"But… you are the Hokage. Your life is more important. How can we let you stay behind to cover our retreat?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi froze for a moment, taken aback by Senju Tobirama's decision. The weight of responsibility was heavy, and yet, the Hokage was expected to act without hesitation.
"Hokage-sama, let me cover the retreat. I—Danzo Shimura—can handle this task. I will stall the enemy and buy time for everyone else!" Danzo immediately interjected, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and determination.
He regretted not speaking first, not seizing the initiative when the moment first arrived. His heart pounded in his chest—why had he hesitated? Why had fear gripped him now, in the face of certain death?
"Danzo, you and Monkey are always competing," Tobirama said firmly, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable weight, "but what is needed now is unity among comrades. Leave personal grudges behind."
"First, look at yourself. Stay calm. Understand your position. Acting recklessly now will only endanger your comrades," he continued, his gaze fixed on both Hiruzen and Danzo.
Both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura half-kneeling, bowed slightly, absorbing the words of their teacher, the Second Hokage. They knew his authority was absolute, and yet there was a kindness in his voice, a recognition of the burden they carried.
"In short, Danzo… Monkey," Tobirama continued, his voice softening, "there's no need to rush. Your moment will come eventually. Until that day arrives, preserve your lives. That is your duty."
He stood tall, exhaling slowly, before directing his gaze at Hiruzen. "Monkey, protect those who admire and trust the Village. Nurture them as I have nurtured you, until they can be entrusted with the next era."
A pause. Then, with calm finality: "From tomorrow on, you are the Hokage."
Without hesitation, the Second Hokage released his chakra, letting it seep outward like a beacon, drawing the attention of nearby sensory Ninjas. With the fluid grace of a seasoned warrior, he sped off in another direction, leaving both Hiruzen and Danzo staring at the rapidly fading figure.
Hiruzen's eyes widened, the image of Tobirama blurring before him as he realized the magnitude of what had just happened.
Danzo, meanwhile, felt a spike of regret so sharp it almost consumed him. Why had he hesitated? Why had fear seized him at that critical moment?
This day would haunt him for the rest of his life—a nightmare that would replay in his mind over and over until his death.
"Teacher has already drawn their attention," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, breaking the silence. His voice was firm now, resolute. "We cannot fail him. Follow me closely. We must leave the Land of Lightning and return to Konoha as swiftly as possible!"
Konoha, Year 29, April 20th.
The events of this day shook the entire Ninja World.
In the Land of Lightning, a coup erupted within the Hidden Cloud Village. Kinkaku and Ginkaku, leading over twenty elite Ninjas, pursued Senju Tobirama in a relentless assault. In the end, the Second Hokage chose to stay behind, covering the retreat of his subordinates at the cost of his life.
The battle was devastating. Over twenty elite Hidden Cloud Ninjas fell to Tobirama's Flying Thunder God. Ginkaku himself perished under the Second Hokage's hands. Kinkaku suffered severe injuries.
Ultimately, Tobirama died on the battlefield, his body later recovered and returned to Konoha under the authority of the newly ascended Third Raikage, who quelled the coup and secured the Hidden Cloud Village.
With this, the First Ninja World War—lasting nine long, brutal years—finally came to a close.
Yet the cost was catastrophic. Nearly every Ninja nation had suffered irreparable losses. Countless pillars of each village had perished in ravines, their bodies never recovered. Among the five Kage, only the Second Kazekage, Shamon, survived, albeit gravely injured. The Second Raikage, Second Hokage, Second Tsuchikage, and Second Mizukage all perished in battle. The world mourned, silent and battered, licking wounds in quiet despair.
Back in Konoha, the political landscape shifted rapidly.
"Hiruzen, you must not let Uchiha Kagami become Clan Chief of the Uchiha!" Danzo said sharply, his tone unwavering. His eyes were open, unbandaged, and alert.
"No," Hiruzen replied, his voice calm but resolute. "Uchiha Kagami must become the Clan Chief. He has the ability to guide the Uchiha back to loyalty toward Konoha."
Danzo's expression darkened. Hiruzen, now the Third Hokage, wore the iconic hat of leadership and smoked from his pipe, lines of age etched deep into his face. The once-black hair had turned slightly gray, a symbol of the heavy responsibilities he now carried.
"Danzo, Kagami has saved your life more than once," Hiruzen continued. "Do you still harbor such wariness toward him?"
Danzo felt the sting of truth. Kagami had indeed saved him repeatedly, yet pride and distrust remained lodged deep within his heart.
"I have no wariness toward Kagami," Danzo admitted finally, "but Kagami is Kagami, and the Uchiha are the Uchiha. The two cannot be conflated."
The room fell silent for a moment. Present were Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Akimichi Torifu. Apart from Kagami, all members of the Hokage Guard Platoon from the Land of Lightning mission were present. This exclusion of Kagami was an ominous signal—one that did not go unnoticed.
"Danzo is right," Utatane Koharu said softly. "In the Uchiha, there is no one else like Kagami."
Hiruzen took two deep puffs of tobacco, smoke curling through the room. "I promised Kagami that upon his return, he would succeed as Uchiha Clan Chief. Are you asking me to break my word?"
The appointment of Kagami as Clan Chief was accompanied by a restructuring of Konoha's leadership. Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado were appointed as high-level advisors. Danzo, for now, held no formal position, but his influence remained palpable. Akimichi Torifu and Kagami, however, were marginalized, kept away from the core of decision-making.
"This is all for the Village, Hiruzen," Homura Mitokado explained, his voice calm. "With the Second Hokage dead, the Uchiha can no longer be fully restrained. Careful management is necessary."
"The Uchiha Martial Faction is growing stronger," Utatane Koharu added, "and Kagami has neither the prestige nor the experience to control them fully. Caution is required."
Danzo, ever pragmatic, spoke next. "Hiruzen, we need a new department—one that operates outside the Hokage's direct oversight. I will handle matters that are too difficult or… unsavory for you."
Hiruzen frowned, instinctively wary of a department beyond his control.
"From now on," Danzo continued, "you are the leaves bathed in sunlight. I am the Root, buried deep underground."
After a long pause, Hiruzen nodded reluctantly. "Alright. I will provide the budget to establish this department."
Danzo's expression remained stoic. "The Root will monitor the Uchiha Clan. But it must never act independently. No action without my permission."
Hiruzen's voice was firm. "If the Root wishes to act autonomously, it will do so under my oversight. I am the Hokage."
A heated debate ensued. Even Akimichi Torifu, disgusted by the tension, finally stood. "Do not call me for these meetings again. It has only been a few days, and already… this is unbearable."
Torifu left the Hokage Office, fading from the center of power. Hiruzen watched, a hint of gloom in his eyes, realizing that even the Hokage could not control everything.
Meanwhile, in the Uchiha Compound:
"Today, Monkey called everyone from the Hokage Guard Platoon except you," Uchiha Shū murmured weakly. He had aged considerably, his body frail and confined to his sickbed.
Kagami stood beside him, expression calm but indifferent.
"You are being marginalized," Uchiha Shū said, his voice low. "Not the same people as before, but the same tactics. They are repeating history."
"It doesn't matter," Kagami said gently. "If the relationship between the Village and the Uchiha softens, what does it matter if I am marginalized? By stepping aside, we ease tensions for our Clan."
Uchiha Shū's eyes narrowed. "Step aside? That is useless! The weaker we appear, the more aggressively they will act. If the Side Branch is to survive, we must seize power—at any cost. Only then will they respect us."
"Shū, you are extreme," Kagami said softly. "The Main Branch is gone. Those in the Hidden Mist are the real Main Branch. We are simply… survivors in Konoha."
Uchiha Shū coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth. "Ungrateful brat!" he spat. "If the Side Branch produces only ungrateful brats like you, better to take your swords and die than sully the family name!"
Kagami bowed slightly. "Then rest, Elder Shū. Recover as best you can."
Shū closed his eyes, a tear sliding down his cheek. The Side Branch, he realized, had little hope. Yet the Main Branch had left Konoha, thriving elsewhere. Perhaps, in death, he could face his ancestors with pride.
"I… have had no achievements, but at least no grave mistakes," Uchiha Shū murmured. "I lived a life of mediocrity. And now, I have nothing left to regret."
A moment later, his life force faded completely. Uchiha Shū, aged nearly ninety, passed away quietly on April 20th.
On this same day, 25-year-old Uchiha Kagami received an invitation from Danzo Shimura to visit his home. The wheels of Konoha's politics continued to turn, and the young Uchiha's life was about to take a decisive turn.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)