Aburame clan compound.
"I wonder how things are going right now."
Aburame Shibi was on edge. He picked up his teacup, then set it back down again.
Ten minutes earlier he'd received word that Tsunade had left the Hokage Building with an Anbu squad. No one knew where they were headed, but he could guess: Root.
"Dad, don't worry," Shino Aburame said, pushing his glasses up. "Tsunade-sama will pull it off."
If even Tsunade failed, there wouldn't be a second person in Konoha who could save Aburame Torune.
"Looks like I'm getting old—can't keep as calm as you," Shibi said with a wry smile.
"…"
Shino hesitated. Truth was, he was nervous too. He was just too young to grasp how ruthless Shimura Danzo and Root could be. All he could do was put his faith in the famous Tsunade-sama.
"Clan Head!"
A clan shinobi sprinted in. "Kitazawa is here—with Aburame Torune!"
"We did it!" Shibi exhaled in relief.
"Awesome!" Shino's composure cracked; he was openly thrilled. He could finally see his best friend Torune again.
"Come on, let's meet them at the gate," Shibi said, grinning at his excited son.
They hurried out toward the entrance.
"Not used to it, huh?" Kitazawa glanced at Torune.
"Mm." Torune nodded. If Anbu still got leave now and then, Root was the opposite—year-round, no breaks. He'd been in Root for nearly a year and hadn't returned to the Aburame compound once. Being back now felt surreal, like waking from a dream.
"It's okay. Give it a few days and it'll come back to you," Kitazawa said, patting his shoulder.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-san," Torune said gratefully. Kitazawa had introduced himself as Shino's teacher, so Torune followed suit.
"Kitazawa-san," he blurted after a beat, a tremor in his voice, "am I… going back to Root?"
He had no desire to return. In Root there was nothing but training and killing—a hell on earth. The teammate you drilled with yesterday might be the enemy you had to kill today.
"As long as Tsunade-sama's here, you won't be going back," Kitazawa said, certain.
"Torune!" Shino's shout carried from far off.
Kitazawa couldn't help smiling. In his mind Shino had always been unusually mature and steady; this, finally, fit his age.
"Shino!" Torune ran toward him.
"Kitazawa-san." After a quick glance at Torune, Shibi stepped up to Kitazawa and bowed slightly. "We owe you a great debt."
"The credit mainly belongs to Tsunade-sama," Kitazawa said modestly.
"Whether it's Tsunade-sama or you, Kitazawa-san, the Aburame are deeply indebted," Shibi said earnestly. "If you ever need anything, come to us. If it's within our power, we'll see it done."
"Deal," Kitazawa said with a smile. "Clan Head Shibi, don't blame me if I take you up on that."
"No need to stand on ceremony. We're family now," Shibi laughed.
As clan head, he had to think of the Aburame's future. At this point, Tsunade becoming Hokage looked like a foregone conclusion, and Kitazawa—being close to her—was someone worth befriending.
Besides, the Aburame had already received two major benefits: Torune's return, and the Blast Bugs. Would Danzo ever have given them these? He was more likely to treat their prodigies as expendable. To be frank, even Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't done this much for the Aburame.
"Now that Torune's back, what are your plans for him?" Kitazawa asked, glancing over at Torune and Shino chatting.
Shibi arched a brow. Normally, Kitazawa wouldn't need to ask.
"If you're willing, I'd like to transfer him to Year 1, Class A at the Academy," Shibi said after a moment's thought. Clearly, he'd caught the subtext—half of it, anyway.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Kitazawa said with a polite cough. "He's used to Root's training. Dropping him back into the Academy will make him feel out of place."
"You make a fair point," Shibi said, then asked directly, "How do you think we should arrange things for him?"
"Clan Head, you heard about Tsunade's earlier clash with Danzo, right? Over Yakushi Nono," Kitazawa said.
"I've heard a bit," Shibi nodded. That incident had convinced many clans and shinobi that Tsunade intended to stay in Konoha and vie for the Hokage's seat.
"Nono-senpai has an adopted son, Yakushi Kabuto. His experience is similar to Torune's," Kitazawa continued.
"I see," Shibi said, understanding dawning. So that's why Tsunade had fought with Danzo.
"There's a Chunin Exam next month," Kitazawa said, finally laying his cards on the table. "I'm planning to serve as a temporary team leader and enter with Kabuto—but we're still short one teammate."
"Then let Torune be the one," Shibi said without hesitation. "It'd be his good fortune to be your student."
Kitazawa was close to Tsunade; odds were high he'd become her disciple. If Torune could study under Kitazawa, it would be a rocket to the top—his record stamped with the Hokage's faction, even if Kitazawa called it "temporary."
"Thanks for the trust," Kitazawa said with a smile. "In a few days, send Torune to the Academy. I'll introduce him to Kabuto and give them some focused training."
"No problem," Shibi replied at once. "I'll have Shino bring him."
"Mm." Kitazawa nodded. "I'll leave you to your reunion. I'll get going."
"Won't you stay for a meal?" Shibi asked quickly.
"No need—I still have things to do," Kitazawa said, declining with a nod before turning to leave.
"Tsunade-sama really is something," Shibi said with feeling as he watched Kitazawa's back. The clan had gained so much for so little. The last Hokage who treated them this well was Minato Namikaze—tragically gone too soon. Now, with another chance before the Aburame, he couldn't afford to miss it.
Kitazawa returned home without incident, but the village was buzzing over Tsunade. Last time, the dust-up over Yakushi Kabuto had happened in the Land of Earth; few had seen it.
This time, she had stormed Root's base—right there in the Forest of Death, only minutes from Konoha. With Root and Anbu clashing, the commotion was so big a single sensory ninjutsu could tell you something had gone down.
…
Konoha Police Force HQ.
"Clan Head," said Uchiha Yashiro, voice low. "That's how it happened."
"That really is a big event," Fugaku Uchiha exhaled.
Tsunade had led Anbu to forcibly enter Root's base—then fought them. It had been a long time since Konoha saw fireworks like that.
"Serves them right!" Uchiha Tekka said, delighted. "Danzo and Root are always targeting us—this is karma!"
"Don't be so brash," Yashiro snapped, shooting him a glare. He was pleased to see Danzo take a hit too, but unlike Tekka he didn't show it on his face. Still, he understood—what's youth without fire?
"I'm just saying," Tekka muttered, shrinking his neck. "Itachi personally beat down Root shinobi!"
At that, envy crept into his tone. If he could, he'd have stormed Root himself to vent years of frustration.
"Yashiro, keep the clan in line," Fugaku said after thinking it over. "No one acts on their own because of this."
Danzo might have taken a loss, but that was all. Root still existed; the Uchiha couldn't get complacent. Most importantly, Itachi had been involved. Fugaku worried some of the younger hotheads might try to imitate him.
"Understood, Clan Head," Yashiro said at once.
"I'm going home," Fugaku said, standing.
From Yashiro's report, he'd caught an unexpected name: Kitazawa. In what capacity had Kitazawa been involved? As an Academy instructor, he shouldn't have been there. If he was, that meant his ties to Tsunade were tighter than Fugaku had thought—he might already be her student, just not publicly announced yet.
It was a touchy moment; Fugaku couldn't approach Kitazawa directly. He'd take another route—through his son, Sasuke Uchiha. He also needed to find Itachi and confirm the details—Yashiro's intel might have missed something important.
It was Sunday. With no classes, Sasuke was in the courtyard practicing the genjutsu Itachi had taught him: Genjutsu—Unknown Fire.
"Dad?" Sasuke turned at the sound of footsteps—and froze.
"Hasn't Itachi come back yet?" Fugaku asked, seeing him alone.
"No," Sasuke said, puzzled. "What brings you home now?"
"I've got something to ask." Fugaku paused. "How are you and Kitazawa getting along?"
"Getting along?" Sasuke blinked, thinking it over. "Pretty well, I guess."
"If you get the chance, try to spend more time with him," Fugaku suggested.
"Okay." Sasuke didn't quite get it, but he agreed. Kitazawa had helped him a lot.
"Kitazawa-sensei's birthday is next month," Sasuke added suddenly. "I was thinking of giving him a ninjutsu as a present."
"He likes ninjutsu?" Fugaku asked, mulling it over.
"I've given him a few Fire Release jutsu before. He seemed happy to accept them, so… probably," Sasuke said, uncertain.
"All right," Fugaku nodded. "I'll pick a technique and you can give it to him."
As the Uchiha clan's second son, Sasuke could only gift a B-rank at best. Fugaku planned to send Kitazawa an A-rank. Being Hokage isn't just about fighting—it's relationships. Under Danzo and Root's pressure, the Uchiha had barely been able to cultivate those.
Add to that their innate pride; asking them to befriend weaker clans and shinobi was a nonstarter. But with Tsunade? That was different. As they say: of all people not to cross, don't cross a medical ninja—especially the best. And Tsunade's status and strength were beyond question.
"Great!" Sasuke had been fretting over what to give. With his father's help, the problem was solved.
"Keep training. I'm going to find Itachi," Fugaku said, ruffling his hair.
…
Hokage's office.
After Tsunade left, Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a long breath. She might be his student, but her temper was something else—and this time, he didn't have the moral high ground to lecture her.
"Hokage-sama," Haru said as she entered. "Danzo-sama will be here any moment."
"One headache after another," Hiruzen muttered. Still, the meeting had to happen.
"Hiruzen!" Danzo strode in and launched straight into a complaint. "Tsunade went way over the line this time!"
"How so?" Hiruzen asked coolly.
"She forced her way into Root and injured Root personnel. Isn't that excessive?" Danzo's tone was heavy with indignation.
"It was your Root personnel who ignored the Hokage's writ I gave her," Hiruzen shot back. "Is Root yours—or Konoha's?"
"Konoha's, of course," Danzo said gravely. "Everything I do is for the village."
"I've heard that line more times than I can count," Hiruzen said with a glance.
"If you wanted Aburame Torune, you should've said so," Danzo pivoted. "Tsunade clearly used this as a pretext to target me."
"And if I said I wanted him, you would've handed him over?" Hiruzen snorted. "Root has done a lot of things it shouldn't have."
"If you want him, I'll give him," Danzo pressed. "Everything Root does is for Konoha."
"Enough. I know you too well," Hiruzen said evenly. "I've already spoken with Tsunade: everyone you recruited in violation of regulations is to be returned."
"What? Impossible!" Danzo's face twisted with anger and shock. "Without them, is Root even Root?"
"Don't forget Root's original roster was seventeen people. Look at how many you've recruited now," Hiruzen said without hesitation. "There's no room to negotiate. Go carry it out."
"Hiruzen!" Danzo snapped. "Where there's light, there must be shadow. Root is essential!"
"I'm telling you to return the irregular recruits, not dissolve Root," Hiruzen said, voice turning cold. "Or do you want me to order Root disbanded?"
"…" Danzo stared, shaken. He couldn't believe Hiruzen would say such a thing. You've changed—become a stranger.
"You'll regret this," Danzo ground out. He didn't dare push further. He knew Hiruzen: after a statement like that, there'd be no walking it back.
"I'm the Hokage, Danzo," Hiruzen said, meeting his eyes.
Bang.
Danzo slammed the door and stormed out. He knew there was no point continuing—the order to cut Root's numbers was final. With that, Root's power would be chopped by at least half.
"Haru, bill Danzo for a new door," Hiruzen said, staring at the empty doorway.
…
Anbu base near the Hokage Building.
Uchiha Itachi stood at the window, watching Konoha in its bustling peace. After a long while, he sighed. Today he'd finally had a chance to be near Danzo—and what he sensed confirmed it: Shisui's eye was in Danzo's socket.
Danzo wasn't an Uchiha; he couldn't "close" a Mangekyō Sharingan. At close range, the anomaly was obvious—especially when Itachi held Shisui's other eye himself.
He couldn't take revenge, though. Doing so would blow the Uchiha–Konoha conflict sky high. Even so, he saw a glimmer of hope: Tsunade as the next Hokage. With her hatred of Danzo, maybe the clan could reclaim Shisui's Mangekyō.
A familiar presence approached; Itachi turned toward the door.
"Itachi," Fugaku said as he entered.
"Father," Itachi said, surprised—but he quickly guessed why he'd come.
"Why did Tsunade bring you to Root?" Fugaku asked directly. He knew his son was sharp; no need for games.
"Because last time, Kakashi-senpai and I accompanied her to Kusagakure," Itachi said. "I suppose Tsunade-sama felt our strength was up to the task."
"I see," Fugaku said. He'd thought it might have been ordered by Hiruzen. If it had, the implications would be… interesting.
"If there are more of Tsunade's missions, try to get on them," Fugaku said after a pause.
"Understood." Itachi hesitated, then added, "One more thing," and relayed Hiruzen's decision on Root.
"What?" Fugaku was stunned. He'd assumed the matter was over, but this twist was explosive—the biggest setback Root had suffered since its founding. Halving their numbers was a massive blow. On the flip side, the pressure on the Uchiha would ease considerably.
A new balance was forming in Konoha.
~~~
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