Returning to Konoha together, carrying the bodies of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina while the newborn Naruto lay wrapped in cloth within the Third Hokage's arms, the group slowly passed through the village gates.
The once-proud Konoha now looked devastated.
Collapsed buildings, shattered walls, broken rooftops, and burning debris could be seen everywhere. The smell of smoke lingered heavily in the air, mixed with the faint scent of blood. Shinobi moved hurriedly through the streets, carrying the wounded, searching for survivors, or trying to extinguish the remaining fires.
The Nine-Tails' rampage had left a deep scar across the village.
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped through the gates, his expression weary and his mind burdened by countless responsibilities, a familiar figure appeared before them.
Shimura Danzo.
Danzo stood in the middle of the road, his face solemn and unreadable. Behind him stood several Root operatives, silent as shadows.
"Hiruzen," Danzo spoke coldly, his gaze falling directly upon the infant in the Third Hokage's arms. "That child is the new Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, isn't he?"
His tone carried no warmth.
"Hand him over to me immediately. Root will train him properly."
The surrounding shinobi froze.
Hiruzen felt an immediate surge of irritation rise within his chest.
The Nine-Tails catastrophe had just ended. The village was still in chaos, the dead had not even been properly counted, and the bodies of Minato and Kushina had barely cooled.
Yet Danzo had already appeared to claim the Jinchūriki.
The Third Hokage understood the reasoning behind Danzo's proposal.
In every ninja village, tailed beasts were weapons of war, living forces of destruction comparable to the ultimate strategic deterrents.
Unless a nation faced the most desperate circumstances, such weapons would never be deployed.
But possessing such power came with enormous risk.
A Jinchūriki was not merely a container.
Their personality, emotions, and mental stability could all be affected by the tailed beast sealed within them.
If their emotions became unstable, the seal could weaken.
History had recorded many incidents where Jinchūriki lost control, causing devastating destruction to their own villages.
Naruto was still an infant.
His personality had not yet formed.
His future was uncertain.
From a purely strategic standpoint, placing him under Root's indoctrination and strict control could indeed produce a perfectly loyal weapon for Konoha.
A weapon that would never betray the village.
But—
Hiruzen had just made a promise.
A promise to Namikaze Minato.
If Naruto were sent to Root, he would lose his childhood.
He would lose freedom.
He might even lose the ability to feel emotions.
The Third Hokage slowly lifted his head.
"I will raise this child."
His voice was firm, and there was no hesitation.
"Hiruzen!" Danzo's voice suddenly sharpened. "Do you even understand what you are doing?"
Danzo stepped forward slightly, his tone becoming colder.
"The Jinchūriki's emotions are an unstable factor. Especially given the fact that the host is an infant."
"If the Nine-Tails cannot be controlled, it may break free again at any time."
His eye narrowed slightly.
"Entrusting this child to me is the safest option for Konoha."
A heavy silence fell and Hiruzen's gaze hardened.
The departure of the Sannin and the death of Minato had indeed weakened the Hokage faction.
But that did not mean Hiruzen could be intimidated.
'Danzo has grown far too presumptuous.'
"I said I will raise this child." the Third Hokage repeated slowly.
His voice dropped to a low and dangerous tone.
"Do you have any objections?"
The moment those words left his mouth—
A powerful chakra pressure erupted from Hiruzen.
The air grew heavy.
Even the surrounding shinobi instinctively stiffened.
Danzo himself was forced to take two steps back.
The surrounding Konoha shinobi immediately reacted.
Their gazes turned hostile as they glared at Danzo and the Root operatives behind him.
As long as the Third Hokage gave the order—
They would arrest Danzo immediately.
Danzo's expression became extremely dark.
For a long moment he stared at Hiruzen.
Then he snorted coldly.
"I hope you won't regret today's decision."
With that, he turned and walked away, his cloak fluttering slightly in the wind.
The Root operatives silently followed him.
Watching Danzo's retreating back, Senmei Asahi quietly shook his head.
'This man really does excel at ruining opportunities.'
If Danzo had brought Root to fight the Nine-Tails earlier tonight, he could have gained immense prestige.
Instead…
While the Third Hokage fought at the front lines and Namikaze Minato sacrificed his life to seal the Nine-Tails, Danzo had remained hidden.
Preserving his strength and waiting.
And now that the battle was over, he appeared to claim the Jinchūriki.
Such behaviour naturally disgusted the village shinobi.
If Danzo had fought alongside everyone earlier, things might have been very different.
With battlefield merit and his senior status revealed, it would not have been impossible for him to compete for the position of Fifth Hokage.
But now?
After tonight's events, Hiruzen's prestige had risen even further.
The negative opinions surrounding his strategic errors during the Third Great Ninja War had been completely washed away.
Now, even if Hiruzen chose to continue ruling Konoha as the Third Hokage once again, no one would object.
After all, he was a Hokage who fought beside his people.
And such a leader easily gained their loyalty.
The conflict between Hiruzen and Danzo perfectly illustrated the truth behind a statement once made by Uchiha Itachi.
A person does not become Hokage to gain recognition.
Only those who gain everyone's recognition can become Hokage.
"Sandaime-sama." Asahi suddenly spoke.
He stepped forward slightly and bowed respectfully.
"Konoha Hospital must be full of injured people right now. I'll head there immediately."
"If you need me for anything, please send someone to find me."
His words were calm and measured.
Although he did not explicitly state support for the Third Hokage, his stance was clear.
Hiruzen nodded.
"Alright. Go ahead."
He was quite satisfied with Asahi's attitude.
At the very least, Asahi had not chosen this moment to demand rewards or political leverage like Danzo.
Given Asahi's current prestige after tonight's battle, such actions could easily have placed Hiruzen in a difficult position.
"If other villages act rashly," Asahi added calmly, "I am now fully capable of dealing with them."
With those final words, his figure blurred and then disappeared.
Although Asahi maintained cooperation with Danzo behind the scenes, openly supporting Hiruzen remained the wiser choice.
After all, this Hokage would still rule Konoha for another twelve years if nothing unexpected happened.
Maintaining a good relationship with him would greatly benefit Asahi's future plans.
Upon returning to Konoha Hospital, Asahi immediately began organizing the medical teams.
Stretchers filled the corridors.
The injured lay everywhere.
The smell of antiseptic mixed with blood hung heavily in the air.
Without wasting a second, Asahi began treating patients.
"Asahi-sama!" a medical ninja suddenly said with concern.
"You just fought the Nine-Tails. You should rest!"
"That's right!"
"Asahi-sama, please don't overwork yourself!"
Several medical ninjas quickly echoed the sentiment.
Asahi simply shook his head.
"It's fine."
"Saving lives comes first."
"Everyone, continue working."
In truth, although Asahi had used several large-scale techniques during the battle with the Nine-Tails, most of the chakra consumed had come from the Sage Mode energy stored within the Yin Seal.
His own chakra reserves were barely affected.
More importantly, after tonight's battle, Asahi finally gained a deeper understanding of Sage Mode.
Ordinary ninjutsu, when enhanced with Sage chakra, became tremendously powerful.
His physical strength.
His reaction speed.
His sensory perception.
Everything had been greatly enhanced.
But the greatest change Sage Mode brought him—
Was confidence.
When facing the Third Hokage.
When facing Namikaze Minato.
Even when facing the Nine-Tails itself—
Asahi felt no fear.
Instead, he felt excitement.
A faint desire to truly test his strength against them.
Especially now that Konoha had just suffered the Nine-Tails disaster.
The Fourth Hokage was dead.
If another village chose this moment to provoke Konoha…
A faint smile appeared on Asahi's face.
'That would be perfect.'
Because he wanted to fight once more.
This time, with the full extent of his Sage Mode's power.
*****
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✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
✓ Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer
✓ Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle
✓ Naruto: Who Made Him a Ninja?
✓ Bleach: In My Second Reincarnation, I Became The Ninth Kenpachi
✓ To Love-Ru: Spoiler Route [R-18]
✓ Naruto: The Accidental Incubus [R-18]