Some wars begin long before the first blade is drawn.
Danzō spoke slowly.
"Within Konoha, only the Uchiha can control the Nine-Tails. It's been over a year since the incident, yet they've failed to prove their innocence."
"After relocating them to the outskirts, relations between the village and the Uchiha have only worsened."
"Lord Tobirama once said—the Uchiha are a cursed clan. Rather than waiting for rebellion…"
He raised a hand—
and made a slicing gesture across his throat.
"…it's better to eliminate them early."
Hatred flickered in his eyes.
He had always despised the Uchiha.
And now—
he wanted them erased.
Hearing this, Hiruzen frowned deeply.
The Nine-Tails incident—
the Uchiha had never been able to fully clear their name.
But—
he still shook his head.
"No," Hiruzen said firmly.
"The Uchiha are one of Konoha's founding clans. They have produced shinobi like Uchiha Kagami and Uchiha Shisui—men willing to sacrifice themselves for the village."
"If we move against them, the Hyuga, the Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka… all of them will lose faith in us."
"We cannot do this."
Danzō slammed his cane against the floor.
"As Hokage, you cannot afford to be soft! Eliminating the Uchiha is the best way to protect Konoha!"
Hiruzen stood with his hands behind his back.
He knew—
the Uchiha were a threat.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then—
he spoke quietly.
"…Not yet."
"Even if it comes to that… the blame must not fall on us."
"Do you understand?"
Danzō's eyes flashed.
He understood immediately.
An unspoken plan—
took shape in his mind.
"I understand."
Though Hiruzen had not said it outright—
his meaning was clear.
Permission had been given.
Danzō continued,
"There is one more matter."
His gaze sharpened.
"Hokage-sama—entrust the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki to me."
"I will train him into the village's strongest weapon."
Hiruzen turned sharply, his eyes cold.
"That is out of the question."
He rejected it without hesitation.
First—
the Nine-Tails' power was unstable.
Mishandled—
it could bring another catastrophe like the one a year ago.
Countless lives would be lost.
Other villages might even seize the opportunity to attack.
Second—
he knew Danzō too well.
If Danzō gained control over the Jinchūriki—
it wouldn't just threaten the village.
It would threaten his authority.
Unacceptable.
Danzō pressed further.
"Hiruzen, are you really going to let the Jinchūriki grow up like a normal child? Attend the academy? Become just another ordinary ninja?"
"The disaster already cost us the Fourth Hokage and Kushina—two of our greatest assets."
"Konoha is weakened, surrounded by internal and external threats."
"Give him to me. I'll turn him into a weapon that obeys Konoha completely."
Hiruzen let out a cold chuckle.
"…You mean obeys you."
Old he may have been—
but not foolish.
Handing Naruto over to Danzō—
would be like raising a tiger.
"I will not allow it."
He paused, then added, his tone sharp:
"If anything happens to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—"
"I will personally lead Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the ANBU…"
"…and wipe out Root."
"You—!" Danzō's face flushed with anger.
He hadn't expected such stubborn resistance.
"Guards. Show him out."
Two figures appeared instantly.
ANBU.
"Danzō-sama. This way."
Their tone was polite—
their stance was not.
Any resistance—
and they would act.
"…Fine."
Danzō turned, his sleeve sweeping sharply.
"Hiruzen… you'll regret this."
Years of working in the shadows—
doing what others would not—
and this was his reward?
As he reached the door, he stopped.
Without turning fully, he spoke coldly:
"The Nine-Tails is pure evil."
"Let it roam unchecked, and it will destroy the village."
"It cannot be treated kindly—only controlled."
"And if it cannot be controlled…"
"…then it must be destroyed."
"Everything I do—is for Konoha."
He left.
Silence returned.
Hiruzen looked toward the distant Hokage Rock and scoffed.
"You think you can control the Nine-Tails?"
"Delusional."
…
Late night.
Root Headquarters.
Deep underground.
A dark chamber echoed with screams.
"Ahhh—!"
A man lay strapped to an operating table.
A tall, pale figure stood over him—
scalpel in hand.
Orochimaru.
Blood pooled beneath the table.
His golden, slit pupils gleamed with excitement.
The anesthesia had worn off.
The Konoha shinobi writhed in agony—
his screams tearing through the chamber.
Orochimaru remained expressionless.
Focused.
Precise.
Not long after—
the screams faded.
His breathing grew faint.
Life slipping away.
"Your test subjects are running low," Danzō said calmly, watching without emotion. "Use them sparingly."
Orochimaru didn't even look up.
"A shinobi's purpose is to be useful," he said lightly.
"Konoha never lacks people."
"When we run out—just have Root gather more."
He smiled faintly.
"Isn't that right, Danzō-sama?"
Danzō gave a soft snort.
He didn't argue.
Orochimaru's value—
was too great.
And he wasn't wrong.
In Konoha—
people were expendable.
Even a hundred lives—
meant nothing.
After a pause, Danzō spoke again.
"I hear you've been researching kekkei genkai."
Orochimaru's tongue flicked across his lips.
"Oh? Do you have a suggestion?"
"…The Uchiha."
Silence.
Then—
Orochimaru's eyes lit up.
"The Uchiha…"
During the Third Great Ninja War—
he had witnessed Fugaku's Sharingan.
Its power—
had fascinated him ever since.
But the Sharingan—
was the Uchiha's core.
Each pair—
priceless.
And the clan was small, tightly bound.
If even one member disappeared—
Fugaku would tear Konoha apart searching.
Orochimaru's research—
was already dangerous enough.
He had avoided the Sharingan—
to avoid unnecessary risk.
And now—
Danzō was offering it.
Orochimaru smiled.
"Well then… I'll gladly accept."
"Much appreciated, Danzō-sama."
Danzō nodded.
Then turned and left.
Moments later—
he stood in an open chamber, shrouded in darkness.
"B—D!"
Two Root operatives appeared instantly, wearing animal masks.
"Danzō-sama."
Their voices were cold.
Danzō gave his order:
"Capture Fugaku's child."
"Bring him to Root."
"Deliver him to Orochimaru for experimentation."
Simple.
Brutal.
Effective.
Kill what Fugaku holds dear—
drive him into madness—
force the Uchiha into conflict with the village.
The Uchiha were strong.
But against Konoha—
they stood no chance.
And when war came—
Hiruzen and Danzō would stand together.
As they always had.
Light and shadow.
Perfectly aligned.
"Those cursed Uchiha…"
Danzō's voice was ice.
"…should have been erased long ago."
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