Root

Danzo remained seated in the dimly lit chamber, his fingers steepled as he waited. Minutes passed. Then an hour. Yet the Root operative he had dispatched earlier failed to return. 

His lone visible eye narrowed. Something was wrong. 

Without hesitation, he signaled another three Root ANBU. "Find out what happened," he ordered. 

They disappeared into the night. 

Twenty minutes later, they returned—carrying three lifeless bodies behind them. With practiced efficiency, they laid the corpses on the cold ground before their leader. 

One was headless. 

Another had a gaping hole in his chest. 

The last was riddled with small holes all over his body. 

Even for seasoned operatives, the sight was unsettling. These were not simple killings. 

Danzo's expression remained unreadable, but his mind worked quickly, analyzing the implications. His first team had been slaughtered, their deaths brutal and efficient. 

His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable edge to it as he addressed the returning Root ANBU. 

"What did you find out?" 

The Root ninja in the middle stepped forward and spoke in a measured, emotionless tone. 

"Danzo-sama, two of them were killed by Taijutsu techniques. The third died by his own teammate's attack. All of them perished at the same time—around the moment they attempted to kidnap the target. However, the target is still alive." 

A heavy silence followed. 

Danzo's face darkened, his fingers tightening around his cane. He had replaced the ANBU with his own elite Root operatives—loyal, emotionless warriors trained to kill without hesitation. Even so, he had taken precautions. A single Root ninja should have been enough to capture a six-year-old child. But to ensure absolute success, he had sent two more. 

Yet here they were, dead. Brutally slaughtered. 

His lone eye shifted to the corpses once more, analyzing every detail. One beheaded. One with a hole punched through his chest. One riddled with puncture wounds. All signs of overwhelming physical strength and precision. 

A slow smile crept onto his lips. 

He had underestimated the boy. 

This was no ordinary child. His Kekkei Genkai—whatever it was—allowed him to kill three elite Root ninja with ease. And that made him even more valuable. 

Danzo's desire to obtain that power only grew. 

No matter what, he would have that Kekkei Genkai. 

Even if it meant killing the boy. Even if it meant handing his corpse over to Orochimaru for experimentation. 

One way or another, that power would belong to him. 

Danzo gestured with two fingers, silently signaling the three Root ninja to remove the bodies. Without hesitation, they obeyed, disappearing into the shadows with the corpses in tow. 

For a brief moment, the chamber was silent. 

Then—knock, knock. 

Danzo's expression darkened instantly. He already knew who it was before the door even opened. 

Hiruzen. 

The door creaked as the Third Hokage stepped inside, his presence commanding yet unreadable. His sharp, knowing gaze fell upon Danzo, scrutinizing him without a word. 

"Why were three of your ninja following Akuma?" Hiruzen's tone was calm but heavy with unspoken authority. 

Danzo remained impassive, not allowing the shock to show on his face. He hadn't expected Hiruzen to discover this so quickly. Still, he kept his composure, responding in his usual measured tone. 

"I merely sent them for extra surveillance," he said smoothly. 

Hiruzen's eyes locked onto Danzo's, unwavering and sharp. His voice carried the weight of authority, each word deliberate. 

"There is a certain criminal I spared from execution on the condition that he would serve Konoha. If you find him, tell him this: if he does not obey orders, he will be executed." 

Danzo's fingers twitched slightly. His breath remained steady, but a cold sweat formed on his forehead. He knows. 

Never had he expected Hiruzen to uncover this matter so quickly. The speed at which the Hokage had pieced things together was troubling. But something else worried him far more: Hiruzen knew that Root was still operating. 

Even after he had officially disbanded it. 

Before Danzo could formulate a response, Hiruzen spoke again, his tone final. 

"From now on, you will no longer concern yourself with Akuma." His gaze hardened. "I will handle this matter alone." 

Danzo's jaw clenched. He understood exactly what this meant. Hiruzen wasn't just warning him, but he was also cutting him off from Akuma entirely. 

For the first time in years, Danzo felt cornered. 

"As you command, Hokage," Danzo said, his voice steady but laced with warning. His single visible eye locked onto Hiruzen. "But remember this—your softness will bring disaster to the village someday." 

Hiruzen didn't respond. 

He simply turned his back to Danzo and walked out of the chamber without another word. 

Danzo's gaze lingered on the door where Hiruzen had exited, his mind racing with possibilities. His expression, unreadable moments before, slowly twisted into a scowl. 

With a growl of frustration, Danzo slammed his fist onto the desk, the impact rattling the surface. His anger flared, but it quickly simmered into a cold, calculating resolve. He couldn't do anything against Akuma right now. Hiruzen had effectively taken control of the situation, cutting him off from the child. And worse, Danzo couldn't directly challenge the Hokage. 

The thought of eliminating Hiruzen crossed his mind. A quick, silent death. But the more he thought about it, the less appealing the idea became. 

Even though Hiruzen was aging and his strength had diminished, Danzo knew him far too well. Hiruzen had been his friend, his rival, and his opposite for so long. Killing him wouldn't be as easy as it seemed. If Danzo attempted it, he would risk everything. 

He lacked the political influence. Without the backing of the village elders, he couldn't guarantee his succession as Hokage. Even if he managed to kill Hiruzen, there would be a struggle—chaos in the village, questions about succession, and factions vying for control. The power vacuum would be dangerous. 

And above all, Danzo had no real popularity among the villagers themselves. Without their trust and support, his rise would be short-lived at best. 

No, there was only one path forward: Gain power. 

Influence the leadership. 

Wait. 

Wait for Hiruzen's eventual decline—whether due to age, illness, or a political misstep. Danzo was patient. He had waited this long, after all. In time, the opportunity would present itself. 

When the time was right, he would strike. Without causing political disruption. Without drawing attention. And when Hiruzen was no longer in the picture, Danzo would claim the title of Hokage and reshape the village in his image, as he saw fit. 

Konoha needed a stronger, more pragmatic leader. A leader who would protect the village at all costs. 

And that leader would be Danzo. 

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If we reach 100 stones, I'll reward you all with a bonus chapter!