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The next day, the sun rose over Konoha, casting soft rays over the village.
Dai was already in the training field, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead as he practiced a series of kicks and punches with focused intensity.
Suddenly, Hiruzen's shadow clone appeared, its presence calm yet commanding.
"Good morning, teacher!" Dai called out, running up with his trademark enthusiasm.
Hiruzen smiled gently, folding his arms. "Good morning, Dai. Ready for today's spar?"
"Always!" Dai's eyes gleamed as he leaped into position, his muscles coiled with energy.
Without hesitation, they began sparring, exchanging powerful blows that echoed through the clearing.
As they fought, Hiruzen noted Dai's progress. His student had come a long way in just one year.
"You're only 8 years old, yet you fight with the strength of a chunin," Hiruzen remarked between punches. "At this rate, you'll surpass even the jōnin by the time you're 17."
Dai grinned, fueled by the praise, but his focus never wavered. The spar continued for hours, each movement precise, each strike harder than the last.
Finally, the clone got the upper hand, pinning Dai to the ground in a swift move.
Breathing hard, Dai looked up, a spark of determination in his eyes. Hiruzen knelt beside him, using medical jutsu to ease the fatigue in Dai's muscles.
"You've mastered not only the basic academy knowledge but also the Konoha Six Styles," Hiruzen said, his tone approving. "Your skills are more than enough for genin-level missions."
Dai sat up, smiling gratefully. "It's all thanks to you, teacher."
Hiruzen shook his head with a soft chuckle. "No, Dai. It's your own willpower that's brought you this far. I've only guided you along the way." He stood, his expression more serious now.
"Rest for today. Report to the Hokage Tower the day after tomorrow. You'll receive your ninja headband and be assigned your first C-rank mission."
Dai's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes, teacher!" he exclaimed, bowing deeply before watching the clone vanish into a puff of smoke.
As Dai walked back home, his thoughts raced. Now that he was officially a genin, his dream of joining ANBU under Hiruzen's guidance felt closer than ever.
He was determined to make his teacher proud, no matter the challenges ahead.
---
Meanwhile, in the Shimura clan's meeting room, shadows danced eerily across the walls, their movements mirrored in the flickering candlelight.
The heavy scent of incense filled the air, a tradition for important discussions. Seated around a large table, Shimura Danzo, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane were deep in conversation.
The atmosphere was thick with tension—this was no casual meeting. It was their second since Koharu's removal from the elder council.
Danzo, ever calculating, broke the silence first. His voice was low but sharp, cutting through the stillness.
"Despite the time that's passed, Hiruzen hasn't appointed anyone to fill the finance elder position. He's gaining more control over every aspect of the village."
Homura nodded in agreement, his brow furrowed. "I tried to speak with the leaders of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, but they're too afraid to oppose him, especially after that incident with Zashi."
Danzo's lips pressed into a thin line. "Torifu and Shizaku Nara have stayed loyal to Hiruzen. Even Inochi Yamanaka won't budge. They're all bound by that old alliance from the Sengoku era. We can't let Hiruzen keep gathering power uncontested."
Koharu, her face lined with both anger and concern, added, "The major clans—the Senju, Uchiha, Sarutobi, Ino-Shika-Cho, Kurama, Hatake—they're all in Hiruzen's favor. Even the Hyuga remain neutral, refusing to interfere. He's building an empire, and we're losing ground."
Danzo clenched his fists. "Hiruzen's foolish. He doesn't see the danger the Uchiha pose. He's ignored our sensei's warnings, bringing Kagami onto the council. We need to suppress the Uchiha before they become too influential."
Homura's voice trembled slightly, laced with concern. "You're right, Danzo. Hiruzen's reckless. He believes he can control everything, but he's playing with fire."
Koharu glanced at both men, her eyes narrowing. "So what can we do? His power grows stronger every day."
Danzo leaned forward, his expression darkening. "There's only one solution—remove him from power. We need to take control of the Hokage seat. Once we're in charge, we can manage the village the right way, and deal with the Uchiha once and for all."
Homura and Koharu exchanged uneasy glances. The room seemed to grow colder as Danzo's words hung in the air. Koharu broke the silence, her voice hesitant. "Remove him from power?"
Danzo nodded, his eyes steely. "Yes. But it must be done in secret. We'll start by gaining the Hyuga clan's support. If we can secure their backing, we'll have enough strength to challenge Hiruzen. We wait for the right moment, then strike."
Homura frowned, his discomfort evident. "And if we don't gain enough support? What then?"
Danzo's voice dropped even lower. "If it comes to it, we may need to kill Hiruzen. For the sake of the village, and for the Will of Fire."
Both Homura and Koharu froze, shock flickering across their faces. They had never considered going so far. They wanted to remind Hiruzen of the debt he owed them, not take his life.
Homura was the first to speak, disbelief clear in his voice. "Danzo, that's too extreme. We've been comrades for years. We can't just kill him. He was our teammate."
Koharu nodded, her voice sharp but strained. "We can't go that far, Danzo. We only want to remind him of who helped him become Hokage. This... this is madness."
Danzo softened his tone slightly, sensing their hesitation. "I don't want it to come to that either. But we need to be prepared. Hiruzen's treating this village like his personal empire. He's forgotten the bonds we once shared."
The room fell into a heavy silence as Homura and Koharu processed Danzo's words. After what felt like an eternity, they rose from their seats, the weight of their conversation pressing down on them as they left the room.
Danzo watched them go, a dark sneer twisting his lips once they were out of sight. "Too naive," he muttered under his breath. "For the Hokage position, I'll do whatever it takes—even if it means killing Hiruzen."
His plan was already in motion. After Hiruzen rejected his proposal for a secret ANBU force, Danzo had decided to create his own in the shadows, composed of loyal Shimura clan members.
He'd quietly recruit more, especially from the Mitokado and Utatane clans, and perhaps even gain the Hyuga's favor.
As Danzo sat alone in the dimly lit room, his mind raced with possibilities. "Hiruzen doesn't see it coming," he thought, "but I'll make sure Konoha bends to my will. One way or another, this village will be mine."
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