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"How long are you going to make me wait, Hiruzen?"
Hiruzen kept his eyes on the paperwork despite his awareness of the person sitting across from him for the last fifteen minutes. It was a punishment of sorts—one they both knew the reason for—and it also let him get his thoughts in order because while he'd made the summon, he was not excited about having Danzo in his office.
Alas, thanks to recent events, it was a necessity.
He brought the stamp down harder than needed and sighed. "...You'll wait until I'm good and ready to talk to you."
Danzo scoffed. "Things are serious enough that we've skipped the talk via correspondence but you still wish to play this game, do you?"
"It's been half a decade since you last saw the walls of this office," he replied. "Enjoy it, old friend."
Hiruzen inhaled loudly, finding no outlet for his frustration besides an equally loud exhale. The ANBU agents within the office had been dismissed thirty minutes ago, eliminating the need to keep up the cumbersome charade their friendship had become. He could not see the usual exasperated fondness in his old friend's eyes—but, in truth, it had been years since Hiruzen felt any cheer at the thought of Danzo either.
These days, it only brought him a great deal of headache.
"I'm sure you already know why I've summoned you," said Hiruzen with a resigned wave of his hand.
Danzo blinked his hazel eye and, in his usual brusque manner, he grunted, "The Akatsuki."
"I won't ask how you know of Kakashi's debrief," said Hiruzen, meeting his gaze, "it'll only make me lose my temper. What I will ask you instead, Danzo, is what shall we do about it?"
"To my knowledge, the Akatsuki has been doing nothing except mercenary work." Danzo lightly tapped his cane against the ground. "The more concerning thing is that it is a cell of S-ranked ninja. They're unlike the Akatsuki of the past; this new Akatsuki has no mediocre underlings or spouts stupidity like world peace."
Hiruzen didn't bother to hide his frown.
Danzo tilted his head with a narrow of his eye. "Fortunately, Kakashi encountered Itachi, otherwise he would have died. I've heard they have a pair of immortal shinobi… it's no surprise that the Snake joined their ranks, even if it was only temporary."
"Orochimaru, eh?" said Hiruzen, leaning back. "They put a bounty on his head a few years ago for betraying them, didn't they?"
"In any case, we've no reason to believe this incident is out of the norm for them. According to Itachi, they were hired by Gato of the Gato Company to end the Land of Waves Bridge Construction project by killing its lead and destroying the bridge in what I hear was a spectacular fashion."
Hiruzen pulled five sheets of paper from a folder, sliding them across his desk.
"Bingo Book entries… and of suspected Akatsuki members at that," Danzo muttered.
Hiruzen nodded. "A mercenary group needs renown and the easiest way to do so is to get people talking. The Akatsuki has taken on various high-profile jobs in recent years, garnering a reputation. With all the resources at my disposal, I've managed to gather the profiles of five reported members, all rogue shinobi: Kisame Hoshigaki of the Mist, Sasori of the Sand, Deidara of the Stone, Kakuzu of the Waterfall, and Hidan of the Steam."
"We've no idea if this is the extent of its members. What of the masked Uchiha who aided Itachi in the purge of their clan?"
"What worries me is that there's no mention of a masked man. On that front, we can only trust in young Itachi."
"Be that as it may, we need intel," said Danzo, tapping his cane against the ground. "Who is the masked man to the Akatsuki—is he their leader?"
"Perhaps," Hiruzen clutched his chin, "but I cannot shake the feeling that there is some relation between this Akatsuki and the Akatsuki of the past. This new Akatsuki is mysterious; their motives, members, and methods… it's all shrouded in mystery."
Danzo folded his arms. "What mystery? They share nothing with that group but their name; likely an inspiration that took root when my forces aided Hanzo's in crushing them."
"Your meddling likely had a direct hand in bringing about this more dangerous Akatsuki," said Hiruzen without bothering to hide his frustration. "Once again, your overzealousness rears its ugly head, old friend."
Danzo huffed. "Minato Namikaze crippled the Stone and terrified the Cloud. The Mist continues to eat itself even today and our boot was pressed against the Sand's throat—we were winning the war."
He looked up, meeting Danzo's passion with dead calm. "Tread carefully."
"You caved precisely when you should have stood tall. Waiving our right to demand reparations from the Stone for initiating the war? That wasn't just a poor decision, it was madness; we could have come out of the war in a much better position if not for your naivety."
"Okay." He sighed, once again swallowing his old friend's disrespect. "If we're discussing madness, then what of your decision to stoke Hanzo's greed to shut down the peace talks?"
"And bring our momentum to a screeching halt?" Danzo shot back. "It's pure sentimentality on your part and if you truly were against my doings, then why didn't you stop me? You know as well as I that the end of the war in the Rain would have achieved absolutely nothing for the conflict would have simply moved location."
Danzo sat back and stared at him but, instead of dragging their argument on further, Hiruzen sighed. Like the burdens he'd taken on, it was long and heavy, pressing against his shoulders.
They were here to discuss a solution, not rehash the past.
"In any case, Hanzo of the Salamander is dead," Hiruzen said, "and has been for a few years. Whoever this new leader is, they don't seem to harbour any grudges towards us."
"As always, you're ignoring the obvious thing," said Danzo. "This Akatsuki… they may not have any bases anywhere that I'm aware of, but they only began to move once Hanzo of the Salamander died. Or are you going to tell me it's a coincidence, Hiruzen?"
Hiruzen rubbed the back of his neck with a low yawn. "I'm not sure; Hanzo was a paranoid man. It took you very little to convince him to turn his blade on the Akatsuki. Operating under the name of so-called insurrectionists would be the fastest way to incur that man's wrath."
"All of this is beside the point," said Danzo. "As you asked me, what are we to do about it? The Akatsuki is merely a mercenary group—a dangerous one, perhaps—but not nearly enough that it warrants action… at least not in this peace you created."
Hiruzen snorted. "Surely the irony isn't lost on you?" He was ignored, of course, but the humour was enough to uplift his mood for the next few moments while he considered his answer. "There's no war to obfuscate your—or in this case, our—intentions and while we could use Orochimaru and Itachi's membership as justification in declaring the Akatsuki our enemies, there is still so much we don't know."
"Then, what?" Danzo asked with a harrumph. "We wait for Itachi to drag the masked Uchiha madman into the light? He can't do anything that will risk destroying his cover and simply waiting things out isn't an option. This time, our side was just collateral but what if we weren't and Kakashi died instead?"
"As usual, you're being too hasty. There are too many unknowns to brand the Akatsuki as our enemies outright. We can afford to go to war with them, but why? It's unnecessary, especially when the effort will open us to attack. Onoki is living up to his title but will pick a side of the fence to fall on if we give him cause."
"At the risk of stating the obvious, the Akatsuki is the bigger threat right now," said Danzo.
"I will leave the matter to Jiraiya, at least for now," Hiruzen replied, "After all, I received these Bingo Book entries from him. In his pursuit of Orochimaru's whereabouts, he inevitably uncovered his involvement with the Akatsuki."
"And then?"
"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." Hiruzen smiled. "Thank you for your input, old friend. You're dismissed."
Danzo stared at him as he worked his jaw. Hiruzen returned to his paperwork, aware of his presence against the crown of his head, and when the office door clicked shut, he allowed himself a low sigh. He did not doubt that Danzo was cooking up schemes of his own and if he wanted to, Hiruzen could shut down his ROOT operations.
However, the ROOT's existence lent itself to the village's security, especially in the current political stalemate. Calling it peace was too much—not after the Raikage's blatant disregard for the treaties signed after the Third Great Shinobi War—but it was the closest thing to peace the world had seen in a long while.
As long as he lived, Hiruzen would see it continue till his dying breath, at least until the new generation could lift the burden from his shoulders.
"This accursed paperwork will kill me before any kunai," he muttered.
Unlike before, there was no one to give him an earful for not doing his paperwork; that responsibility used to be Danzo's. Despite all that had transpired between them and his old friend's blatant abuse of his trust, Hiruzen missed his presence sometimes.
Though the nostalgia always died in the cradle.
He took his time finishing the paperwork, seeing that it was the only thing left on his schedule for the day, but it was mind-numbing work. When he finished it, his wrist pulsed with a dull throb. The chair beneath him gave a mighty creak as he rose, slipping his cloak on alongside the ceremonial Hokage hat.
"It's only seven, eh?" he murmured with a smile. "Perfect. It won't be too late, then."
As he crossed the floor, he gave the portrait shots of his predecessors a forlorn look before regrettably dragging his gaze to his sole successor. The corridor was noticeably warmer than his office and his body pulsed with heat underneath the flowing white and red robe. Without breaking his stride, he allowed his gaze to drift ever so slightly and caught the smallest flicker of movement from behind a nearby pillar.
He continued forward, focused on the presence lurking in the shadows.
In an instant, a figure leapt from its hiding place, aiming straight for him. Hiruzen moved with the grace of a man half his age, shifting his weight enough to twist his torso subtly. The child's form sailed through the air, hands outstretched, only to find empty space where the Hiruzen had been moments before.
Landing with a soft thud, the boy quickly spun around, his wide eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and frustration. Hiruzen stood a few feet away and a faint, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He resumed his pace and moved down the corridor as if the ambush hadn't happened. Behind him, the young shinobi-in-training picked himself up, dusting off his clothes, already plotting his next attempt.
"I'll get you next time, gramps," came his nasally, childish voice. "I swear, I almost had you!"
Hiruzen kept his silence for a while until they came upon the grand, spiralling staircase fashioned after the Uzumaki clan's emblem. "Konohamaru, as much joy as your antics bring me… have you learned nothing from the past weekend's events?"
He stepped aside, allowing the boy to descend first.
Konohamaru did his best to look serious, but on a face that young, it only looked adorable. His unruly brown hair was allowed to run free, spiking in some places and lying flat in others. The village sigil dominated his black shirt with vibrant crimson and a long scarf followed the length of his back and hung just above his ankles.
"Come now," Hiruzen placed a hand on his shoulder, "didn't you find him interesting?"
"...He called my helmet stupid," Konohamaru frowned with defiant blue eyes. "But his hair… it's like a stupid, tiny ponytail. And he's got a stupid name too!"
"Is that all you took away from that discussion?"
Konohamaru looked away, his cheeks flushing slightly. "I-I guess he was a little cool—no one's ever spoken to Ebisu-sensei like he did."
Hiruzen hid his smile.
"Do you know him, gramps?"
"In fact, I do!" He smiled, patting his grandson's head as they reached the bottom of the stairwell. "I think of Naruto as a grandson of mine."
That drew Konohamaru's attention and a pair of big blue eyes shone with curiosity. "Really? Then… then how come he calls you, "Lord Third", like everyone else?"
"What can I say?" Hiruzen chuckled. "He's a very formal child sometimes."
His grandson accepted the answer with a nod before his interest moved to the village's shops and street food stalls. He only let regret twist his face once he was sure Konohamaru was captivated.
The village was bathed in the soft, warm hues of twilight, the sky a blend of oranges and purples. A serene quiet settled over the streets, with many villagers winding down for the day, but there was still a gentle hum of life as shopkeepers closed up and families enjoyed their evening routines.
Hiruzen walked with Konohamaru by his side, the boy's energy more subdued as he took in the sights and sounds of the village he would one day help protect. Despite his age, Hiruzen's steps were steady and many villagers paused to bow or offer a respectful greeting to the both of them.
"Good evening, Lord Third," a shopkeeper called out, her voice filled with admiration. She offered a warm smile to Konohamaru as well. "Out for a stroll with your grandson, I see?"
Hiruzen nodded graciously. "Indeed. The village is beautiful at this hour, don't you think?"
The shopkeeper beamed. "It is, sir."
Hiruzen smiled in return and, as they continued, he led Konohamaru toward a small dango shop, one of his favourite spots for a treat. The old woman behind the counter brightened when she saw them approach, her eyes crinkling with joy. "Lord Third! What a surprise to see you here tonight."
He greeted her warmly. "My grandson and I were just out for a walk, and I thought some of your famous dango would be the perfect end to our evening."
The woman chuckled and began preparing their order, her hands moving with the practised ease of someone who had been in the business for decades. "You always did have a sweet tooth, even on the eve of a mission—and young Konohamaru, how are you this evening?"
Konohamaru perked up at being addressed, his earlier frustration forgotten. "I'm good! Gramps said we could get dango tonight!"
The old woman laughed as she handed over the skewers, her gaze softening as she looked at the young boy. "Enjoy, my dear. It's on the house."
Hiruzen accepted the treat with a nod of thanks, slipping a few coins into the tip jar when she wasn't looking. As they wandered further through the village, he noticed how the villagers' faces lit up as they passed.
They walked through the marketplace, where the few remaining vendors offered friendly waves, and through the quieter residential areas, where children played in the streets and greeted them with wide-eyed wonder. Konohamaru munched happily on his dango, occasionally looking up at him with poorly concealed admiration.
As they neared the Hokage Monument, the massive stone faces of Konoha's leaders glowing softly in the twilight, Hiruzen paused to take in the view. The village stretched out before them. Konohamaru, following his gaze, seemed to sense the gravity of the moment and fell silent.
Hiruzen placed a gentle hand on Konohamaru's shoulder. "Do you see everything before you, my boy?"
Konohamaru nodded.
"If you truly wish to become Hokage, everyone and everything you can see… you will lead them all. It's a responsibility that you shouldn't take lightly. Naruto may have been harsh, but that was all he wished to impress upon you."
Stealing a glance at his grandson, Hiruzen saw the village in his eyes, reflecting a mixture of awe and determination. They stood there longer, the village below them and the stars beginning to twinkle above through the cloud cover.