( Free trial available in patreon)
"Wait…what?"
Hong's eyes widened, watching Kingsu's serious expression. She felt lost and unsure of what to say next.
"Marry me, Hong." Kingsu's voice was calm yet resolute.
Before she could respond, he moved from his seat across the table to sit right beside her.
"Kingsu, what are you—?"
"I just want to be the father of your child," he whispered, gently reaching out. "And, maybe, steal your first kiss while I'm at it."
"Um…"
…
Meanwhile, at Konoha Hospital, Sarutobi Asuma lay in bed, his face pale and twisted in agony. Despite the numerous painkillers he'd been given, the searing pain in his kidneys hadn't lessened. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead as he clenched his fists, trying to endure the relentless discomfort.
A young junior ninja assigned to care for him looked on with pity and concern. Unable to watch Asuma suffer any longer, he urged, "Asuma-senpai, perhaps I should inform the Hokage about your condition? I think the only one who could help you right now is Lady Tsunade. If your father requests it, she would surely return to help!"
"No! I don't want him to see me like this…!" Asuma grunted, shaking his head. "By the way…do you know what my father is doing right now?"
The junior ninja nodded. "He's still questioning Danzo. It's already been an entire day, but we haven't heard any news yet…"
…
In Konoha's Interrogation Department, within the largest and most heavily guarded room, Danzo was restrained with thick chains, confined to a chair behind cold iron bars.
Opposite him sat Sarutobi Hiruzen, flanked by a small assembly of elite shinobi: Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Morino Ibiki, and several masked Anbu. The room was tense, shrouded in an uneasy silence that had lasted an entire day.
Since Danzo had been brought in, Morino Ibiki had tried every form of psychological and physical pressure to extract information, but Danzo hadn't uttered a single word. He hadn't even blinked. He simply sat there, his hollow gaze fixed on some unseen point in the room.
Hiruzen hadn't spoken either; he'd been watching Danzo intently, his expression unreadable.
With a sigh, Morino Ibiki finally emerged from the "Spiritual Summoning: Torture House" technique he'd been using. Frowning, he shook his head in frustration.
"Nothing. He isn't saying a word," Ibiki reported.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe. "Continue."
"Wait!" Yamanaka Inoichi interrupted, unable to remain silent any longer. Striding over to Hiruzen, he spoke firmly, "Hokage-sama, this approach is going nowhere. Danzo's resolve is too strong for physical pressure alone. Let our Intelligence Division handle it."
Just as Hiruzen was about to respond, Nara Shikaku stepped forward as well. "Inoichi is right, Hokage-sama. If we hope to uncover the truth, I urge you to consider his suggestion."
Ibiki, who had removed his hood to wipe the sweat from his scarred brow, nodded in agreement. "I concur, Hokage-sama. My chakra reserves are nearly depleted. Continuing like this is pointless. Inoichi's abilities will yield far better results."
Hiruzen hesitated. He knew well that if he entrusted Danzo to Inoichi's methods, the secrets he shared with Danzo could be exposed to too many people. There were things he'd worked hard to keep hidden from even his closest allies.
"Hokage-sama, we need your decision." Nara Shikaku's steady gaze didn't waver, gently pressing Hiruzen to make the call.
Weighing his options, Hiruzen exhaled heavily. There was no alternative. He'd have to rely on his connections within the Root organization to eliminate Danzo later if necessary…
After a long pause, Hiruzen finally relented, "Very well, Inoichi, I'm entrusting Danzo to you. Notify me as soon as you uncover anything. It's late; I'll head back for now."
Preparing to leave, Hiruzen intended to use this time to issue orders to Root members, hoping they could discreetly deal with Danzo.
But before he could take another step, Danzo—who had been silent all this time—suddenly erupted, thrashing against his restraints, his voice a frantic roar.
"Hokage! I'm the Hokage! I've finally become Hokage!" he shouted, struggling wildly as if trying to break free.
"Summon the best stonemason in the village—now!" Danzo commanded, his eyes filled with a manic gleam. "He has until tomorrow to carve my face on the Hokage Rock, or I'll have his entire family executed!"
A twisted grin spread across his face as he rambled on, "Nidaime, I am the only one worthy of carrying out your vision! Just watch—I'll bring the entire world under Konoha's rule!"
He let out a wild, unhinged laugh, his eyes darting around as he continued mumbling to himself, "Yes… Hokage… hehehe… I am the Hokage!!"
The room was frozen in shock, every shinobi—Hiruzen included—staring at Danzo's sudden outburst with expressions of disbelief. Danzo's crazed laughter echoed off the walls, his words a chilling descent into madness.
Morino Ibiki's face drained of color as he stammered, "Danzo-sama… is he… has he lost his mind?"
The room remained silent as everyone struggled to process what they had just witnessed.
…
In the days that followed, news of Danzo's apparent breakdown began to circulate throughout Konoha. Rumors spread quickly, with some saying Danzo's madness had been inevitable given his relentless pursuit of power. Others whispered that this was merely an act, a desperate ploy to gain sympathy and perhaps escape his punishment.
Within the hidden circles of Konoha's elite, however, reactions were varied and complex.
The Nara clan, led by Shikaku, observed the situation carefully. Known for their intelligence and strategic insight, the Nara maintained a cautious neutrality, waiting to see how Hiruzen would handle the fallout.
The Yamanaka clan, with Inoichi at the forefront, was more vocal, expressing their concerns openly. Inoichi believed Danzo's actions had crossed a line that could no longer be ignored. He advocated for a thorough investigation, not only into Danzo's activities but into any ties he might have with other influential figures.
The Akimichi clan, typically known for their loyalty to Konoha's leadership, found themselves conflicted. Choza Akimichi, though committed to upholding the Hokage's authority, questioned the extent of Danzo's involvement in dark dealings that had yet to come to light.
Other factions within Konoha had their own opinions. The Uchiha clan, despite their strained relationship with the village leadership, viewed Danzo's downfall with a sense of grim satisfaction. Many among the Uchiha felt that Danzo's obsession with power had made him a danger to their clan long ago, and they had little sympathy for his fate.
At the same time, the Hyuga clan remained largely silent, maintaining their distance from the political chaos. Known for their stoicism and adherence to tradition, the Hyuga preferred to observe the situation from the sidelines, biding their time until a clearer course of action presented itself.
The Anbu, Konoha's covert operations force, found themselves caught in the middle. Tasked with maintaining order and protecting the village's secrets, many Anbu operatives were torn between their loyalty to Hiruzen and their unease about Danzo's influence within their ranks.
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen spent many sleepless nights grappling with the implications of Danzo's downfall. He knew that Danzo's influence ran deep and that dismantling his network of loyalists would not be easy. Yet he also understood that failing to take action could compromise Konoha's stability, leaving the village vulnerable to threats from within and beyond.
As rumors of Danzo's mental state continued to spread, the village's hidden forces began to realign, each faction evaluating its position in light of the shifting political landscape. Old alliances were tested, new ones formed, and behind closed doors, strategies were crafted as each clan and organization prepared for whatever lay ahead.
Hiruzen knew that Danzo's madness was just the beginning. Konoha's future hung in the balance, and the path forward was shrouded in uncertainty. But one thing was clear: the hidden forces within the village would not remain silent forever.
-------------------------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
patreon.com/Johnwick007
Extra Content Already Available