Hiruzen sat in his office, the scent of ink and burning tobacco filling the quiet air. Around him stood Homura, Koharu, and Danzo, all gathered around the desk as they browsed through the list of genin teams being considered for the upcoming Chunin Exams.
Koharu sighed, exhaustion clear in her voice. "We've reviewed nearly every possible nomination. But that damn Nine-Tails attack decimated most of our forces. We barely have enough genin to send, and that's only thanks to the advanced class. Still, they just graduated and are far too fresh, while the few experienced ones we have left might be too weak. If they fail too easily, it would make the village look vulnerable and give the other hidden villages ideas about testing our strength."
Homura nodded with a tired expression. "It's a miracle we haven't been attacked already," he said, glancing toward Danzo.
Danzo gave a faint smile. "Thanks to my network's efforts." However, Koharu said, "Not to mention the deterrent of having a strong Hokage always present in the village," much to Danzo's dismay.
Hiruzen didn't respond, but his silence carried the weight of acknowledgment.
Koharu continued, frowning. "And let's not forget the risk of the exams being held in Sunagakure. Technically, they're allies, but I still worry they might try something reckless."
Danzo folded his arms, his voice measured. "They did that before. It sparked the Second Shinobi War. We might be better off sitting this one out, keep our cards close. The other villages will sense something's off, but that uncertainty will make them cautious. They might even think it's a trap to draw them out."
Homura chuckled softly. "Sometimes not showing your hand is more effective than revealing it."
Hiruzen inhaled from his pipe and exhaled a slow, curling line of smoke. The office filled with the earthy scent of tobacco as he held a file in his hand. "I say we've laid low long enough. It's time to move forward with an iron fist," he said, tossing the file onto the desk.
Danzo picked it up and flipped it open. His eyes widened. "Hiruzen, you cannot be serious."
Homura and Koharu both took a deep breath, already preparing themselves for another argument between their two old teammates.
Hiruzen shook his head slowly. "We need to make a statement, and I believe this team will do exactly that."
Koharu took the file next. After reading through the contents, she passed it to Homura. A few moments of silence passed before he gave a short nod.
Danzo's tone grew sharper, the usual restraint slipping from his voice. "They just graduated. They don't have enough field experience to be pushed to the Chunin rank."
Hiruzen met his glare calmly, already used to his old friend's temper. "Their mission records speak for themselves. Their performance and reliability are more than enough."
Homura nodded, backing the Hokage's point. "They handled the capture of the missing-nin Aoya efficiently and brought her back alive, which pleased the Fire Daimyo. That alone solved months of trade disruption. The Intelligence Division is still extracting the secrets behind her self-developed jutsu, and the results could prove invaluable to the village's future operations."
Koharu adjusted her glasses, her voice steady but approving. "Not to mention their escort mission with the Land of Wind noble. They left such a strong impression that the trade deal proceeded smoothly. It strengthened our diplomatic standing and earned the village goodwill from the Daimyo himself. The benefits from that mission are still being felt."
Hiruzen allowed himself a faint smile. It was not often that both of his old teammates agreed with him so readily. Seeing their alignment, he pressed the advantage before Danzo could counter. "Every mission they've taken has ended successfully. Client feedback has been excellent, and their results have brought more requests to the village. We've benefited greatly from their efforts, and I have no doubt they'll uphold that record during the exams."
Danzo remained silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable as faint curls of smoke drifted through the room. His thoughts, however, were loud and bitter. "I wanted to isolate the Uchiha, yet that damn Shisui's success and his team are single-handedly causing my plan to crumble. Now Hiruzen even hinted that he'll bring in more Uchiha jonin to train the next batch of genin graduating from the Academy, strengthening their ties to the village and unraveling everything I've built. If they reach Chunin rank, it won't make them untouchable, but it will make things far more troublesome."
He reached a resolution, though his face stayed composed. "Not much I can do if all of you oppose common sense," he said coldly. "How are you planning to protect them in the Hidden Sand, Hiruzen? Or are you just going to assume our 'allies' will behave?"
Hiruzen smirked. "They have Shisui with them. What more protection would they need?"
Homura and Koharu both nodded in agreement, they were familiar with Shisui's ANBU record and his strength.
Hiruzen tapped his pipe on the desk to empty the dry tobacco, then nodded. "It's settled then. We'll send only one team to this year's Chunin Exams, and it will be Shisui's team. Let the other villages see our strength and think twice before testing us."
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Danzo sat in his office in Root's headquarters, thoughts roiling as he tried to craft the perfect trap. Since he had decided to move on Shisui, he would go all out. A Root agent wearing an ox mask stood close by in guard position, watching his leader's conflicted expression. Danzo sighed, then looked at the ox. "It is time to make our move on Shisui and his team."
Ox's eyes widened behind his mask as he dropped to one knee. "What are your orders, Danzo-sama?"
Danzo stroked his chin and stared at the wall for a long moment before answering with cold resolve. "I need a map of every known chakra distortion site in the Land of Forest."
Ox inclined his head. "Wouldn't setting a trap there affect our agents as well?"
"I will oversee their training in that chakra distortion area personally," Danzo said. "I will also design a seal to neutralize most of the distortion's effect, and a covert paralyzing seal that will hide within the mission scroll. Once the scroll is opened, it will transfer to Shisui, anchoring itself beneath his old ANBU seal and remaining unnoticed by the likes of Shisui or that brat Noa due to the interference caused by the distortion."
Ox absorbed the plan, impressed. Danzo continued, "I cannot draw too many operatives out, or Hiruzen will suspect. This will be a small team. The Land of Forest sits near Kumo, and they have been pushing at us lately. It will be easy to lay blame in their direction."
He paused, then added, "Plant evidence in Kumo. Let the rumor have legs once the operation is complete."
"Yes, Danzo-sama," Ox replied. "Anything else?"
Danzo's eyes sharpened. "We will leave none alive. Leave no witnesses. Train the team to counter Shisui's speed. The field and the seal will interfere with him, but they will not stop him entirely. The operatives must be able to keep pace."
"Any suggestions for who to send?" he asked.
Ox nodded. "I will go with you, Danzo-sama. My Earth Release can break his lines of movement. I will bring Rabbit, whose Water Release will blunt his fire. Owl, Heron, and Locust will handle the three genin. With their skills and your seals, victory is all but certain."
Danzo allowed a small, satisfied smile. "Good. Summon them and ensure they do not underestimate those genin. They are very strong."
Ox's grin tightened beneath his mask, a flicker of hunger in his posture. "As you wish, Danzo-sama. It is finally time to move, to ensure the glory of the village and its future under your decisive and wise leadership."
Danzo nodded once, pleased. "Indeed. For the village."
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A/N: If you read Chapter 179 and have not voted yet, open this link (https://discord.gg/SmpXHEwPhE) and help choose the name of that jutsu. There are no fixed options to pick from. You can suggest your own, and whichever one gets the most votes will become the jutsu's official name forever. The poll will be open only for 3 more days only !!!
It is the story's Discord channel, so feel free to hop in anytime. I am always around if you want to chat with me or some awesome people about this story or Naruto in general, heheheh. I cannot wait to see all your amazing and creative ideas for naming this divine feat of a jutsu, because I promise you, it is going to be something huge and important in the future.