Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 144: Danzo And Hiruzen
Black Zetsu hunches were usually correct, perhaps because he had lived for nearly a century and had spent that time studying humanity so closely that he understood them better than most of them understood themselves.
For example, when he first began orchestrating the conflict between the Uchiha and the Senju, he started by inciting hatred after Indra were lost against his little brother Asura. Since then, the descendant of Indra started to war against Aura descendant.
For hundreds of year, they fight against each other but none of them manage to awaken Rinegan. He also had low expectation to them but when Madara emerged, that low expectation turned into high expectation. He had been close to 100% convinced that Madara would awaken the Rinegan and he had been right. Madara finally awaken his Rinegan when he was too old to move.
Not just that, many of his plans had turned out exactly as he had intended, one after another falling into place that he had planned. That was until Raiken became the new Uzumaki Clan Leader and for the first time in a long while, Black Zetsu found himself looking at a variable he had not accounted for.
He had already suggested to Madara that he would find a jutsu capable of restoring his youth, giving his aging body a second chance to do what it no longer could. The odds were slim and he knew it, but with their primary plan showing cracks it could not afford, having something to fall back on was better than having nothing at all.
1 JULY - KONOHA YEAR 46
DANZO HOME PRISON
"Remember, do it like this," said Danzo while showing the hand signs to his son, his voice carrying a patience that had never been there before, not in the years when his mind had been consumed by ambition and position.
Since returning to Konoha, he had spent nearly every moment with his family and he had come to understand, perhaps too late but not entirely so, that these were the best moments of his life. He found himself wondering how he had ever let it slip away, how a title and a seat of power had once felt more important than the woman waiting at home and the son growing up without a father truly present.
"Ok Father," his son smiled, eyes bright as he tried to copy the hand signs with his small fingers.
Danzo watched him for a moment longer before he sensed someone outside the fence, a quiet sound near the entrance pulled his attention away. He turned toward the door and exhaled slowly.
"Son, go inside with your mother for now," said Danzo with a calm smile.
"Ok." The boy ran toward his mother without question and Danzo gave a small nod in her direction. His wife understood immediately and guided their son inside without a word, pulling the door gently behind her.
Danzo home prison was no longer confined strictly to the inside of the house. He had been permitted to move within the yard as long as he did not cross the fence, a small freedom he had requested from Sakumo shortly after his return to Konoha and one that had been approved without much resistance.
He turned to face his visitor that none other than the third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Or now he should be called former Hokage because Sakumo had taken that position and become new fourth Hokage.
"You are here," said Danzo, his tone carrying neither warmth nor hostility, only normal tone like saying something to stranger.
"Danzo," said Hiruzen, his voice tone are weird and they are alot of dissatisfaction that he made no effort to conceal.
"What brings you here? Do not tell me you are still holding onto what happened in that jungle," said Danzo, folding his arms loosely.
Hiruzen exhaled heavily, his brow creasing as he looked at the man standing before him, someone he had once called his closest friend.
"Why did you do it?" asked Hiruzen.
Danzo held his gaze for a moment before the corner of his mouth curved slightly.
"Are you really asking me that?" said Danzo. "Did our sensei not choose you as Hokage because of your Will of Fire? I was honoring that. A man chosen for his will should be tested by it."
"You are lying," replied Hiruzen, his voice sharpening. "You left me there because you were angry that I forced you into that war."
A vein along the side of Danzo jaw flickered briefly before settling. He let the silence stretch for a moment, long enough to make his calming down.
"If that is what you have already decided then nothing I say will change your mind and I have no interest in wasting words on someone who has already written that Im a guilty," said Danzo, keeping his voice normal as possible. He was not foolish enough to hand Hiruzen the real truth because of the safety of his wife and child.
There were two reasons he had left Hiruzen alone at that time, heavily wounded in that jungle. The first was exactly what he had said, that Tobirama had chosen Hiruzen for his Will of Fire and Danzo had chosen, in his own way, to honor that by stepping back and letting Hiruzen carry what had been given to him. The second reason was one he would take to his grave, that he refused to give Hiruzen any further leverage to threaten him through his family ever again.
"Danzo I am the Hokage," said Hiruzen. "You should tell me the truth."
"You are really an idiot, you are no longer the Hokage because you don't have any power anymore," said Danzo, he knows what happens to Konoha thanks to his wife who told the latest gossip to him.
Hiruzen words stuck on his throat because except the name of the third Hokage, all the Anbu and Ninja are now listen to the new Hokage. They only listen out of respect for his past position but against the current Hokage, his command are useless.
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There is 30 advanced chapter on my patreon.
Chapter 170: Hunt Madara
Chapter 171: Absolute Peak
Chapter 172: I Come To Bargain
Chapter 173: Madara Peak
Chapter 174: History
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