The document Natsuhiko had noticed was nothing unusual at first glance—it was simply a record of routine ANBU assignments and operational plans.
But that alone carried weight.
The ANBU's workload was enormous—far beyond what most people imagined. Natsuhiko's urgency in expanding the organization wasn't just about building up his own power; there was another, equally important reason.
He had no intention of being buried under endless administrative work, trapped behind a desk like a prisoner within the very system he controlled.
The number of combat personnel needed to increase—only then could he extend his reach into more areas. At the same time, administrative staff had to be expanded as well, so he wouldn't be suffocated by an avalanche of trivial matters.
Individually, those tasks seemed insignificant—simple, even. But their sheer volume was overwhelming, to the point of being suffocating.
To Natsuhiko, who had never intended to personally oversee every minor detail, that kind of workload was more unbearable than facing the Nine-Tails itself.
That was why he needed more administrative personnel—people who could handle those tedious, unavoidable tasks on his behalf.
Especially since, as the number of combat operatives grew, so too would the amount of paperwork and coordination required. It was precisely for this reason that he had pushed to resolve the staffing issue early on.
"Though… this can't really be called a trivial matter."
Natsuhiko's expression shifted slightly, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. He hadn't expected to come across something this interesting.
The contents of the document were brief, but more than enough to catch his attention.
According to the report, Hiruzen Sarutobi was preparing to depart soon for the capital of the Land of Fire to meet with the Daimyō.
This—this was the true authority of the ANBU.
From beginning to end, they were the only force capable of fully tracking the Hokage's movements. Even now, when the ANBU and the Third Hokage were not entirely aligned, they still had access to crucial intelligence.
Just like this.
From the information in hand, Natsuhiko quickly deduced the purpose of the trip. It was simple enough—Hiruzen intended to formally inform the Daimyō that Konoha's Hokage had temporarily changed.
As for how long that "temporary" status would last, there was no need to explain. Nor would Hiruzen ever reveal such details.
But beyond that…
Natsuhiko could already guess another objective.
Funding.
Rebuilding Konoha was no small undertaking. While shinobi could handle much of the physical work with ease, the village was not made up of shinobi alone.
There were tens of thousands of civilians living within it—perhaps even close to a hundred thousand.
And those people needed livelihoods.
Reconstruction meant jobs—lots of them.
Any leader with sense would carefully calculate such an economic opportunity.
Shinobi could rely on missions for income, and they even received subsidies from the village. But ordinary civilians had no such safety net—they could only depend on work to survive.
"So… request a large sum of aid from the Daimyō," Natsuhiko murmured inwardly, his thoughts flowing rapidly, "then use it to create jobs for the villagers."
Work would give them a way to temporarily forget the pain brought by the Nine-Tails' attack, while also providing them with stable income.
And at the same time, part of those funds could be allocated to the medical division—officially labeled as relief for the injured, both civilians and shinobi alike.
In just a few moments, Natsuhiko had already pieced together most of the situation—he could even see through much of Hiruzen's thinking.
And with that clarity came new ideas of his own.
If Hiruzen wanted money… and he himself had his sights set on the Nine-Tails' chakra…
Then perhaps, for a time, they could cooperate.
Of course, such cooperation would be shallow at best.
Because Natsuhiko also had his eye on that money.
The expansion of the ANBU required vast resources—especially if he intended to carry out large-scale recruitment. The funds needed would be astronomical.
Hiruzen would undoubtedly allocate some budget for this—that much was certain. For the sake of maintaining stability within Konoha, the old man was still capable of making concessions when necessary.
If it had been Shimura Danzō in charge instead, there was a very real chance he would have simply dissolved the ANBU on the spot.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, at least, would allocate funds—but how much he would actually grant was another matter entirely.
And Natsuhiko had no intention of letting himself be strangled by budget constraints.
Originally, he had planned to use Minato Namikaze's name to directly approach the finance department. But now, with such an opportunity placed before him—and with the added prospect of obtaining the Nine-Tails' chakra—there was no way he would sit this out.
If he wanted a share of both, then cooperating with Hiruzen Sarutobi, even if only temporarily, was unavoidable.
With that thought, Natsuhiko rose to his feet, his gaze drifting toward the Hokage's office in the distance.
Since he had already decided to make the trip to the Land of Fire's capital, it was only proper—at least on the surface—for him, as head of the ANBU, to pay Hiruzen a visit.
"It's better to meet him in advance and discuss things directly," he mused. "And while I'm at it, I can get a clearer read on his attitude."
Speculation could only go so far. Seeing Hiruzen face-to-face would tell him far more than any guesswork ever could.
He raised his hand and lightly tapped the desk. Within moments, an ANBU operative appeared before him.
"Commander."
The man's tone was impeccably respectful.
"Notify Trout, White Fang, and Antelope—the three division commanders, or acting commanders. I'll be stepping out for a while. If anything comes up, they are to handle it themselves. Understood?"
"Yes, Commander!"
The operative bowed his head immediately before vanishing without a trace.
Watching him leave, Natsuhiko couldn't help but reflect on how intoxicating power truly was. With a single sentence, he could set countless matters into motion.
For anyone, that kind of authority was difficult to resist—especially for those aging shinobi whose strength had begun to fade, yet who had once stood at the very peak.
Letting out a soft chuckle, Natsuhiko dismissed the thought. There was no need to analyze what Konoha's so-called "four great figures" were thinking.
All he needed to know was that they stood in his way.
A faint ripple of chakra passed through him, and in an instant, his figure vanished from the office.
When he reappeared, he was already inside the Hokage Building.
As he walked down the corridor, quite a few shinobi paused, momentarily stunned at the sight of him. The ANBU stationed there made no attempt to stop or question him, allowing him to pass without delay.
Before long, he stood at the door to the Hokage's office.
Knock. Knock.
He rapped lightly and waited.
"Come in."
Hiruzen's voice came from within, and Natsuhiko pushed the door open without hesitation.
Inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi was absorbed in reading a report, not even glancing up at first. His diligence was undeniable.
But the moment he raised his head and saw who had entered, he froze.
For an instant, his eyes sharpened with unmistakable caution.
Just as quickly, however, he suppressed it, his expression easing as he spoke in a tone that carried a faint trace of something difficult to define.
"What brings you here, Commander Natsuhiko?"
Truthfully, Hiruzen was surprised.
He hadn't expected Natsuhiko to come to him like this.
And when it came to this young man, his guard was always up—because, strictly speaking, he himself was one of Natsuhiko's "victims."
Back when Natsuhiko had aligned himself with him, Hiruzen had never fully trusted him—but he had accepted his presence nonetheless. In fact, to better control this descendant of the Senju clan, he had even gone so far as to grant him the position of commander of the Third Division.
What followed, however, had completely caught him off guard.
After securing that position, Natsuhiko had appeared to continue serving him—but in reality, he had decisively cast Hiruzen aside and drawn closer to Minato Namikaze instead.
It was a betrayal—though not an entirely unexpected one. After all, Hiruzen had never truly trusted him to begin with.
Natsuhiko's betrayal had ultimately hardened Minato Namikaze's resolve, pushing him to decisively seize control of the entire ANBU. And that… was what left Hiruzen Sarutobi deeply frustrated.
It was, in every sense, a vicious backstab.
Though Hiruzen could take a small measure of comfort in the fact that Minato had finally learned to wield the authority of the Hokage, the cost was far too great. Losing control of the ANBU—and worse, having Danzo's secrets fall into someone else's hands—was a blow that struck painfully deep.
And now, the very person responsible for all of it stood before him.
The feeling was unmistakable: like someone who had robbed you in broad daylight, left you powerless to respond, and then had the audacity to return and stand calmly at your door.
It was infuriating.
And dangerous.
Because a man like that was never without ulterior motives.
"Hokage-sama," Natsuhiko greeted, his tone calm, his smile gentle. He had no idea what Hiruzen was thinking; he simply maintained the same composed demeanor.
Raising his hand, he made a simple gesture—retreat. Almost immediately, the remaining ANBU within the office materialized before him, one by one, and silently exited without a word.
Hiruzen watched, expressionless, as they left, and only after the last shadow disappeared did he quietly shake his head.
"You're not here to show off, are you?" Hiruzen's voice was distant, tinged with irritation. "To flaunt your control over the ANBU?"
"If that were your intention," he continued, "then I'd have to say… you're still far too naïve."
"I don't understand, Hokage-sama. Why would you think I came here to boast?" Natsuhiko tilted his head slightly, his expression the picture of innocence.
"True boasting would have to wait until I've completed the expansion," he said, smiling softly. "And that's no small task, of course."
"Oh?" Hiruzen's eyes lifted slightly, curiosity creeping into his gaze. "You're confident, Commander Natsuhiko… submitted your proposal, and I approved it. Why do you say it's difficult?"
"Because," Natsuhiko replied evenly, "to expand quickly and completely, one would need to lower the ANBU's standards."
His tone remained gentle, almost as if speaking to an old friend.
"But I have no intention of lowering the standard. That means either the force can't be fully staffed, or there will be no reserves to call upon in the future. It's not easy."
Hiruzen said nothing in response, though inwardly, he had to admit Natsuhiko's logic made sense.
He had assumed the boy was acting out of impatience, eager to push the ANBU's boundaries and strengthen his own position, and that Minato intended to exploit the ANBU for personal advantage.
He had allowed the proposal to proceed, partly because he didn't want to interfere while keeping Danzō within reach, and partly to observe the chaos—to see if such reckless manipulation of the ANBU would create trouble or bring unintended consequences to Konoha.
Yet now, he realized that Natsuhiko seemed to have everything in perfect clarity. That, more than anything, left Hiruzen puzzled.
If he already understood the stakes, the risks, and the balance, then why push forward so deliberately?
"I imagine you're wondering about that, Hokage-sama," Natsuhiko said, cutting through the silence with a soft smile.
He paused, then continued evenly:
"It's simple. This is about rigorous training. The current personnel are sufficient for use, but the future depends on the newcomers. The existing members maintain the old structure while the new recruits train continuously.
"I will select promising individuals from various clans, orphanages, and other sources, while removing those I cannot trust.
"When all the ANBU are qualified… when the force has become an unbreakable unit, it will be composed entirely of people I can trust."
There was no arrogance in his tone, only calm determination—a plan executed with precision, patience, and foresight. Hiruzen, watching him, could feel the weight of Natsuhiko's ambition settling over the room like a quietly brewing storm.
"Such a plan… it's impossible to complete in just a few years," Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured, his brows furrowed as he studied Natsuhiko. He couldn't understand why the young ANBU Commander had revealed all this to him, or what his true intentions were. Yet, at the same time, he didn't push back. Knowing the ANBU's future plans was valuable information, after all.
"The orphanage is a good resource, but the children's talents vary greatly, and there simply aren't enough of them," Hiruzen continued, his tone contemplative. "The great clans are helpful, yes, but their purpose in sending members to the ANBU is to maintain access to the Hokage and to intelligence. If it's just endless training, they won't be satisfied. And then there's the issue of funding—do you really think Konoha still has that much money to spare?"
"Clan ninjas are manageable. Rotation schedules will suffice," Natsuhiko replied lightly, plopping into a chair with casual ease before continuing.
"Some missions can be rotated among them. After all, they're combat assets; leaving them idle would be a waste. But money… that's the real problem. Expanding the ANBU costs a fortune. Konoha may be in a pinch now, but the village has support—say, from the Daimyo?"
At that, Natsuhiko paused. Hiruzen's eyes flickered with subtle interest. Finally, the pieces fell into place in his mind.
So that was it. Natsuhiko had come here knowing that he—the Hokage—was planning to visit the Daimyo and likely intended to request funds for the village. And now, the boy had shared his own plans as a kind of subtle bargaining chip. Hiruzen realized Natsuhiko's true aim: he wanted his own share of the Daimyo's resources.
Hiruzen picked up his pipe and lit it, inhaling deeply before letting the smoke out slowly, his thoughts turning inward. After a moment of silence, he asked, "So you guessed I was going to the Daimyo for funds. Do you know what I intend to do with that money?"
"Now, Hokage-sama, is this really the time to test my analytical abilities?" Natsuhiko replied, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips. Still, since Hiruzen had asked, he didn't hesitate to answer. He wanted the Hokage to understand that this wasn't flattery or begging—it was a proposal of cooperation, and he was standing on equal footing.
"Since you've asked, I'll answer properly," Natsuhiko began, voice calm and steady. "I suspect the funds have two main purposes. The first is to hire village residents. By giving them work in rebuilding Konoha, we not only provide employment but also keep them busy enough to temporarily forget their pain. More importantly, by rebuilding Konoha with their own hands, the villagers create a bond with the village that goes far beyond simple labor."
"The second use," he continued, "is for the Medical Division. Rescue operations expend resources, and these funds can cover the costs of treating injured shinobi and villagers alike. They might even provide some basic support for their future lives. I imagine this is how you intended to allocate it, Hokage-sama, am I correct?"
He stopped and smiled, eyes fixed on Hiruzen. The Hokage appeared calm, but the smoke drifting from his pipe wavered strangely, flickering as if disturbed by some unseen tremor.
Hiruzen's mind raced. Natsuhiko had correctly guessed his plan to secure funds from the Daimyo and even anticipated some of his reasoning behind it.
What startled him most was the scope of Natsuhiko's foresight. If all of these ideas had been formalized in written plans, he would have feared that the young Commander was secretly monitoring him, leveraging ANBU privileges to keep constant tabs on his every move.
Instead, it was all still in Natsuhiko's mind—but even that was enough to make the Hokage's pulse quicken. He hadn't expected a subordinate to be thinking so far ahead, and certainly not to the degree of anticipating his every step.
Natsuhiko really was a remarkably clever young man.
"Also, Hokage-sama," he began again, just as Hiruzen's mind was swimming with thoughts, "I think I understand why you entrusted the ANBU to me. Besides the Fourth Hokage's official appointment, it must have something to do with Danzo, right?"
The moment Hiruzen heard Danzo's name, his expression shifted slightly, and he looked up, fixing Natsuhiko with a sharp gaze.
"No need to be nervous. I'm not foolish," Natsuhiko replied casually, leaning back fully into the sofa with a relaxed smile. "Though the previous lesson should have ended with the last arrangement, I certainly benefited from it."
He paused, eyes glinting as he continued. "But a leverage point is only a leverage point because it can be used repeatedly. I don't intend to be shameless, of course, but Hokage-sama, you also need to consider Danzo's situation, don't you? Besides, expanding the ANBU has helped solve some small problems for you as well—like the ones within Root, for example."
With that, Natsuhiko simply smiled and said nothing more, his eyes resting quietly on Hiruzen.
In that moment, he had completely seized the upper hand.
Once someone's weakness is exposed, they can only be controlled by whoever holds it.
That wasn't just empty talk. Natsuhiko recalled someone from his memories—a bald man named Russell—who had met a miserable fate precisely because an old fox had gotten hold of his weakness.
And for Hiruzen, Danzo was undoubtedly a fatal liability.
If he wanted to protect Danzo, then in certain matters, he would always be at a disadvantage before Natsuhiko. In many situations, compromise would be his only option.
Of course, Natsuhiko wasn't offering nothing in return. His words had been deliberately vague, but Hiruzen understood their meaning almost instantly.
The old man lifted his pipe and took a few deep drags, exhaling slow curls of smoke. By the look in his eyes, he had already reached a decision.
"I have to admit… you've exceeded my expectations," Hiruzen said seriously, tone calm yet grave, meeting Natsuhiko's gaze. "I see a shadow of my teacher in you. The Senju clan has indeed raised you well."
"Thank you for the compliment, Hokage-sama," Natsuhiko replied with a bright smile, shaking his head slightly. "But the place I've learned the most… is still within the ANBU."
Hiruzen ignored the answer and cut straight to the point. "I can grant your request. How much money do you need?"
Natsuhiko shook his head, still smiling, but he didn't answer directly. "I'm not sure about the exact amount yet. But I think it would look more sincere if I accompany you myself."
Hiruzen's eyes flicked toward him. "Having the ANBU Commander as my security… that does put my mind at ease."
"Then please keep this confidential for now. When the time comes to depart, I will be there," Natsuhiko said, rising and bowing slightly. "It's an honor to serve as Hokage-sama's escort."
"There's still plenty of work waiting for you in the ANBU, so I won't keep you," Hiruzen said, tapping his pipe lightly on the desk. "I'll be waiting for you, Commander."
Natsuhiko smiled, nodded, and exited the office. This meeting had given him everything he wanted, and he had subtly but firmly pushed Hiruzen into a position of acknowledgment. How could he not feel satisfied?
Stepping out of the Hokage building, Natsuhiko's gaze rose to the sky. The sun hung high and warm, despite it being autumn, casting a comforting light across Konoha. Such a fine day was worthy of a good mood.
This time, he had dug a pit for Hiruzen—a deep one. Natsuhiko didn't know exactly when he would unleash its full effect, but he knew one thing: the Hokage had already acknowledged it.
Natsuhiko had personally shattered the restrictions on the ANBU, and by extension, the Root division—being of the same origin as the ANBU—naturally gained the freedom to break their own shackles as well.
Now, they could officially begin expanding, recruiting more talent without restraint. Sure, there was a chance they might clash with Natsuhiko over resources, but for the time being, that wasn't a pressing concern. Hiruzen simply didn't have the energy to micromanage every move.
This gave Natsuhiko time—not only to grow his own forces, but also to subtly pressure Hiruzen, forcing the Third Hokage to feel the weight of constant tension, until eventually the responsibility would inevitably fall to Danzo.
"If this ends up in Danzo's hands, how far is Hiruzen from facing the wrath of the village?" Natsuhiko thought, already running through in his mind how he would manipulate the Hokage.
Even Orochimaru, in his way, was a reasonable person; if he rebelled, Natsuhiko would simply give him a little push. Why shouldn't he do the same here?
...
"How's the intel gathering going?"
Inside the Root base, Danzo's voice was icy, and he regarded the ninja before him with cold scrutiny. Nearly a week had passed since he issued the orders, and in that time he had remained silently patient.
He was anxious, but he knew impatience would achieve nothing. Without solid intelligence, he couldn't even pinpoint Hiruzen's departure time, let alone anticipate his route or assess the accompanying defenses. Patience was the only option.
The waiting was excruciating, but Root's operatives had not disappointed.
After all, he had cultivated this organization for many years. Even now, despite being heavily suppressed and unable to mobilize without official orders, there were still those within Root who were absolutely loyal to him. Those individuals continued to assist him, carrying out tasks in the shadows.
For instance, one of Root's operatives had leveraged previously gathered intelligence to threaten an administrative shinobi working in the Hokage's office, coercing him into handing over sensitive information.
Faced with such pressure—especially knowing that Root had set its sights on him—the man understood there was no room for refusal.
Either he complied… or he and his entire family would vanish.
There was no third option.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered reporting this to Hiruzen. But deep down, there was resentment festering within him.
Resentment toward the Third Hokage.
During the Nine-Tails incident, the Fourth Hokage had given everything to protect Konoha, even to the point of being left in a state that would take years to recover from. And yet Hiruzen had emerged unscathed—failing, in that man's eyes, to live up to the principle that a Hokage must stand at the forefront to protect the village.
Worse still, his own wife had died in that catastrophe while saving their son.
How could he possibly remain calm after that?
Whether it was grief, hatred, the instinct to protect his child, or simply the fact that his weakness had been seized, he had no choice but to cooperate with Root.
"The information has been confirmed, Lord Danzo," the Root shinobi reported in a low, respectful tone.
"If nothing unexpected occurs, departure should be within the next few days. We'll keep constant watch on the Third Hokage's movements."
He hesitated briefly before continuing.
"As for the route, there have been no changes reported so far. And in terms of defense… it appears only a small number of ANBU will be accompanying him."
"Only a few ANBU, hm…"
Danzo gave a slow nod. The information was still somewhat lacking, but given the current circumstances, it would suffice.
He knew Hiruzen well—perhaps better than anyone. This was not the inauguration of a new Hokage; there was no reason for grand displays. If anything, Hiruzen would likely choose to meet the Daimyo quietly, without fanfare.
And if that were the case, his escort would naturally be limited.
Especially now.
Konoha was still in the midst of reconstruction, and spies were crawling through the shadows like vermin. Under such conditions, even that Senju brat who now controlled the ANBU would hardly be willing to allocate too many resources to Hiruzen's protection.
Even if reinforcements were sent, they would likely be nothing more than a show—impressive on the surface, but ultimately useless. After all, Senju Natsuhiko and Hiruzen Sarutobi were not exactly walking the same path.
"Very good. You've done well."
As that thought settled in his mind, Danzo let out a faint breath, some of the tension easing from his shoulders.
"Proceed according to the plan. Head to the ambush point and wait."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
The Root shinobi nodded immediately and rose to leave.
"Wait."
Just as he reached the door, Danzo spoke again, his tone cold and precise.
"Prepare a few more—reliable, obedient, and skilled in concealment. Have them follow Hiruzen Sarutobi closely."
He paused briefly before adding, "And send Tenzo to me. I want to see him."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
Without the slightest hesitation, the shinobi bowed once more before turning and exiting the room.
After he left, Danzo remained standing alone in the dim office. His gaze drifted, unfocused, as though tracing thoughts that even he could not fully put into words.
His mind was anything but calm.
He had made a decision—one that carried terrifying consequences.
And yet, there was no trace of regret.
Danzo was not the kind of man who looked back. His convictions had always been unshakable; otherwise, he would never have clung to his dream of becoming Hokage for so many years.
That dream was everything to him.
It was his life.
Not long after, a knock sounded at the door. Upon receiving permission, a child stepped inside—a boy wearing a cat-faced mask, his long brown hair falling loosely behind him.
"Lord Danzo."
His voice was young—far too young—but within that youth lingered an indescribable coldness.
"Tenzo," Danzo acknowledged with a slight nod before speaking. "You've already been briefed on this mission, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Do you have the confidence—and the resolve—to see it through?"
"Lord Danzo's orders are my purpose," Tenzo replied without hesitation, his tone flat and unwavering. "It does not matter who the target is. I will complete the mission."
"Excellent."
Danzo nodded in satisfaction, a faint glint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.
"I look forward to your performance… and even more to the power of your Wood Release. Don't disappoint me."
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
Tenzo dropped to one knee, his voice firm with determination.
He understood exactly what Danzo expected of him.
After all, on the night of the Nine-Tails' rampage, someone within the ANBU had used Wood Release to restrain the beast itself. That feat had not gone unnoticed.
Tenzo did not know how his own Wood Release compared.
But he knew one thing with absolute certainty—he could not afford to fail Danzo.
This mission was his chance to prove himself.
Even if the target was Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Third Hokage—it made no difference to him.
In his world, there was only one person who truly mattered.
Danzo.
The man who had saved him.
The man he would obey without question.
"You may go."
Danzo gave a small nod, dismissing him.
As he watched the boy's retreating figure, he slowly closed his eyes.
Orochimaru had produced countless test subjects, yet only this child had succeeded.
Not only that, but Danzo had personally brought him into Root and trained him with great care. He had even provided a wealth of secret records from the Senju clan on Wood Release techniques—an investment he did not make lightly.
And now…
It was time to see the results.
Time to witness just how much power this carefully cultivated Wood Release could truly unleash.
"Hiruzen… I've prepared a gift for you."
A faint, cold smile touched his lips.
"I wonder… will you like it?"