The twilight light barely penetrated the underground Root office. The stone walls maintained a constant temperature and an atmosphere that seemed to absorb any trace of human warmth. Shimura Danzo sat behind his dark wood desk, his fingers interlaced in front of his face as he observed the ANBU kneeling before him.
Fū Yamanaka, one of his most trusted agents, kept his head bowed in respect. His tiger mask hid any expression, but the tension in his shoulders was evident even under the standard black Root uniform.
"Repeat it," Danzo ordered in a flat and controlled voice.
"The extraction team has disappeared," Fu responded without hesitation. "The operatives we sent to the vicinity of the forest did not return to their meeting point. We conducted searches within a two kilometer radius and found no traces of battle, bodies, or signs of struggle."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing, Danzo-sama."
Danzo closed his visible eye slowly, processing the information. Three elite operatives, personally trained by him for years, had simply vanished.
"What is your assessment?" he finally asked.
Fu hesitated just a second before answering. "Someone inside Konoha neutralized the team. Security around the Chunin Exams is more robust than we anticipated. We do not know who was responsible, but the precision and cleanliness of the operation suggest high level ANBU training or superior."
Danzo opened his eye and stared at Fu. "Is there any indication that our involvement has been identified?"
"Negative. The operatives carried unmarked equipment. Their identities are protected under multiple layers of cover. However..."
"Speak."
"If the responsible party has access to Root information, it is possible they could identify us as the ones responsible."
Danzo tapped the desk gently with his knuckles, an almost imperceptible gesture that, for those who knew him, indicated contained irritation.
"Withdraw. No movements until further notice."
"Understood, Danzo-sama."
Fu disappeared in a flash of smoke. Danzo remained motionless for several minutes; his mind worked through the implications of this new information.
Two consecutive failures.
First, the attempt to extract Sakura Haruno from the hospital had been thwarted by Tsunade's direct intervention. I had not foreseen that the legendary Sannin would be actively involved in protecting the girl. That had been a miscalculation that cost valuable resources and, worse still, had put Tsunade on alert.
Now this: an entire team neutralized without a trace.
Someone is playing against me. Someone with power, resources, and enough knowledge to anticipate my movements. The possibilities are limited. Hiruzen would not act in such a direct manner without confronting me first. Tsunade is a variable, but she tends to be more explosive than calculating. Jiraiya is out of the village according to the latest reports.
Then who?
Danzo rose from his seat and walked toward the small window overlooking one of the Root training tunnels. Below, several young operatives practiced silent killing techniques under the supervision of veteran instructors. The cycle continued. It always continued.
But now, for the first time in a long while, Danzo felt something he did not experience often: uncertainty.
If the Chunin Exams have already entered their preliminary phase, it means they will soon move to the third phase. One month of preparation before the public final battles. A month during which Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Hinata Hyuga will be under constant scrutiny, training and preparing.
A month during which I need to act, but now I cannot do so directly without exposing myself.
The situation required a different approach. More political.
Danzo returned to his desk and took a blank sheet of paper. With precise strokes, he wrote two names:
Homura Mitokado. Koharu Utatane.
The two oldest advisors of Konoha. Former teammates of Hiruzen during the era of the Second Hokage. Pragmatic to the core. Loyal to Konoha above all else, even above personal loyalties.
If there is one thing I understand perfectly, it is how to manipulate pragmatism.
******
In one of the meeting rooms of the Council building, Danzo sat across from Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. The room was modest but functional, with a low dark wood table and traditional style cushions for sitting. A teapot steamed in the center, filling the air with the aroma of green tea.
Homura, with his characteristic gray hair slicked back and thin framed glasses, watched Danzo with a neutral expression. Koharu, with her hair pulled into a tight bun and deep wrinkles around her eyes, held her teacup with both hands.
"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice," Danzo began, maintaining a respectful but firm tone.
"Your messages rarely lack importance, Danzo," Homura replied, adjusting his glasses. "What is it this time?"
Danzo took a sip of his tea before answering, letting silence settle briefly.
"I have been monitoring certain anomalies related to some of our newly graduated genin. Specifically, those involved in the current Chunin Exams."
Koharu arched an eyebrow. "The Chunin Exams always reveal exceptional genin. What anomalies are you referring to exactly?"
"I am referring to growth patterns that defy all logic established in our historical records," Danzo replied, placing his cup on the table. "Power shifts that occur in impossible timeframes. Abilities that appear without documented prior training."
Homura and Koharu exchanged a brief but significant look.
"Be more specific," Homura requested.
Danzo unfolded a small scroll on the table. It contained names, dates, and summaries of incidents.
"I will start with Team Seven under the command of Kakashi Hatake. Specifically, with Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha."
"The Jinchuriki, the civilian, and the last Uchiha," Koharu commented, nodding. "An unusual team since its formation."
"Precisely. Now, let me present to you a series of events that occurred during their first C rank mission that turned into A rank: the mission in the Land of Waves."
Danzo pointed to the first section of the scroll.
"According to the official report from Kakashi Hatake and Kurenai Yuhi, the team faced Zabuza Momochi, one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, and his apprentice Haku. The official result: Zabuza and Haku were repelled. The team survived with injuries ranging from minor to severe, as in the case of Sasuke Uchiha."
"We know the reports," Homura said with a touch of impatience. "Kakashi is an exceptional ninja. His ability to protect his team against an opponent of that caliber, while notable, is not impossible."
"True," Danzo conceded. "But let us delve into the details that are not in the official report. Information I have gathered through my own sources."
He pulled out another smaller document and placed it next to the first.
"During the mission in the Land of Waves, Kurenai Yuhi, who was assigned to the mission with her team, was seriously injured. A wound that, according to Konoha medics' testimony, should have been fatal."
Koharu leaned forward, interested. "And?"
"She recovered completely. No scars. No permanent damage. As if the wound had never existed."
"Medical techniques have advanced," Homura began, but Danzo interrupted him by raising a hand.
"There was no medical ninja present. The only ones there were the genin of Team Seven and Team Eight."
The silence in the room grew heavier.
"Continue," Koharu ordered.
"Second event. During the final battle on the bridge, Sakura Haruno manifested a healing ability she had not previously shown. According to mission reports, she emitted a bright green energy that helped stabilize Sasuke Uchiha from his serious injury, which had caused a temporary coma."
"That could simply be latent talent," Homura suggested. "Some people have a natural affinity for medical ninjutsu."
"Indeed," Danzo agreed. "But Sakura Haruno had not received any advanced medical training prior to that mission. Her grades at the Academy were excellent in theory, but there was no record of practical training in medical techniques. And yet, she manifested that ability under extreme pressure."
Danzo paused deliberately before continuing.
"Even more interesting is that this occurred weeks before Tsunade returned to Konoha. Weeks before Sakura had any contact with the best medical ninja in the world."
Koharu frowned. "Are you suggesting some kind of external intervention?"
"I am suggesting there are patterns we cannot ignore," Danzo replied carefully. "Now, let me add another element to this equation: Team Eight, specifically Hinata Hyuga."
Homura tensed slightly at the mention of the Hyuga clan. "The clan heiress," he muttered. "Be careful with your accusations, Danzo."
"I am not accusing anyone," Danzo replied calmly. "I am simply presenting facts. Hinata Hyuga participated in the same Land of Waves mission. According to the reports, she faced extreme combat situations. However, she also survived against odds that, objectively speaking, should have resulted in her death or capture."
"What exactly are you insinuating?" Koharu finally asked.
Danzo leaned back slightly, allowing his next statement to have the maximum impact.
"I am insinuating that a common factor exists between Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Hinata Hyuga. A factor that is granting them abilities beyond what they should possess at their age and level of training. A factor we do not understand and that, therefore, represents a potential risk to the security of Konoha."
"You are talking about some kind of external power," Homura said, his voice controlled but with a hint of alarm. "A curse? What evidence do you have of this?"
Danzo spread his hands in a conciliatory gesture. "I have no concrete evidence of the exact nature of this power. But I have the responsibility, as we all do, to protect Konoha from internal and external threats."
He leaned forward, lowering his voice to a more intimate and serious tone.
"Consider the implications. Naruto Uzumaki is our Jinchuriki of the Kyubi. If he is being influenced by an external force we do not understand, the risk is incalculable. The Kyubi is already dangerous enough. An out of control Jinchuriki with unknown additional powers could destroy Konoha from within."
He saw Homura clench his jaw.
"Sakura Haruno is a civilian without a clan lineage. Her sudden growth, while impressive, lacks a logical explanation. If she is being used as a vector to introduce some type of foreign technique or power into our village, we must investigate it."
"And Hinata Hyuga," Koharu continued, completing the thought, "the heiress of the Hyuga clan. Possessor of the Byakugan. If she is being influenced or manipulated, the secrets of the Byakugan could be at risk."
"Exactly," Danzo said, satisfied that Koharu had reached that conclusion on her own. "The Byakugan is one of Konoha's most valuable assets. The main branch of the Hyuga clan protects it fiercely. If Hinata is manifesting abilities the clan cannot explain, we must consider the possibility that someone is trying to access the secrets of the Byakugan through her."
Homura took off his glasses and cleaned them with a small cloth, a habit he had when he was deep in thought.
"Your observations are worrying, Danzo. But they are just that: observations. You have no solid proof of external influence or unknown powers. What exactly do you propose?"
This was the critical moment. Danzo had planted the seeds of doubt. Now he needed to direct the conversation toward a specific action without appearing too aggressive.
"I propose a formal investigation," he replied calmly. "Discreet, of course. We do not want to alarm the clans or create unnecessary panic. But we need to understand what is happening with these genin before the situation escapes our control."
"An investigation into the Jinchuriki?" Koharu asked skeptically. "Hiruzen would never allow it."
"Hiruzen is soft with Naruto," Danzo said, letting a touch of frustration leak into his voice. "He sees him as a child who needs protection and affection. But Naruto is not just a child. He is a weapon. A weapon we must control and understand completely."
"Careful, Danzo," Homura warned. "That kind of language..."
"It is the truth," Danzo interrupted firmly. "And you know it as well as I do. Our duty is not to be kind or compassionate. Our duty is to protect Konoha. If that means making difficult decisions or assuming unpopular roles, then so be it."
Koharu took a sip of her tea, which had already cooled considerably.
"Even if we were to assume you are right about these anomalies," she said slowly, "what type of investigation do you propose?"
"I would start with intensified observation," Danzo replied. "Monitoring their training, analyzing their techniques, reviewing any material or equipment they may be using. If we find concrete evidence of external influence, then we can escalate to more direct measures."
"And if Hiruzen opposes this," Homura added, "as we know he will..."
"Then we act through the appropriate channels," Danzo completed. "The Council has the authority to order security investigations when there are potential threats to the village. We do not need the Hokage's approval to protect Konoha."
Homura and Koharu exchanged another prolonged look. Danzo could see the conflict in their expressions. They were loyal to Hiruzen, their old teammate, but they were also pragmatists. The security of Konoha had always been their top priority.
"I need to think about this," Homura finally said, standing up. "Your points are valid, Danzo, but the implications are enormous. We cannot simply start an investigation into the Jinchuriki and the Hyuga heiress without considering all the ramifications."
"Of course," Danzo nodded, also rising. "Take the time you need. But I ask you to act with the urgency this situation deserves. Every day that passes without understanding what is happening is a day in which Konoha is potentially at risk."
Koharu rose more slowly, leaning slightly on her cane. "There is another consideration we must address," she said in a thoughtful voice. "If there really is some kind of external power or influence, who could be responsible? What village or faction would have the motive and means to infiltrate Konoha so deeply?"
Danzo had anticipated this question.
"That is precisely the reason we need to investigate. The possibilities are manifold. It could be Orochimaru, who has a history with forbidden experiments and intimate knowledge of Konoha. It could be another village seeking to weaken our defenses from within. Or it could be something completely new, a threat we have not yet identified."
Homura put his glasses back on and looked directly at Danzo. "I am going to do something you probably will not like, Danzo," he said in a firm voice. "I am going to inform Hiruzen about these concerns."
Danzo felt a prickle of irritation but kept his expression neutral. "Why would you do that? You know Hiruzen will dismiss my concerns as paranoia."
"Because," Homura replied patiently, "despite our differences with Hiruzen on how to handle certain situations, he is still the Hokage. And if there is a real threat, we cannot operate completely behind his back on something of this magnitude."
Koharu nodded in agreement. "Homura is right. We want the best for Konoha, Danzo. We all do. But that means working within the system, not against it. If your concerns are valid, Hiruzen will take them seriously. If they are not, then we will avoid creating an unnecessary problem."
Danzo clenched his jaw, but he knew that pushing further would only raise more suspicion.
"Very well," he conceded reluctantly. "Speak with Hiruzen. But I ask that you present the facts as I have laid them out. If Hiruzen wants to ignore them because of his affection for Naruto, let that decision be on the record."
"We will present the facts objectively," Homura assured. "But you must also understand, Danzo, that if you are wrong about this, if you are seeing threats where there are none because of your natural distrust of everything unusual, that will also have consequences."
"I understand perfectly," Danzo replied coldly.
The meeting concluded with formal farewells. When Homura and Koharu left the room, Danzo remained alone, looking at the documents scattered on the table.
It had not gone exactly as he had planned. Homura informing Hiruzen was a complication, though not completely unexpected. Old teammates had bonds that were hard to break, even when their philosophies diverged.
But he had achieved something important: he had planted the seeds of doubt in the minds of two of Konoha's most influential advisors. They had recognized the anomalies. And although they would speak with Hiruzen, those doubts would remain, growing slowly in the back of their minds
******
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