Chapter 14
In the end, there was little that Sarutobi-sensei could do to force Sakumo's son into service, and despite the advice of the Iryo-nins, Gojo wasted little time in making funeral arrangements for the dead Uchiha.
The eyes that Danzo had tried to steal were buried with the bodies, and while a memorial was built for the entire clan, he buried Hana Uchiha separately under the shadow of a giant tree just beyond the Valley of Truth.
"If you are here to change my mind, then you should turn back," the boy called out, as he sensed his approach, and Jiraiya was not truly here for that.
"I am not," Jiraiya called out as he walked up to the white-haired boy, whose eyes were now covered with bandages. Seeing him mourning over the Uchiha girl reminded him of his own failures in how he had failed Minato and Kushina.
Now, once more he was too late to make a difference. After Minato's death, he had placed many of his hopes in Sakumo's son. Gojo was a kind boy, and while he lacked Minato's optimism, he knew well the kind soul that lay underneath all that rage.
"You are not wrong to hate the village," Jiraiya added, and Sakumo's son shook his head.
"I do not hate the village," he answered back.
"I hate what it has become," and they were similar in that.
"I had hoped that with Minato gone you would be the one to inherit his will of fire," and the boy turned to him in surprise, but he was not lying.
"Minato believed in you. So did Kushina," Jiraiya reminded him, as he turned towards the name on the grave.
"So did she," and he saw his fists balled up.
"Yet I failed them all," the boy answered after a few seconds of silence.
"I failed everyone," and his voice shook as he uttered those words.
"You could help others. You could try to save the one's that are still left," Jiraiya added, and the boy raised a brow.
"I thought you weren't here to convince me to come back?" he asked, and Jiraiya shrugged.
"You can't blame an old man for trying...." but just then a shinobi landed behind him, as someone called out young Hatake's name.
"Gojo..." and the newcomer's hair were only a shade darker, and he wore a mask over the lower half of his face.
"Jiraiya-sama," Sakumo's eldest son greeted him, and it was time for him to go.
"Goodbye kid...."
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DANZO SHIMURA
Danzo stood in his yard, and looked at the arena in the distance and the roar of the people there could be heard even at such a distance. The third and final phase of the Exams had begun already, but he had little interest in the farce that was the Chunin Exams.
No exam could measure a shinobi's worth. No. A shinobi's true worth could only be ascertained in a war, and given the report that he held in his hands a war may be nearer than they had thought.
It had been more than a decade since the end of the Third Great Ninja War and despite having a clear advantage over their enemies, Hiruzen's kindness and naivety had robbed them of the opportunity to create a hegemony that would bring all such conflict to an end.
But Hiruzen in his weakness had sought a quick end and had shown their enemies mercy, and even now years later Konoha faced the consequences of his decision.
"The skirmishes seem unnatural," Danzo whispered as his masked nin knelt behind him.
"We lack the details, but there are rumors on the Kumogakure side that Konoha was the first to launch an attack," and he doubted that Hiruzen would dare start a war, specially when the village was hosting the Chunin Exams.
"And did we?" he asked.
"No," the masked nin was certain of that.
"No such order came from the Command Centre. But there is no doubt that the Kumo's border was breached and a major outpost was destroyed," and it seemed as if someone was trying to incite a war between Kumo and Konoha, and Danzo could only rejoice at the timing of it all.
Soon enough, Orochimaru would launch his attack, and with that, Hiruzen's reign may very well come to its end. In his naivety, Hiruzen had suggested the name of Sakumo's son as his successor, but if a war were to break out, the daimyo would be forced to reconsider Hiruzen's opinion.
War was a testing period, and the daimyo would surely prefer to have a more experienced Shinobi at the helm in such times.
"Should we investigate the matter?" the masked nin asked.
"No," and he doubted that it was really such a conspiracy. It was probably Iwa or Kiri trying to pit Kumo against Konoha.
Under usual circumstances, he would prefer to stoke this fire, but he lacked the men to do that. He had an entirely different mission for them.
"Focus all your energies on the task I have given....," and suddenly Danzo felt a shudder run through his being as an ominous presence filled the very air of Konoha.
And the presence reminded him of the battle from five years ago, as Danzo's hand instinctively reached for the empty eye socket hidden underneath his bandages.
"This presence," he gasped, and there was no doubt about it. This was Hatake.
This was his power.
"It seems like he has finally decided to live up to his name," but it did not matter to him.
He was simply too late, and minutes later, a massive explosion rocked the arena in the distance, and Danzo felt his plans come to fruition as he saw a massive purple barrier come up and surround the stage.
"Go," he ordered, and then some dozen or so masked nin gathered behind him at his command.
"Kill Gojo Hatake...."
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HIRUZEN SARUTOBI
With his nomination offered, Hiruzen felt as if a burden had been lifted off of his shoulders. For years now, he had wondered about the future of the village and worried over it, but now the future was here.
With Minato's death, he had taken up the mantle of Hokage once more, but his age had caught up with him, and he could feel his life slipping away from him. His wife was already gone, and though he was ready to put in his all, a part of him felt ready to join Biwako in the afterlife.
He had witnessed the rise of the next generation, and their devotion to the village and the will of fire had eased his heart, for he knew that as long as they carried the First Hokage's will in their hearts, no power in the world could undo Konoha.
Circumstances may have hardened his heart, but he could think of no better shinobi to guide and protect this new blossoming generation. There was kindness in his heart, and while many considered kindness to be a weakness, it was a privilege of the strong, and in this village, none were stronger than Gojo Hatake.
The exams today had only furthered his belief, and he found himself rather surprised by the outcome of the last bout, where Neji Hyuga had chosen to forfeit his match against Sasuke Uchiha. The Hyuga clan genius had not even come to the arena, and while many would think that he had done so out of fear or jealousy, Hiruzen suspected that the reason for his absence was something else entirely.
Sasuke had seemed rather irate with his absence, but there was little that he could do when his opponent was absent.
"It seems like the standards have fallen quite a bit in Konoha," Orochimaru teased, from the side in his disguise.
"But I am not surprised," he added as Hiruzen raised a brow at his retort.
"Few genin would dare face the mighty Uchiha in front of a crowd," and Hiruzen smiled.
"I am afraid you are quite wrong," he answered back, and he knew well the backlash Neji Hyuga would face from his clan for abandoning his match today, but the boy had not cared for it.
"I believe his absence today shows his true worth as a shinobi," and Orochimaru failed to grasp that, as the proctor announced the last pairing, and this time, there were no absences.
"FOR THE NEXT MATCH PLEASE WELCOME NARUTO UZUMAKI VS..." and the two contestants stepped onto the field, and the two of them were tied to each other in more ways than they realized.
"....GAARA OF THE SAND!"
And just as the arena became quiet, as the proctor gave the two of them the countdown, a wave of chakra passed over the entire arena, and Hiruzen's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized that familiar presence.
And not everyone in the arena felt that, and only those shinobi beyond a certain capability felt this presence, and fewer still understood it, as a slight whisper reached his ears.
"It seems like the time has come," and Hiruzen jumped away just in time as a loud explosion tore through the Exclusive area. He jumped on the roof, and the Kazekage did the same, as he heard a synchronized sound.
"PHOENIX FLAME FORMATION!" and for purplish walls rose around him, and the Kazekage trapping them both inside, stopping the ANBU from coming inside.
"It was naive of me to think that an explosion like that would be able to bring down the mighty Professor," and Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, as Orochimaru removed the hat and the mask covering his face to reveal his true identity.
And to his surprise, he looked exactly the same as the day he had deserted the village. The shinobi life took a toll on a person, no matter what. He remembered the sweet, innocent boy who had trained under him years ago, but war had changed Orochimaru.
The conflict had made him see the frail nature of a shinobi's life, and rather than searching for meaning in the life they were given, he had sought to become immortal. There was nothing wrong with that goal itself, but his aspirations had led him down a dark path, where he had lost all regard for human life and dignity.
"I thought that you were smart," Hiruzen countered, as he saw explosions rock various areas of the village, and now the fate of the village lay in the hands of the next generation.
He removed his cloak to reveal the armor underneath as Orochimaru wet his lips.
"So, you already knew," and of course, he did.
"I spared your life once because of our shared history," and that was another one of his mistakes.
He bit into his thumb and cycled through a series of handseals, as Orochimaru did the same.
"I won't repeat the mistake again," and with that, both of them pushed their hands onto the ground at the same time.
"SUMMONING JUTSU!"
"SUMMONING JUTSU!"
And his companion for over several decades appeared beside him, as the King of Monkeys frowned at the sight of his wayward student.
"So, the sniveling bastard has finally come back," Enma snarled, and he had never been much fond of Orochimaru.
"I do hope you are ready to finish it this time, Hiruzen," and he was.
"I am," he answered and extended his hand.
"Transform," and Enma transformed into his staff form, and Hiruzen spun him around as two coffins rose out of the ground in front of Orochimaru.
"What is this?" he asked, and his former student only smiled.
"Did you really think I came here without a plan, sensei?" and suddenly the doors of the coffins began to screech, as they fell down to reveal two faces that made him gasp.
"Impossible...."
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