Hyūga Clan.
In the courtyard, Hyūga Hinata and Hyūga Hiashi were sparring.
Because they both possessed the Byakugan, every move targeted vital points.
Of course, the gap in strength was enormous.
Hyūga Hinata couldn't possibly injure an elite jōnin.
Hyūga Hiashi also wouldn't strike hard; he controlled his strength.
It looked dangerous, but it was really a guided sparring session.
Thump!
Hyūga Hiashi slid half a step back and nodded to himself.
Good power.
He had already noticed that Hinata had been improving very quickly lately.
Not in Gentle Fist or the Byakugan, but in her physical attributes.
Hiashi even wondered if she'd secretly been taking some potent tonic.
But that was impossible.
The idea was too absurd.
After a dozen minutes, they stopped.
Hinata was ultimately too young; she didn't have enough chakra to keep fighting.
But Hiashi was quite satisfied.
"Hinata."
Hyūga Rinka, holding Hyūga Hanabi, took out a silk handkerchief and said, "Wipe off your sweat and rest a bit."
Seeing this, Hiashi smiled.
Just then, Hyūga Hizashi walked in.
"I'll leave you two to talk."
Rinka tactfully said, "Hanabi's probably hungry. I'll go give her something to drink."
She made sure to lead Hinata away, too.
"Hizashi, you're not at the Hokage Building—how do you have time to come back?"
Hiashi turned and asked in an even tone.
"Lord Clan Head, there's something that requires your decision."
Hizashi bowed, then conveyed Natsume's request.
Ever since Hiashi had used the Caged Bird, he no longer called him brother—he addressed him as Lord Clan Head.
That reflected the Hyūga clan's strict rules.
"Agree to it."
Hiashi didn't hesitate in the slightest.
"Why?"
Hizashi, puzzled, asked, "That would offend the two Hokage Advisors."
"Hizashi, you're being foolish."
Hiashi shook his head and asked, "Natsume is the Hokage's student. Would he ask you to help on his own?"
"You mean it's the Hokage's intention?"
Hiashi immediately understood the ins and outs and wore a look of realization.
"The Hokage just took office, and she's different from the Third—she has a temper. She probably wants to use this chance to pull the two Advisors down."
Hiashi nodded and cautioned, "Hizashi, do your best to cooperate. This is a good opportunity."
He couldn't exactly say it was because he feared Natsume, could he?
But this on-the-spot reasoning made sense to Hizashi.
Tsunade, as an ambitious and still-young Hokage, would definitely not allow others to share her power.
If the Hyūga clan helped now, they'd undoubtedly earn the Hokage's favor.
"Hizashi, remember this."
Hiashi's face turned stern. "The Hyūga have stood tall to this day because we understand and uphold the Hokage's orders—no matter who the Hokage is. Just as the branch family upholds the main family."
"Yes."
Hizashi looked a bit downcast.
It was a warning.
A reminder that even though he now held considerable authority, he still served the main family.
"You may go."
Hiashi waved his hand.
The clan head outranks the elder brother.
For the sake of the Hyūga's long-standing traditions and rules, he had to be ruthless.
…
Time passed quickly.
At Danzō's residence.
Ever since losing Root, Shimura Danzō had returned to live at the Shimura compound.
Though the original story rarely mentioned the Shimura clan, that didn't mean it was weak.
As a founding-era ninja clan—and with Shimura Danzō—its development was naturally not bad.
"Lord Danzō."
Tatsuma Aburame, clad in a black robe, appeared and knelt on one knee. "The two Hokage Advisors wish to see you."
"Let them in."
Danzō narrowed his eyes.
Although Root had been disbanded, its main members still served him, so he had a clear grasp of what was happening at the Hokage Building.
Just three days earlier, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had nearly come to blows with Hyūga Hizashi over a disagreement.
Tsunade had stopped it, but a grudge had been formed.
The key was: encroach a little today, a little tomorrow—within two years their Advisor positions would be in name only.
Who could stomach that?
Before long, Koharu and Homura entered the hall together.
"When trouble comes, you finally deign to visit an old friend."
Danzō gripped his cane in both hands and spoke lightly.
The two were both startled. It meant that even in retirement he still had formidable intelligence capabilities.
In truth, Root's training was far more intense than the Will of Fire's ideals.
Those who entered Root—no matter who they had been—became Danzō's loyal hounds.
So-called "Root" operatives had no names, no emotions, no past, no future—only missions.
And for secrecy, everyone bore the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
They could not utter anything about Shimura Danzō.
Hence why disbanding Root was like not disbanding it at all.
Those who sink into darkness are hard to pull back.
"Danzō."
Koharu stepped forward. "We're all old friends, so I'll be blunt. Do you still want to be Hokage?"
Danzō's face sank. "You still have a way?"
"Kill Tsunade, and you'll be Hokage."
Koharu took a deep breath. "Tsunade is far below Hiruzen in strength. Your chances are good."
"Hiruzen is elderly, and he's been hit hard by the deaths of his son and grandson."
Homura continued, "If Tsunade dies, he won't step in as acting Hokage like he did for Minato. He'll pick someone new."
A flicker of interest passed through Danzō's eyes.
By their account, it was indeed an excellent opportunity.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had no heart to govern Konoha.
Jiraiya had already left.
Orochimaru had failed to show last time, but this time he shouldn't be a problem.
With Koharu and Homura's support, the Hokage's seat would be within reach.
The only problem was Tsunade.
Her biggest trouble was her Strength of a Hundred Seal.
Not that they made her overwhelmingly powerful, but she was very hard to kill.
But Danzō had a counter.
Sealing techniques.
After the Uzumaki clan fell, Konoha established a sealing unit.
Many in the upper ranks learned sealing jutsu.
But the best were Namikaze Minato, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Shimura Danzō.
As long as he sealed Tsunade, the rest would be easy.
The Strength of a Hundred Seal had limits; a few lethal injuries in succession would be unsustainable.
"I can't act inside Konoha."
Danzō couldn't hold back—becoming Hokage was his ultimate obsession.
He'd waited from the Third to now the Fifth.
If he waited longer, he'd be too old.
And without Root, he'd soon be forgotten.
Then there'd be no chance to be Hokage.
He couldn't wait for Tsunade to retire.
"We'll lure Tsunade out of the village."
Homura said at once, "Then you can strike."
"Are you confident?"
A trace of worry flashed in Koharu's eyes. "If she escapes, the three of us won't be able to remain in Konoha."
"No problem. Tsunade is no match for me."
Danzō waved, full of confidence.
He had Wood Release, sealing arts, and a three-tomoe Sharingan.
Plus two uses of Izanagi—enough to handle Tsunade.
And he wouldn't be alone.
He'd have Root members Tatsuma Aburame, Aburame Torune, Fū Yamanaka, and Tanuki Shigaraki, among others.
All jōnin-level shinobi.
In short, four words: the advantage is mine.
"Best to lure Tsunade out alone."
Danzō added, "She recently recruited a few guards. That's troublesome."
"Understood."
Homura looked confident. "We can borrow Hiruzen's name to summon her out."
"Good."
Danzō no longer felt anything for Hiruzen.
Their relationship had been very complicated.
But overall, they complemented each other.
Hiruzen was the sunlit leaf; Danzō, the root buried in darkness.
They'd cooperated many times and made great contributions to Konoha's peace.
But over time, Danzō realized he was repeatedly frustrated and gained little.
Now he'd even been removed from his post and Root disbanded.
"Hiruzen, you abandoned me first."
Danzō's heart was ice-cold. After dealing with Tsunade, Hiruzen would be next.
After so many years, the debt was due.
…
Konoha Police Department.
With Kosuke Maruboshi taking office, the organization was up and running again.
Following Natsume's suggestion, it was split into a Ninja Division and a Civilian Division to handle different matters.
Though Kosuke was nominally a genin, his prestige was immense.
When Tsunade announced it, even Hiruzen had no objections.
After all, they were senior-junior under the same master.
Sarutobi Asuma was a full generation younger.
And crucially, Kosuke was stronger.
Hiruzen could only lament that Asuma wasn't destined to be Hokage.
Afterward, he'd make him a jōnin captain and let him mix into Konoha's upper echelons.
He and Tsunade had a teacher-student bond, so it wasn't hard.
Beyond that, Hiruzen had the will but not the strength.
The deaths of his son and grandson had hit him too hard.
"Grandpa Kosuke."
Natsume knocked and entered the office.
Kosuke Maruboshi was long in years, his hair entirely white.
He'd originally wanted to refuse, but he couldn't resist Natsume's reasoned persuasion and emotional appeal.
Talk of Konoha's exhaustion, a time of mortal peril, and the need for a veteran like him to ride out once more.
Kosuke was a true executor of the Will of Fire; he agreed at once.
"Natsume, what is it?"
"There's something the Police Department needs to investigate."
Natsume produced a dossier. "Recently, nine shinobi have died in identical explosions. I suspect someone's behind it."
To be honest, he could hardly believe he'd found such an easy handle on Danzō.
You could only say the guy was brazen.
This experiment was mentioned in the original—called "Gozu Tennō."
Based on Hashirama cells, they created a bomb-type summoning beast called Nue.
It continually absorbed chakra, and once saturated, it produced a massive explosion.
Danzō wanted to use it to protect Konoha and attack other villages.
Similar to Kirigakure's tactic of making the Three-Tails self-destruct back then.
But at the moment it was very unstable—still experimental.
Natsume sought out Kosuke because he valued his character—and to give the reborn Police Department a big gift.
This was a blockbuster case that would make their name.