Six months passed in the blink of an eye.
The Hidden Leaf Village enjoyed a rare period of tranquility following the war. The markets were bustling again, and the laughter of children replaced the sirens and wails of the past. Everything was on the mend. But beneath this calm, a crisis was looming.
There were less than ten days left until the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki, was due to give birth. This peace could be shattered at any moment.
Inside the Hokage's office, Minato Namikaze maintained his signature efficiency. No matter how many documents piled up, he finished them by dawn, making precise and rapid decisions. However, the village higher-ups realized they hadn't actually seen the Fourth Hokage in his office for quite some time.
Aside from handling official business, his presence was erratic. The Flying Thunder God Technique allowed him to appear in any corner of the village instantly—and vanish just as quickly. The villagers only knew the Fourth was watching over them, but no one knew exactly where he was or what he was doing.
This mystery brought comfort to the citizens, but it bred unease and... opportunity for others.
The Root base remained as cold and damp as ever. Danzo Shimura sat in the seat of honor, leaning on his cane with a grim expression.
"Still no news?" Danzo leaned forward, his voice a raspy growl.
The Root shinobi kneeling before him lowered his head even further. "No, sir. The Fourth's movements are unpredictable. The specific location and final timing for the Jinchuriki's delivery remain top secret. We cannot penetrate the security."
"Useless." Danzo's cold huff made the shinobi flinch. "Get out."
The ninja vanished into the shadows as if granted a divine reprieve. In the empty stone chamber, only the rhythmic thump-thump of Danzo's cane against the floor remained.
It had been half a year. Minato Namikaze was becoming increasingly difficult to read. He appeared to be delegating power and maintaining good relations with the clans, but he held onto his core authority tighter than anyone. Especially regarding the Nine-Tails. Such a monumental matter had bypassed the Elder Council entirely; even Danzo, a high-level advisor, had been excluded.
'Such arrogance!'
In Danzo's eyes, this was Minato's fatal flaw—the impetuousness of youth. Did he really think he could control everything just because he had the Flying Thunder God and the Third's backing?
'How naive.'
A shinobi could never pin their hopes on a single individual. The village's safety had to be held within a stable, reliable system. And he, Danzo Shimura, was the architect of that system. Minato wouldn't do. He was too bright, too soft; he didn't understand the necessity of darkness. Danzo had to act. He needed to pull the village's leadership back onto the "correct" path before that "accident" occurred.
He stood up, his shadow stretching long and menacing against the wall. His target was clear: Hiruzen Sarutobi. If the former Hokage showed even a hint of doubt regarding the current Hokage's methods, Danzo was confident he could sway the entire high command.
...
At the Third Hokage's estate, the afternoon sun was pleasant. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat on the porch, leisurely pruning a bonsai tree. Having completely relinquished his power, he lived the life of an ordinary retiree. The edge that had once defined the "Legend of Shinobi" seemed worn away by time, leaving only a gentle, kind old man.
An Anbu member appeared silently behind him. "Lord Third, Lord Danzo requests an audience."
Hiruzen's hand didn't falter as he snipped a branch. He didn't even turn around, offering only a faint grunt of acknowledgement. A moment later, Danzo appeared at the garden gate. He looked at his old friend, who seemed to have found peace with the world, his eyes flickering with a complex mix of emotions.
"You certainly look relaxed, Hiruzen." Danzo stepped forward, his cane clicking against the stone.
"When one gets old, one must accept it." Hiruzen set down his shears and picked up his pipe, lighting it with practiced ease. "On the other hand, you're as high-strung as ever."
"The village hasn't reached a point where I can sleep soundly," Danzo said bluntly, his voice icy. "I'm here about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
Hiruzen took a puff of smoke, the exhaled cloud obscuring his expression. "That is the Fourth's concern. And he's handling it perfectly."
"Perfectly?" Danzo's voice spiked. "The delivery site is still a secret, and the security detail is unknown! He's taking everything upon himself—it's irresponsible to the village! Hiruzen, your disciple's student is running wild, and you're just letting him?"
Hiruzen finally turned his head. A sharp glint flashed through his seemingly clouded eyes, making Danzo's heart tighten.
"Danzo," Hiruzen's voice was calm but carried an undeniable weight of authority. "Minato is the Hokage now. His decisions are Konoha's decisions. Our job as old-timers isn't to micromanage him; it's to trust him."
"Trust?" Danzo scoffed. "You're gambling the entire village's safety on a young man's 'trust'? If the seal fails and the Nine-Tails runs rampant, who takes the fall? You? Or Minato Namikaze?"
"I will." Hiruzen cut him off, his tone brook no argument. He stood up, the gentle gardener facade vanishing to reveal the iron-willed leader beneath. The overwhelming aura of the Legend of Shinobi was unleashed without reservation, making the very air feel heavy.
"I am aware of everything Minato is doing, and I have given my approval. He understands the risks of this matter better than either of us. He has been preparing for this for six months." Hiruzen stepped directly into Danzo's personal space, their eyes locking. "So, put away those little schemes of yours. Do not cause trouble at such a critical moment. Konoha belongs to everyone."
Danzo's breath hitched. In Hiruzen's eyes, he saw an undisguised warning and an unshakable resolve. He couldn't understand why Hiruzen trusted Minato to such an extent.
"Hiruzen, you..."
"Danzo." Hiruzen's voice turned even colder. "Minato is the Hokage."
Thud!
Danzo slammed his cane into the stone tiles, spiderweb cracks spreading from the impact. His facial muscles twitched violently, his eyes filled with suppressed rage.
"You'll regret this!" He spun around, radiating a cold fury as he marched away.
Hiruzen watched the resentful silhouette disappear through the gate before slowly exhaling a long plume of smoke. In the garden, a pruned leaf swirled through the air before quietly settling on the ground. He knew Danzo's character; this wouldn't end so easily.
"Someone, inform Minato of this."