The name echoed in the Hokage's office, and a suffocating silence fell over the room. Lord Yueyan. Just two words, but they carried enough weight to freeze the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in place. The fury he felt just moments ago was instantly replaced by a deep, primal fear. The younger ninja in the room felt a chill, having grown up hearing whispered legends of the god-like being who once ruled the shadows of their world.
But Hiruzen had lived through that era. He knew the legends were not just stories. He knew the true terror that the name Yueyan represented, which was precisely why the Five Great Nations had entered an unspoken pact to erase him from history. Yueyan was not just a powerful shinobi; he was a force of nature, an entity so far above everyone else that the only proper response was to bow in submission.
What is happening? Hiruzen's mind raced, trying to process the impossible. "Decades ago, Yueyan and his Twelve Divine Moons vanished without a trace. Their disappearance was as sudden and mysterious as their arrival."
He had always prided himself on being the strongest Hokage, but he knew it was a hollow boast. He couldn't compare to the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi who could tame the Tailed Beasts. He lacked the raw creativity and speed of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. He didn't have the world-changing power of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash.
While they had built Konoha and defended it with legendary strength, Hiruzen's legacy was one of political maneuvering and internal strife. The Sannin had fractured under his leadership, the White Fang had died in disgrace, and both the Senju and Uchiha clans had withered away. He was a master of conspiracy, but conspiracy was useless against a true god. And Yueyan was the closest thing to a god the shinobi world had ever known—a being who could have easily crushed both Hashirama and Madara Uchiha at the height of their power. Even now, in his prime, Hiruzen felt a familiar dread coiling in his stomach at the thought of facing him again.
Bang!
The office door was thrown open, and a short, bandaged figure stormed in. It was Shimura Danzo, the darkness that festered at the root of Konoha. He was a man so synonymous with conspiracy that if a tragedy occurred and no culprit could be found, the entire shinobi world would simply agree that Danzo was behind it.
"Danzo, why are you here?" Hiruzen asked, his voice tight with irritation at the blatant disrespect. No matter their history, he was still the Hokage.
"Why am I here? Don't pretend you don't know, Hiruzen," Danzo shot back, his one visible eye burning with cold fury. "I told you we needed to eliminate the Uchiha clan. I said they were an unstable element that threatened the entire village. Now, look what's happened."
His face contorted into a snarl. "They are a clan of traitors, deserving of death! Our spy, Itachi, has gone missing. We lost our chance with Shisui and his Mangekyo Sharingan. The Uchiha are out of control!"
He stepped closer to the desk, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl. "I don't care if this Yueyan has truly returned or not. This is our chance. The village is in a state of emergency. We must act against the Uchiha immediately, while we have the justification."
He fixed his gaze on Hiruzen, a silent challenge passing between them. Danzo had always seen himself as the true protector of Konoha, the one willing to make the hard, bloody sacrifices that Hiruzen was too soft for. If Hiruzen was the light of the village, he and his Root organization were the darkness that allowed that light to exist. He had bled for Konoha, and he believed he was owed the power to lead it.
"This matter requires careful consideration, Danzo," Hiruzen said finally, his tone heavy. The threat of Yueyan was too great to make any rash decisions.
"Sarutobi!" Danzo's face turned ugly with rage. "This is our best and perhaps only chance! We have to move now!"
"Danzo!" Hiruzen's voice cut through the air like a whip. He stood up, his presence filling the room with the authority he rarely used. "I am the Hokage."
For a moment, Danzo's face went blank with shock, then it hardened into a mask of pure fury. "You will regret this," he hissed.
He turned on his heel, strode to the door, and slammed it shut behind him with a resounding bang that echoed the coming storm.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse