Chapter 27: Disciplining Danzo; The Serpent Stays Behind
Hiruzen's hand remained on Danzo Shimura's shoulder.
The residual heat from the Lightning Style chakra made the veteran shinobi's neck hair stand on end. His body instinctively tensed, screaming at him to retreat from the predator standing beside him.
But the physical unease was nothing compared to the storm in Danzo's mind.
When?
When had Hiruzen mastered the Cloud's secret Nintaijutsu to this degree? The body of Blue B had been delivered to the Intel Division only ten days ago. Even if the Hokage had access to the preliminary scrolls, the math didn't add up.
How does he still have this kind of talent? Danzo wondered, his eyes wide as he stared at the table. He's supposed to be drowning in paperwork. He's supposed to be withered by the stress of the Kage seat. Even if he's using a restoration jutsu to look younger... where does he find the time to train?
Danzo remained frozen, unable to find his voice.
"Konoha has many geniuses, Danzo. But before they were legends... they all used to call me one."
The words were a direct jab at Danzo's ego. They had grown up together as rivals. Danzo had always been the "Genius of the Shimura," yet he had never once beaten Hiruzen in a duel. Not once in fifty years.
His mind drifted back to the dark forest where the Second Hokage had died.
"Don't look at me like that. I am confident I am the strongest among you. I will be the decoy." Hiruzen's voice from that day echoed in Danzo's memory—the moment the Monkey had surpassed the Crow forever.
Hiruzen didn't press him. He let the lightning fade completely, the smell of ozone lingering in the air.
He stepped back and gripped the back of Danzo's chair, looking at the rest of the council with a small, amused smile. "It seems our Assistant is exhausted. Perhaps we should give him a long-overdue vacation."
"The mission to the Cloud was taxing. He led the strike team personally, scouted the border, and slept in the dirt for weeks. It's a heavy burden for a man of his years."
A few people in the room let out soft, knowing chuckles.
The talk of "rest" snapped Danzo out of his trance. "No! I don't need a vacation!"
He didn't just want to work; he was terrified of stopping. If he slacked off for even a day, the gap between him and Hiruzen would become a canyon. The thought of being unable to even see Hiruzen's back was more terrifying to Danzo than the thought of never becoming Hokage.
"A leader must know when to recover, Danzo. Work-life balance is the key to a long career," Hiruzen said, his tone deceptively kind. "I'm still counting on your Wind Style to help me polish my new Nintaijutsu."
"How about it? One of these days, just the two of us... a spar for old time's sake?"
Danzo ground his molars together. Polish your jutsu? I'd rather blow you off the face of the earth with a Vacuum Wave!
On the surface, however, Danzo forced a stiff, awkward smile. "Heh. You were always the 'Professor,' Hiruzen. Even Lord Tobirama said your aptitude for jutsu was frightening."
"But don't get cocky. My Wind Style hasn't dulled. You might find yourself hitting air while I'm taking your head," Danzo added, desperately trying to claw back some dignity.
Hiruzen didn't take the bait. He nodded graciously. "Naturally. In my mind, you are the premier Wind Style master in the Five Nations. Those Sand Village 'experts' are amateurs compared to you."
Danzo blinked. The compliment was so sudden and genuine that it caught him off guard. He's... defending my reputation? After all the plotting I've done?
For a split second, a flare of genuine guilt flickered in the "Darkness of the Shinobi."
"Danzo, this mission proved your organizational skills are top-tier," Hiruzen continued, finally letting go of the chair. He walked back to the head of the table. "Effective immediately, I am appointing you as the Commander of the Anbu."
"Do the job well. Don't let the village—or me—down."
Danzo's back straightened instinctively. "Yes, Lord Hokage!"
Jiraiya, watching from the side, rolled his eyes and suppressed a snort. Pops is a master. One slap, one hug, and Danzo is practically wagging his tail. The old hawk doesn't even realize he's on a leash.
In the past, the Anbu leadership had been a mess because of "Root." The Commander and Vice-Commander seats were often empty, and the unit was run by Division Captains because Danzo, as "Assistant," held a weird, unofficial authority that bypassed the chain of command.
By making Danzo the official Commander, Hiruzen was giving him the title he craved but also forcing him into a standard military structure. Hiruzen would still control the hiring, the promotions of Captains, and the budget. Danzo would have the "glory" of leadership, but Hiruzen would have the remote control.
"Hizashi," Hiruzen said, turning to the Hyuga. "Your performance has been exemplary. Are you ready for more responsibility?"
Hizashi had been trying to support Hiruzen's "hype" all meeting, and he didn't miss his cue. He snapped to attention, his voice booming with fanaticism. "Lord Hokage! Your Will is my compass! I will go wherever you command, even unto death!"
"Calm down, lad. Not my will—the village's will," Hiruzen corrected with a light cough. "I am appointing you as the Captain of the Anbu Second Division."
"Koharu, Homura, Danzo... any objections?" Hiruzen asked, his voice dripping with "Democracy."
The three elders shook their heads. Ordinarily, they might have argued that Hizashi was too "green" for a Captaincy. But after the display of power they'd just witnessed, and given the current mood of the room, none of them were stupid enough to challenge the Hokage's pick.
Orochimaru licked his lips, watching his teacher navigate the room. Like a conversation over tea, he just seized absolute control of the Anbu and the Hyuga Branch House in one go.
He looked at Danzo, who actually looked happy about it. The Old Man's weight is becoming absolute, Orochimaru thought. He felt a surge of competitive spirit. I need to master these methods. This is how a God of Shinobi truly rules.
"We need to stay vigilant," Hiruzen continued. "The Cloud will send every spy they have to find the source of the Eight-Tails' rampage. We must neutralize them before they even see our walls."
He turned to Sakumo Hatake, who had been listening silently. "How is the Patrol Net?"
Sakumo stood up. "The pilot program is a success. The Inuzuka, Aburame, and Uchiha clans have been surprisingly eager to volunteer."
"Following your directive, I prioritized veterans with old injuries or those whose age made frontline combat difficult. They are incredibly grateful for the steady pay and the 'stable' work. Between the Inuzuka's scent, the Aburame's insects, the Uchiha's sensory range, and Hizashi's Byakugan... I can guarantee that our security is now the tightest in the world."
Hiruzen nodded, smiling at Hizashi. "You're going to be a busy man, Hizashi."
Hizashi beamed. Being needed by the village felt like a drug. He also understood Sakumo's subtext—there were still a few open slots in the Patrol squads.
The Branch House brothers are waiting for me, Hizashi thought. I'm coming for you. I'm bringing you into the light.
As the meeting adjourned and the elders filed out, Orochimaru remained in his seat.
Once the door clicked shut, the pale man reached into his sleeve and produced a small, glass vial containing a pulsating, dark-purple mass of tissue.
"Sensei," Orochimaru whispered, his eyes gleaming with scientific hunger. "You need to see this."
"It's a sample of the Eight-Tails' living flesh."