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Hiruzen said he wasn't entirely in the dark about Root. The words sent a jolt through Danzō. Does he have a spy inside my organization?
The thought was dismissed almost immediately.
Every Root ninja underwent self-annihilation training. They were erased, remade. Loyal. Unbreakable. Except for Qianyu.
Betrayal was impossible.
Danzō's gaze hardened, boring into the former Hokage. He's deeper than I thought. Has been for a long time. "I don't know what you're talking about," Danzō's voice was ice.
Hiruzen met his stare, unwavering. "While I may not usually interfere with Root's affairs, that privilege exists at my discretion. It can be revoked with a word."
Danzō wasn't giving up 'Kinoe'. Not this asset. "You are not the Hokage. Not yet."
A beat of silence. "Is that so? Understood."
Hiruzen said nothing more. He simply turned and walked back to his desk, settling into the chair with a heavy finality.
Danzō spun on his heel and left. Hiruzen has marked Kinoe. I need to move him. Now.
The moment the office door shut, a shadow clone in a distant corridor dissolved into smoke.
At the Uzumaki Residence
Qianyu was sharing a late lunch with Kushina when the system's voice chimed in his ear.
[Host has witnessed Danzō Shimura's assassination attempt on Hiruzen Sarutobi. Reward: 1,000 Witness Points.]
A thousand points. Qianyu sighed. A bit stingy.
He'd expected it, but a small part of him had hoped for more. Oh well. Drops in the bucket. Plenty more chances to earn points later.
Besides, Danzō seemed to have underestimated Hiruzen. That look on his face back in the office… The Third Hokage clearly had more cards up his sleeve than the old warhawk realized.
Back at Root headquarters, Danzō summoned Kinoe immediately.
"From today, you will participate in no external missions," Danzō commanded. "You will remain here, within Root, at all times."
Kinoe knelt, face an empty mask. "Understood."
Meanwhile, after Danzō's departure, Hiruzen summoned a select group of ninja. Their destination: the Daimyō's palace.
The next day, news swept through Konoha like wildfire: Hiruzen Sarutobi was officially reinstated as the Third Hokage.
Two days after that, another announcement followed, casting a heavier pall over the village: Minato Namikaze had succumbed to his injuries.
Minato was, of course, very much alive. Still under heavy guard in the hospital. Still unconscious.
Hiruzen had made the call after patrols reported unidentified shinobi skulking near Konoha's borders—scouts from other villages, no doubt. With his reinstatement, they'd be desperate for intel on Minato's condition. The Fourth Hokage had made many enemies. If they knew he was alive but vulnerable, a wave of assassins would follow.
Better to let the world think the Yellow Flash had fallen. It would buy peace. A necessary lie.
He'd discussed it with Miyuki Uzumaki. Her response had been chillingly pragmatic: "Do what is best for Konoha. He would have chosen the same."
In the shadow of these announcements, another, darker whisper began to circulate in certain corners of the village. A name, attached to a title of ill omen.
The calamity child born on the day the Nine-Tails attacked.
For now, it was confined to hushed conversations in back alleys. A seed, not yet a weed.
With barely two weeks left until Kushina's due date, Qianyu had become a permanent, hyper-vigilant shadow. 24/7 watch. Not a single cough or stumble escaped his notice.
He was just helping her settle into a lounger on the sun-drenched balcony when a familiar figure appeared at their gate. Kakashi bowed.
"Qianyu-sensei. Kushina-sama."
After ensuring Kushina was comfortable, Qianyu led Kakashi to the living room. His eyes, however, never left the balcony.
"What brings you by, Kakashi? Day off?"
"It's about the Hokage," Kakashi said, voice low. "The Third summoned me this morning. Wants me to join him tonight for an operation. He said he needs my help."
Qianyu's eyebrow quirked. "Hiruzen? Personally? Just you?"
"Not just me. When I reported to the office, several ANBU were already there."
Qianyu's mind connected the dots instantly. A dry chuckle escaped him. "Ah. He's making his move on Danzō tonight."
"On Danzō?"
"Root has a shinobi who can use Wood Release. Hiruzen wants him. Danzō won't hand him over willingly—he'll hide the asset. That's where your Sharingan comes in." Qianyu's tone was matter-of-fact. "If the Wood Release user vanishes, your eye can pull his location from the mind of any Root operative you catch. A simple interrogation."
"Should I assist him, sensei?"
"Assist? Of course. You're still a Konoha shinobi. As long as it doesn't conflict with your own interests, play your part." A faint, sharp smile touched Qianyu's lips. "And if anyone gives you trouble? Be assertive. Let the blame fall on Hiruzen's head."
Kakashi gave a shallow bow. "Understood. I should go. They'll be assembling soon."
By the time Kakashi reached the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen was already gone. An ANBU operative redirected him to the covert forces' main base.
Inside, dozens of ANBU were gathered, a sea of animal masks and polished armor under the dim light.
Kakashi's visible eye widened slightly. This many just to retrieve one person from Root? The implication was clear: this wasn't a request. It was a potential raid.
A squad leader approached him. "Hatake. You're with my team. We breach the main entrance. Follow my lead once we're inside."
Kakashi nodded silently. "Roger."
As full darkness embraced the village, the ANBU captain's voice cut through the quiet. "Move out!"
The force melted into the night, a silent current flowing toward the underground complex that housed Root. Upon arrival, the bulk of the ANBU vanished into the surrounding shadows, leaving only one five-man squad—Kakashi included—standing exposed before the heavy, reinforced doors of the Root headquarters.
The squad leader's hand rested on the door. "We're going in."
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