Meanwhile, after leaving the training ground, Kurenai headed straight to the Hokage Tower.
"Lord Hokage."
"Kurenai, you're back. So, how is that child, Kamikawa?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his pipe, his expression gentle as ever.
"I lost."
Kurenai admitted it frankly.
"Oh?"
Hiruzen's brows lifted ever so slightly, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes.
According to the intelligence he had, Kamikawa was talented—but nowhere near strong enough to defeat Kurenai.
Could he be hiding something?
At that thought, Hiruzen's eyes subtly narrowed.
"Tell me everything."
He liked geniuses—
but not geniuses beyond his control.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Kurenai recounted the entire battle, omitting the parts where Kamikawa had teased her.
"I see… Then it seems you were simply careless, Kurenai."
After hearing that Kamikawa had used basic academy knowledge to disrupt her genjutsu and seized victory through her lapse in judgment, Hiruzen relaxed.
As expected.
A genius without a bloodline limit could at most become another Kakashi.
Useful—but not dangerous like the Uchiha.
No need for concern.
"My apologies, Lord Hokage, for disappointing you."
Kurenai lowered her head slightly.
"Just be more careful next time. Never underestimate anyone."
Hiruzen stood, tapping his pipe lightly.
"I believe that children have talent in genjutsu. You should guide him in that area."
Then, with a meaningful tone, he added:
"That child's background is quite tragic. In fact… he's just like you."
"He is…?"
Kurenai froze.
Memories surged—six years ago, her father, Yūhi Shinku, charging toward the Nine-Tails without hesitation, sacrificing himself for the village.
A wave of sorrow rose in her chest.
Hiruzen nodded.
"His parents both died during the Nine-Tails incident, protecting the village. So… help him grow stronger as soon as possible."
"…Understood, Lord Hokage."
Kurenai bowed and left the office.
As she stepped outside, she pressed a hand to her chest, her emotions unsettled.
No one understood better than her—
what it felt like to watch your parents walk to their deaths.
She had been a teenager back then.
Kamikawa… was only five or six.
Recalling the battle, she suddenly felt she might have overthought things.
Yes, Kamikawa's taijutsu was impressive—but his techniques were limited to the basic three jutsu.
His victory came down to her carelessness.
Still…
That brat!
Confessing to her in public, kissing her hand, teasing her repeatedly—
Her cheeks flushed again, a mix of embarrassment and irritation.
Next time, I'll definitely teach him a proper lesson.
Just as Kurenai left—
an ANBU appeared.
"Lord Hokage, Danzō-sama has arrived."
Kneeling on one knee, the ANBU spoke respectfully.
"Let him in."
Hiruzen frowned slightly.
He had summoned Danzō days ago—
and only now did he show up?
A clear sign of disrespect.
"Lord Hokage… Danzō-sama says it's inconvenient to meet here. He's waiting in the conference room."
"…I see."
Though displeased, Hiruzen suppressed it to maintain his image and headed to the sealed meeting room.
"Homura… you've come."
Danzō sat inside, his left arm now replaced with a prosthetic, indistinguishable at a glance.
"Hmph."
Hiruzen flicked his sleeve and sat down.
"Danzō, look at what you've done!"
"You already know?"
Danzō frowned.
Has his failure been exposed?
"You went too far this time."
Hiruzen didn't bother clarifying—he accused first.
"Too far?"
Danzō sneered coldly.
"How is this too far? Everything I did was for the village."
"A shinobi must be ready to sacrifice."
"What is one Uchiha Shisui compared to Konoha?"
He met Hiruzen's gaze without backing down.
"I know what you're going to say—that Shisui inherited the Will of Fire, that he was a fine shinobi…"
"But have you considered this? If he had malicious intent—if he controlled you and me, then incited the Uchiha to revolt—Konoha would be doomed."
"The legacy of the First Hokage would be destroyed."
"As the Root of Konoha, it is my duty to eliminate such risks before they emerge."
His words were firm, almost righteous.
By the end, he had even risen to his feet.
He truly believed what he said.
To him, the Uchiha were an unstable factor that had to be suppressed—
or removed entirely.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have paid the price of losing his arm—
only to now suffer a strange condition where any transplanted limb would wither and die, forcing him to rely on a prosthetic.
"And that justifies taking his eyes?"
Hiruzen's tone remained calm.
This was expected.
In fact, it was the outcome he wanted.
But he still needed to keep Danzō in check—
lest he grow too bold.
However—
Danzō's expression shifted slightly.
"You don't know?"
"Know what?"
Hiruzen frowned.
"I never obtained Shisui's eyes."
As he spoke, Danzō rolled up his sleeve, revealing the prosthetic arm, and recounted everything—the ambush, the theft, and the mysterious third party who took the prize.
Even the issue with his arm.
Hiruzen's expression turned serious.
"You're telling the truth?"
"You think I'd sacrifice my own arm just to lie to you?"
Danzō snapped.
Hiruzen said nothing.
It was true—
Danzō preached sacrifice, but rarely practiced it himself.
He feared death more than anyone.
Unlike Hiruzen—
who, when the time came, would truly lay down his life for the village.
That—
was the fundamental difference between them.
And the reason why he, not Danzō, had inherited the title of Hokage.