If you wanna read ahead of my stories, you can check out the advanced chapters on my subcribestar, at the same username - 0Jordinio0
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Fuck.
Daiki leaned against the wall of the room set up for the operation, loosing a deep breath, "Shit." he cursed, reaching down to re-arrange the bulge straining his pants.
It wouldn't do for Tsunade and Lee to turn up and see the massive spear like tent. 'Poor Lee would feel emasculated for the rest of his life, and Tsunade, well who knows what that vixen would do?' he shook his head.
He'd seen the Rock Lee and his Ninja Pals series after all. Poor Lee, and Naruto actually had been completely demoralized after they'd seen that Neji was hung.
And they didn't compare.
If they seen his, they would never recover, 'Perhaps Naruto would be so demoralized and emasculated, he'd just decide to become Naruko permanently?' Isobu piped in sarcastically, 'That was a gag series, the likelihood of it being true to form, is highly unlikely.'
'Like this world being shown as an anime in that other world?' Daiki snorted back.
'…' Isobu had no counter to that, 'Maybe Rock Lee will decide to become Ty Lee? You always were a big fan of her, no?' he offered lamely.
Hmm.
Daiki crossed his arms, thinking on that. Picturing Ty Lee in his head, running around shouting about the flames of youth.
'Nope.' he banished that image immediately.
Some things were just too cursed to imagine, even for him.
'Well, putting that aside, you should probably say something.' Isobu said.
Ah right.
The Anbu shadowing him.
They must have gotten quite the show out of all that. He'd completely forgot about them for the most part.
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "Alright, front and centre." he snapped his fingers.
From the ceiling, four figures dropped from the ceiling to kneel in front of him. His eyes settled on the leader of the squad, and his short brown hair.
Yamato.
Or rather, Tenzo as he went by right now. Or at this moment, Bear going by his mask.
"Hokage-sama?" Bear prompted, looking up at him.
"Mmm, it obviously doesn't need to be said, but none of what you saw there gets repeated to anyone else," Daiki ordered, crossing his arms, "I don't really mind personally for myself. There is little to zero issues for me to be ashamed of. But if Sakura found out you guys saw all that, she'd be mortified."
His tone was pleasant enough, and he was even smiling. But, there was no hiding the threat in his words.
"Rest assured Hokage-sama, none of your personal dealings will be revealed," Tenzo replied, "Isn't that right?"
"Hai Hokage-sama!" the other three cried in unison.
"See that it doesn't," Daiki nodded, "Back to your stations." he commanded.
Three of them disappeared in blurs of speed, fading out of view and hiding within the shadows of room. The only one to not move, was Tenzo.
Daiki raised his eyebrow at him.
"Apologies Hokage-sama, but I had to ask," he stated, "Were you serious about what you said about time travel? And that in the near future you would have to deal with something capable of it?"
Ah right, he had revealed that hadn't he?
"Do you doubt me?" Daiki instead asked in return.
Tenzo shook his head, "No, Hokage-sama. I would not dare doubt the word of the Hokage himself," he replied, "Even for as something as farfetched as time travel."
Daiki rolled his eyes, "Time travel is hardly farfetched, remember exactly who you are talking to," he replied, "I am a mere thirteen years old. Yet I can travel through space, high five Bijuu, pull the dead from heavens, and open a portal straight to hell and go conquer it and make demon kind my slaves if I so desired."
Tenzo stiffened, "…You can make portals to hell?"
Daiki sighed. He really needed to remember that not everyone knew as much as he did about this world, "Yeah, see those funky Rashomon gates Orochimaru summoned when I slapped him around? They were originally…"
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"Are you going to just loiter and stare at the back of my head all night?" Hiruzen snorted aloud as he relaxed into his folding chair, pipe hanging from his mouth.
He shifted the fishing rod in his hand, and placed it in the waiting stand for it between his legs. Just in time for the bushes to rustle behind him, and his old friend Danzo walked out into the clearing he'd set up camp in, beside a lovely little river.
A familiar one too. He remembered spending time with Naruto when he was a young lad of only four out here. Enjoying some fish the young lad had caught, with a warm camp fire and the glistening stars above them.
"I see you've wasted no time in enjoying your retirement." Danzo noted as he walked up to stand beside him.
Still wearing that ridiculous black robe.
And hiding his 'missing eye' under those bandages. Hiruzen resisted the urge to stand up and backhand him.
For he now knew just what was hidden under those bandages, and within that robe. When Daiki had told him, he'd simmered in a murderous rage.
He'd been tempted to go drag his old friend out of his home and execute him for his treason.
It was a close thing though.
"Have you come to state the obvious, Danzo?" Hiruzen rolled his eyes, not bothering to look at his friend as he continued puffing on his pipe, and looked out onto the tranquil glistening water of the river.
So simple, so normal. And yet, the way the light of the moon and stars reflected off of it in the night, was beautiful.
Danzo was silent for a moment.
"I have been ordered to train a successor for Root." he said simply.
A grey bushy eyebrow rose slightly, but that was all the reaction Hiruzen gave outwardly, to show he was listening.
So Daiki-kun wished to make use of Root himself? Well, that was his prerogative as Hokage. He had a far different vision for the village than he did.
His blatant desire into goading Kumo and Iwa into declaring war, were proof enough of that. He didn't agree with re-stablishing Root properly, instead of the shadow nonsense Danzo had hidden from him despite his orders.
But, Daiki was the Hokage how, not him. And his words were law. And as it was, he trusted Daiki, he'd chosen him for a reason. So he'd keep any disagreement he had, to the privacy of his own mind.
Or at least somewhere he couldn't be over heard by others. He, as the former Hokage disagreeing with Daiki-kun, could be quite damaging to his image as Hokage.
And damaging to the morale of the village.
Still, there could be only one reason why Daiki had ordered Danzo to train a successor.
"I won't be here by this time next year." Danzo said openly.
Yes, he summarised as much.
It surprised him, how he felt a lurch in his chest. Truly, feelings were irrational. He'd wanted to kill him himself after he found out what he'd done to the Uchiha, and poor Shisui-kun…
And yet, the thought of his old friend dying formed a pit in his stomach. Truly, feelings were nonsensical at all times.
Even at his old age, he couldn't comprehend emotions in full.
"Blunt as ever, aren't you old friend?" Hiruzen shook his head and finally looked at him.
He was surprised to find, a smile on Danzo's lips. Not a sarcastic one, or a cutting sneering smile meant to offend with feigned compliance like he was so often graced with, after their many arguments.
No. It was a small, content smile.
Warm even, Hiruzen could venture.
It was so odd to see such a smile on his weathered face. He hadn't seen him smile like that, since they were children and lacked the responsibility forced upon their shoulders.
Danzo, looked truly happy for the first time he'd seen him in decades.
"You do not look like a man facing a death sentence." Hiruzen mused, looking away.
"Because I am not," Danzo replied, "This is a release. For so long, I have fought tooth and nail for this village. You may not agree with what I desired for the village, or my methods."
He felt as Danzo turned his head to look at him, "But that is neither here nor there. I am content, because the leader this village has always needed and deserved, has finally appeared," he puffed his chest out, "I can go to the pure lands with my head held high, and face Tobirama-sensei, and all of our people who died for the village, and proudly let them know, Konoha will never fall. Their sacrifices were not in vain."
"…Yes, I suppose you can, " Hiruzen clicked his tongue, "And the Uchiha? What will you say to them?"
Danzo had the gall to snort, "I care nothing for the feelings of a filthy clan as prone to evil as they," he retorted, "I played my part in their fall, yes. But, it only came to that because of their own actions. I kept my distance from them, as I promised I would until after the Kyuubi attack and an Uchiha released the beast."
He paused, "Ah, no, I shouldn't refer to the Kyuubi or any of the Bijuu as beasts," his old friend corrected himself, "They are all glorious members of the Leaf, or will be soon. Daiki-kun, would not be too happy with the bijuu being referred to as beasts, considering his close relationship with the Sanbi.
Hiruzen turned back to stare at his friend in disbelief. Not just because of him fully airing his distaste-
Nay the sheer vitriol he felt for the Uchiha that he'd long since kept hidden. But…
Daiki-kun!?
Such familiarity. And referring to him as fondly and warmly too. And correcting himself on calling the Bijuu beasts, which he'd done all his life…just because Daiki-kun wouldn't like it?
Who was this man beside him? That could not be the Danzo he knew!
He opened his mouth to say something, but he couldn't find the words before Danzo spoke up again, "I have simply come to say goodbye in advance, to take this chance allow us both to share and air out any of our old grievances and put them to rest," he said, "Though, I will say. I may die, but I may not enter the pure world for quite some time."
…What?
Hiruzen stared at him oddly for a second, before it clicked, "Edo Tensei?" he mouthed, aghast.
"Indeed," Danzo's warm smile became a full on grin, that looked so odd on his face, "Daiki-kun gave me an offer. That before he takes my head, he will restore my youth. And revive me with Edo Tensei to continue serving the Leaf Village. He of course, will seal my personality, allowing me zero control or agency to act in ways I desire. I will be assigned to serve to protect Konoha's interests for one hundred years if I agree, before I will be given the choice again. To serve, or to retire to the after life."
"I…I…." Hiruzen truly found himself at a loss for words at the sheer horrific nonsense his friend just spouted. He understood Daiki using such a technique on Rasa. Again, he did not agree with it, but he understood. But this? "I truly will never understand you, Danzo."
"The feeling is mutual, you crotchety old monkey." Danzo snorted.
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Danzo had the gall to snort, "I care nothing for the feelings of filthy Uchiggers." he retorted.