Konoha Hospital, Intensive Care Unit
Sarutobi Hiruzen lay in the hospital bed, his body connected to tubes, with medical machines beeping steadily beside him.
His eyes were closed, his brow furrowed, and his pale face looked drained of all life. His lips were cracked and purple, and he occasionally mumbled incoherent words.
Standing beside the bed were Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, once his closest comrades. Their expressions were complex.
They had fought over power, sometimes harshly, and their relationship had even soured at times. But deep down, they both wanted the same thing—to make Konoha stronger.
Now, seeing Hiruzen lying there, close to death, they were overwhelmed with mixed emotions. They felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on them even more heavily.
"How did it come to this?" Mitokado Homura sighed deeply, his face darkened with worry. "Hiruzen just collapsed. How did he become so weak so suddenly?"
"Who knows?" Koharu gritted her teeth, her face showing signs of anger. "He's only fifty, but it's like he's aged overnight. And he's infected with some kind of virus too."
"Virus?" Homura's frown deepened as he grew more confused. "Hiruzen is the Hokage. Could there be a traitor in the village?"
"We can't rule it out," Koharu replied coldly, her eyes flashing with a hint of cruelty. "If I find out who did this to him, I won't forgive them."
Just then, the door to the ward opened.
Shimura Danzo, dressed in a black robe and leaning on his cane, slowly entered the room.
"Danzo?" Koharu's expression soured at the sight of him. She frowned, "Why are you here if you're not willing to take charge?"
"Calm down," Danzo replied, lifting his hood to reveal his face. His gaze shifted to Hiruzen lying in bed. "I'm just here to check on him."
"The last thing we need right now is you showing up," Koharu snapped, disgust evident in her voice. She turned her head away and muttered, "Danzo, since Hiruzen entrusted you with the duties of Hokage for now, remember not to abuse your power. Homura and I will be watching you closely!"
"Danzo, you better understand the weight of your responsibility," Homura added sternly.
Mitokado Homura then added, "The Hokage isn't a position to fulfill personal desires; you must prioritize the village above all else!"
Both advisors were well aware of Danzo's ambitions.
This man was ruthless and cunning. If Konoha wasn't in a weakened state and Orochimaru wasn't so unreliable, they would never let Danzo rise to power, even if it meant defying orders.
It all felt too coincidental.
"I understand," Danzo replied calmly, his expression unchanged.
He knew very well that as long as Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya, or Tsunade were still around, he would never have the chance to take advantage of this situation.
But fate had different plans, and here he was, finally at this point.
Looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen lying on the hospital bed, Danzo curled his lips into a slight smile. His eyes glimmered as he said meaningfully, "Don't worry, Hiruzen. I won't let anything happen to Konoha before you wake up. After all, this village is our teacher's legacy."
With that, he pulled his hood back on, ready to formally accept this "gift."
"Wait, Danzo!"
At that moment, Utatane Koharu, standing behind him, suddenly called out just as Danzo was about to leave.
"Is there something else, Advisor?" Danzo asked, half-turning his head without fully facing them.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged glances. After getting an affirmative nod from Homura, she took a deep breath and spoke seriously, "During Hiruzen's medical examination, there were signs that he might have been poisoned. Keep this quiet for now. We suspect there's a traitor within Konoha. You must investigate this thoroughly."
Someone had to look into this matter carefully.
And choosing the right person for the job was crucial. After much consideration, Koharu and Homura decided to entrust the task to Danzo.
First, Danzo, as the head of Root, was already familiar with such underhanded tactics and could navigate this investigation better than anyone.
Secondly, with the identity of the "traitor" still unclear and suspicion everywhere, Danzo seemed the most fitting. As Hiruzen's longtime comrade-in-arms, they trusted that he would never harm the Hokage.
So, with these reasons in mind, the task of uncovering the traitor fell to Danzo.
"Poisoned?"
Danzo stayed silent for a moment before replying calmly, "Alright, I understand. I'll look into this matter quietly."
"Danzo!"
Homura, an old friend, looked at him seriously and said, "Don't let Hiruzen or the teacher down. Konoha is in your hands now!"
Danzo gave a brief nod and left the ward.
In the hallway, a group of ANBU were standing guard, ensuring the safety of the seriously ill Hokage.
"Keep Hiruzen safe and don't let anyone near him," Danzo ordered. After a brief pause, he added, "Once Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu leave, don't let them return. Got it?"
The ANBU were confused but obeyed since the order came from the Acting Hokage. After a moment's hesitation, Elephant, their leader, responded, "Yes, Lord Danzo!"
Danzo walked steadily, his footsteps firm, each step accompanied by the sharp sound of his cane hitting the floor. Gradually, his figure faded from view.
At the Hokage's office, Danzo pushed the door open but didn't enter right away. Instead, he stood at the entrance, staring deeply inside.
The desk, the chair, stacks of documents, the portraits of the previous Hokage on the wall, and the vast Konoha Village visible through the large window.
Danzo's gaze lingered on every detail, as if wanting to etch the scene into his memory. He stood there in silence for a long time.
Then, slowly, he moved forward, circling the desk, his fingers brushing lightly across its surface, until he reached the chair. Suppressing his emotions, he carefully sat down.
The wooden chair wasn't soft, but it gave Danzo a strange sense of comfort he had never felt before.
At that moment, deep-seated thoughts and ambitions began surfacing in my mind like mushrooms after a rainstorm.
"Danzo-sama."
Just then, Aburame Ryoma entered, interrupting his thoughts.
"It's you, Ryoma."
Danzo stretched in his chair, adopting a commanding posture. He spoke calmly, "You arrived at the perfect time. I have a task for you."
"Your orders, Lord Danzo," Aburame Ryoma replied, as concise as ever.
It was this cold, detached attitude that Danzo appreciated. "Keep a close watch on Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura for me. Report everything to me."
Aburame Ryoma's eyes flickered briefly. "Understood, Lord Danzo. I'll watch the two advisors closely."
"Go on."
Danzo waved his hand dismissively. "I want to be alone. Don't let anyone in."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
Aburame Ryoma left, quietly closing the door behind him.
Now alone in the empty Hokage's office, Danzo slowly stood and walked over to the wall where photos of the past Hokage were displayed.
His gaze swept across them, finally settling on the picture of Sarutobi Hiruzen. After a long stare, a cold smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Hiruzen, Hiruzen, don't blame me. You can only blame yourself for giving in to temptation. I didn't plan to move this quickly."
He then turned his gaze to the Second Hokage's photo and murmured, "Teacher, I'll show you who's more fit to be Hokage—me or Hiruzen!"
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