The Hokage's office was a fortress of flickering lamplight, the air thick with the scent of old scrolls and the weight of Konoha's secrets. Wooden beams creaked faintly overhead, the village's heartbeat pulsing through the walls as the morning sun filtered through tall windows, casting golden streaks across the polished desk. Naruto stepped inside, his orange jacket a bright splash against the room's muted tones, his sage-orange eyes scanning for his target. Danzo wasn't here yet. Good, he thought, his heart steady but his mind racing with the plan he'd set in motion.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu sat quietly in the corner, their lined faces stern, their robes whispering tradition. Konoha's elder advisors, relics of the Third Hokage's era, watched with hawk-like eyes, their presence a deliberate choice. Naruto had urged Tsunade to summon them, a calculated move to cloak his true intent in the guise of a formal meeting. With Homura and Koharu here, Danzo would think this was about village business, not a trap to strip him of his stolen power.
Tsunade sat behind the desk, her Hokage robes crisp, her amber eyes sharp with curiosity and a hint of impatience. Shizune stood at her side, clutching a clipboard, her calm demeanor a contrast to the tension brewing. Jiraiya leaned against the wall, his white hair catching the sunlight, his bandaged stump a silent reminder of his weakened state. His gaze flicked to Naruto, a flicker of unease crossing his face, as if he sensed the storm brewing beneath the boy's easy grin.
"Granny Tsunade, where's Danzo?" Naruto asked, his voice casual but his eyes sharp, scanning the room like a shinobi on a mission.
Tsunade's brow furrowed, her fingers tapping the desk. "I sent Kakashi to fetch him. He'll be here." Her tone was clipped, her curiosity piqued. "Naruto, why insist on Danzo being here before you spill this 'secret' of yours?"
Naruto flashed a cheeky grin, leaning forward. "You'll see, Granny. It's gonna be worth the wait." His playful tone masked the steel in his heart, memories of his past life—Danzo's schemes, Shisui's stolen eye, the Five Kage Summit—fueling his resolve.
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed, his gut twisting with an unease he couldn't name. Naruto's confidence, his cryptic plan, echoed the Hokage he'd become in another life, but it stirred a quiet dread. What's the kid up to? he wondered, his good hand flexing instinctively.
Homura adjusted his glasses, his voice dry as old parchment. "Tsunade, what's this meeting about? And Naruto's 'secret'—does it involve Kurama? Something critical to Konoha?" His gaze flicked to Naruto, sharp and suspicious.
Koharu nodded, her lips pursed. "Calling us and Danzo here? It must be significant. Spill it, Tsunade."
Naruto's grin widened, his voice steady. "It's about the Fourth Hokage's secrets. You'll wanna hear this." His words were bait, carefully chosen to draw Danzo in, to lower his guard.
Deep in Root's shadowy lair, Danzo leaned on his cane, the click of wood against stone echoing as a dog-masked operative delivered the report. Tsunade had summoned Homura, Koharu, and him to the Hokage's office, even sending Kakashi to ensure his presence. What's she playing at? Danzo mused, his single eye glinting with suspicion. Jiraiya's weakened state, Tsunade's stretched leadership—Konoha was vulnerable. They need me, he thought, a cold smile curling his lips. The chakra leak from Naruto's clash with Kurama last night, reported by his spies, had been a missed chance, but this meeting might offer another.
"Very well," Danzo rasped, dismissing the operative with a wave. Kakashi arrived moments later, his masked face unreadable. "Hokage-sama requests your presence, Danzo-sama."
Danzo stood, his cane tapping rhythmically. No guards, he decided. In the Hokage's office, Root's presence would draw Tsunade's Anbu like moths to a flame. Besides, no one in Konoha dared touch him—not with Shisui's Kotoamatsukami in his right eye and a dozen Sharingan sealed in his arm. Let them try, he thought, his confidence a blade honed by years of ruthlessness.
Back in the office, a knock broke the tension. Tsunade's voice rang out, firm and clear. "Come in."
Kakashi pushed the door open, stepping aside. "Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama is here."
Danzo entered, his cane clicking, his bandaged face a mask of calm arrogance. Homura and Koharu rose, Koharu's voice sharp with irritation. "Danzo, you kept us waiting. Getting slow in your old age?"
Danzo's smile was thin, his words laced with mockery. "Who knew the Hokage would summon an old relic like me? Age slows the steps, Koharu." His gaze flicked to Tsunade, a subtle jab at her leadership, aligning himself with the elders as a united front.
Tsunade's jaw tightened, her eyes flashing at the veiled insult. Naruto stood with his back to Danzo, his shoulders relaxed but his mind razor-sharp. Now or never, he thought. His shadow clone, left at home to monitor for Root, dispelled in a puff of chakra, its warning flooding his senses—Root was watching, but Danzo was alone. Perfect.
Orange eye shadow bloomed around Naruto's eyes, Sage Mode igniting his senses, the world sharpening into vivid clarity. Jiraiya caught it first, his own Sage training making him sensitive to the natural energy surging through Naruto. Something's up, Jiraiya thought, his heart racing, but it was too late.
Naruto spun, his movements a blur—fast, precise, ruthless. Sage Mode amplified his speed, his Flying Thunder God instincts guiding his hand. Danzo's smile froze, his mouth still open from greeting the elders, his single eye locked on Homura and Koharu. Before he could react, Naruto's right hand was at his face, fingers aimed at the bandaged right eye.
"I'm taking that eye," Naruto said, his voice low, deadly.
"Gah!" Danzo's scream shattered the room as Naruto's fingers tore through the bandage, ripping out Shisui's eye with surgical precision. Blood sprayed, staining Naruto's hand crimson as he pinned Danzo's arm, holding him in place. The elder's cane clattered to the floor, his shock rendering him helpless.
Kakashi reacted instantly, Lightning Blade crackling to life, its electric hum filling the air as he lunged to stop Naruto. "Naruto, stand down!" he shouted, his Sharingan blazing.
Naruto tsked, releasing Danzo and flickering away with Flying Thunder God, a buzz echoing as he vanished. He reappeared on a rooftop overlooking the Hokage Tower, the stolen eye clutched in his bloodied hand, its Mangekyo pattern glinting faintly. The village sprawled below, its morning bustle unaware of the storm he'd unleashed.
Inside the office, chaos erupted. Tsunade slammed her fist into the desk, splintering wood. "Naruto! What the hell are you doing?!" she roared, her voice shaking the walls.
Homura and Koharu staggered back, their faces pale with shock. "Tsunade, what is this?!" Homura demanded, his voice trembling. "Did you order this?!"
Koharu's hands shook as she supported Danzo, who clutched his bleeding eye socket, his face twisted in pain and fury. "Tsunade, explain yourself!" she snapped, assuming Naruto acted on the Hokage's command.
Danzo shoved Koharu's hand away, his voice a venomous hiss. "Tsunade, you dare move against me?" Blood dripped down his cheek, his remaining eye burning with rage.
Tsunade's fists clenched, her mind reeling. Naruto had insisted on this meeting, claiming it was about the Fourth Hokage's secrets. Was this his plan all along? she thought, her heart torn between anger and confusion.
Jiraiya leaped to the window, his eyes scanning the rooftops, spotting Naruto's orange figure. "Kid, what's gotten into you?" he muttered, his gut twisting. Naruto's Sage Mode, his calculated strike—it was the work of a Hokage, not a reckless boy.
Kakashi was already out the window, his Lightning Blade fading as he landed on the rooftop, Anbu swarming behind him, their masks glinting in the sunlight. Tsunade followed, her Hokage cloak billowing, her voice a thunderclap. "Naruto, stand down!"
Homura and Koharu helped Danzo to his feet, his blood staining the floor. Shizune rushed forward, her medical chakra glowing. "Danzo-sama, let me stop the bleeding!"
Danzo swatted her hand away, his rage overriding pain. "No!" he snarled, leaping to the window, his remaining eye locked on Naruto. "That's Shisui's eye! Tsunade, if you don't explain this, I'll tear Konoha apart!"
Naruto stood on the rooftop, the stolen eye in his hand, his Sage Mode fading but his resolve unshaken. "Granny Tsunade doesn't need to deal with you, Danzo," he called, his voice carrying over the wind. "You think you can control Kurama, control Konoha? That eye's your weapon, and I'm not letting you use it."
The Anbu tightened their circle, weapons drawn, but Naruto's gaze was steady, his past life's knowledge fueling his defiance. Danzo's Kotoamatsukami could've bent Konoha to his will, just as it had Mifune at the Five Kage Summit. Naruto's own ace—Itachi's crow—was a last resort, but this strike had neutralized Danzo's greatest threat. For now, he thought, his heart heavy with the cost of his actions. Konoha's future, Hinata's safety, Sasuke's redemption—it all hung in the balance.