Danzo knelt solemnly on the tatami mat, his gaze slightly narrowed. His loyal Root subordinates sat quietly to either side of him. In front of him stood a low tea table, with freshly brewed tea steaming gently from a traditional set.
At the center of the room, one Root member was kneeling on one knee, head bowed in deference.
"Lord Danzo," the shinobi greeted with rigid formality.
"Speak."
At Danzo's command, the subordinate began reporting the intelligence he had gathered — every detail, without omission.
Danzo reached for his teacup, but his hand paused midair. His eyes remained fixed straight ahead, yet they weren't truly focused on the kneeling man. It was as if he were staring past the physical world, deep into something more complex and layered.
His suspended hand clenched involuntarily in the air before slowly lowering again.
The intel he'd just heard wasn't about war or a rogue ninja — it was about Senju Haruto inviting Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen.
"What is this kid really up to...?"
Danzo muttered inwardly. He had weathered decades of turmoil and conspiracy in the Hidden Leaf. He considered himself a master at seeing through deception — yet when it came to Senju Haruto, he couldn't shake an inexplicable feeling of unease.
First, Haruto had rescued Hinata from the Cloud ninja, and he did it before the Hyuga Clan even realized she was missing. That act alone had earned him a massive debt of gratitude from Hiashi Hyuga.
Then, somehow, Haruto was personally recommended by Hiruzen Sarutobi to attend the Ninja Academy.
"Whether it's his chakra reserves or his remarkable talent... he's undoubtedly a genius. But then, why was he rejected by the Academy five years ago?"
Danzo sank deeper into thought, trying to string together every clue he had.
There was no logical reason for Haruto to have struggled with admission. Based on his current performance, he would've held his own even alongside Itachi Uchiha in their prime.
And he bore the Senju name.
That alone should've put him under the spotlight from day one.
"No… things are definitely not that simple."
Danzo clenched his fist tightly.
He ruled out every other possibility. Which meant that, no matter how absurd the remaining explanation sounded — it had to be the truth.
The only logical answer… was Naruto.
"No… not Naruto himself — his body," Danzo's eyes darkened with intensity.
Naruto may have been the son of the Fourth Hokage — a hero's child — but Hiruzen Sarutobi had long since buried those details. Only the highest-ranking elders in the village knew the full truth.
And that truth… wasn't threatening in itself.
But what was sealed inside Naruto was.
Naruto was the village's greatest trump card — a Jinchuriki.
People forget — the "village" is just a system formed by a handful of clans gathered together: Senju, Uchiha, Sarutobi, Shimura, Hyuga…
These families shaped the foundation of Konoha.
The Senju were a shadow of their former glory. In them, Haruto represented the last flicker of hope.
The Uchiha were politically marginalized — no longer a threat to power.
As for the rest…
The Sarutobi faction still revolved around the Third Hokage.
And now, even the Hyuga Clan owed Haruto a life debt.
If Haruto managed to win over Naruto, the village's Jinchuriki—
Danzo sucked in a cold breath. His own analysis startled him.
"No… Haruto is strong, yes — but there's no way he's that calculated. He's just a teenager. Not even a proper shinobi yet. No life experience to speak of."
"He can't possibly be that cunning…"
"…It's Sarutobi."
Bang!
Danzo slammed a fist onto the table, teeth clenched.
Deception never wounds — truth is the blade that cuts deepest.
It had to be Hiruzen Sarutobi.
It was him — five years ago — who sabotaged Haruto's entry into the Academy. He made Haruto wait… all to position him beside Naruto.
To make them classmates.
To build trust.
Who's to say Hiruzen hadn't even tampered with the class assignments? That he wasn't planning to place Haruto and Naruto on the same Genin team?
And another thing — what were the odds that Haruto just happened to be in the border forest that day?
People don't act without motive. Behavior always follows logic.
But Haruto's presence at the border made no logical sense.
Unless… he was drawn there. Manipulated by a whisper… a presence… a planted suggestion?
And what about Hiruzen's behavior that day at the hospital?
It all lined up.
It was Hiruzen Sarutobi all along.
He must've discovered the Cloud's plan in advance. Then he orchestrated the entire event — letting Haruto save Hinata in a perfectly timed rescue.
And in doing so, Haruto earned the Hyuga Clan's favor.
It was masterful.
Danzo's forehead was drenched in cold sweat. His back was soaked.
He had spent his entire life butting heads with Hiruzen.
He'd always believed the man was just lucky — just fortunate to become Hokage.
But now…
Now it was clear Hiruzen was far more calculating than he'd ever imagined.
How far ahead had he planned this?
How many years ago had he set the board?
Danzo suddenly stood upright from the tatami mat.
No — he had to act.
He could not allow Haruto and Hiruzen to gain control of the Jinchuriki.
"Mobilize Root!"
Meanwhile…
Senju Haruto had no idea that Danzo — and his entire Root organization — was now focused on him.
At the moment, he was simply walking down the road toward Ichiraku Ramen with Naruto.
"I'm telling you, the ramen from Ichiraku-oyaji is crazy good!" Naruto gestured wildly, practically bouncing with excitement. "It's like… I can't even believe this is happening!"
Haruto smiled and nodded. "Yeah, it really is."
After all, he'd been in this world for five years already. He'd tried almost every famous snack in Konoha. He'd even eaten at Uchiha Clan festivals a few times.
But honestly, ramen wasn't his favorite.
He preferred skewers.
Specifically: premium beef, grilled medium-rare, sprinkled with chili flakes and cumin, then topped off with sesame seeds and a cold beer.
Damn, that combo was unreal.
"Uhh…"
Just as they reached the street corner where Ichiraku Ramen came into view, Naruto suddenly froze.
"What's wrong?" Haruto turned around and looked at him. "You're not going in?"
"I, uh…" Naruto lowered his head, eyes shifting away from Haruto's.
"Hm?" Haruto tilted his head. "What's with you? It's not like this is a date — and you're definitely not a shy girl."
Naruto took a deep breath, visibly nervous.
Haruto noticed the tension and gently patted his shoulder. "It's okay. If you don't want to talk, don't force it. I'm right here."
Naruto finally looked up, met Haruto's gaze — and then turned away again just as quickly.
His voice was barely audible, and trembled between words.
"I… I mean… would you… be my friend?"
Haruto blinked, then laughed — warm and genuine.
"What about you?"
"Huh?"
Naruto hadn't expected the question to bounce back. He froze, then nodded vigorously.
"Y-Yeah! I do! I want to!"