Orochimaru observed the situation with fascination, his tongue unconsciously moistening his lips.
"To make someone of Kage level fall into an unbreakable genjutsu... It's simply extraordinary," he murmured, his eyes shining with admiration.
Although Orochimaru had not yet embarked on his path to madness, his obsession with ninjutsu was already bordering on the feverish.
"It has to be the work of that boy, Chen. I'm going to find him myself and end this once and for all." Hiruzen clenched his fists.
Not only was his relationship with Danzo at stake, but the very stability of Konoha. With an internal sigh, he mentally prepared himself to confront Chen and force him to release the genjutsu.
But Orochimaru intervened with a smile, "Sensei... Are you so sure? Or are you scared to think that a child could have so much power?"
"Wait a moment. I know that boy," Jiraiya interjected at that moment, "Come on, I've seen that Hyuga boy before. Yes, he's been a loudmouth today, but from there to being able to trap Danzo in an illusion... He's only ten years old, for God's sake."
"Not everyone is as slow as you, idiot," Orochimaru replied.
"What do you mean by that, Orochimaru?" Jiraiya growled.
But he simply looked at him with contempt, repeating, "Idiot."
Before the situation could escalate, a chilling sound filled the air.
Danzo, who until that moment had remained motionless, began to laugh uncontrollably.
"Ha! Ha! HA!" he howled, his unfocused eyes looking at something only he could see. "Finally! I finally have you, you damn monster!"
With a brutal movement that no one could anticipate, he brought his hand to his face and, to everyone's horror, tore out his right eye. Blood gushed, but he seemed not to notice, squeezing the eyeball in his fist.
"Danzo!" Hiruzen shouted, rushing towards his friend. "For heaven's sake! What are you doing?"
But Danzo continued, oblivious to everything. "I have you! I have you!" he repeated over and over, his voice oscillating between euphoria and pain. "Years... years waiting for this moment... And finally you're mine!"
Suddenly, as if a light had gone out, Danzo seemed to wake up.
The pain hit him with full force and a heart-wrenching scream escaped his throat. He brought his hands to his face, staining himself with his own blood.
"What...? Where...?" He managed to say, his voice now small. "Hiruzen... what's happening? I... I was fighting... there was a monster... its eyes... its eyes were chasing me!"
Kneeling beside Danzo, he tried to contain the bleeding. "Calm down. You're safe. You fell under a genjutsu."
"Gen...jutsu?" The word seemed to awaken something in Danzo. A bitter laugh erupted from his lips. "A genjutsu? Me? The great Danzo? Ha... ha... HA!"
A twisted smile formed on his bloodied face as he collapsed to the ground.
"Quick! Call the medics!" Hiruzen ordered.
As the medical ninjas took Danzo away, Hiruzen listened to their diagnosis. The physical wounds were serious, but the mental damage... that was truly alarming.
"How long will it take him to recover?" he demanded.
The medical ninja lowered his gaze. "It's... it's impossible to know for certain, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen clenched his fists in anger and frustration. "I'll go find Tsunade," he declared, heading in one direction. "She will treat him personally."
______
Arriving as quickly as possible at Tsunade's tent, only to find it empty. A guard ninja, noticing his urgency, approached nervously.
"Hokage-sama" he said, bowing respectfully, "Tsunade-sama headed to the Senju clan settlement a while ago."
Hearing this, Hiruzen cursed under his breath, turning on his heels. "Of course"
Upon arrival, the scene he found made him raise an eyebrow.
Tsunade was in the middle of what seemed to be a heated reprimand to Nawaki, who looked like he wanted the earth to swallow him up.
"Sister," Nawaki interrupted, relieved by the distraction. "Hokage-sama is here."
Tsunade barely gave Hiruzen a glance before turning her attention back to her brother. "Don't think this saves you," she growled, making Nawaki visibly shrink.
Hiruzen cleared his throat, his patience rapidly wearing thin. But as he looked around the tent, his eyes fell on Chen, and his expression hardened.
"Chen Hyuga" he said with authority, "Was it you who cast a genjutsu on Danzo, the Hokage's assistant?...Do you understand the gravity of your actions?!"
Chen, who until that moment had been playing with little Konan on the floor, looked up and a mocking smile formed on his face upon seeing this old man.
"Well, well... the Hokage himself comes to interrogate me," he said insolently. "Tell me, Hokage-sama, do you have any proof of your accusations? Because, you know, in Konoha we usually follow due process, don't we?"
These words caused anger to boil inside Hiruzen.
Chen's defiant attitude, his barely veiled disrespect, all of it made his blood boil.
But Chen continued, dramatically bringing a hand to his chest. "Accusing an innocent citizen without evidence... Oh, how it hurts my little heart! I expected more from our esteemed leader."
Hiruzen clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure.
Never, in all his years as Hokage, had he felt so challenged, so... powerless.
Tsunade watched the exchange with a sweet smile. Chen was standing up for her, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction.
"Hokage-sama" she intervened, "Chen is just a ten-year-old boy. Do you really think Danzo, with all his experience, would fall to a Genin's genjutsu?" Crossing her arms under her generous chest, a playful smile appeared on her lips.
"If you're going to accuse my disciple, at least invent a more credible excuse."
Looking at them feeling how the situation was slipping out of his hands. Frustration and anger mixed inside him.
Seeing him about to explode, Chen with a smile full of impudence looked at Tsunade with a mischievous gaze.
"Oh, no!" he exclaimed with exaggerated drama. "It looks like Hokage-sama wants to hit me! Tsunade-sensei, protect me!"
With a quick movement, he launched himself towards Tsunade, burying his face in the kunoichi's generous cleavage.
The height difference made the scene even more provocative.
Tsunade's face lit up bright red, clearly surprised by Chen's audacity. "C-Chen!" she stuttered, divided between embarrassment and a strange sensation she felt running through her groin.
"Chen Hyuga!" Hiruzen roared, his voice booming. "Is this your idea of respect towards the Hokage?"
Chen moved slightly away from Tsunade, resting his cheek against the generous cleavage and with his eyes fixed on Hiruzen's.
"Oh, come on, Hokage-sama" he said in a mocking tone. "Don't you like my attitude? Well, it's the only one I have. If it bothers you so much... why don't you come and do something about it?"
Mikoto and Kushina, unable to contain themselves, let out laughs. Even Nawaki, who had always shown the utmost respect towards the Hokage, had to bite his lip to keep from laughing.
Hiruzen's face contorted with fury. Never, in all his years as Hokage, had he felt so insulted. He knew he couldn't touch Chen without disastrous consequences.
The news of a Hokage hitting a child would be catastrophic for his reputation and the stability of the village.
Breathing deeply, he turned to Tsunade, trying to ignore Chen's triumphant smile.
"Tsunade" he said, "Danzo is seriously injured. His mind is on the verge of collapse. He needs your treatment. This is not the time for personal quarrels."
Chen, however, was not willing to let the opportunity pass. "Wow!" he exclaimed. "They barely arrive at the battlefield and he's already injured? What a waste. Tsunade-sensei, you shouldn't waste your talent on someone like that."
"Chen Hyuga!" he roared again with his patience at the limit.
Chen shrank, pressing himself even more against Tsunade's tits. "Why are you shouting so much? I'm not deaf, you know? Are you trying to scare me? I've heard rumors about the current Hokage, and it seems they're true. Do you enjoy intimidating children?"
Without waiting for an answer, he buried his face again in Tsunade's chest, clearly ending the conversation.
Tsunade trying to regain some of her composure, looked at Hiruzen. "I-I'm exhausted from the constant battles, Hiruzen. And if Danzo doesn't have any serious problems, I don't see why I should intervene."
"Danzo is in a coma, Tsunade! We don't know when he'll wake up. In the midst of this war, his role is indispensable. Please, don't be reckless." Hiruzen, struggling to maintain calm, tried to reason.
But he was there, without raising his head, murmured loud enough for everyone to hear: "Oh, so he's not dead yet! I don't see the problem then. Although, being the Hokage's assistant, he seems quite fragile. Maybe he should retire and dedicate himself to raising children."
Hiruzen felt his control slipping away. If it weren't for his position, for everything he represented, he would have beaten Chen into unconsciousness.
"Without Danzo" he said through gritted teeth, "Konoha would be in danger. Do you want to see the village founded by the First Hokage destroyed?"
But his words, instead of convincing Tsunade, only seemed to infuriate her more. Chen's presence, his constant interference, had completely frustrated Hiruzen's attempts to reason.
As he watched Chen, still clinging to Tsunade with impudence, Hiruzen felt his teeth grinding.
________
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