The implication of Hayami's subtly pointed reminder was quite obvious: the Senju who had previously supported Danzō were now starting to change their allegiance.
Danzō Shimura would eventually come calling because his foundation was crumbling and his old allies were faltering.
And he did, finally, in a courteous manner. Without his typical Root ANBU behind him, he arrived by himself.
The "Darkness of Konoha" knocked softly on the front door of the Senju home, appearing more like an elderly bureaucrat than the dreaded spymaster.
It was Grandma Momoka who responded. Danzō stood outside in a modest stance, bowing slightly.
"Pardon the intrusion, Lady Momoka."
Momoka silently studied him for a moment, evaluating him with her keen eyes. Then she moved out of the way. "Enter."
"Thank you."
Roshi heard footsteps in the courtyard and turned. "Advisor Shimura."
Danzō approached him slowly and said, "I used to think you were like Hiruzen, hesitant even on something as simple as a bandit suppression mission."
His tone was oddly calm, with no hint of coldness.
However, Danzō went on, "I realized that you and I are not that different after reading your mission report from Sunagakure."
He paused thoughtfully.
"This discussion ought to have happened sooner—shortly after your mission to Deai Port." His eyes darted to Momoka, who was standing silently close by. "However, Lady Momoka personally stepped in at the time. I therefore held back."
Roshi's eyes narrowed a little. That's what happened. Grandma had met Danzō on the day she left, in addition to Hayami and the others. It makes sense why there was no subsequent follow-up. It appeared that Grandma herself had blocked the issue, which he had previously believed had been suppressed by the Hokage or the Kumogakure incident.
Regarding Danzō's unusual courtesy, it wasn't particularly startling. He had once smiled to win over Kakashi, even in the original timeline, soon after the Fourth Hokage's passing.
Danzō sat down on a stone bench in the courtyard without being invited.
"Hiruzen is old," he said in a calm yet firm voice. "He sacrifices the Village's stability and dignity in order to maintain the illusion of enduring peace through compromise."
"You must have discussed the Hyūga affair with him. Better options were available."
Danzō's gaze awaited a response.
"Appeasement has no purpose. It only gives the enemy more confidence. Deterrence—power so strong that no one dares to oppose it—is the foundation of true peace."
He leaned a little forward. "You did a good job managing the Sunagakure situation. Phrases like "alliances" and "moral unity" are met with disdain from others."
"Instead of sentimental relics pursuing the ideals of a bygone era, Konoha needs people who are prepared to stand up for its interests."
His tone softened as he added, "There's room for cooperation between us." "We can avoid needless conflict—inside and out—for Konoha's future."
At last, Roshi said something. "What sort of collaboration is Advisor Shimura looking for? "
"Everything," Danzō said with ease. "We can start with maintaining the Village's internal stability," he said after a pause.
He folded his hands and looked intently. "The basis of external strength is internal order. Yet certain... elements persist—deep-rooted, corrosive, impossible to remove cleanly. They weaken Konoha from within."
His tone became softer. "I used to work for Lord Tobirama. I even had Kagami, a comrade from the Uchiha Clan. An extraordinary shinobi. According to Lord Tobirama, he was someone who went beyond the limited scope of his ancestry."
Danzō's gaze hardened. "However, such genius is short-lived. Kagami passed away too soon."
He made no mention of Kagami's cause of death, but it was obvious.
"The Uchiha Clan itself is that rot," Danzō said coldly. "A malignant growth festering inside Konoha's body. This Village—born from the Senju's sacrifice—is coveted by those who only resent, take, and conspire."
"They've never really fit in here. Hiruzen's indulgence has only produced a tiger that will eventually eat its caretaker."
He stood, his voice gaining weight. "You've seen the border. You've watched comrades die. You should understand—chronic decay must be cut out cleanly. A short, sharp pain is better than endless bleeding."
Danzō's one eye glinted. "The sharpest blade suitable for that task is now in your hands."
With the slightest fervor in his voice, he stepped closer. "With your courage, determination, and my resources and faith, we can stop innumerable tragedies in the future."
"Konoha can become great once more."
The atmosphere became tense. Roshi opened his mouth to speak, but was stopped by a slight cough.
"Danzō."
Momoka's voice was calm and steady, yet authoritative. "That's enough for today."
Danzō's fervor faded. He turned to her, and for a moment, the old shinobi seemed merely old—a relic dulled by time.
He bowed slightly. "As you desire. I will not impose any more.
He turned to Roshi and said calmly, "I'll wait for your response. Don't take too long.
Roshi might have taken those words seriously if they had come from someone else.
Maybe they would have even carried conviction if they had come from a younger Danzō.
However, like Hiruzen, Danzō was too old and unyielding to recognize it.
Roshi was aware that the man would not give up easily, though.
The remainder of that winter went by in silence. The ninja world was not shaken by any major upheavals. Although there were occasional border skirmishes, Konoha experienced a rare period of peace.
Roshi's days flowed naturally, with missions, training, and short breaks in between.
On the desks of the mission center, mission scrolls were piled high. In order to cover the Land of Fire and its surrounding areas, Team 5 worked diligently, leaving every few days to conduct reconnaissance, escort, suppression, and negotiation missions. No slack, no rest.
And they weren't alone. Every shinobi in Konoha was busy tying up the loose ends of the year's turmoil.
The "urgent" scrolls didn't start to fade until the final week of Konoha Year 54. As they prepared for a rare, quiet year-end, the entire village let out a collective sigh.
Roshi, Itachi, and Anko had a simple meal at Ichiraku Ramen on the last day of the year.
Curling into the winter air, steam rose from their bowls. The silence, laughter, and heat all seemed to be the turmoil of the previous year slowly dissipating into the night sky.
And the chilly wind brought nothing but silence as they parted ways in the last of the light.
Konoha Year 55 dawned quietly.
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