Monkey froze, his entire body shaking as rage surged through him. His breathing turned uneven, shoulders rising and falling as if he was forcing himself not to lose control. His eyes never left Danzo. "Lord Hokage…" The words stopped in his throat. His jaw clenched, and when he spoke again, the title changed, rough and strained. "Father. This is a mistake. He should not stay alive after what he did."
Hiruzen was too weak to argue. Blood stained his robes, and every breath sounded painful, yet his gaze remained steady. "He knows things we do not. Important things. Do not kill him."
Monkey stared at him, searching his face. He saw it clearly. This was not the Hokage speaking. This was a man clinging to the last fragments of a broken friendship. The realization only made the rage burn hotter. His hand tightened around his tanto as he unsheathed the blade, the sound sharp in the heavy silence. He stepped forward anyway, killing intent pouring from him in suffocating waves, thick enough to make the air feel heavier. Even the ANBU nearby tensed, instinctively reacting to the pressure as it spread through the room.
Hiruzen forced strength into his failing voice, gathering what little chakra he had left and pushing it into the sound itself, forcing the words out with the last of his stamina. "Do not do it. That is an order from your Hokage."
The command carried across the chamber, heard by every ANBU present.
Monkey's blade stopped a hair from Danzo's throat. The edge broke skin, a thin line of blood forming as Danzo's body trembled uncontrollably. For a moment, Monkey did not move. His arm shook violently, the struggle visible to everyone watching. It was clear he wanted to finish it. That he was fighting himself more than any enemy. Danzo's eyes widened as he realized how close he had come to death.
Monkey's breathing grew harsher. His grip tightened again, muscles flexing as if he might ignore the order. The chamber felt suffocating, every second stretching. Then he exhaled slowly and forced the blade back, the motion sharp and filled with frustration. He sheathed it with a violent snap, his voice cold but unsteady. "Restrain him. Bring our fuinjutsu grandmaster. Seal his chakra with the strongest method available. I want at least three ANBU watching him at all times."
"Yes, sir," the ANBU replied.
Danzo tried to move, testing his body despite the pain.
Monkey reacted instantly. He stepped forward and augmented his kick with chakra, crushing Danzo's leg with a sickening sound. Bone snapped and tore through flesh as blood spread across the floor. Danzo screamed before forcing himself silent, glaring with hatred born from years of ruthless survival.
Monkey moved closer, unable to stop himself. His fist crashed into Danzo's face with brutal force, caving in his cheekbone and shattering his jaw. The impact snapped his head to the side as several teeth broke loose, blood spraying across the ruined floor. Danzo's eyes rolled back before his body went limp, collapsing into unconsciousness. The sound of the blow echoed through the chamber. For a moment, it looked as if Monkey would continue. His body trembled again, killing intent pouring from him in waves so heavy that even Itachi and Kakashi shifted slightly, instincts warning them that if he crossed the line, they would have to act.
But he did not.
Monkey stood there, staring down at the unconscious man with a mixture of fury, disgust, and restraint. The Hokage's order, spoken in front of witnesses, was the only thing that had stopped him.
Monkey took a deep breath, forcing himself to slow down as he steadied his shaking body. His voice came out rough from the battle and the rage he was trying to contain. "Move the Hokage and Danzo to a secure location for treatment, but make sure no one knows what happened here. At any cost. Use barriers and as much chakra as needed. No one is to learn about this." Every ANBU agent nodded immediately, moving with practiced precision. Monkey turned his head slightly. "Kakashi, Itachi. I need one of you to watch Danzo for half the day and the other for the second half." Kakashi did not hesitate. "As you wish."
A barrier was maintained around the ruined area, layered and reinforced, preventing anyone from entering or sensing what had taken place. Several ANBU remained stationed at the perimeter while others fueled the formation continuously. The previous barrier had already contained the noise, and the battle had happened deep within the compound. With the hour so late, moving both Hiruzen and Danzo without drawing attention proved easier than expected. Every step was calculated. Every movement hidden.
Inside the secure medical facility, the atmosphere was tense and focused. Multiple medical ninja worked without pause around the unconscious Hokage, their hands glowing with controlled chakra as they treated his wounds. His body was covered in slashes and internal damage. Some of the most advanced among them injected refined neutral chakra directly into his system, stabilizing his flow and preventing collapse. This was a rare and dangerous procedure, something only the highest level of medical ninja could perform. Even so, the process was slow. His body resisted recovery, and his condition remained fragile. None of the medical staff complained. Saving the life of the Hokage mattered more than time or exhaustion.
After a long while, an elderly medical ninja approached Monkey. The ANBU commander stood rigid, his presence heavy and oppressive. The medic hesitated, clearly uncertain. Monkey spoke first, his voice sharp. "Speak." The man flinched before answering in a low, strained tone. "The Hokage's injuries will not heal quickly."
Monkey's eyes narrowed behind his mask. "Why?"
The medic took a steady breath. "His age is the primary factor. This battle placed an extreme burden on a body already worn down by decades of combat. He will recover enough to speak and move, but he will not be able to function at a shinobi level for a long time." He paused, clearly troubled. "There is something else. It is as if his body is rejecting treatment. I cannot confirm the cause yet, but my experience suggests this is not simply physical damage."
Monkey's patience thinned. "Continue."
The medic closed his eyes briefly before speaking again. "I would advise that preparations begin for a new Hokage. He may not be capable of ruling effectively for some time."
Monkey's body trembled. A surge of killing intent and bloodlust leaked from him, filling the room with suffocating pressure. Several medical ninja froze in fear, their hands shaking as they struggled to continue their work. After a moment, Monkey forced himself to calm down, his voice turning cold and controlled. "Understood. I will contact the elders and the clan heads."
It was morning when Monkey sent messengers to every clan head and elder, ordering them to gather at the Hokage building. The summons gave no explanation. The message was simple and direct, stating only that it was an urgent meeting concerning the security of the village. The lack of detail alone was enough to unsettle even the most composed among them.
The Hokage's meeting chamber slowly filled as the sun rose higher over Konoha. The atmosphere inside the room was tense, far heavier than usual. The guards outside had been doubled.
Fugaku Uchiha arrived first among the major clan leaders, his steps steady and controlled. His expression revealed nothing, but his sharp eyes missed nothing. He took his seat in silence, folding his hands with quiet authority. He already had a suspicion about why this meeting had been called, but the full picture remained unclear.
Hiashi Hyuga entered soon after, his posture straight and his presence cold and dignified. His gaze fell briefly on Fugaku, and for a moment a faint displeasure passed through his eyes. The Uchiha had only recently been reintegrated into the village's political sphere, and Fugaku's presence here was a direct result of the Hokage's decision. He offered no greeting and simply took his seat across from Fugaku. The Byakugan remained inactive, but the tension in his shoulders revealed his alertness.
Shikaku Nara arrived with Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi. The three exchanged quiet glances before sitting together. Shikaku leaned back slightly, fingers pressed together, his gaze thoughtful. "Trouble," he murmured under his breath. Inoichi nodded once, while Choza frowned, clearly uneasy.
Shibi Aburame entered without a sound, the insects beneath his cloak shifting faintly. Tsume Inuzuka followed, her expression already sharp and irritated. No one had spoken to her, yet she looked ready for an argument. "If this is another pointless political discussion, I swear," she muttered under her breath as she crossed her arms and sat down, her impatience clear even in silence.
A moment later, Takemura Senju entered. His presence was calm but carried quiet weight. He gave a brief nod to the room before taking his seat, his steady gaze sweeping over the gathered clan heads as the tension in the chamber deepened.
The elders arrived last. Homura and Koharu moved slowly, their age showing, yet their eyes remained as sharp as ever. Their arrival seemed to press the air down further, the already tense atmosphere growing heavier as they took their seats.
The room fell silent the moment Monkey entered. His mask hid his face, but the tension in his posture spoke clearly enough. He walked to the center of the chamber and stood there, rigid and unmoving. For several long seconds he said nothing, letting the silence settle and forcing every eye in the room onto him. Then he spoke, his voice steady and heavy. "Last night, the Hokage was forced into battle inside the village and suffered severe injuries."