Anyway, so a lot of shit happened. Well, none of it truly mattered now. Seijuro had the serum for Wood Release. Now, he just needed a good reason/excuse before he could give it to Nawaki, as the way he acquired this one may or may not have involved stuff he shouldn't have.
Speaking of which, he and his clone used two different accounts, with no way to showcase that the two of them were in any sense of the word related—which, in Seijuro's humble opinion, was for the best. And he hoped it stayed that way.
Anyway, he had a shit ton of money on the side, and plenty of labs.
Location: Hokage Tower – Hokage's Office
He was called by the Kage, so he put on his ANBU clothing, even donned his mask, and followed protocol.
Upon arriving at the Hokage's office, he appeared in front of Sakumo and bowed.
"I heard you wanted to see me, Lord Fourth."
Sakumo nodded. "Straight to the point, as always."
He pushed a folder across the desk. "Effective immediately, I'm reinstating you into ANBU... as the Commander."
Sakumo noticed the boy's confusion. "I've read your full file. Everything. Every... disturbing detail from the previous regime. And yet, the one thing consistent through all of it was this: your loyalty to Konoha. Even when the elders failed you. Even when Danzo tried to control you."
He folded his hands. "You're the best psychological and tactical mind we've got. With the state of the world, I need someone with... vision."
Seijuro gave a soft bow.
"...I accept, Lord Fourth."
Sakumo gave a nod. "Good. Because your first mission as Commander is already here."
Mission Briefing: S-Rank Operation — "Black Echoes"
Mission Type: Elimination / Interception
Target: Multiple ROOT High Command Agents
Objective: Capture/Subdue them
Estimated Enemy Combat Power: Highly dangerous. Former ROOT elite. May possess stolen Uzumaki Seals, bio-weapons, forbidden jutsu, and Hashirama Cell enhancements.
Timeframe: Urgent – Intercept within 48 hours before border breach.
Sakumo looked Seijuro dead in the eye.
"They're traveling under stealth cloaks, suppressing chakra, and using underground routes. They're determined, desperate, and absolutely loyal to Danzo's doctrine." Original content can be found at n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
"If they reach Kumo with even a fraction of what they know..."
He didn't need to finish that sentence.
Seijuro nodded solemnly.
Location: ANBU Headquarters – War Room
Seijuro stood at the front of the briefing table, arms folded as holographic topography lit up the center.
His gaze swept across the room.
"Squad Alpha-5. You're with me."
Shikaru Nara – Strategy and Shadow Hold
Inoichi Yamanaka – Interrogation, Mental Tracking
Choza Akimichi – Assault Wall
Hikaru Hyūga – Byakugan Reconnaissance
Ami Aburame – Insect Tracking
Kenta Inuzuka – Scent Trail & Beast Coordination
Each one elite. Each one handpicked.
"We're splitting into three tactical cells," Seijuro instructed. "Inoichi, Ami, Kenta—you'll locate the trail. Hikaru will assist with chakra mapping. Shikaru and Choza are strike force with me. We hit hard and fast before they reach the Cloud border."
"Expect sensor disruption, seal traps, and cloaking fields. One of them is a barrier expert."
He tapped the table, zooming in on a canyon valley close to the Lightning Country border.
"This is our choke point. We end it there."
He looked around the table.
"No prisoners. No hesitation. If they cross that line, Konoha burns."
The air tensed with silence.
Okay, welp. They got their mission.
So now, it was time to ready up.
Yet, Inoichi couldn't help but think something about Seijuro felt different... and he had no idea what yet.
Welp, it is what it is, he guessed.
To the Cloud Border They Went...
The ANBU vanished into the trees like a ghost wind.
They had to reach those ROOT ninja before long, or else Kumo might gain access to some shit they absolutely should not have access to.
Thinking about it, all of Danzo's ROOT should have been executed. Since when would he have time for a scheme ? Would he really wish to watch Konoha burn ?
If he were ever to become Hokage, Seijuro feared for the state the village would be in. That man would rule with an iron grip.
And it would be the demise of the Hidden Leaf.
While yes, his rule would probably temporarily show some growth by dominating every nation... his ass would also be killing anyone he viewed as a threat in the village. While Hiruzen tried—at least—to make sure that didn't happen, under Danzo it would be all too blatant. The Leaf would become like the Mist.
And we both know how ass that village is. Struggling to keep up even with Suna.
Seijuro wasn't saying kindness was the way to go—fuck that—but having a Kage like that ain't good either.
I mean, look at Hiruzen.
But if he had to choose between them, he would take Hiruzen. Because the kind of Konoha Danzo would make, would make sure that there wouldn't be a Konoha once he was done.
If not for the village revolting and killing him, it would be the other nations having enough of Konoha's military dominance and deciding to 4 vs 1 this bitch.
And while sure, Konoha was used to taking multiple nations at once—whenever that happened, they were united.