The atmosphere in the Hokage's office after the failed invasion was a mixture of relief, disbelief, and deep unease. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk, surrounded not by paperwork, but by the highest-ranking jōnin and clan leaders, all with expressions of awe.
Shikaku Nara, his usual calm self, was the first to speak. "Hokage-sama, what we witnessed today... the way the invaders were neutralized... is unprecedented."
Inoichi Yamanaka nodded. "We felt the enemy's chakra signatures simply... collapse. And the minds of the few we managed to capture are shattered by terror. They only babble about an 'invisible force.'"
Hiruzen sighed, the pipe unlit in his hand. "It was Gojo Satoru."
A silence spread through the room. Everyone knew who Gojo was, the man with glasses, then the blindfold, the eccentric who had appeared out of nowhere. But seeing his power in action, in such an overwhelming manner, was something else.
"That man... single-handedly repelled an invasion?" asked Tsume Inuzuka, the matriarch of the Inuzuka clan, with a mixture of respect and fear. "Not even the Ninja War had anything like it."
"And he drove Orochimaru away," added Chōza Akimichi. "We saw him flee like a coward. I never thought I'd see that."
Hiruzen closed his eyes. "His power isn't chakra. We can't classify it. It's an anomaly. And while he saved us today, his presence is a double-edged sword. We can't control it, and we can't force it."
As they discussed the implications, the office door opened without warning. Danzo Shimura, Konoha's War Hawk, entered, his single visible eye glowing with a cold intensity. His bandaged right arm remained hidden.
"Hiruzen," Danzo said, his voice raspy. "This 'Gojo Satoru'... I've been listening to the reports. His power is too valuable an asset to leave unsupervised."
Hiruzen stared at him. He knew Danzo's ambition and obsession with power well. "He's not an asset, Danzo. He's a free being. And you can't 'control' what you can't understand."
"Nonsense," Danzo retorted. "Power like that, if it falls into the wrong hands, could destroy Konoha. Or, if wielded correctly, it could make us the most powerful village in the world. We can't afford to ignore it."
Danzo turned to the other leaders, his gaze icy. "This man has demonstrated overwhelming strength. He can nullify jutsus, control space, and is immune to attack. Imagine having such a weapon at our disposal. A weapon that could destroy even the Nine-Tails."
Danzo's eyes fixed on Hiruzen. "I propose that he be integrated into the structure of Konoha. If he refuses, he must be contained. Or eliminated."
The tension in the office could be cut with a kunai. The idea of "eliminating" Gojo seemed ludicrous, but Danzo wasn't known for his reasoning.
"It's not an option, Danzo," Hiruzen said firmly. "Trying to contain or eliminate him would be suicidal madness. Konoha wouldn't survive. Our only option is to try to understand him and coexist."
Danzo snorted, unconvinced. "'Coexistence' with unprecedented power is naive, Hiruzen. I will observe him closely. If he poses a threat to Konoha, I will act."
Hiruzen knew Danzo would not let the matter drop. The existence of Gojo Satoru was too great a temptation for someone with Danzo's ambitions.
The danger Orochimaru posed to Konoha paled in comparison to the potential threat of Danzo attempting to manipulate or subjugate Gojo.
As the meeting continued, Gojo stood on the highest rooftop of Konoha, enjoying the sunset.
"Well, well," he thought, a small smile beneath his bandage. "So the old man with the bandaged arm is interested. It seems my reputation as 'the strongest' is causing trouble. How fun! At least it's not boring."
Gojo knew he had caught the attention of the darker elements in Konoha. And while he didn't care in the least what Danzo Shimura thought, the idea of someone trying to "control" him was hilariously absurd.