Chapter 7 — Danzo Makes His Move
Stopping in his tracks, Danzō had no intention of knocking. He simply reached out and shoved the door open, entering the Hokage's office in a nearly brutish manner.
Seeing Hiruzen hurriedly using his body to block the glowing crystal ball on the desk, the muscles on Danzō's face twitched slightly, and a trace of disdain flickered in his eye.
Hiruzen, you're old. It's time to step down and give way to someone more capable.
Only under my leadership can Konoha rise to greatness once more!
"What are you here for?"
After the light from the crystal ball faded, Hiruzen regained the dignity of the Third Hokage and sat in his chair, looking at his old comrade.
"Hiruzen, I heard that unidentified intruders attempted to abduct the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and the last survivor of the Uchiha clan. Such important information—why was it concealed from the Council of Elders?"
Danzō stared sharply at Hiruzen, his tone pressing and aggressive, showing not the slightest reverence for the Hokage.
"They were merely overconfident spies. The matter has already been thoroughly resolved."
Hiruzen's gaze rested calmly on the documents atop his desk, his voice even and unruffled.
Although Hiruzen had issued a gag order, quite a few ninja had rushed over after Kakashi's warning that day. It was hardly surprising that Danzō—who secretly controlled Root—had learned of it.
"Hiruzen, you're still so naive. I've said it before: as long as you hand over the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and the Uchiha orphan to me, the village will gain powerful guardians—instead of letting them play at being ninja!"
Shimura Danzō struck his cane heavily against the floor twice, venting his anger.
"Danzō, don't forget—I am the Hokage!"
From beginning to end, Hiruzen never once lifted his head to look at Danzō, repeating the familiar words as always.
"You'll regret this!"
The door slammed loudly, and Danzō's footsteps gradually faded away.
"Order the Anbu to strengthen protection around Naruto and Sasuke."
Closing the file on his desk, Hiruzen suddenly spoke.
Knowing Danzō's character all too well, Hiruzen understood that he would never give up easily. Yet for certain unspoken reasons, Hiruzen was unwilling to completely tear their bond apart. In the end, he could only adopt a compromise.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
A voice sounded from the shadows, followed by the faint rush of fabric cutting through the air. Hiruzen felt slightly reassured, though a sharp glint flashed across his cloudy eyes.
Perhaps it was time to confirm the candidate for the Fifth Hokage. Only then could Danzō's unrealistic ambitions be severed completely.
But with Konoha's current lack of capable successors, even if he were willing to relinquish power, who could shoulder the burden of Hokage?
—————
After leaving the Hokage Tower, Danzō suddenly stopped and glanced back in the direction of the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen, do you think that in your old age, you can still dominate Konoha with one hand?
Even if you refuse to speak, do you think I have no way of learning what truly happened yesterday?
Since you won't gracefully hand over the Hokage's seat, don't blame me for disregarding our old comradeship. You've occupied that position for so many years—it's time it was my turn.
If you hadn't been one second faster back then, the seat of Hokage would have been mine!
—————
Night had deepened. Several figures flashed through the shadows of Konoha's rooftops at astonishing speed.
This is the place.
Beside a three-story house, four figures stood atop the treetops. Their attire closely resembled that of the Anbu, though their masks varied and were not limited to animal designs.
Though officially disbanded by Hiruzen, Root still had many loyal veterans devoted to the leader hidden in the darkness. Even if Danzō ordered them to assassinate the Hokage, they would execute it without hesitation.
With a few hand signals from the squad leader at the front, the four shadows rushed simultaneously into the house ahead.
In less than a minute, the four figures shot back out. The squad leader had a pink-haired girl tucked under his arm—it was Haruno Sakura.
An hour later, deep underground within Root's base, Danzō stared at the incomplete report before him, the exposed eye gleaming with excitement.
The mysterious person was targeting Uchiha Sasuke?
The individual is suspected of possessing the ability to foresee the future—perhaps even display fragments of future events?
Kakashi would become the Sixth Hokage?
Hahaha—just as I expected. Looking across Konoha today, who but I could be the Fifth Hokage!
Though it was unclear whether the opponent's foresight was a ninjutsu or a kekkei genkai, such power must be held within Root to ensure peace of mind!
"Lord Danzō, how should we deal with that genin?"
Seeing Danzō silent for so long, his expression constantly shifting, the squad leader finally asked.
"She survived after Fū used the Yamanaka clan's secret technique to read her memories?"
Interrupted from his thoughts, Danzō's face darkened before he reacted and asked.
"Under normal circumstances, she shouldn't awaken again. However, Lord Fū said she seems to possess two personalities. After her memories were read, she didn't die."
Danzō frowned slightly, then waved his hand.
"Then send her back. No need to give Hiruzen a reason to make a fuss."
The life of a mere genin meant nothing in Danzō's eyes. His tone shifted at once as he added:
"Have Fū produce a portrait of the mysterious man who calls himself a Miracle Invoker. Then intensify surveillance inside and outside Konoha. The moment he appears again, bring him to me at all costs. Under no circumstances are Hiruzen's people to make contact with him first."
The ability to foresee the future was exceedingly rare, but not unheard of in the ninja world. It was said that the successive shrine maidens of the Land of Demons possessed the unique power to predict others' deaths. Thus, Danzō firmly believed it.
This kind of power—capable of altering the very structure of the ninja world—must be controlled. The First Hokage failed to realize his dream of unifying the world. That ambition will be fulfilled by me—Fifth Hokage Danzō!
—————
The next morning, Asuma carried a bag of steaming breakfast toward the place where Kurenai lived.
"Kakashi? Did the sun rise from the west today? To see you up this early."
Turning the corner, Asuma spotted the slow-moving figure ahead and burst into laughter.
"Every now and then, even I get up early… And you? Delivering breakfast to Kurenai again?"
Kakashi slowly turned his head, his dead-fish eyes landing on Asuma as he shot back teasingly.
"Just happened to be on the way…"
In truth, Asuma and Kurenai's relationship was no secret among the jōnin. Yet being teased by Kakashi about it still made Asuma blush.
"Tell Kurenai I've unexpectedly found a genin with decent genjutsu talent. See if she's interested in giving him some guidance."
Handing over a sheet of paper containing Tetsuya's information, Kakashi's smile faded slightly as he spoke with a hint of seriousness.
"Kakashi, he's just a genin. You've copied over a thousand jutsu—why don't you teach him yourself? Kurenai's already the captain of Team Eight. She's busy too!"
Asuma glanced at the information and retorted irritably. When Kakashi let go, he didn't even take the paper, allowing it to drift to the ground.
"Hasn't Kurenai been complaining that this year's batch lacks promising genjutsu talents? The capable should shoulder more work. I'm only making a suggestion—whether she does it is up to her… I'm off."
Kakashi waved lazily and strolled down another road.
"That Kakashi…"
After hesitating for a moment, Asuma bent down and picked up the paper.
For Kakashi to personally recommend someone was rare. Perhaps this genin truly had something worth noticing?