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Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 51:12
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Saruto's hoarse tone echoed in the stillness. Bearing a grave disposition, his pupils had constricted into slits, and his gaze radiated untamed malice, enveloping the premises in an eerie hue.
His piercing, viper-like eyes remained firm on the back of the target whom he impaled, and the red-haired man shared not a shred of remorse. In fact, at this moment, he felt a surge of immense elation! In all candour, the outlandish manoeuvre he had performed should've been enacted years ago, because Danzo, though playing the facade of a notorious protector of Konoha, was actually a slithering viper awaiting the perfect opportunity to bear its fangs!
Such a man must not be allowed to run scot-free!
Danzo's lips quivered, and he spoke, with his tone carrying newfound fear for the individual; "Y-You... What have... you d-done?"
Saruto relished in the momentary ambience, before he crispily voiced, "Something that should've been done a long time ago."
With a calm exhale, he followed up with a sigh, "Sigh... As expected of the Nara clan. Your intuition is sharp."
Directing a sidelong gaze toward the leader of the Nara clan, Saruto seemed to acknowledge the man's prowess.
Why exactly did Saruto compliment him?
"If not for your shadow stitching..." He paused, and his tone echoed like a thunderclap, prompting a sharp exclamation, and unsettlement... "I might've killed him." Saruto intoned.
Everyone propagated an aura of bewilderment that such an individual dared to voice such threatening words, words that deserved lifelong incarceration! Danzo's visage distorted at the revelation, grimacing that such a lowly person had the audacity.
What's more, if not for Shikaku's timely intervention, he would've perished! Saruto's lips curled into an ominous smile at the old man's crestfallen transition.
Meanwhile, Shikaku, bearing a contemplative visage with a solitary bead of sweat tracing down his cheek, quipped, "It was just a hunch, but to think you would go so far Saruto."
Danzo's jaws gnashed together, and he struggled to vocalise, as though his throat were infected by phlegm. He slowly turned his head around, seemingly fixated on Saruto, and rasped, "H-Hiruzen, y-you ought... to kill... him."
However, Danzo's utterance seemed to magnify beyond Saruto, halting at an aged individual who stood directly behind the red-haired man. He was none other than Sarutobi Hiruzen. Hiruzen's kunai ceased at Saruto's nape, ready to dig into the flesh of the perpetrator at a moment's notice. Hiruzen emphasised, "Saruto, you've gone too far. Do you understand there will be repercussions to such crimes, especially against a major head of Konoha?!"
Despite hearkening to the taunts of the Hokage, Saruto continued to emit nonchalance, and casually extracted his sword from Danzo, to which a crimson fluid seeped through his chest, prompting Danzo to hiss in anguish.
Saruto remarked, "I understand this is a grave situation for me, however..."
"!"
Once again, a sharp exclamation rang in the air as Saruto suddenly vanished from the spot, taking everyone by surprise, as they had all presumed he was bound by Shikaku's shadows.
*THUD*
The eyes of all were redirected to the meeting table, more specifically, the source behind the thud sound. The same, scarlet-haired man stood atop the table, disregarding the presence of the respected heads of Konoha. He looked down upon the dismayed reactions of all like a monarch, not caring for their revered status. His eyes squinted, savouring the shock everyone projected, and quite frankly, it was rather amusing.
It felt euphoric!
He liked this position of superiority, to gaze down upon the higher strata of society with disdain as though they failed to meet his expectations. He truly felt like a king, despite his precarious dilemma. While everyone seemed dampened by Saruto's unforgivable actions, Shikaku indulged in a separate train of thought; he had yet to perceive how this man could evade his clutch with ease!
'How... How did he avoid my Shadows?!' He mentally hollered.
While everyone remained rooted on the spot, Saruto used this golden opportunity, and raised his sword vertically, to which Danzo's eyes unfurled in trepidation. The glinting tip of Saruto's sword reflected in his trembling pupils, before it shot down at unforeseen velocity, producing a sharp whistle in the air!
*WHISTLE*
Danzo's pupils flickered, for this time, he had deemed he was as good as dead...
But he was still breathing!
The sword ceased right in front of his throat, inches apart, and he unconsciously swallowed hard. Today truly was a heart-racing day for the old man, as his death seemed imminent, but it never came to him. Even death would be more peaceful than persevering in life with heightened vigilance every second.
To never be able to embrace solace, but to always exercise caution... It was a rather frightening prospect. Right now, the aged man could only tremble in fear, as one thing became certain through this farce; he knew from a glance he didn't stand a chance against Saruto. As such, he couldn't help, but muse and grit his teeth, 'W-Where? Where has this man been hiding this whole time?!'
Meanwhile, the red-haired man attempted to alleviate the mood, "You need not worry, I had no intention of killing him from the start..." Retracting the sword from his throat, he deliberated while gracefully sheathing it; "... That role is reserved for the future."
Shikaku, raising a brow, inquired, "What are you talking about? Didn't you just say you would've killed him if not for me?"
Saruto's lips curled and he mocked, "That was a bluff." Pointing a forefinger at Danzo, he grinned before continuing, "When I said you saved him, did you see the look on his face? Haha." He couldn't help but chortle at the end. He remarked while making funny faces as to impersonate Danzo and gesturing with his hands, "The expression he made was like, 'A-Am I... Am I gonna die?'"
His cheeks inflated, before he released a hearty laughter, "Phfff, hahaha!"
Everyone was taken aback by the red-haired man's sudden change in demeanour, giving the impression he was a trustworthy man whom you can casually converse with... But once aggrieved, he is not one to be trifled with! Danzo's current plight was a testament to this, one that would've ended his life in an instant!
From this interaction, everyone deduced the man did not act out of impudence, nor was he rash with anyone. He had a sole ambition, and the obstacles that would stagnate his goals would be incinerated, no matter who they may be. Danzo's lax thinking concerning Uzumaki Naruto's well-being, and his warped policies of nurturing Naruto as a weapon...
Such ideologies triggered Saruto, especially considering that as a major figurehead, partly responsible for the peace of the village, harbours such hostility. Danzo has not a shred of sympathy for the victim of all this, who endured the torment projected onto him by the denizens. Naruto persevered with a smile on his face while questioning why he had to embrace such a cruel fate, and even knowing this, Danzo's thought process remained corrosive to the youth's well-being!
Saruto felt his wrath was justified... No, he was being too merciful to allow this man to live. Honestly, letting this man go may be a sign of irreversible stupidity! As such, he impolitely addressed, "Danzo..."
Dismounting the table, he warned, "Your death will be reserved for the future." Turning around, he faced the exit of the premises, and bid farewell without batting an eye on anyone; "With this, the meeting is over. Thank you for your time."
In a calm stride, each footstep seemed to carry an ominous weight before his being departed the room, leaving the room in an uncanny silence as everybody was too stunned to speak.
"Ugh," a groan pervaded, directing everyone's gaze toward the susceptible Danzo.
Hiruzen immediately announced, "Danzo, wait, I will immedia-"
Intercepting Hiruzen was a raised hand from Danzo, before he insisted, "Leave it be, I can handle this myself."
He arose from his position, and his complexion had paled considerably due to the loss of blood. However, with immediate treatment, he would be fine, and as such, Danzo notified, "I will be leaving now."
With a cane in hand, Danzo too, departed the premises, hence, an uncanny hush prevailed. Shikaku was the first to break the silence, "That escalated quickly."
Hiruzen nodded, "Indeed."
Affirming himself, Homura vocalised, "I believe the matter is settled, but I can't help but feel sceptical of this Saruto."
Koharu chided along in support; "Yes. To think he would do such a thing to Danzo..." Her pitch increased as she questioned, "Are we truly okay with this?"
A momentary hush befell the members, before Inoichi interjected, "For Naruto's sake, let's hope this ends here."
And so, the meeting had come to an end...
***
Exiting the establishment, Saruto wore an impassive look as he sauntered along the streets, relaying over the farce he had instigated. Replaying the scenario in his mind, he couldn't help but snicker at the image of the helpless Danzo, and the fear that was etched on his sallow face; it was invigorating.
He had entered the discussion with an aloof mind in the first place because he didn't have a good night's sleep. Honestly, he felt drained, so much so that he wanted to lumber on his sofa and bask in the solace of laying his head on his wife's lap.
That was how he initially felt, but the haggardness subsided as the image of the dismayed and frightened Danzo painted a refined portrait in his mind. He was sure the seasoned elder had gone through the 5 stages of grief in that minuscule time gap.
It was quite comical.
Turning back with pocket in hand, Saruto stared frigidly at the crimson infrastructure, and despite the possible feud he had birthed, he graciously welcomed all troubles with a smile on his face, for he would reign triumphant...
Though truth be told, it may prove quite problematic if the aggrieved Danzo wages war on him.
(Will he lose though? Nah, he'd win!)
Additionally, because of what transpired, Hiruzen would also keep an assiduous eye on Danzo, and would be forced to step in if he does anything precarious. Furthermore, by "collaborating" with the notorious Namikaze Hayato, Danzo wouldn't even dare to approach the Uzumaki household. It was truly a lose-lose situation for the old man, and this was the true reason behind Saruto's heinous assault, and also why he seemed to act so leisurely.
He came intending to kill him, but abstained. While it would've been easier to get rid of him, there was something he needed to affirm...
Danzo is an elusive man, obscured in the tenebrous, and expertly capable of deleting anything related to him. As such, with time, he was exempt from facing the consequences of his action. This signified the hazardous power he wielded, making him an unapproachable monolith. Saruto was honestly curious, just what sort of schemes did the old man get involved with?
Only upon unravelling Danzo's shenanigans will he be content with doing away with him, and then proceed to kill anyone associated with his horrid schemes. Bearing this in mind, he accomplished an objective he had in mind for a long time...
Tightening his wrist, Saruto mused in delight, 'I've marked him.' He could finally heave a breath of relief as the sly old man was rendered incapable of escaping his scrutiny.
With an ecstatic grin, he sauntered along the street, and murmured, "Just you wait Danzo, I'll find out everything you're hiding."
Leniency had a limit, and as for Danzo, the assault he had endured today was merely the tip of the iceberg. It wasn't even an act of mercy on Saruto's part; he had a gnawing suspicion relating something, but that would present itself at some point.
A fragmented memory was rekindled, as Saruto could vaguely recall a monstrous silhouette... Yet it lacked clarity. However, this monstrosity somehow seemed to align with Danzo, according to him. As such, he mused, 'Just what on Earth are you creating?!'
It would be much simpler to inflict pain, and force Danzo to spill the beans, but Danzo may rather kill himself, and Saruto won't get the answer he seeks.
As vexing as it is, patience was key here.
Next time, however, it certainly won't bode well for Danzo!
But what was the unsettling memory that invoked a sense of ominous foreboding for Saruto?
A lot of queries lingered, but only time will tell.
***
Let me know if I made any mistakes. I'll check on em. Thank you for reading.