Splashing...splashing
That place was gloomy, dark, devoid of any trace of life. The wind outside whistled, making his thin legs tremble.
He was sheltering in what was perhaps an armory, sitting beneath a cobweb-covered desk, watching his homeland devastated as if a hurricane had swept through.
The Village of Flowers was a peaceful place, and the peaceful places that remained amidst larger villages were targets of combat, and his was one of many.
The war was reaching its climax. Danzo was with his squad, checking that none of their enemies were playing dead. He heard the sobs of his men and women as they gazed upon the lifeless faces of some of their comrades.
The death of the sensei... It was as if someone had crushed his heart, squeezing it like a sponge. He clenched his fists, remembering how Hiruzen was the only one who offered to slow down the Gold and Silver brothers.
And what did he do? Nothing.
He ventured deeper into the village. Some hidden inhabitants watched him like cats, not curiously, but suspiciously, even angrily.
He didn't care, and it didn't worry him at all. After all, they were ninjas, and emotions shouldn't interfere.
Never.
He went inside a storage room, or what was left of it, basically.
He checked if there was anything worth taking... anything of value.
Just as he was about to leave, he heard the sound of soles scraping against shards of glass.
He drew his kunai and moved quickly to confront whoever was there.
It was a child, thin with clear signs of malnutrition. His dirty, torn clothes were hidden by a white blanket, filthy and damp from the rain.
The child raised his trembling hands.
But suddenly... He fainted.
Danzo watched him without any emotion, approached, and took his pulse... he was still alive.
He lifted him and placed him on his shoulder. As he left the area, he saw his squad, who were watching him in awe.
Their captain, Danzo Shimura, the Warhawk.
With a child?
"We have to go now. The battle is over, and perhaps the war will be over in a few days too." He walked past the squad, feeling their eyes on his back. "The child needs help."
...
...
.....
...
They arrived in Konoha a week later. He stood before Hiruzen... his friend, now Hokage.
Hiruzen looked at him, as did his men, puzzled by his decision to rescue the child.
"You brought a child, Danzo?" he tapped his fingers on the wooden table. "You need the approval of the others..."
"I'll take him as a student. Besides, he'll be a great shinobi under my tutelage."
Hiruzen sighed wearily at Danzo's usual reluctant attitude.
"Alright, but don't mistreat him. He looks unwell."
Danzo headed toward the hospital with the sleeping child in his arms. The child was perhaps 10 years old, or thereabouts.
A new era had just begun, unbeknownst to anyone.