In the pitch-black, oppressive depths of the ROOT headquarters, a spatial vortex twisted open.
A figure stepped out of it — Hidan, calm, cold, and carrying that unsettling casualness that always made Danzo uneasy.
"Long time no see, Danzo. Your conspiracy game is still as polished as ever."
The moment they met, Hidan didn't hesitate to praise him — in his own twisted way.
He genuinely admired how perfectly Danzo and Orochimaru's schemes intertwined.
Orochimaru helped Danzo remove the Third Hokage.
Danzo, in return, opened every possible path for Orochimaru to infiltrate.
And during the chaos of Konoha's collapse, not a single ROOT operative appeared.
Even the fake ANBU Orochimaru planted inside the village — without Danzo's covert approval, there was no way Orochimaru alone could have pulled that off.
"Is something happening?"
Danzo's tone held an excitement he couldn't hide.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was dead.
For the first time in decades, Danzo was close — so close — to that position. The Hokage seat.
Almost within his grasp.
Hidan looked at Danzo's emotional fluctuations and felt speechless.
Was this man really that obsessed with the Hokage title?
A master conspirator, a man who thrived in the shadows, dreaming about a position meant for people who shone in the light.
He truly had no idea how badly it would suit him.
But this time, Hidan had no intention of letting Sasuke ruin things.
Danzo was not only a valuable pawn — he was also an experimental subject Hidan was hungry to observe.
The Eternal Mangekyō mixed with Hashirama cells gave birth to the Rinnegan.
So what about Danzo — a non-Uchiha — fusing Hashirama cells and stolen Sharingan, sealing his arm for years, forcing synchronization?
If left alive long enough…
Would Danzo create something unexpected?
Something interesting?
Something worth killing?
"Danzo."
Hidan's voice dropped, dark and commanding.
"I want you to take the lead and spark a war between Konoha… the Sand Village… and Otogakure."
He spoke lightly, almost casually, eyes locked onto Danzo with a burning madness beneath them.
Danzo froze.
He hadn't expected that order.
But the promise of becoming Hokage pulsed in his veins — and with Kotoamatsukami (Other Heavenly God) overriding his will, refusal wasn't an option.
"Yes. I will do everything necessary to accelerate the start of the war."
Danzo's expression steadied, voice firm.
"Good Boy."
Hidan nodded in satisfaction and vanished in a swirl of Kamui.
The Next Morning — Konoha
Konoha was wrapped in a heavy, suffocating silence.
Black-robed shinobi gathered together, their faces solemn.
Before them stood the memorial of the Third Hokage — Sarutobi Hiruzen.
One by one, villagers stepped forward, placing white chrysanthemums at the base of the stone.
Memories rose in their hearts — every moment tied to the gentle old man who had once guided them.
Hidan stood amongst the crowd, expression cold, silently thinking:
This is the grief that comes from lacking strength.
He never wanted to feel that helplessness again — to watch loved ones die without the power to stop it.
--
While the memorial took place, two unexpected visitors stepped foot into the ruins of Konoha.
Kisame Hoshigaki — the monster of the Hidden Mist.
Uchiha Itachi — the traitor of the Uchiha clan.
"Itachi, this is your home?" Kisame looked down at the battered village below.
"Not as destroyed as I expected from Orochimaru, but it's still a mess."
"We're here for the mission. Capturing Naruto takes priority."
Itachi's voice was calm, but returning home stirred old emotions beneath the surface.
Especially now…
He had learned of Edo Tensei — Reanimation — during his confrontation with Orochimaru.
For the first time, Itachi began to understand the "resurrection" Hidan hinted at years ago.
"Let's go."
Both figures melted into Konoha's shadows.
--
"They should be entering Konoha about now."
After the memorial, Hidan returned to his courtyard, murmuring to himself.
According to the original timeline, Itachi and Kisame's arrival wasn't truly about capturing Naruto — more about warning Konoha that Akatsuki had set their eyes on him.
Jiraiya alone couldn't handle the duo in a direct fight.
But Itachi would never harm the village.
His words were lies meant to mislead.
And for these two…
Hidan had plans.
In this Konoha Collapse arc, Orochimaru had revealed Edo Tensei to the world.
Itachi would naturally connect the dots.
As for Kisame…
Hidan was far more interested in the creature strapped to his back — Samehada.
The Seven Swords of the Mist were collector's items.
And Samehada was the crown jewel.
A living sword that devoured chakra and fed it to its wielder.
Not a tool — a creature.
According to Hidan's understanding, Samehada was originally a small fish residing inside the Three-Tails' stomach, feeding on leftover materials, refining chakra, and returning it to Isobu.
Samehada could extract five times more chakra than normal intake.
And during battle, the chakra it stored would flow back into Isobu, continuously powering it.
But what intrigued Hidan the most—
Samehada could even absorb a Tailed Beast Bomb from the Eight-Tails in Version 2 form.
That alone made Hidan's eyes heat up with anticipation.
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