*Bang!* The door to the Hokage's office burst open with a loud crash.
"Biwaku?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Under normal circumstances, Biwaku Sarutobi rarely came to the Hokage's office, focusing instead on managing family matters while Hiruzen oversaw the village.
"What am I doing here?" Biwaku's voice was filled with fury. "Dear Hokage-sama, if I hadn't come, would you have hidden the fact that our son was nearly killed today?" She turned on him, anger blazing in her eyes. "Sarutobi Hiruzen, are you even human?!"
She turned sharply toward Danzo, who stood to the side, and without hesitation, delivered a powerful kick, sending him staggering.
ANBU operatives burst into the room, unsure of what to do when they realized that the one attacking Danzo was the Hokage's wife. Meanwhile, Danzo, stunned, struggled to process what was happening. Sarutobi Biwaku had not only scolded Hiruzen but had physically attacked him.
Before Danzo could retaliate, a second blow hit him—this time, a punch from none other than Tsunade. The force was so immense it left Danzo incapacitated, unable to fight back. He flew across the room, landing near Biwaku, who resumed her furious assault with punch after punch.
Watching Danzo's beating, Hiruzen raised a hand as if to intervene, then lowered it. How could he explain this to his wife? The news of Asuma's near-death had likely reached her through Asuma himself, and nothing Hiruzen could say would calm her now.
With Tsunade and Biwaku both joining in, Danzo had no chance to defend himself. Meanwhile, the Root operatives Danzo had brought along found themselves blocked by ANBU, unable to assist him.
Finally, after ten long minutes, Biwaku's rage began to subside.
"Hokage-sama," she said, her voice still seething with anger, "when a ninja attacks a comrade within our own village, they're punished as a traitor, aren't they?"
Hiruzen looked at her seriously, knowing she would not let this slide so easily.
"I've completed my investigation," Hiruzen replied calmly. "The ancient jounin was not officially part of the Root Organization. He attacked Reiki because he felt threatened by his talent, fearing Asuma would never surpass him. Acting out of jealousy, he lied about his affiliation to Root to cover his actions."
He retrieved a small notebook from his desk. "This journal corroborates the story," he continued, opening it to the entries that outlined Ji Gu's growing envy and eventual decision to act.
Biwaku and Tsunade examined the notebook, surprise etched on their faces. What Hiruzen had said appeared to be true.
Hiruzen sighed. "Apologize to Danzo. I summoned him here to aid in the investigation. Now that we know the truth, Danzo is in the clear. You two, one a protective mother, the other a protective mentor, acted out of understandable emotion."
Danzo, still bruised and battered, managed to compose himself. "It's fine. I understand your concerns for your loved ones. I'll be leaving now."
Suppressing his fury, he turned and left the Hokage's office. Staying any longer risked rekindling his anger, and he was uneasy about the torn pages in Hiruzen's journal. Leaving was the safest option.
Once they were gone, Hiruzen returned to his desk, retrieving two pages he had hidden.
"Danzo, this is your last warning," he muttered, placing the pages over a flame and watching them burn. Lighting a cigarette, he stepped to the window, staring out over Konoha's streets with a heavy heart. Danzo's actions had crossed too many lines. He was useful but growing increasingly dangerous—a double-edged sword that could one day cut its wielder.
…
**At Tsunade's Courtyard**
"So, how did it go? How many bones did you break?" Reiki grinned as Tsunade returned, though his teasing smile soon turned into a wince when she delivered a swift punch to his head. The impact left him dazed, and he found himself enveloped in Tsunade's arms.
"Don't put yourself in danger like that again," Tsunade whispered, her voice unsteady. She held him tightly, the tremor in her grip betraying the depth of her worry.
Realizing Tsunade's concern, Reiki stopped struggling, letting her hold him. He understood that, for Tsunade, he was more than a disciple—he was family. Tsunade had endured so many losses, and Reiki knew how much she cherished him.
"I understand, Sensei," he replied softly. "But don't worry. I'm strong! I'm your disciple, after all."
Noticing the awkward closeness, Tsunade released him. "Alright, enough of that," she said, feigning sternness. "Get some rest tonight, and tomorrow, we'll resume training. After that, I'll find another mission for you."
With that, she retreated to her room.
"Reiki, she really cares about you," came a voice. Nawaki, Tsunade's younger brother, approached with a grin. He wasn't envious; rather, he was genuinely happy to see his sister expressing her emotions so freely again.
"You too, Nawaki! Make sure to keep up your training," Reiki said, smiling as he handed Nawaki an armful of training supplies. "Here's some chakra-enhancing potions and supplements. No slacking!"
Nawaki, who had only come over to tease Reiki, found himself stunned, his arms full of training potions, as Reiki walked off with a laugh.
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