The grueling efforts to repair Konoha were nothing short of a nightmare. Within a 13-kilometer radius, there were no roads left—no trees, no signs of the once-hidden ninja village. Craters caused by explosions scarred the land in every direction. Rain fell for three days straight, leaving only muddy soil and deep trenches, turning life into hell for the civilians.
The water sources were compromised. The Hokage was forced to open the emergency reserves in the shelters—but even those began to run dry. Surviving ninjas proficient in Doton jutsu were given priority access to resources, yet even Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to be nearing his limit. The task ahead was an endless, hellish ordeal.
The lack of scrolls and manpower meant that the corpses—what was left of them—couldn't be stored safely. A decision was made: a massive cremation. The Third Hokage nearly lost what remained of his strength as he watched the bloodied, decaying body of his wife consumed by flames. No burial. No grave. No proof—only ashes.
It wasn't until the sixteenth day after the attack that supplies and reinforcements from the Daimyō finally arrived, and the situation began to improve. In the days that followed, branches of notable clans continuously sent resources to accelerate the rebuilding effort. The more observant among them noticed the stirrings of Root again. Visitors with shady backgrounds arrived in droves, each bearing sealed documents confirming their allegiance to Danzō Shimura. Their luxurious goods drew attention away from the true cargo: expensive scrolls and forbidden research equipment being quietly transported underground.
Three months later, as restoration neared completion, the Third Hokage convened a formal council. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat to the right of a special guest—the Daimyō himself—who was flanked by ten councilors from various Konoha clans. Shikaku Nara and Hiashi Hyūga sat nearby, forming what resembled a noble coalition. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado sat beside Hiruzen, quietly attempting to project an air of competence they no longer possessed.
For this grand occasion, Danzō Shimura made a rare appearance. He sat directly across from the Daimyō, the acknowledged greatest contributor of resources during the crisis. His presence overshadowed even the Hyūga clan's formal efforts to retain their prestige. From a ninja-less ninja village, Konoha once again had shinobi—and it was because of him. The rogue ninjas he had brought in all worked for Root, though they were not officially inducted. Thus, Danzō had become a kind of Jōnin oligarch, commanding 87 of the total. One could say he was now the true Hokage.
His face showed renewed vigor; his movements were energetic. Yet he still wore the same specialized bandages. Hiruzen clenched his jaw as he saw how the Daimyō now looked at him—as though he was a living monument to incompetence. The Sarutobi compound had been leveled during the Kyūbi's rampage, and the clan had run out of resources. If he could have, Hiruzen might have thrown himself at Danzō's feet, offering his hat and the power it represented. But he knew the Daimyō had no constitutional authority to depose him—not yet.
The council meeting was no more than a polite struggle to redivide power and resources, and to tally the enormous debts owed to each clan and to the Land of Fire. The compensations for each fallen clan member were astronomical, but Danzō quietly absorbed the Uchiha clan's share as funding for Root.
Who told the Uchiha to be so proud and aloof? A third of them had died performing military police duties. So what? Death for the village was expected. Half the survivors were injured or maimed—why had they withdrawn from Konoha's welfare program?
The most stunning part? No one objected. Even Shikaku Nara applauded, eyes shining with emotion when the heroic "sacrifice" of Root was commemorated.
At the end of the meeting, only one matter remained: the fox demon, the Jinchūriki.
The atmosphere grew heavier than ever. But Hiruzen knew—neither the Daimyō nor his court had any authority over this. He had to protect Naruto from Danzō. He had sworn it to Minato!
« The sealing is complete and is holding well. No anomalies were reported since, Naruto looks like and behaves as any other baby. The Fourth gave his life… entrusting the Nine-Tails to Uzumaki Naruto. We owe it to him to protect the boy, we owe it to the Uzumaki clan. »
« Protect him? Hiruzen, the child is the jinchūriki now. That thing is inside him. We can't risk the village's safety by letting him grow up unsupervised. » Said Koharu.
« He's already a target. If word spreads, enemies will come for him. We should place him under strict surveillance—no contact with civilians. » Added Homura.
These two were so nice to Kushina and Minato in the past… but they seem to have already forgotten everything regarding them as nothing ever happened. As if they did not die so they could stay alive. Hiruzen had to clench his fist under the table and suppress his rage before continuing:
« Then he'll grow up alone. Like a prisoner. Is that what you want for a child who saved the village through no fault of his own? If he builds genuine attachement to Khonoa and we transmit him the will of fire… »
« He's not just a child. He is a weapon. A deterrent. If we shape him early, he can serve the village, as he was meant to. » Shimura Danzō cut coldly.
« Shape him? Like you did with Root? Minato wanted him to be seen as a hero, not turned into a tool. »
« Minato was idealistic. Ideals won't protect us when the next enemy comes knocking. The villagers fear the beast, Hiruzen. They won't separate it from the boy. » Refuted Danzō.
« You know Danzo is right. The villagers have already started whispering. If we're not careful, fear will become anger—and anger will turn on Naruto. » Said Koharu.
« Then I will protect him. Personally. » Affirmed Hiruzen without unnoticing the look of ridicule the Daimyô threw at him.
« I will not condemn him to a life of isolation, he deserves to grow up as a child not as a caged animal. »
« Sentiment clouds judgment. A ninja is a tool, and a tool has to be shaped. But very well. If the boy fails, remember—you fail. » Concluded Danzō throwing away all the decorum. From now he did not even need to be the Hokage, he has won over the Daimyô and it was more than enough to rebuild the root and rise to new heights.