Chapter 14: Danzo’s Ambition

Inside the Hokage's office in Konoha, Kakashi stood in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi with Pikachu at his feet.

A sudden crackling sound filled the air as a surge of electricity struck the wooden floor.

Boom!

The wooden planks scorched instantly, leaving behind a deep charred crater.

Hiruzen stared at the damage, momentarily speechless. His gaze shifted to Kakashi, an almost accusatory look in his eyes.

"Didn't you say the Pokémon you obtained were still in their early stages? That they weren't strong yet?"

Was this really considered "early stage"? That electric attack was comparable to a C-rank ninjutsu!

Many freshly graduated Genin wouldn't even be able to pull off something like this!

Before Kakashi could respond, several masked Anbu operatives suddenly appeared in the office.

They glanced at the crater on the floor, then at the Hokage's stunned expression and Kakashi's slightly embarrassed demeanor. A look of confusion spread across their faces.

"Hokage-sama, is everything alright?"

Hiruzen snapped out of his thoughts and waved them off. "It's fine. You may leave."

Without hesitation, the Anbu disappeared as swiftly as they had arrived.

Hiruzen then turned his sharp gaze toward Kakashi. "Are you certain these Pokémon can truly grow to the level you mentioned?"

Initially, he had been skeptical of Kakashi's claims. But now, seeing firsthand what an 'early-stage' Pokémon could do, he was beginning to believe it.

Kakashi hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "I'm not certain if all Pokémon can reach that level. But I do know that the ones owned by the shopkeeper definitely have."

Hiruzen's eyes gleamed with interest. "How do they compare to you?"

Kakashi's expression darkened slightly. "That Pokémon… just looking at me gave me an overwhelming sense of danger. If I had to fight it, I wouldn't last long before I was dead."

Hiruzen's brows furrowed deeply. He knew Kakashi's strength well. Even among elite Jonin, Kakashi was exceptional. He wasn't the type to exaggerate, so for him to say something like this…

"Are you absolutely sure?"

Kakashi nodded solemnly. "Without a doubt. That Pokémon felt unbelievably powerful. Even stronger than you, Hokage-sama."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Hiruzen's mind was racing. If Ryo's Pokémon were truly that strong, and if he harbored ill intentions toward Konoha, the consequences would be disastrous.

The biggest concern was numbers. How many of these Pokémon did Ryo have?

If it was just one, Konoha could handle it—albeit at a great cost. But if there were more… then the village might not even have the ability to negotiate.

Hiruzen took a deep breath and looked at Kakashi once more. "From what you've observed, does Ryo have any ill intent toward Konoha?"

Kakashi thought for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't believe so. But… I can't say for sure."

Hiruzen nodded slowly. "For now, we won't monitor Ryo too closely. Additionally, as the Third Hokage, I am officially assigning Team 7 a long-term mission: Train your Pokémon well."

If these creatures could indeed reach such incredible levels of power, then even if Konoha couldn't control Ryo, at the very least, they could strengthen their own forces.

Kakashi looked at Hiruzen seriously before nodding firmly. Without saying another word, he turned and left.

Alone in his office, Hiruzen took another deep drag from his pipe, exhaling a slow breath. "Perhaps I should visit this 'Pokémon House' myself."

Even as Hokage, he couldn't deny his curiosity.

Bang!

At that moment, the office doors swung open once more.

A man wrapped in bandages and gripping a cane stepped inside.

Shimura Danzo.

His one visible eye glanced at the damaged floor before shifting back to Hiruzen.

"That attack just now… I assume it was from one of these so-called Pokémon?"

Hiruzen didn't reply immediately, merely taking another puff of his pipe. "What do you want, Danzo?"

Danzo's expression was unreadable as he took a step forward. "I've heard rumors about these creatures. Supposedly, they possess enormous potential."

Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "What of it?"

Danzo's grip on his cane tightened slightly. "Hiruzen, surely you understand the significance of this. If we could control these Pokémon, Konoha would become stronger than ever before."

Hiruzen exhaled another stream of smoke before shaking his head. "Forget it. That shopkeeper is not someone you want to provoke."

Of course, he knew what Danzo was after. They had worked together for decades. If Danzo so much as shifted in his seat, Hiruzen could probably guess what he was thinking.

And before Danzo could even voice his plans, Hiruzen had already shot them down.

Now, Danzo's expression darkened. "Hiruzen, this is Konoha. I won't allow an unknown variable to exist outside of our control."

Bang!

Hiruzen slammed his hands onto the desk and stood up, his sharp gaze locking onto Danzo's. "Danzo, I don't need you to tell me what I can or cannot allow! I said no, and that is final!"

The room fell into a tense silence.

Danzo clenched his jaw, his grip on his cane tightening even further. He stared at Hiruzen for several seconds before finally turning away.

"You'll regret this," he said coldly before storming out of the office.

As the doors shut behind him, Hiruzen let out a long sigh and slowly sat back down.

"Danzo… I hope you don't take this too far."

He knew the man too well.

Danzo would never back down so easily. He was undoubtedly already planning his next move.

Still, Hiruzen chose not to interfere—at least for now. Testing the waters with Ryo wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

He took another deep drag of his pipe, exhaling as he muttered to himself, "I only hope he doesn't push too hard…"

Meanwhile, outside the Hokage's office, Danzo's face was grim as he walked through the village streets.

'Hiruzen is getting soft,' he thought to himself.

He had no intention of simply letting this matter go. If these Pokémon were truly as powerful as they seemed, then Konoha needed to control them—no matter the cost.

And if Hiruzen wouldn't take action…

Danzo would do it himself.