The Hokage's office had emptied out as evening fell, leaving only the inner circle: Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Hiruzen Sarutobi himself. The weight of command hung heavy in the air.
Tsunade tossed a scroll across the desk. Hiruzen caught it smoothly, his eyes flickering toward Orochimaru with barely concealed curiosity. Normally, the field commander would file such reports. But Tsunade—mere second-in-command—had taken the initiative.
The message was clear: Orochimaru had already approved.
Interesting, Hiruzen thought. But not entirely unexpected.
After all, Tsunade and Hanekawa had dominated the Frost Country campaign. Their reputation had eclipsed even Orochimaru's. A shift in power was only natural.
Hiruzen unrolled the scroll and began reading. Casualty counts. Resource expenditures. Captured enemy ninja. The numbers told a story of surgical precision.
"Exceptional work," he said finally, satisfaction evident in his voice. "The lowest cost for the greatest gain. Capturing the Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and the Fourth Raikage alive—there's nothing more to say."
Tsunade nodded. She'd stopped caring about accolades long ago. What reward could possibly match what she and Hanekawa had accomplished?
"Now, regarding Shimura Danzo," Tsunade said, shifting gears. "What's your decision, old man?"
"Colluding with enemy villages is a capital offense," Jiraiya stated flatly.
"Inappropriate," Mitokado Homura countered, shaking his head. "Danzo has served Konoha faithfully for decades. That cannot be dismissed."
"And we have no proof this isn't Hidden Cloud propaganda," Utatane Koharu added smoothly. "They've already tried slandering Hanekawa as their spy. This could be another attempt to sow discord."
"Except Hanekawa isn't a spy," Tsunade said coldly, "and we have solid evidence that Danzo is a traitor."
She produced another scroll. Hiruzen opened it, and his expression darkened with each line. Testimony from four Root operatives. Statements from Mabui and the Cloud delegation. Danzo's own defense, filed through Orochimaru.
The picture was damning: Tsunade, Hanekawa, and their forces had been isolated, cut off from support. Only their overwhelming strength had prevented a massacre.
"This bastard," Hiruzen muttered, then rubbed his temples. The headache was immediate and intense.
He didn't want to execute Danzo. They'd known each other for decades. Too many secrets. Too much history.
"Orochimaru," he said carefully. "Your thoughts?"
Tsunade and Jiraiya wanted execution. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu pleaded for mercy. Hanekawa and Minato were too junior to weigh in officially. Only Orochimaru remained silent.
"The merits and demerits cancel each other out," Orochimaru said finally, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Cancel out?" Tsunade's voice rose. "Konoha is in chaos because of him!"
"You overstate the case, Tsunade," Utatane Koharu said sharply. "Danzo has served diligently since the Second Hokage's time."
"Overstate?" Tsunade laughed without humor. "If my grandfather knew what he'd done, he'd have expelled him from the clan."
Mitokado Homura turned to Hiruzen. "This requires your judgment, Hokage."
Hiruzen took a long breath. "Danzo has indeed made contributions. However..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "The death penalty is avoided, but life imprisonment cannot be. I'm stripping him of his position as Hokage's advisor."
Tsunade sighed. She'd anticipated this outcome, but disappointment still gnawed at her. Jiraiya shook his head. The hero of yesterday was gone.
Hiruzen noticed their reactions and felt a flicker of embarrassment.
Hanekawa, however, was thoughtful. So Danzo escapes execution. As expected. His mind was already working through contingencies. Time to accelerate the plan.
"There's more," Tsunade said, her voice taking on a dangerous edge.
Hiruzen's stomach dropped. "What now?"
"Wood Style experiments," Tsunade said, each word deliberate and sharp.
The office went silent. Even Orochimaru's expression shifted—just barely, but Hanekawa caught it.
"I thought those were discontinued years ago," Hiruzen said carefully, though his tone suggested he already knew better.
"Someone restarted them," Tsunade said with barely contained fury. "Danzo Shimura and Orochimaru."
Hiruzen nearly stood up. "What?"
"We have evidence," Jiraiya said, producing a thick file.
Orochimaru's tongue flicked across his lips. So they found out. He'd known this day might come, but not so soon. Not with Tsunade holding the smoking gun.
Hiruzen read through the documents in silence. The data was irrefutable—and it connected to missing children from years past.
"Orochimaru," he said quietly. "Do you have anything to say?"
"No," Orochimaru replied calmly. He'd expected this. Resistance was pointless with every major combatant in the room.
"All positions stripped," Hiruzen decided. "You're confined to the village without explicit permission to leave. And the experiments—this stays classified."
"Understood," Orochimaru said smoothly. At least I can stay. That's what matters.
"Where is Danzo now?" Tsunade demanded.
"Prison," Hiruzen said finally. "For life."
"Prison?" Tsunade's voice cracked with anger. She turned and left without another word, pulling Hanekawa with her.
---
Outside the Hokage Tower, Tsunade stopped and gazed toward the Hokage Rock—the carved faces of Hashirama, Tobirama, and Hiruzen watching over the village.
"Teacher," Hanekawa said softly. "I'll contact the Fire Country Daimyo."
Tsunade turned to him, one eyebrow raised.
"They're old," Hanekawa continued. "They've lost their ambition. It's time for new leadership."
Tsunade studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Go."
"Don't worry," Hanekawa said with a confident smile. "Once the Daimyo gets involved, there's no way this fails."
Tsunade's irritation melted into something warmer. She reached out and rubbed his face roughly—twice.
"After you become Hokage," Hanekawa said, catching her hand, "I can finally walk around the village without worrying."
"What nonsense," Tsunade said, but she was smiling. She didn't pull her hand away as they walked home together.
---
Inside the house, Tsunade collapsed onto the sofa with a satisfied groan, her body sprawling across the cushions in a way that made Hanekawa quickly look away.
"Don't stare, brat," she said without opening her eyes. "I'm thirsty."
"Right away, Teacher."
He returned with iced lemonade—perfectly chilled, perfectly balanced. Tsunade took a long sip and sighed contentedly. Even late September heat could be brutal.
Hanekawa sat across from her, his mind already working through the next phase.
Making Danzo defect wouldn't be difficult. The man's ambition was his weakness—and his cage. Under normal circumstances, he'd never abandon Konoha. But circumstances could be arranged.
Uchiha Shisui, Hanekawa thought. In the original timeline, Danzo took his Mangekyō Sharingan. Time to change that story.
The plan crystallized: Shisui would use his Mangekyō to plant suggestions in Danzo's mind. Control him, or at least guide him. The only way to detect such manipulation was through a Byakugan—and Hanekawa had cultivated excellent relationships with the Hyuga clan. They wouldn't expose him.
The timing would be perfect: the day the Fire Country Daimyo arrived to force Hiruzen's abdication. Danzo would make his move, be exposed, and defect. The chaos would be exquisite.
And maybe, Hanekawa thought with anticipation, Danzo will finally have some real value as an entry.
"What are you plotting?" Tsunade asked, eyes still closed.
"Nothing," Hanekawa said smoothly. "Just thinking that prison seems too easy for Danzo."
"He'll get what's coming to him," Tsunade said with grim satisfaction. "Once I'm Hokage, I'll make sure of it."
"As expected from my teacher," Hanekawa said warmly.
Tsunade cracked one eye open, a small smile playing at her lips. "What will you do once I'm Hokage?"
"How about Hokage's secretary?" Hanekawa asked thoughtfully.
"I thought you wanted to be my advisor."
"Both," Hanekawa said without hesitation. "The Hidden Cloud has a secretary position—Mabui. Same work, different title."
Tsunade laughed. "Fine. You can help with the paperwork."
"That means you'll be lazy," Hanekawa said seriously.
"Then why would I need you?" Tsunade shot back, rolling her eyes.
"To make sure you actually work," Hanekawa said with mock solemnity.
"Whoever wants to be Hokage can have it," Tsunade grumbled, but she was already softening. "Fine. Help me, then."
"I will," Hanekawa promised. "How's your chakra recovery?"
"Good. The Yin Seal just needs time to refill."
Tsunade yawned widely. "I'm taking a nap. Wake me for dinner."
Once her breathing deepened into sleep, Hanekawa slipped outside and formed a shadow clone with a sharp bang.
"Go to the Fire Country capital," he instructed. "Tell the Daimyo that Tsunade requests an audience. Make it clear this is her decision."
The clone vanished.
Hanekawa looked back at the sleeping Tsunade through the window, then toward the distant Hokage Rock.
The age of Hiruzen is ending, he thought. And Danzo's final act is about to begin.
He had much to thank Danzo for, in a way. Without his betrayal, none of this would have been possible.
The pieces were in motion. Soon, everything would change.
---
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