The door to the Hokage's office slammed open.
"Enough."
The word cut through the room like steel.
Danzo Shimura stepped inside, his cane striking sharply against the floor. His visible eye burned with restrained fury beneath the bandages wrapped around his face.
"I told you," he said coldly, "that boy should have been handed over to me."
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not look up from his desk.
"You're referring to Ken."
Danzo scoffed.
"Look at what he's already done. A genin nearly killed his own teammate. This is the result of your softness."
Hiruzen finally raised his gaze.
"Kakashi was not injured," he replied calmly. "And it was an accident born from pressure. Any shinobi can make mistakes."
Danzo struck his cane against the floor.
"An accident?" he repeated."A nobody from the academy suddenly becomes a genius capable of inventing lethal techniques?"
His eye narrowed.
"What if he's a spy? What if he was planted to eliminate one of Konoha's greatest talents?"
The air hardened.
"That is enough."
Hiruzen's voice cracked like thunder.
"You and I have reviewed his background—repeatedly."
"We have records from his birth," Hiruzen continued. "His father was a shinobi who died in service to the village."
He leaned forward.
"His family were loyal citizens of the Leaf."
"There is no doubt about his identity."
Danzo snorted.
"Even so," he said, refusing to retreat, "he is an uncontrollable factor. Power without restraint is a threat."
He lifted his cane slightly.
"Give him to Root. We will sharpen him into a proper blade."
Silence followed.
Then Hiruzen stood.
"That child does not need to live in the shadows," he said sharply.
"He will protect Konoha in the light."
Danzo opened his mouth again—
"I am the Hokage."
The words were absolute.
Final.
Danzo froze.
Slowly, he turned toward the door.
"This decision," he said coldly, "will cost you."
He paused at the threshold.
"You will regret this."
The door slammed shut behind him.
Hiruzen remained standing long after the echo faded.
Deep beneath the village—
Stone corridors swallowed sound.
Torches burned with steady blue flames as Danzo walked through Root headquarters, his cane tapping softly against the floor.
A masked shinobi appeared beside him and knelt.
"Shall we continue surveillance of the boy?" the operative asked.
Danzo did not answer immediately.
Ken had been under observation long before today.
Talent alone had never been enough.
Many prodigies emerged each generation. Without a bloodline limit or rare inheritance, none were worth provoking the Hokage over.
That was why Danzo had waited.
Why he had merely watched.
But today changed everything.
A self-created technique.
Instinctive wind-nature transformation.
Strong killing intent.
He is perfect material for root.
Danzo exhaled slowly.
"…No."
The operative stiffened.
"Hokage-sama has issued a direct order," Danzo continued. "All observation is to cease."
The masked shinobi hesitated briefly.
"…Understood."
Danzo turned away.
He did not like it.
Losing a talent like that was wasteful.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi was not yet the man who allowed shadows to rule unchecked.
At least… not yet.
For now, the Hokage's authority still carried weight.