Danzo's Assassination Plan
Uzumaki Kushina truly felt powerless at that moment.
She sighed deeply.
"Why is it that comrades from the same village must always be filled with suspicion and distrust?"
Chi Yu gently ruffled her crimson hair, offering comfort.
"There's nothing to be done about it. If people had no suspicion at all and only trust, it would be impossible. In fact, it would be a distortion."
Kushina tilted her head, puzzled.
"Distorted? Isn't it good for everyone to trust each other? If people trusted, there would be no wars. Wouldn't the world become beautiful then?"
Chi Yu's tone remained calm but firm.
"In reality, people act differently because of conflicting values, interests, and goals. Unconditional trust ignores these differences and lacks any real foundation. It isn't true trust—it's naïveté.
Human nature is complicated. People can be selfish, jealous, or fearful, and sometimes deceitful. If suspicion didn't exist, then people would never question one another, and mistakes or corruption would go unnoticed. That would only lead to greater crises.
Suspicion, questioning, and even opposition drive growth. If everyone blindly trusted, there would be no way to challenge mistakes or improve.
And finally—without suspicion, people would lower their guard and ignore outside threats. That leaves them vulnerable.
So yes, Kushina. A world of pure trust would be distorted. Because it denies the complexity of human nature."
Kushina blinked, stunned by his words.
"Chi Yu… why are you so perceptive?"
Chi Yu smirked lightly.
"Because… I'm not telling you~"
Kushina pouted, puffing out her cheeks.
The truth was that Chi Yu had been raised in an atmosphere of constant suspicion and hostility. Back in Konoha, he had lived cautiously. If his true intentions were ever discovered, there would be no way back.
"Chi Yu," Kushina said softly, "let's do our best to help Miyuki. After all… if it weren't for her, I would be the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki."
Chi Yu pinched her cheek playfully.
"Alright. Whatever choice Miyuki makes, I'll support her. If she wants to leave Konoha, I'll help her. And when that happens, I'll persuade her to join Akatsuki. Yahiko and the others could use her strength."
---
Inside Root Headquarters
At the same time, in the underground base of Root, Danzo sat alone in his office. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk as his thoughts churned.
The meeting three days prior still burned in his mind. Chi Yu had targeted him directly, stripped him of his position as Hokage's assistant, and even dared to threaten him publicly.
Yet, Danzo did not act.
Chi Yu was bold, arrogant, and far too dangerous. If Danzo struck but failed to kill him, the retaliation would be devastating. For now, he lacked confidence.
But what stung most was Hiruzen Sarutobi's betrayal.
The last council meeting had been Danzo's closest chance to claim the Hokage seat. But once again, Hiruzen had taken it away. Now, with Namikaze Minato lying comatose, Hiruzen had volunteered to return as acting Hokage.
If Hiruzen succeeded, Konoha would once more be shackled to a weak and indecisive leader. Unless… Hiruzen did not make it back from his meeting with the Land of Fire's Daimyō.
Danzo's eyes narrowed. This was the opening he needed.
He summoned ten Root operatives, including the boy codenamed Kinoe—the future Yamato, a child only ten years old but already trained in secret Wood Release.
When the ten knelt before him, Danzo spoke with quiet authority:
"Tomorrow morning, at the Hour of the Tiger, the Third Hokage will depart for the Daimyō's mansion with only five Anbu guards. His purpose is to resume the Hokage position until the Fourth awakens—though none can say when that will be.
If he succeeds, the village will once again be ruled by weakness. That must not happen. For the sake of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi must not return alive.
You will strike during his journey and end him swiftly. But remember this: no one must know it was Root. The world must believe he was killed by rogue ninja. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!" the ten answered in unison.
---
The Next Morning
At dawn, the gates of Konoha opened.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the entrance, flanked by five kneeling Anbu.
One asked respectfully, "Third Hokage-sama, shall we depart?"
"Mm. Depart," Hiruzen replied.
The group set out down the road toward the Daimyō's estate.
Unseen, Danzo's Root operatives stalked them from the shadows.
But they were not the only ones. Another figure observed the scene from a distant ridge—Chi Yu.
Or rather, his shadow clone.
The real Chi Yu was elsewhere, but he couldn't afford to miss this opportunity. He was only forty-four thousand Witness Points away from awakening the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Danzo's plotting, Hiruzen's maneuvering—every shift in the village was an opportunity.
In the original timeline, Danzo had attempted to manipulate Hatake Kakashi, even using him as bait in an assassination plot against Hiruzen. Kakashi had uncovered Danzo's schemes and eventually discovered that one of Root's operatives possessed the Wood Release—the child Kinoe.
Chi Yu was curious to see how things would unfold without Kakashi's involvement.
But he also knew Danzo was underestimating Hiruzen gravely. Ten Root operatives were nowhere near enough to kill the man once hailed as the Professor.
And indeed—Hiruzen Sarutobi himself hadn't even left the village.
The one walking toward the Daimyō's mansion was an Anbu in disguise.
Hiruzen already knew. He was drawing Root into his net.
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters