Early the next morning, sunlight slipped quietly through the curtains.
When Kushina Uzumaki opened her eyes, Aomizu was still fast asleep beside her.
That was hardly surprising.
The previous night had been… exhausting.
Battle was always exhilarating in the moment, especially when it came in waves. But after the excitement faded, recovery became necessary. Even a body of steel could not endure endless strain.
Resting against Aomizu's chest, Kushina raised her head slightly.
Seeing him from this angle for the first time felt strangely new.
She blinked a few times, then could not resist reaching out to gently poke his cheek.
At once, memories of how different Aomizu had behaved the night before surfaced in her mind.
A soft smile appeared unconsciously on her lips.
"Let Aomizu sleep a little longer."
A teasing voice suddenly came from the other side of the bed.
"The commotion you two caused last night was hardly small."
Kushina froze.
Her hand instantly withdrew as if caught doing something shameful.
Turning quickly, she saw Uchiha Mikoto already awake and watching her with an amused smile.
Though Kushina knew her best friend meant no harm, her cheeks still flushed bright red.
It felt like being caught misbehaving by a parent.
Seeing that reaction, Mikoto's smile only widened.
"Mikoto!" Kushina protested in embarrassment.
The two women glared at each other for a second before dissolving into quiet laughter.
After teasing her enough, Mikoto rose from bed and began getting dressed.
"I'll make breakfast," she said.
Kushina immediately tried to stand.
"I'll help."
But Mikoto shook her head.
"No. Last night was your first time. Rest properly."
Kushina's face reddened again.
Before she could answer, another figure stirred.
Yakushi Nonou, who had been sleeping on the other side beside Tsunade, slowly sat up.
"I'll help instead," Nonou said sleepily.
Mikoto nodded.
Soon the two women entered the kitchen together.
Not long after, the fragrance of a warm breakfast drifted through the house.
That smell was enough to wake both Aomizu and Tsunade.
Aomizu slowly opened his eyes, finding Kushina still lying against him.
She looked away immediately.
"You're awake," she muttered.
"I noticed," Aomizu said with a faint smile.
Kushina glared at him.
Tsunade, meanwhile, stretched lazily and muttered something about wanting sake before breakfast.
The household gradually came alive.
Soon everyone gathered around the table, enjoying the meal Mikoto and Nonou had prepared.
For a brief moment, it felt peaceful.
But outside that home, all of Konoha was in turmoil.
After fermenting for an entire day and night, the news had fully exploded across the village.
Danzo Shimura had defected.
Not only had Konoha failed to suppress the rumor, it had become impossible to hide.
The incident had been too large.
Too public.
Too violent.
Spies from every major hidden village had witnessed enough of the chaos to realize something catastrophic had occurred.
Even then, many of them hesitated before sending reports.
Who would believe that the former Hokage's assistant, founder of Root, and one of Konoha's most powerful elders had become a rogue ninja overnight?
When many first heard it, they thought it was a joke.
Then the confirmations arrived.
And the shinobi world shook.
Sunagakure
Inside the office of Third Kazekage, Ebizo entered carrying a scroll.
"Lord Kazekage."
"Danzo Shimura has defected from Konoha."
The Third Kazekage looked up sharply.
His expression clearly said:
Are you joking?
Without another word, Ebizo handed over the intelligence report.
The Kazekage read it carefully.
The more he read, the darker his expression became.
If something like this happened in Sunagakure, it would be as absurd as Ebizo and Chiyo betraying the village together.
It sounded like fantasy.
Yet if the report had reached his desk, it had already been verified.
Ebizo spoke calmly.
"Danzo's position in Konoha was extremely high. He must know countless Konoha secrets."
The implication was obvious.
Capture him.
Though Sunagakure and Konoha were currently allies, alliances in the shinobi world were built on convenience, not trust.
Given the chance, every village would gladly weaken another.
After a brief pause, the Third Kazekage gave his order.
"We are Konoha's allies."
"So naturally, we should help them eliminate this rogue ninja."
His eyes narrowed.
"This mission goes to Rasa."
Iwagakure
When Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, received the same intelligence, he burst into loud laughter.
His mood improved immediately.
"In such a short time, Konoha has produced two S-rank rogue ninja."
First Orochimaru.
Now Danzo.
Even a giant like Konoha could not casually lose shinobi of that level.
After laughing, Onoki summoned his son.
Kitsuchi entered quickly.
"Take men at once," Onoki ordered.
"Capture Danzo."
Kitsuchi hesitated.
"What about Orochimaru? Should we capture him too?"
Onoki frowned deeply.
He had once held high hopes for his son.
But moments like this reminded him that Kitsuchi lacked political instinct.
"Danzo is the priority," Onoki said coldly.
"If an opportunity arises, bring Orochimaru as well."
Danzo had once stood at the center of Konoha's power.
His value was far greater than that of an ordinary missing-nin.
Onoki had always dreamed of surpassing and humiliating Konoha.
This was a chance too precious to waste.
Kumogakure
Inside the Raikage's office, Third Raikage was training with weighted equipment rather than handling paperwork.
As usual, Dodai managed the administrative matters.
When he read Konoha's report, Dodai's face shifted from disbelief to delight.
The Raikage noticed immediately.
"What happened?"
Dodai replied:
"Yesterday, Danzo sent Root operatives to publicly assassinate the Hokage."
"He also killed two Konoha advisors before fleeing."
The Third Raikage stopped moving.
Then he sneered.
"Konoha has disgraced itself."
He was right.
This was not merely scandal.
It was humiliation.
Dodai continued.
"We should dispatch forces immediately."
"If we capture Danzo, we may extract Konoha's classified intelligence."
The Raikage's eyes brightened.
"That's right!"
"I'll lead the mission myself."
Unlike many Kage, the Third Raikage hated office work.
He preferred battlefield action to paperwork every time.
Dodai, long used to this habit, simply sighed and began preparing the orders.
Kirigakure
In the Hidden Mist, Yagura Karatachi personally delivered the intelligence to the Third Mizukage.
After reviewing it, the Mizukage made the same decision as the others.
"Yagura."
"Take men and depart immediately."
"You must capture Danzo alive."
"If we obtain Konoha's secrets, we may gain overwhelming advantage in the next war."
His words were blunt.
He accepted future war as inevitable.
Yagura did not argue.
Though he appeared youthful, he was already an adult with responsibilities of his own.
And he understood reality clearly.
As long as the shinobi world remained divided into competing villages, true peace could never last.
War was only ever delayed.
Never erased.
Konoha's Ripple Across the World
Within a single day, every major hidden village had reached the same conclusion.
Danzo Shimura was no longer merely a fugitive.
He had become prey.
To Sunagakure, he was intelligence.
To Iwagakure, he was opportunity.
To Kumogakure, he was leverage.
To Kirigakure, he was a weapon waiting to be seized.
The man who had once lurked in Konoha's shadows now stood exposed beneath the gaze of the entire shinobi world.
And the irony was brutal.
Danzo had spent decades hunting traitors, controlling secrets, and manipulating enemies from darkness.
Now every enemy village hunted him in return.
Elsewhere…
At that very moment, Danzo himself knew none of this.
He still believed his greatest concern was escaping Konoha.
He had not yet realized that the Four Great Shinobi Villages had already set their eyes upon him.
The net was tightening.
And this time, there would be no Root agents to save him.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)
50% Offers are going on last 12 subscription left claim yours as soon as possible.