Sarutobi Hiruzen lifted his eyes slowly, studying Shimura Danzō's expression—the man's face looked as dark as iron, stiff with barely controlled anger.
Hiruzen set his pipe gently onto the table. Then he picked up one of the documents that had been thrown down earlier, reading it with a thoughtful expression.
Finally, he let out a long sigh.
"Danzō, you're getting old. Why don't you rest for a while?"
A pause.
"…How about half a year?"
Before anyone could react, Hiruzen reached into his pocket and pulled out several folded ticket slips.
"I happen to have some hot spring tickets from the Land of Hot Water. Take them, relax a little," he said with a smile.
They were a gift from Jiraiya—not that Hiruzen ever used them. Every time he looked at them, he just wanted to hit Jiraiya over the head. I am Hokage. How can I go relax in a hot spring like a wandering writer?
So today, he simply "offered the flowers to the Buddha" by handing them to Danzō.
Danzō's face darkened even more… like storm clouds before rain.
Rest for half a year?
That meant he couldn't participate in village decisions.
It meant he couldn't command Root.
It meant six months of political silence.
And all that influence?
It would naturally shift to the Uchiha clan.
If the Uchiha were capable of taking it.
Danzō stood silently. There was no point in arguing. Hiruzen had decided—this was punishment. And losers must accept the terms of defeat.
He inhaled sharply, glared at Hiruzen one last time, and walked to the door. Before stepping out, he left a final, icy sentence:
"Hiruzen… you will regret this."
The door slammed.
Hiruzen said nothing. He lifted his pipe again and smoked in silence. Only after several breaths did he murmur:
"That's enough for today. This meeting is dismissed."
The clan heads and elders exchanged uncertain looks before slowly shuffling out of the office.
Left alone, Hiruzen walked toward the window and looked out at the village rooftops swaying under the sunlight.
"That kid is really strong…" he whispered.
Strong enough to play Shimura Danzō in the palm of his hand.
"He subdued Mizuki first… then turned Mizuki into Root's undercover agent.
Then, at the final moment, he used that very agent to reverse the entire situation…
And raised the Uchiha clan's reputation to its peak."
"Everything he did was to splash mud on Root."
Thinking back on the reports Anbu delivered earlier, Hiruzen felt a chill.
Uchiha Souji was dangerous. Extremely dangerous.
If someone like him didn't have the Will of Fire, Hiruzen would've already planned to eliminate him.
Just then—
"Lord Hokage. Uchiha Souji has returned with Mizuki."
A masked white-haired Anbu appeared behind him.
Hiruzen nodded. Good. It confirmed what he hoped: Souji valued his comrades.
Under normal circumstances, Mizuki would now be considered a rebel. Souji had every reason to abandon such a man. Yet he carried him back alive.
That spoke volumes.
Hiruzen stroked his beard, thoughtful.
Then he turned to the white-haired Anbu.
"Kakashi," he said, "are you interested in leaving Anbu? How many years have you been in there now?"
Kakashi froze.
He knew exactly what this conversation was about.
"Lord Hokage… do you mean Uchiha Souji?"
Hiruzen nodded.
Souji had shown strength, intelligence, emotional control, loyalty, and a frightening strategic mind. If someone like him aligned with the Uchiha's extremist faction…
It would be another Madara.
Perhaps worse.
A nightmare Konoha could not accept.
But if Souji became Hokage's own disciple—
If he walked the Hokage path—
He could become a stabilizing force for the Uchiha.
A bridge.
A protector.
And maybe even a future candidate for Hokage himself.
Yes. A candidate.
Few ever gained that qualification. In theory anyone could run for Hokage. In reality? Only direct students of the Hokage line ever received the title:
1st Hokage → 2nd Hokage (his younger brother)
2nd Hokage → 3rd Hokage (his disciple)
3rd Hokage → 4th & 5th Hokage (his students)
4th Hokage → 6th Hokage (his student)
6th Hokage → 7th Hokage (his student)
And right now?
Hiruzen was old.
Jiraiya had no interest in taking apprentices.
He didn't practice swordsmanship anyway.
Kakashi, however, was perfect.
And if Souji entered the Hokage lineage through Kakashi…
The entire village would become more stable.
Kakashi lowered his gaze, thinking deeply.
Finally, he nodded.
"He said he wants to graduate from the academy normally.
Then I'll leave Anbu after he finishes school."
"I'll become a Jōnin instructor at that time…"
A pause.
"But Naruto will be graduating then too…"
Hiruzen frowned briefly. Then he waved it off.
"I understand. I planned to free you from Anbu soon anyway."
Kakashi bowed slightly and left, feeling strangely excited.
Hiruzen watched him go, then turned his gaze once more toward the Uchiha district.
"Little brat… I hope you truly bring change to this aging Konoha."
---
Meanwhile…
Two figures walked side by side through the village—the heads of the Hyuga clan: Hiashi and his younger twin Hizashi.
"Brother," Hizashi said, "Danzō really took a hit today."
Hiashi nodded, expression calm but eyes sharp.
"That boy, Uchiha Souji… he's no ordinary child."
"He played Danzō like a drum.
Forced his spies into his own hands.
And manipulated the entire conflict to elevate the Uchiha clan."
"His charisma is frightening."
Hizashi frowned. "Isn't that a bit exaggerated? He's just a lucky kid—"
"Shut up!"
Hiashi's sudden shout made Hizashi flinch.
"Underestimating someone like that will get you killed. His mind is sharper than yours or mine."
Hiashi continued:
"First, he created a plan to lower his visibility and avoid being targeted—while raising Uchiha prestige.
Then, when Danzō joined the plan, he flipped the board and dragged Root down with him."
"He pushed all blame onto Danzō, strengthened his own influence, elevated the Uchiha clan's reputation… and placed himself on a moral pedestal."
"You think someone who did all this was just lucky?"
Hiashi glared at his brother.
"If you were half as lucky, would you be helping the Hyuga clan rise?"
Hizashi went silent… then muttered softly:
"What a monster…"
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