An ordinary Jōnin daring to question the Hokage—such a thing should have been impossible.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in silence, pipe smoke curling in the dim office light. If not for someone pulling the strings behind him, no civilian-born Jōnin would ever show such boldness. His gaze drifted to the mission scrolls that had mysteriously appeared in his office before, untouched, unanswered.
Danzo… was it you?
That brat Yuichi—his background was not simple. The boy carried the blood of the Senju clan, and his Water Style talent mirrored that of the Second Hokage himself. Danzo must have noticed, which is why Yuichi had not been absorbed into Root, but deliberately returned, unchanged, to Sarutobi's side.
But why? What scheme lay beneath that decision?
For Sarutobi, raising a talented Senju was harmless—merely another promising shinobi under the Hokage's guidance. But for Danzo… it meant something far greater.
Though the Senju name had long since faded from Konoha, its blood still flowed quietly through the veins of many shinobi. Some had married into other clans, others into civilian families, blending away the once-proud crest. Yuichi, however, carried the orthodox line, a spark of the clan's true inheritance.
If his talent became known, the dormant loyalty toward Senju would flare to life once again. Danzo, ever the vulture, would use Yuichi as a banner to rally support against Sarutobi.
This Kazuya… already pulled into Danzo's orbit.
Sarutobi's eyes hardened as he watched his own son. Asuma frowned, clearly baffled that the Hokage had yielded ground before an "ordinary" Jōnin. Even Hatake Kakashi could not understand.
But Sarutobi had made his choice. He turned, his voice calm yet resolute.
"Then the Chūnin Exams will be held as scheduled—seven days from now, on July 1st."
His gaze swept the chamber. He waved his hand, dismissing the gathered shinobi.
Yuichi left with the others, his back straight, his expression unreadable. Behind him, Asuma's glare burned hot with frustration. To openly mock the Hokage, to rebel against his judgment—such insolence could not go unanswered. If fate allowed, Asuma would teach this civilian-born shinobi a lesson.
In the minds of many clan heirs, it was no injustice. Civilian ninja lacked the strength to handle higher missions, so they were not given them. It was only natural. Yet that same cycle condemned civilian-born to stagnation, never gaining the experience to rise higher. A vicious circle, unbroken.
Outside, Yuichi exhaled softly. Sarutobi truly lived up to the name of "Shinobi no Kami"—a man of iron composure. Even mocked in his own office, he had not grown angry. Instead, he agreed, appeasing the unrest of the civilian-born.
But Yuichi knew the truth. The Hokage's concession was not because he, Kazuki, had persuaded him—it was because Sarutobi believed Danzo stood behind those words. By acting bold, by showing the confidence of one backed by Root, Yuichi had given the Third no opening to probe further.
Better to let him think I am Danzo's man, than to be dragged into his questioning.
Far away, in the darkened chambers of Root, Shimura Danzo received word that Yuichi had returned alive. His face twisted in rage.
"Damn you, Sarutobi! Again you stand in my way. That boy will not slip from my grasp. S-rank potential… mastery over Water Style… such a gem will never belong to you."
His tirade was cut short as a Root operative appeared.
"Master Danzo, the Hokage summons you."
Danzo's cloak swirled as he turned, his expression cold.
"So, another warning then?"
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi watched the crystal ball. Within its surface, Yuichi sat idly at home, unaware of the storm circling him.
The door opened. Danzo entered, his cane striking the floor.
"What do you want of me?"
Sarutobi's eyes narrowed. "That question should be mine. Danzo, what is it you seek?"
Danzo smirked, his words laced with venom. "What I seek… is what you seek as well."
Sarutobi's pipe smoldered between his fingers. "As long as I live, you will never touch the seat of Hokage."
"Hmph." Danzo's laugh was low and bitter. Then die, Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage studied him carefully. This hostility, this desperation—yes, Danzo truly knew of Yuichi's heritage.
"You will keep your peace during the Chūnin Exams. I will not allow that child to face opponents too strong. His potential must not be exposed yet."
From Sarutobi's view, it was protection—containment, so Yuichi would not become a tool of division. But in Danzo's eyes, it was confirmation. Yuichi mattered deeply to the Hokage.
And that sealed his decision. If the boy is so precious… then I will destroy him, and with him, your hopes.
"Wait and see," Danzo hissed, turning to leave.
But Sarutobi's voice rang out once more.
"Touch what is mine again, Danzo, and I will not forgive it. Don't think I haven't noticed your hands on the village's scrolls."
Danzo froze. Slowly, he turned his head, his one visible eye narrowing.
So, he knows. He's even aware I sent men to steal Yuichi's files…
The air between them was heavy with old rivalry and unspoken threats.
Sarutobi's heart clenched. There was no longer doubt—Danzo knew the truth of Yuichi's bloodline.
And Danzo, in his blackened heart, seethed with regret. That Senju talent—wasted on a boy who should have been offered to his experiments. Instead, Sarutobi guarded him, as though he were a treasure.
A treasure Danzo would rather see shattered than claimed by another.