Not long after Shikaku, Choza, and Inoichi left the Hokage's office, a figure emerged from the shadows. Danzo stepped out from the dark corner, his presence as quiet as it was unsettling.
He had been there the whole time.
When he learned that the Ino-Shika-Cho trio was on their way, he didn't bother leaving. Instead, he slipped into the shadowed recesses of the room, content to listen and observe. Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, hadn't protested. This wasn't the first time Danzo had concealed himself in his office, lurking unnoticed during private discussions.
Danzo's stealth skills were formidable, enough that Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza remained oblivious to his presence during their conversation. Yet, his concealment wasn't just due to his abilities—it was a result of circumstance. Inoichi, a powerful sensory-type ninja, could have easily detected him. But in the Hokage's office, it would have been seen as disrespectful for Inoichi to use his sensory techniques, especially in the presence of the Hokage. The trust they had in Hiruzen allowed them to lower their guard—a trust that Danzo saw as both a weakness and a point of exploitation.
Only when the room had emptied did Danzo finally reveal himself, stepping out from the shadows as if he had always been part of them.
Once they were alone, Danzo finally spoke, his voice low and calculated. "It seems Inoiki's Kekkei Genkai is even more significant than I thought," he said, his words more of an observation than a question. His gaze never wavered from Hiruzen, always probing for an advantage.
Hiruzen sat in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin, his gaze fixed on the floor as he pondered the matter deeply. "It does seem that way," he murmured, voice thick with thought. "Shikaku wouldn't have gone to such lengths to conceal Inoiki's Kekkei Genkai unless it was something remarkable. If it were just another ordinary ability, there would be no need for such secrecy."
Danzo, sitting across from him, bristled with impatience. His eyes narrowed, his voice hard as steel. "This is exactly what frustrates me about you, Hiruzen," he snapped. "If you suspect that Inoiki's Kekkei Genkai is extraordinary, you should have confronted Shikaku. You should've demanded the truth—by force, if necessary. And to ensure that both Shikaku and Inoiki remain under Konoha's control, you should have placed the boy in ROOT."
Hiruzen sighed, exasperation flickering across his weathered face. "There you go again, Danzo," he said, shaking his head. "Always insisting that control is the only way. A village doesn't operate like that."
Danzo opened his mouth to retort, but Hiruzen held up a hand, cutting him off. "And don't forget," Hiruzen continued firmly, "the Ino-Shika-Cho trio has been loyal to the Hokage for generations. If they truly wanted to hide the full nature of Inoiki's ability, they could have. But they didn't—they brought it to me immediately. That shows trust, trust in me, and in the village."
Danzo's eyes flashed, but Hiruzen wasn't finished. "Besides," he added, leaning forward, his voice softer but no less resolute, "every ninja has secrets. It's what keeps them alive when things are at their most dire. Demanding that Shikaku reveal Inoiki's Kekkei Genkai outright? That's no different than demanding they hand over their very lives to us. I won't do that. I can't." He met Danzo's gaze squarely, unflinching. "You know that."
The silence between them thickened, heavy with unspoken tension. Danzo's face was unreadable, but Hiruzen could feel the man's displeasure radiating across the room. Yet, despite the weight of it, he held firm. This was his village. And there were lines even he wouldn't cross.
"Hmph! Your indecisiveness is your greatest flaw, Hiruzen," Danzo sneered, his tone sharp with disdain. Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel, striding out of the Hokage's office with brisk, calculated steps. He didn't bother with formalities, knowing further conversation was pointless. Hiruzen, in his eyes, was a lost cause—too soft, too reluctant to make the hard decisions.
As the door clicked shut, Hiruzen's gaze lingered for a moment. A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he murmured quietly, "And that, Danzo, is exactly why I'm Hokage... and you never will be."
Back in the shadowy confines of the ROOT headquarters, Danzo's expression darkened. The dim light flickered against the cold stone walls as he paced, deep in thought. His mind still echoed with Hiruzen's refusal, and the frustration simmered in his chest.
"If you won't act, Hiruzen," he muttered to himself, "then I will. Inoiki's Kekkei Genkai will belong to ROOT, whether you approve or not." His voice was quiet, but the determination in it was undeniable.
With a sharp intake of breath, Danzo stopped in his tracks. "Someone," he commanded, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.
Almost instantly, a masked ROOT ninja appeared behind him, kneeling on one knee, head bowed in obedience. There was no hesitation, no need for words from the operative—he was there to follow orders.
"Summon Fu," Danzo ordered, his tone cold and measured. "I have a task for him."
The ninja gave a brief nod, acknowledging the command with a curt, "Yes," before vanishing as quickly as he had appeared, slipping into the shadows with practiced precision.
Danzo's fingers twitched as he clenched his cane, his mind already calculating the next steps. If Hiruzen was too weak to take control of the situation, then Danzo would seize the opportunity. He would make sure the boy—and his power—belonged to ROOT. Hiruzen's leadership be damned.
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