Sarutobi Hiruzen's Actions
Danzo was taken aback when Hiruzen Sarutobi remarked that he was not completely ignorant of Root. For a moment, Danzo wondered if Hiruzen had planted someone inside his organization.
But he quickly dismissed the thought.
Every Root shinobi had undergone strict indoctrination and conditioning to erase their emotions and memories of loyalty—betrayal was impossible. The only exception was Chi Yu, who had never fully submitted to Root's "erasure training."
Danzo studied Hiruzen carefully. It seemed the old Hokage's suspicions ran deeper than he had thought. Perhaps Hiruzen had been watching him far longer than expected.
Danzo's expression hardened. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Hiruzen met his gaze with quiet authority. "Although I do not interfere with Root's daily affairs, remember this, Danzo: my word still carries weight in this village."
Danzo's jaw tightened. He was unwilling to surrender Kinoe—one of the rare operatives capable of Wood Release. "You are not the Hokage anymore," he retorted.
"Is that so?" Hiruzen replied calmly. "I understand."
With that, the Third Hokage said no more. He returned to his seat, smoke curling from his pipe, while Danzo turned sharply and left.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. He had already set his sights on Kinoe and was quietly making preparations.
As Danzo's footsteps faded, a shadow dispersed nearby—Chi Yu's clone vanishing in a wisp of smoke.
Far away, the real Chi Yu, who was having lunch with Uzumaki Kushina, heard the faint chime of his strange system.
[Host witnessed Danzo Shimura attempt to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi. Reward: 1000 Witness Points.]
Chi Yu sighed. "Only that much?" Though he had expected little, he couldn't help but feel disappointed. Still, every bit added up. There would be other opportunities.
Danzo, meanwhile, returned to the Root base and immediately summoned Kinoe.
"Kinoe," Danzo ordered coldly, "from today onward, you will not take part in outside missions. Remain within Root at all times."
The masked youth dropped to one knee, his face unreadable. "Yes, Danzo-sama."
---
The very next day, news spread across the village: Sarutobi Hiruzen had officially resumed the position of Hokage.
Two days later came another shocking announcement—Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, was declared dead from untreatable injuries sustained during the Nine-Tails' attack.
The truth, of course, was different. Minato was alive, though gravely wounded and still comatose in the hospital under heavy guard.
Hiruzen had ordered the false report. Patrols near Konoha had already detected foreign shinobi scouts moving in the shadows. If enemy villages learned that Minato still lived but lay incapacitated, wave after wave of assassins would descend upon him. Better, Hiruzen reasoned, to announce Minato's death and draw a line under the matter.
Before making the decision, he had sought the counsel of Uzumaki Miyuki. Her quiet response was simple: "If it is for Konoha's safety, Minato would choose the same."
But whispers had already begun to circulate. In the alleys and sake shops, people muttered about the newborn child: "The child of disaster, born the night the Nine-Tails rampaged." The rumors had not yet spread widely, but the seeds of stigma had been planted.
---
Half a month remained before Uzumaki Kushina's expected delivery. Chi Yu scarcely left her side, hovering protectively.
One afternoon, as he was helping her to the balcony to sit in the sun, Hatake Kakashi arrived.
"Chi Yu-sensei. Kushina-sama," Kakashi said respectfully.
After easing Kushina into a chair, Chi Yu greeted him. "Yo, Kakashi. What brings you here?"
"There's something I need to tell you," Kakashi replied.
The two moved inside, though Chi Yu's gaze lingered on Kushina outside.
"What is it?" he asked.
"This morning, the Third Hokage summoned me," Kakashi explained. "He asked me to accompany him tonight. Several Anbu will also be there."
Chi Yu's eyes narrowed. "Ah… so that's it. He intends to confront Danzo."
"Confront Danzo?" Kakashi asked, frowning.
Chi Yu nodded. "There's a shinobi in Root who can use Mokuton. Hiruzen wants him—but he knows Danzo won't hand him over willingly. That's where you come in. With your Sharingan, you can pierce Root's lies. If Danzo tries to hide Kinoe, your genjutsu can extract the truth from his operatives."
Kakashi hesitated. "Should I help?"
Chi Yu smiled faintly. "Of course. You're still a Konoha shinobi. As long as it doesn't conflict with your own principles, do what needs to be done."
Kakashi nodded firmly. "Understood, Sensei. Then I'll head out."
"Go," Chi Yu said with a smirk. "And if you have to be rough, let Hiruzen take the blame."
Kakashi bowed and departed for the Hokage's office.
---
By the time Kakashi arrived, Hiruzen had already left with the Anbu. An agent led him to their base, where dozens of masked shinobi were assembled.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "All this… just to retrieve one person?" The scale of the operation suggested they might clash openly with Root.
An Anbu commander approached. "Kakashi, you will join my squad. Once inside, await my signal."
Kakashi gave a curt nod. "Understood."
Night fell.
"Move out," the captain ordered.
The squads slipped through the shadows toward Root's underground base. Outside the gate, most of the Anbu dispersed to hidden positions. Only Kakashi's team of five stepped forward to confront Root directly.
The leader gave a quiet signal.
"Follow me inside. We begin now."
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