"Is this... really the end?"
Having lost all his power, authority, and influence in a single day, Shimura Danzo now wandered absentmindedly through the empty streets of Konoha.
Stripped of everything, he had no choice but to obey the Third Hokage's order and return to confinement.
After a lifetime spent fighting for the Hokage seat, in the end, he was left with nothing but emptiness.
"…Sigh."
Gazing at the still and silent street, Danzo let out a heavy sigh. His expression was one of complete dejection. At this moment, he looked less like the once-feared "Darkness of the Leaf" and more like an old man with a cane—just another worn soul lost to time.
"I should go back... go home."
He slowly stood from a bench along the road, resigned, and began to walk toward his old residence. That so-called "home"—he hadn't returned to it in over a decade, having lived for years in Root's underground chambers.
But after only a few steps, his body suddenly faltered.
He felt a powerful force wrench through his right arm. An overwhelming suction pulled violently at his chakra, draining it at a terrifying rate.
"Damn it!"
"That arm—It's the First Hokage's cells!"
Danzo realized the problem immediately. He turned his head, trying to call for one of his subordinates to escort him back to the lab—
Only to remember that most of them were already dead.
Those who survived had either gone missing or were completely useless now. He had no one left.
"Why now, of all times?!"
With his chakra draining uncontrollably, his mind became hazy. He staggered like a drunkard, his knees buckled, and he collapsed forward.
"So this is how it ends…"
The thought crossed his mind with unexpected clarity. He stopped resisting, letting gravity take him. He had nothing left.
Perhaps it was better to just end it.
When the heart dies, death itself is a mercy.
Just before he hit the ground, a strong hand caught him from behind.
"Are you okay, old man? Do you need some help?" said a clear, youthful voice behind him.
"Old man? Someone actually called me that?"
Danzo scoffed internally. He turned his head to see who it was and nearly choked.
"Ku—"
He cut himself off before saying the rest.
It was Naruto Uzumaki, just returning from his training.
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki... had caught him?
"Are you alright? Should I walk you home?"
Naruto looked at the darkening sky with concern. "It's getting late, and it's not safe for someone your age to be out alone."
"…This is my chance."
It was like fate had handed him a pillow when he was nodding off.
Danzo suddenly felt reinvigorated—his waist didn't ache, his legs didn't wobble. He could probably sprint up five flights of stairs right now.
The erratic chakra in his arm suddenly calmed down, as if it too sensed Danzo's resurgence in spirit.
"Even the heavens are on my side."
Looking at Naruto's bright, naïve eyes, Danzo had a bold new idea:
"This boy… might be my ticket to the Hokage seat."
You, Sarutobi... You wanted the Jinchūriki to inherit your so-called Will of Fire?
You wanted him to be your loyal successor?
What if—he becomes mine instead?
What if I, Danzo, become the one to guide the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?
The one who controls him?
In this shinobi village, whoever holds the Jinchūriki... holds the key to power.
Every Hokage had ties to a Jinchūriki—either as kin or commander.
He may have lost Root, lost his title as advisor, lost his council seat—but none of that mattered anymore.
What mattered now... was Naruto.
Danzo's old eye gleamed with ambition.
"Sarutobi... I told you. You'll regret this."
Danzo forced what he thought was a "kind" smile onto his face. "Young man, what's your name?"
"I am Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto replied with a bright, innocent grin. "Someday, I'll become a great man like the Fourth Hokage!"
Danzo's forced smile twitched at the corners.
Naruto helped walk him all the way to the old Shimura family residence. Danzo tried every tactic to keep him around a little longer, and Naruto graciously agreed to sit for a bit. After a brief chat, he excused himself, and Danzo didn't push too hard. He knew better than to scare the boy off.
From then on, Danzo began appearing incredibly "coincidentally" in Naruto's daily path.
Every. Single. Time.
He just so happened to avoid the hours when Hiruzen was watching Naruto through his telescope technique.
Perfect timing.
Their interactions became more "frequent," and Naruto eventually stopped calling him "old man" and started saying "Uncle Danzo."
It was subtle. But meaningful.
Then came the day Danzo was waiting for.
After "accidentally" learning that Naruto was jealous of Sasuke's Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, Danzo pounced.
Looking into Naruto's "innocent" eyes, Danzo said:
"You want to learn ninjutsu, don't you?"
"I do!" Naruto replied enthusiastically. "Sasuke's Great Fireball is amazing!"
"Pfft, Uchiha fire-style techniques? Nothing special," Danzo scoffed. He hated Sasuke—hated every Uchiha still breathing.
Then he changed his tone to something almost like affection:
"I can teach you."
"I used to be the best wind-style user in Konoha."
To anyone who couldn't feel his killing intent, he might've sounded almost sincere.
Naruto's eyes lit up in pretend awe. He nodded excitedly, just like a chick pecking grain.
"Okay!"
Danzo was so satisfied he practically burst with pride.
"Sarutobi... I told you I'd make you regret it!"
What Danzo didn't see... was the sly grin Naruto wore behind his back.
"Alright then, old freak… let's play."
Your turn.