggars huddled together, plotting how to beg for alms from passersby.
"Sigh..."
After confirming that their wounds weren't too serious, Takeshi let out a long sigh.
Hakuyun Sōken, whose pain had subsided somewhat, played along with the mood.
"Fifth-sama, why the sigh?"
"Even a heartless person like Uchiha Hikari knew to throw herself in front of me when I was in danger... but that damned old man of mine—he's got Izanagi, and still didn't think to block a single arrow for his own son!"
Through the communicator, Takeshi had heard everything about what Danzō had done. He'd thought the old man had finally turned over a new leaf—but no, in front of everyone, he'd actually snatched Yōwan's Mangekyō for himself.
Worse yet, the bastard clearly had Izanagi, the ultimate resurrection technique, yet didn't even consider using it to shield his son. Absolutely absurd!
"When I'm stronger, I'll make him pay for that!"
Takeshi fumed and punched the ground in anger.
"Give it some time, and I'll strip him of his position as head of ANBU Training Division too. I'll make sure he can't even keep his jōnin rank..."
Uchiha Inaho was listening intently from the side.
He remembered how, in his youth, his clan head had also held serious grudges against Danzō. He used to rant about Danzō's disgusting habits—peeing wherever he pleased, never washing his hands—and swore that once he led the Uchiha to greatness, he'd personally drag the old bastard's head through the village in shame.
Well, the Uchiha clan had become strong now... just not in the way anyone expected.
And it was all thanks to Danzō's own son.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Inaho's mouth, but before he could lose himself in nostalgia, a familiar figure appeared in his line of sight.
"Ahem."
The moment he recognized who it was, Uchiha Inaho quickly coughed twice in panic.
"Why settle for a jōnin rank when such greatness deserves better? Surely Danzō-sama's contributions warrant the title of Supreme Jōnin!"
Takeshi immediately caught on and spoke without missing a beat.
A wise man knows when to adapt.
He didn't need anyone to tell him—someone dangerous had just arrived behind him.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Danzō's voice was cold. His gaze fixed on Takeshi's wound.
So, the brat actually needed bandages? That meant even as a Jinchūriki, his wound wasn't healing on its own.
"Y-yeah, that's right, old man, don't worry..."
Takeshi tried to mumble out a few excuses, but Danzō had no patience for such nonsense. He skipped straight to the point.
"The arrow?"
"Uchiha Hikari went to retrieve it," Takeshi replied honestly.
"Once it's found, send it to Orochimaru."
Uchiha Hikari again. Just hearing that surname soured Danzō's mood.
His tone grew even sharper.
"Is this the best a Uchiha jōnin can do? As Hokage's guards, your duty is to ensure the Hokage never gets injured."
The one being scolded was Inaho.
Danzō had at least enough self-awareness to avoid tangling directly with Hikari. He knew better than to provoke someone of her caliber.
After all, she was a monster beyond reason.
"It's my failure, Danzō-sama..."
Though Inaho felt humiliated, he still admitted his mistake.
He didn't really have a choice—his strength was, frankly, pitiful.
Among all the shinobi present, he and Hakuyun Sōken were the weakest.
He'd only become Takeshi's guard recently, after Terauchi—the previous guard—was killed in action. Takeshi had recruited him as a temporary replacement.
And now, barely on the job, he'd lost both arms.
With no wife at home, how was he supposed to face those long, lonely nights from now on...?
"And you," Danzō continued, turning his glare toward Takeshi, who was still lying on the ground.
"As Hokage, to be injured by a petty sneak attack like this—after all your past failures—I'm deeply disappointed in you..."
"I was wrong... I'll start retraining with you as soon as we return..."
Takeshi didn't need to guess what that meant—once they got back, he'd be on the receiving end of Danzō's Wind Release whip again.
Might as well volunteer before being forced—it made him look more sincere.
"Good—"
Danzō almost agreed automatically, but then noticed the ice beneath his feet starting to melt away.
Hmm. This brat's power might already surpass his own...
Danzō pondered for a moment. Even if Takeshi wasn't serious, he likely couldn't beat him anymore. Weighing his options, Danzō decided against pushing further.
"It's enough that you understand. Train harder on your own when we return."
Danzō dropped the matter, then casually threw out a much heavier revelation.
"The Daimyō has abdicated."
----------------
Fanfic is finished on Patreon (445 chapters in total.)
Patreon(.)com/Jixo (for only $4.50, read this entire fanfic)