Chapter 27: Danzo, I'm the Hokage!
In the forest.
The corpses of over a dozen shinobi lay scattered, their eyes unfocused, their warmth fading away.
The bodies were in various states of disarray; some were hanging from tree trunks, others sprawled in the grass. There were signs of ninjutsu attacks, along with kunai and shuriken marks, as well as traces of dog bites, bug infestations, and Gentle Fist techniques.
"It's finally over."
A quiet voice echoed as a group of Konoha shinobi appeared among the trees, still slightly out of breath but remaining vigilant.
Nara Shikaku, breathing heavily, scanned the group with his peripheral vision and couldn't help but feel a jolt of surprise as his gaze rested on Uchiha Yosuke.
No wonder Yosuke, who had battlefield experience, seemed the least drained despite the intense combat. Although the operation had gone smoothly due to Shikaku's planning, Yosuke preserved his chakra and energy better than anyone else. It wasn't that he hadn't exerted himself; he had simply employed swift, efficient movements and shuriken techniques, conserving stamina and chakra.
Meanwhile, many of the others had relied on powerful, flashy ninjutsu that, while effective, left them vulnerable to fatigue if another round of fighting started.
Kushina Uzumaki, though breathing hard, had a victorious glint in her eyes.
"So much for being tough, huh?"
"All right, start cleaning up the battlefield and gathering useful intel."
The group skillfully began their cleanup; after all, they were Chunin and no longer fresh academy graduates.
"Hiashi, Hizashi, keep watch. Everyone else, move fast."
Uchiha Yosuke, his expression calm, sheathed his sword and glanced around without drawing attention to himself.
He nodded inwardly, understanding why these shinobi would go on to become elite Jonin in the village. They had backgrounds, sure, but the life of a shinobi wasn't one that allowed you to grow up in a sheltered environment.
"Everyone's uninjured, right?"
With his usual warm smile, Minato Namikaze showed his trademark friendliness. While concerned for everyone's well-being, his gaze lingered briefly on Kushina, which did not escape Yosuke's notice.
"Shikaku, you know Yosuke has trained in medical ninjutsu under Lady Tsunade."
Kushina teased, seemingly poking fun at him about an earlier incident.
With a smile, Yosuke replied, "I know a bit of basic healing techniques."
The battlefield had worked as a bonding experience, and though they hadn't been close before, fighting side by side built a sense of trust among them.
"Let's go!"
In an instant, shadows flashed by, leaving the forest silent once more, with only traces of the recent battle remaining.
The group moved in coordinated lines, jumping forward at intervals.
"Hey, Kushina," Yosuke whispered teasingly as they traveled, "someone seems to care about you a lot."
Kushina glared at him, knowing exactly who he meant.
"I don't like pretty boys!"
Minato's discreet glances had not gone unnoticed, especially by someone as perceptive as Kushina.
Yet at this point, she felt no fondness for the "Little Sun."
Yosuke smirked at her reaction.
"Really? Well, too bad. Given your status, everyone who approaches you has an agenda."
With that blunt statement, Kushina narrowed her eyes, showing a hint of her sharp little fangs.
"And you! Aren't you getting close to me because of my status?"
"Don't misunderstand! As you pointed out earlier, I'm just using you to get closer to Captain Tsunade."
Yosuke shrugged, smiling teasingly. This shameless response made Kushina glare at him with irritation.
Their banter seemed like teasing, but it planted a seed of wariness toward Minato in Kushina's mind.
Yosuke smirked to himself, seizing this chance to sow distrust. By making her see everyone as having ulterior motives, he subtly shaped her mindset—classic psychology.
But he was different, of course. She had known his intentions from the start.
"Wonder if I'll get a chance to get rid of this classmate."
Yosuke glanced subtly at Minato. With Minato yet to master the Flying Thunder God Technique, this might be the perfect opportunity. There was no chance of recruiting him now.
Kushina becoming a jinchuriki was already an issue. To the Senju clan and Mito Uzumaki, Kushina was family, but to the Hokage, she was an outsider.
No Hokage would let a powerful weapon like the Nine-Tails remain beyond his control. Judging by events in the original series, it was clear.
First, Nawaki died. Then Tsunade was devastated. Finally, one moonlit night, there was a dramatic rescue—classic hero-saves-damsel fare.
To put it simply, he was an Uchiha. As long as Konoha felt at ease, the Uchiha clan could live peacefully.
Smiling to himself, Yosuke assured himself he was doing it all for the family and the village. Definitely not out of personal motives. Nope.
"Get close to Lady Tsunade?"
Hearing him shamelessly admit it, Kushina bit her lip, muttering an insult under her breath and giving Yosuke a fierce look.
Coming from another village, she had always felt like an outsider in Konoha. Now, her view of Minato soured as well.
So it's all because of my status, huh?
Feeling irritated, Kushina pushed these thoughts away.
Knowing that Minato's teacher was Jiraiya, she figured he could easily know her background, so she wasn't overly suspicious.
Moreover, recent events had already put Tsunade and the Senju clan on guard. Tsunade wouldn't have let Kushina go without protection.
"Kushina."
With his usual sunny smile, Minato glanced back at her, only to be met with a dismissive "hmph," leaving him bewildered.
…
Back in Konoha, in the Hokage's office.
"Hiruzen, we must make preparations for the Nine-Tails jinchuriki. My 'Root' has already identified five suitable candidates, all capable of containing the Nine-Tails," Danzo said seriously.
But the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, exhaled smoke calmly, not responding immediately, causing Danzo to grow visibly impatient.
"Hiruzen! Are you listening? A village cannot have two leaders. If the Nine-Tails jinchuriki isn't under our control, it will remain a potential threat to Konoha. I cannot allow such a risk!"
With Mito Uzumaki's health failing, if Danzo gained control over the jinchuriki, it would strengthen his influence over the village.
"Danzo! I am the Hokage!"
Hiruzen's simple retort left Danzo fuming, his face flushed with frustration.
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"
With that, Danzo stormed out, leaving Hiruzen alone in the office.
Watching him leave, Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe before pulling a scroll from under his desk. It contained information on Minato Namikaze.
"Mito-sama's health is failing. Danzo, you're too impatient. Relying on you would only create more trouble for the village."
Hiruzen murmured thoughtfully, feeling the weight of leadership on his shoulders.
As long as Kushina had yet to host the Nine-Tails, she was not truly a jinchuriki.
"Minato, for the village's sake, don't disappoint me, or I will have to confront the Senju clan head-on."
At sunset, gazing over the bustling village, Hiruzen's face showed determination.
If all went according to plan, he would allow the Senju clan its dignity. But if Kushina's loyalty wavered…
For Konoha's safety, he would never allow its greatest weapon to fall into foreign hands.
Though Kushina was Mito's choice as the next jinchuriki, Hiruzen had yet to fully commit to that decision, opting to avoid direct conflict with the Senju clan for now.
(End of Chapter)
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