And so, Shimura Danzō finally became the Hokage.
Due to partially redeeming his reputation during the Konoha Crush incident, the villagers weren't as opposed to him taking the position as one might have expected.
Of course, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu still wanted to protest. But when they met Danzō's cold, piercing gaze, they understood.
Fear. Pure fear.
This was the man who once dared to plot the assassination of the Third Hokage. Killing two feeble elders like them would be nothing more than child's play.
There was still the formality of obtaining the Daimyō's approval, but with only one candidate, the Daimyō didn't have much of a choice.
Thus, three days later, after a special messenger from Root returned overnight with the official Hokage seal, the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure was born.
It was none other than me—Shimura Danzō.
Danzō wasted no time donning the Hokage's robes and sitting in the chair that once belonged to Hiruzen Sarutobi. The satisfaction that washed over him was unparalleled.
But there was no time for arrogance. Now that he had become Hokage, he had to devote himself fully to the village's growth and prosperity.
As the saying goes, "A new leader's term begins with fires." Danzō intended to light his flames—not just for the village's progress but to establish his authority and solidify his grip on power.
After all, consolidating power was essential for better serving Konohagakure, wasn't it?
"Ryōma," Danzō called to his loyal lieutenant.
"Yes, Danzō-sama," Aburame Ryōma answered respectfully, standing at attention.
"Send operatives immediately to secure the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Then, detain that Uchiha brat as well. Finally, demand another batch of recruits from the major clans to strengthen Root."
"This… might provoke widespread dissatisfaction if we move so aggressively right away," Ryōma said hesitantly, his face uneasy.
Danzō rose slowly, his back to Ryōma, presenting only a stoic and resolute silhouette.
"Bearing the village's hatred is something I've long grown accustomed to," he said.
"It's all for Konohagakure."
"Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto looked up from his expired carton of milk, startled by the sudden intrusion into his home. The masked intruder radiated a malice far deeper than the disdain he usually endured from the villagers.
"What do you want, mister… mask guy?" Naruto asked nervously, pressing himself against the wall as he edged toward the door, hoping to escape.
"Come with me, demon brat," the masked Root member said, grabbing Naruto by the collar and leaping out of the window. They raced across the rooftops toward Root's underground facility.
"Hey! Isn't that Naruto?"
"Why is he being taken by the Anbu? This looks bad!" Iruka Umino, who happened to be passing by, froze in shock at the sight of Naruto being carried off.
If Naruto had merely caused trouble, Iruka could usually step in, apologize, and smooth things over. But if the Anbu were involved, this was far beyond his ability to handle.
His first instinct was to run to the Hokage, but he stopped short, remembering that the Third Hokage, who had always treated Naruto with kindness, was no longer here.
The current Hokage harbored nothing but malice toward Naruto.
What should he do?
After a moment of frantic pacing, Iruka decided there was only one person he could turn to—Hatake Kakashi.
While Iruka didn't fully understand Naruto's true identity or the connection between Kakashi and Naruto, he had noticed Kakashi's subtle but consistent concern for the boy. Even though Kakashi rarely interacted with Naruto openly, he had quietly intervened behind the scenes on several occasions.
"I'll find Kakashi!" Iruka resolved, hurrying off.
Meanwhile, Naruto was unceremoniously dragged into the depths of Root's headquarters. At first, he struggled against his captor, but the prolonged suspension by his collar left him gasping for air and unable to resist.
His strong vitality as a Jinchūriki and an Uzumaki saved him from suffocating. Otherwise, an ordinary child might not have survived.
"Stay put," the Root operative barked, throwing Naruto into a cell and locking the door.
"Ow! That hurt!" Naruto groaned, clutching his scraped and bleeding arms. The rough landing had torn patches of skin from his elbows and knees.
"Ugh, I'm bleeding…" he muttered, unsure of what to do.
"Rip a piece off your shirt and use it to wrap the wound," came a cold, familiar voice from the adjacent cell.
Naruto turned toward the sound, surprised.
"Sasuke? What are you doing here, you jerk?"
He completely forgot about his injuries in his curiosity, his carefree nature taking over.
Sasuke sat silently in the shadows of his cell, ignoring Naruto's questions.
"Hey! Bastard Sasuke! Answer me!"
"What? Did you lose your voice or something?" Naruto asked, his tone devoid of malice but filled with genuine curiosity. He simply wanted Sasuke to talk—because, well, that's what Naruto does.
"Shut up, you idiot," Sasuke snapped, his voice tinged with irritation.
"Can't you stay quiet for even a second?"
Sasuke's mind was preoccupied with far graver concerns. From the way the Root members had treated him, it was clear the village's attitude toward him had shifted.
Life was about to get much harder.
He wasn't afraid of hardship, but he dreaded losing his freedom entirely, being locked away and reduced to nothing more than an experimental subject for the rest of his life.
That was unacceptable. He still had unfinished business with that man.
While Naruto and Sasuke remained in their cells, Iruka finally managed to locate Kakashi and explained the situation.
Kakashi's expression darkened.
Iruka might not differentiate between Root and ordinary Anbu, but Kakashi knew exactly who was behind this. Danzō's obsession with Naruto was no secret to him.
After some thought, Kakashi decided to confront the Hokage directly.
He entered the Hokage's office after a brief knock, stepping into the room filled with neatly stacked files.
"Ah, Kakashi. What brings you here?" Danzō asked, looking up from his work.
"It's about Naruto…"
"Hm?" Danzō's brow furrowed.
So, this brat still doesn't get it, he thought.
Even now, he calls me Danzō-sama instead of Hokage-sama. Just like his father, Hatake Sakumo, he has no respect for authority.
Suppressing his irritation, Danzō stared at Kakashi coldly.
"Naruto is essential to the village," Danzō said. "He must be closely monitored and guided so that he can fulfill his purpose and contribute to Konohagakure."
"This is non-negotiable. Leave."
"But Naruto's just a child…" Kakashi began, unwilling to back down.
Clack!
Danzō's cane struck the ground sharply.
"Kakashi, are you willing to sacrifice the village's interests for personal emotions?"
"The best shinobi are tools, devoid of emotion. The same applies to Jinchūriki."
"I know your attachment stems from his connection to the Fourth Hokage," Danzō continued, his voice firm.
"But as the Fourth's son, that boy has an even greater obligation to serve the village. Just as I do. He must become a model of selfless devotion."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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