Shimura Danzo rarely acted impulsively.
That was one reason he had survived as long as he had — politically and on the battlefield.
Tonight, however, his thoughts returned repeatedly to a single subject:
Uchiha Kagami.
And his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Danzo remembered the teachings of his sensei, Senju Tobirama.
Not simple distrust.
Not hatred.
But caution.
Tobirama had always emphasized one principle:
Power tied too closely to emotion required careful handling.
And the Uchiha, with their intense emotional capacity, often walked that dangerous edge.
Danzo had internalized that lesson deeply.
Perhaps… more rigidly than Tobirama himself intended.
Seeing Madara years ago had sealed that belief.
Susanoo towering like a force of nature.
Genjutsu capable of bending even tailed beasts.
A single shinobi reshaping battlefields.
Danzo never forgot that moment.
It taught him something brutal:
Ordinary shinobi strength alone might never rival that level.
That realization didn't make him despair.
It made him pragmatic.
If such power existed…
It had to be understood.
Contained.
Or, if necessary…
Acquired.
Kagami complicated matters.
Unlike other Uchiha, Kagami was trusted widely:
Loyal to Konoha.
Balanced emotionally.
Personally respected by Tobirama.
Fellow disciple alongside Hiruzen and Danzo himself.
Removing his eyes outright would fracture trust.
Dangerous politically.
Potentially catastrophic.
And Danzo was ambitious.
Carefully ambitious.
He knew the position of Hokage would eventually open.
Hiruzen was the obvious candidate.
But Danzo believed strength, not popularity, ultimately safeguarded the village.
To stand as Hokage, he needed unquestionable capability.
Power people could not doubt.
Mangekyō Sharingan represented exactly that kind of power.
But timing mattered.
Always.
So Danzo did nothing.
Outwardly.
No accusations.
No pressure on Kagami.
No hint of personal desire.
Just observation.
Just preparation.
Just patience.
Even toward Tobirama, he remained respectful and restrained.
Because he knew:
Tobirama valued Kagami.
And Tobirama disliked rash ambition.
Danzo wouldn't jeopardize his standing over impatience.
Still…
The idea stayed in his mind.
If circumstance changed.
If Kagami fell in battle.
If opportunity arose naturally.
Then safeguarding such power — as Danzo would frame it — might become "necessary."
At least in his own reasoning.
Far away in the desert war front…
Kagami continued leading Kaen's team calmly.
No sign of political storms brewing back home.
Just battlefield focus.
Just survival.
Kaen trained relentlessly.
System points climbing steadily.
Haki refinement improving.
Mangekyō still secret.
Observation Haki occasionally sensed distant attention.
But no immediate threat.
War simplified priorities temporarily:
Protect allies.
Complete missions.
Grow stronger.
Politics waited quietly behind the front lines.
Always.
Danzo's ambition hadn't yet turned into action.
But intention had formed.
And in the shinobi world…
Intent often preceded history.