The Third Hokage bore the responsibilities of leadership, but his hesitance often impeded decisive action. This flaw became more pronounced as he aged.
After his meal with Hatake Sakumo, Shinki returned home.
Late at night, Konoha Prison fell silent. The prisoners, exhausted from a day's labor, retreated to their cells to rest.
In a special cell deep within the prison, the Third Hokage stood at the entrance, staring at his old ally, Danzo Shimura.
"Sarutobi, you haven't kept your promise," Danzo's tone was accusatory.
The Third Hokage had assured Danzo that he would find a way to release him once the war began. Yet, despite the conflict raging on, Danzo remained imprisoned.
"Things are more complicated than you think, Danzo," the Third Hokage sighed and began recounting recent events, causing Danzo to frown.
"So you let him surround the Shimura clan's grounds with the ANBU? Sarutobi, how can you call yourself Hokage? As the leader of this village, you can't even control the ANBU!" Danzo's voice rose in anger at the mention of the ANBU encircling his clan's estate.
The Third Hokage had no choice but to negotiate with Shinki. In the end, after conceding certain benefits, both parties stood down.
Danzo was livid.
"This isn't my fault," the Third Hokage snapped, visibly irked by Danzo's rebuke. "If I hadn't intervened for Koharu, would ANBU have been expelled? This is unprecedented among the five great ninja villages!"
"What about me?" Danzo gripped the bars of his cell, his eyes burning with fury. "You intervened for that fool Utatane Koharu, but you ignore me and leave me here in prison?"
Hearing this only fueled Danzo's anger. It seemed that Koharu was deemed valuable enough to receive support, but he, Danzo, was left to rot in a cell.
Had he not made greater contributions than most?
Among the F4, Senju Tobirama's disciples, only the Third Hokage could claim more significant contributions than Danzo. Danzo ranked highly, above even Mitokado Hamura, Akimichi Torifu, and Utatane Koharu.
Yet, when it came time to share the rewards, he was relegated to the role of assistant to the Hokage.
Akimichi Torifu willingly ceded influence to bolster his clan. Koharu and Hamura enjoyed comfortable positions. Uchiha Kagami... was simply overlooked.
"Danzo, yelling at me won't change anything," the Third Hokage said, lighting his pipe and taking a slow drag. "You were the one who antagonized Hyuga Shinki and Kushina, drawing Mito-sama's ire. That's why we're in this mess."
Danzo, you've made your contributions, but you can't deny your actions. Had it not been for you, would we be in this predicament? Would the Hokage faction be fractured? Would the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance have shifted to Tsunade's side?
This chaos was your doing, Danzo, and now you dare to question me.
"Everything I did was for the village!" Danzo declared, repeating his well-worn mantra.
But such words held no sway over the Third Hokage. He had long mastered the art of leveraging the village's interests to morally bind others. The same tactics couldn't be used against him.
The Third Hokage's gaze, steady and unyielding, spoke volumes: *You can say it, but I don't have to believe it.*
"Y-you..." Danzo, enraged by the Third Hokage's look, snarled, "Sarutobi, are you refusing to help me?"
"What are you implying?" The Third Hokage's eyes narrowed, sensing an undercurrent in Danzo's words.
"What do you think?" Danzo said, gripping the bars tighter. He had been imprisoned long enough to feel his sanity slipping. He needed out. "You know what I mean, Sarutobi. Don't push me. We are two sides of the same coin—you stand in the light; I dwell in the shadows."
*I know your secrets, everything you've done. Don't force my hand.*
If the Third Hokage had been impartial, Danzo wouldn't have felt so betrayed. But the favoritism toward the Elders was intolerable. Sarutobi had intervened for Koharu and provided her with benefits, while Danzo languished in a cell.
"Sarutobi, what would happen if the villagers found out about Kagami?"
At that moment, Danzo's voice was dark, like a demon emerging from the depths.
"You..." The Third Hokage's eyes widened, his pupils contracting in shock.
Very few knew the truth behind Uchiha Kagami's death. It was a taboo topic, even among the F4. Uchiha Kagami, the strongest of Tobirama's disciples, was gone. Why? How?
"Sarutobi, don't test me. You've shown too much bias," Danzo warned. He didn't want to go down this path, for doing so would take him further from his goal. Orochimaru had said it best: the dirt in the shadows is never accepted by the light.
Without the villagers' acceptance, Danzo's Hokage ambitions would crumble.
*Damn it! How did it come to this?*
The Third Hokage now regretted coming to visit Danzo. He also regretted supporting Koharu earlier.
Everything seemed wrong.
If all were treated equally, Danzo could endure his imprisonment. Survival meant hope. But if favoritism prevailed, with others reaping benefits while he suffered, how could he stand it?
Even without benefits, he should have at least been freed. Instead, he remained confined, a prisoner without reprieve. This constant provocation stirred impulses in Danzo that were hard to suppress.
Danzo turned away, refusing to look at Sarutobi any longer.
"Sarutobi, I know the village is at war, and you're under immense pressure. But find a way to release me. Otherwise, I might do something... unpredictable. Remember, you have one year."
He wasn't ready to shatter everything just yet. He still clung to his dream of becoming Hokage. One year—that was the time Danzo gave the Third Hokage. If he were released within that time, he'd endure the humiliation and the wait.
---
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 330 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
Gimme power stonesssss
Also, leave a review FFS