The sun was setting over Amegakure when Yahiko and Konan finally made it back home, both looking rather pleased with themselves after their recent mission. Their satisfaction, however, was short-lived as they took in the devastated state of their front yard.
"What the hell happened here?!" Yahiko exclaimed, staring at the numerous craters and scorched earth. "It looks like a war zone!"
"Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!" Garp's laugh boomed from the porch. "Just had a little fun toying with the Raikage. Nothing to worry about!"
Konan's eye twitched slightly. "Grandfather, this is the third time this month we've had to repair the yard. And- Wait, did you just say the Raikage?!?"
"Then you're getting plenty of practice!" Garp grinned broadly while ignoring the later half of her question. "Now get to it! Consider it training!"
Yahiko's face scrunched up in indignation. "But we just got back from patrol! You're always making a mess, you old bastard! Can't it wait until-"
His protest was cut short by Garp's fist descending on his head.
"Fist of Love!"
"OW!" Yahiko clutched his head, a large bump already forming. "What was that for?!"
"For talking back!" Garp declared cheerfully. "Now, less complaining, more fixing!"
As the two younger Marines grudgingly began their repair work, with Yahiko still muttering under his breath, Garp turned to his guests. The three Sannin and Dan had been watching the exchange with varying degrees of amazement and confusion.
"Come on in." Garp gestured toward the house. "Nagato's preparing dinner, so we've got some time to talk."
Inside, the house was surprisingly cozy, with comfortable furniture and various personal touches that spoke of a real home rather than just a dwelling. The Konoha shinobi settled onto the couches in the living room while Garp took his favorite chair.
"So." Garp began, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, "Are you going to report Tsunade's little display to that old monkey in Konoha?"
Jiraiya and Dan responded immediately and in unison: "No."
Dan could never report the love of his life basically betraying their Village, and only not only had she willingly done so, but she had even been declined by the party she tried to join.
Jiraiya, while also viewing Tsunade fondly, cared more about other things than just the Village. And he wasn't quite willing to let his childhood friend & crush be punished for this.
Orochimaru, however, tilted his head slightly. "And if we were to say yes? What would you do then?"
He did not care enough about comradery or friendship, only what weighed more to the benefit of the Village.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as Garp's eyes narrowed, focusing on the snake Sannin. Haki seemed to unconciously emit from his pores, as did his Chakra begin to surge, making all the Shinobi in the room grow cautious.
Then, just as quickly, Garp threw his head back and laughed. "Bwahahahahahaha! Don't get cocky, kid! You're a hundred years too early to be trying to intimidate me!"
The tension broke, though Orochimaru's golden eyes remained calculating.
Then, he gained a smirk, seemingly satisfied with whatever answer he had deduced from Garp.
'I'm sure even Sarutobi-Sensei wouldn't be as foolish as to try and punish someone with as much political strength as Tsunade. It would be suicide for his career. And that's not to mention the logistical benefit of Tsunade. I do wonder though, how strong is this man?' Orochimaru thought to himself before a chuckle.
"Hey, brats." Garp continued, his tone deceptively light, "Is that rat Danzo still kicking?"
The sudden silence that fell over the room was answer enough. Garp sighed heavily, scratching his beard.
"Figures." he muttered. "That type always manages to hang on somehow. Though I'm sure the crippled bastard can't do anything right now. Probably can't even piss on his own." Garp said, though he mumbled the last part.
"Um, Garp-san." Dan spoke up hesitantly, "Aren't you going to ask us about Konoha's plans? Our military strength? Anything?"
Garp waved his hand dismissively. "Nah, too much trouble. Your rooms are on the second floor, by the way. Try not to break anything."
"Wait, what?" Dan looked dumbfounded. "That's it? No interrogation? No threats? No conditions?"
"Do you want me to interrogate you?" Garp asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, but..." Dan struggled to find the words. "We're enemy shinobi! You can't just..."
"Can't just what?" Garp stood up, stretching. "Offer you a place to stay? Feed you dinner? Bah! I don't care about all that political nonsense. Speaking of dinner..."
To everyone's amazement, Garp pulled out a pink apron and put it on, tying it with practiced ease.
"Nagato's a good cook, but he could use some help. Time to show you brats what real cooking looks like!"
As Garp headed toward the kitchen, humming cheerfully, the Konoha shinobi exchanged bewildered looks. This legendary warrior, who had just thoroughly defeated the Raikage and turned down one of the Sannin's offer of allegiance, was now wearing a pink apron and preparing to cook dinner.
Through the window, they could see Yahiko and Konan working to repair the yard, their movements showing both skill and familiarity with the task. The scene was so... normal, despite the big burly man that had 'persuaded' them to spend the night.
From the kitchen came the sounds of pots and pans being moved about, accompanied by Garp's booming voice giving instructions to Nagato. The smell of something delicious began to waft through the house.
At that moment, Tsunade was the first to leave the room, with her heading to one of the guest bedrooms, with Dan following her while Orochimaru headed to another one.
Jiraiya merely sat dumbfounded while shaking his head.
'Why the hell did I agree to this mission.'
Image of Garp's House [IMAGE]
~
The Shimura compound was quieter than Hiruzen remembered. Where once there had been the constant movement of ROOT agents and the subtle buzz of activity, now there was only the silence of a defeated household. As he approached the main house, he caught the end of a conversation through an open window.
"There you go, Danzo-sama. All cleaned up now."
"...thank you, Komaru-san."
Hiruzen waited a respectful moment before announcing his presence. The nurse, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and capable hands, bowed deeply as she slid open the door.
"Hokage-sama! We weren't expecting... I just finished helping Danzo-sama with his... personal needs."
"It's fine." Hiruzen assured her. "I won't keep him long."
The nurse led him to Danzo's private room, where his old friend and rival sat propped up in a specially designed chair. The sight still struck Hiruzen hard - Danzo Shimura, once one of Konoha's most feared shinobi, now unable to even lift a cup without assistance.
"Leave us." Danzo commanded the nurse, though his voice lacked its former authority.
"Danzo-sama, you haven't had your tea yet..."
"It can wait."
"Actually," Hiruzen interjected, "please bring the tea. This may take a while."
As the nurse prepared and served the tea, neither man spoke. Hiruzen took in the changes to his old friend - the way his once-proud posture had been reduced to a permanent slouch, how his remaining eye seemed duller, less focused.
When they were finally alone, Danzo spoke first. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Hiruzen? Have you come to check if I've died yet?"
"I'm here because, despite everything, you deserve to hear this from me directly." Hiruzen took a sip of his tea. "I'm proposing an alliance with Amegakure."
The cup in Danzo's good hand trembled slightly, tea threatening to spill. "What?"
"The political landscape is shifting. Iwagakure grows more aggressive by the day. Kumogakure probes our borders. We need-"
"Have you lost your mind?" Danzo's voice cracked with fury. "Alliance with Amegakure? With that monster Garp and his aberration of an organization? They are a direct threat to everything we've built! This goes against the Will of Fire that Lord Hashirama created!!"
"Are you finished?" Hiruzen asked calmly, taking another sip of tea.
"Finished? I haven't begun! This is madness, Hiruzen! They reject the very foundation of the shinobi system. Their ideas about 'justice' and refusing to train children as shinobi - it will weaken us! Make us vulnerable! You cannot seriously be considering-"
"I'm not considering it." Hiruzen cut him off. "I've already decided and done it. I'm telling you this as a courtesy, Danzo, because of our long history. Not because I seek your input."
Danzo's face contorted with rage. "How dare you? After everything I've done for Konoha-"
"Everything you've done?" Hiruzen's voice took on an edge. "Like antagonizing Garp? Like sending ROOT to kidnap children? Like operating behind my back for over a decade?"
"Everything I did was for the village!"
"No," Hiruzen said softly. "Everything you did was for your vision of the village. There's a difference."
Danzo's good hand clenched into a fist. "And now you would betray everything we built? Everything Tobirama-sensei taught us?"
The temperature in the room seemed to drop as Hiruzen's chakra flared briefly. "Be very careful, old friend. I have tolerated much from you over the years, but do not presume to lecture me about betrayal."
For a moment, Danzo seemed to shrink in his chair, reminded forcefully of the gap that had always existed between them - the gap that had driven him to such lengths to try to close it.
"I am still Hokage," Hiruzen continued, his voice level but carrying unmistakable authority. "The decision is mine to make. And I have made it."
"They'll destroy us." Danzo whispered, his rage giving way to something close to despair. "Everything we've built, everything we've sacrificed for... they'll tear it all down."
"Perhaps," Hiruzen stood, straightening his robes. "Or perhaps they'll help us build something better. Something that doesn't require quite so many sacrifices."
He moved toward the door, then paused. "Enjoy your retirement, old friend. Try to find some peace in it."
"Peace?" Danzo's bitter laugh followed him. "There is no peace for men like us, Hiruzen. Only victory or defeat. I'll get our seats ready in Hell for when we go."
Hiruzen looked back one last time at the broken figure in the chair - the man who had once been his greatest rival and closest friend.
"That, Danzo, is why you lost."
With that, he left, sliding the door closed behind him. The nurse was waiting outside, wringing her hands anxiously.
"Hokage-sama... he'll need his medicine soon..."
"Take good care of him." Hiruzen said softly. "Despite everything, he did love the village. In his own way."
As he walked away from the Shimura compound, Hiruzen felt the weight of years pressing down on him. How had they come so far from those bright-eyed young shinobi who had trained under Tobirama-sensei? When had their paths diverged so dramatically?
But the world was changing. Perhaps it had been changing for a long time, and they had been too set in their ways to see it. Garp and his Marines, as disruptive as they might be, represented something new. Something that might just be worth the risk.
[Author's Corner: This chapter was supposed to release on Wednesday, but I've been having problems with Webnovel. They banned one of my new books so I've been trying to recalibrate after that.