The room was dimly lit, casting long shadows across the cluttered desk.
News of Minato Namikaze's triumphant return sent a frown creasing Danzo Shimura's face. As both an advisor to the Hokage and the leader of Konoha's clandestine Root organization, he should have been celebrating the destruction of Iwagakure's base.
This victory tipped the scales of the ongoing war heavily in Konoha's favor, bringing the promise of a swift conclusion closer. Yet, the thought of Minato receiving all the accolades for this success twisted Danzo's gut with envy.
The more recognition Minato garnered, the further Danzo felt from his ultimate goal: the Hokage's hat. This gnawed at him, fueling a desperate need for a feat that would overshadow Minato's accomplishments and propel him to the forefront of the upcoming Hokage election.
But deep down, a nagging doubt persisted. Could Danzo, burdened by his advancing years, truly compete with the youthful and energetic Minato? Was endorsing Orochimaru as the next Hokage his only remaining option?
A sigh of frustration escaped Danzo's lips as he reached for a map of the ninja world, his gaze sweeping across the sprawling network of nations. He needed a way to expand the conflict, to draw more countries into the bloody mire of war. Only then could Konoha's advantage truly flourish, and only then could Danzo achieve feats worthy of Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention.
The Land of Rain emerged as the perfect target. Every move made by Hanzo the Salamander, the demigod who bestowed the title of Sannin upon three legendary shinobi, would reverberate throughout the ninja world, drawing the attention of all the major powers.
Danzo Shimura as he pondered his next move. Finally, he spoke, his voice sharp in the oppressive silence. "Ryoma," he addressed the ninja beside him, "dispatch a team to the Land of Rain. We need to assess the situation and determine if there's an opportunity to embroil Hanzo in the conflict."
Aburame Ryoma, his face obscured by the signature Aburame clan glasses, curtsied sharply. "Understood, Danzo-sama." Then, a flicker of concern crossed his features. "Speaking of teams, should we continue monitoring Kakashi's squad? They just returned from a mission, and apparently encountered a Jonin from Iwagakure. Unfortunately, the Root squad assigned to follow them was also killed in the process."
Ryoma repeated the details of Kakashi's team's return, his voice devoid of emotion. Danzo's expression twitched at this news.
He had placed Kakashi's team under surveillance for two key reasons.
Firstly, the young prodigy was the son of the disgraced Sakumo Hatake, making him a figure of interest.
Secondly, and more importantly, there was Obito Uchiha. Despite being an outlier within his clan, Danzo couldn't ignore the potential threat any Uchiha posed, especially one under the direct tutelage of Minato Namikaze. If Minato truly ascended to Hokage, Obito's position as his student would be a significant advantage for the young Uchiha.
A thoughtful frown creased Danzo's face. After a moment's consideration, he spoke, "Maintain surveillance on their movements. The fact they encountered a Jonin powerful enough to eliminate a Root squad and still returned unharmed suggests there might be more to them than meets the eye."
Ryoma bowed once more. "Yes, Danzo-sama!" With that, he melted back into the shadows, leaving Danzo alone with his plotting and his ever-present ambition.
...
After a grueling journey that stretched over a day, Byakuya and his teammates finally returned to the Akatsuki base. Twenty long days on the road had left him yearning for rest and a chance to unwind the coiled knot of tension in his gut.
However, before indulging in any well-deserved relaxation, he had pressing matters to attend to. A meeting with Yahiko, the leader of Akatsuki, was a top priority. They needed to discuss the organization's future and chart a course for its growth.
Pushing open the door to the Akatsuki office, Byakuya found Yahiko engrossed in conversation with Konan, Nagato, and a woman he didn't recognize. Her face bore the faint traces of a recent ordeal, and a flicker of recognition sparked in Byakuya's memory – Karen, the Uzumaki he'd rescued.
Yahiko's gaze softened as he addressed Karen. "Welcome to Akatsuki, Karen. Consider this your new home. Given your current condition, frontline missions wouldn't be ideal. How would you feel about a logistics role?"
Karen hesitated, her voice barely a whisper when she replied, "I'll follow Lord Byakuya's lead. Wherever he needs me, that's where I'll be."
Yahiko's expression darkened at this. Following Byakuya was a recipe for disaster. Reports from Nagato and Konan painted a vivid picture of Byakuya's reckless raid on the Kusagakure building to liberate Karen.
If not for his mastery of Paper Release jutsu, the entire operation could have ended in catastrophe. Even with Nagato, the prophesied Child of Prophecy, in their ranks, such recklessness couldn't be tolerated.
"Chief Yahiko," Byakuya's voice loomed from the doorway, effectively cutting through their conversation, "if you're looking to recruit new members, perhaps a more discreet approach is warranted. Karen falls under my purview, and I assure you, she's in capable hands. Or perhaps you're looking to poach from my team? In that case, I might just return the favor and extend an invitation to Konan-senpai and Nagato-senpai."
Byakuya's blatant disregard for protocol was evident. Yahiko, seemingly unsurprised by Byakuya's eavesdropping, sighed deeply. "By all means, Byakuya. Those you recruit are your responsibility. However, your recent actions were beyond reckless. They could have ignited a war between nations."
"Calculated risks often yield significant rewards. And I assure you, the items I procured from Kusagakure will prove invaluable in strengthening our organization." Byakuya countered.
"The stolen jutsu scrolls are indeed a boon. But at what cost? What if your mission had failed? What then?" Yahiko conceded, a frown creasing his brow.
"The likelihood of failure was minimal. Besides, how do you propose we maintain the organization's unity without offering tangible benefits? Do you truly believe your idealistic rhetoric is enough?" Byakuya brushed aside Yahiko's concerns.
The tension in the room crackled with unspoken hostility. Sensing an imminent clash between Byakuya and Yahiko, Konan shot a discreet glance at Nagato and Karen, silently urging them to follow her out of the room.
After others left, Yahiko took a deep breath.
His gaze, usually bright with youthful idealism, held a newfound seriousness as he locked eyes with Byakuya. "Let's set ideological differences aside for now. Tell me, what truly motivated your recent actions?"
Yahiko couldn't reconcile Byakuya's recent activities – from black-market dealings on the border to the daring rescue in Kusagakure – with mere recklessness.
After all, Akatsuki was their shared dream, a dream they'd nurtured through countless discussions. Byakuya wouldn't jeopardize their fledgling organization on a whim.
"The future of Akatsuki," Byakuya replied, his voice grave. The playful smirk was gone, replaced by a grim determination.
Even without the advantages of the Konohagakure ninja system, Byakuya was resolved to see Akatsuki flourish. Yet, the initial hurdles seemed insurmountable, almost crushing his spirit.
Yahiko offered a curt nod, urging him to elaborate.
Byakuya's tone shifted to a conversational one. "Think about it, Yahiko. A year has passed since we founded Akatsuki. Our initial vision was to foster peace within Land of Rain, then ripple that peace outwards, touching the entire ninja world. But here we are, a year later, and Akatsuki's influence remains confined to a few villages. Sure, our comrades can stomach meager rations and helping civilians pro bono, but how long will their spirits endure a repetitive, seemingly fruitless existence?"
Yahiko fell into deep silence. Byakuya's words struck a deep chord, echoing a concern that plagued Yahiko himself. He didn't have a solution, and the uncertainty weighed heavily on his leadership.
Finally, Yahiko broke the silence, "Do you have a plan to change this, Byakuya?"