"Sorry, we're full."
The snack shop owner wore a perfunctory smile as he turned away the two men.
This was already the fourth place.
At least this one was polite.
The previous shop had been outright hostile—cursing them and even spitting at their feet. If not for Hiruzen Sarutobi holding him back, Danzo Shimura would have already started a fight.
"There are clearly empty seats over there!"
Danzō pointed, his voice edged with anger.
A Konoha jōnin.
A member of the Hokage's guard.
And yet he couldn't even get a meal?
Even clay figures had their temper—let alone him. And in times like these, only shinobi could afford to eat out regularly. Ordinary civilians could barely fill their stomachs.
"That table is reserved. The guest will arrive shortly."
The owner's patience was gone.
In his eyes, these two had abandoned the Hokage, leading to his death. Cowards. Deserters. Unworthy of being Konoha shinobi.
And they still wanted to eat here?
Dream on.
"Then I'll wait."
"I'll see when your so-called guest arrives!"
Danzō shoved past Hiruzen's hand, determined to push this to the end.
"Enough!"
"You want me to say it plainly?"
"I don't want your business!"
"You're deserters! Cowards! You don't deserve to be Konoha shinobi!"
"You got the Hokage killed!"
"Get out!!"
The owner finally exploded.
"What did you say?!"
"I'll teach you a lesson today!"
Danzō nearly lost control.
These civilians—living safely under Konoha's protection—knew nothing of the battlefield. Nothing of danger. Nothing of Tobirama Senju's will.
Hiruzen immediately grabbed him tightly.
In Konoha, shinobi attacking civilians was strictly forbidden.
Break that rule—
And you'd be dragged into the Uchiha Police Force.
And once you entered their custody, you wouldn't come out clean.
Especially now.
Especially under Uchiha watch.
"Don't."
Hiruzen's voice was low but firm.
"Still want to hit me?"
The owner raised his voice deliberately.
They were already attracting attention.
People had been watching from afar.
Now—
A crowd gathered instantly.
Voices rose.
Accusations flew.
Coward.
Traitor.
Deserter.
The words slammed into them from all directions.
Some went further—dragging in their families.
Strength in numbers.
No one feared Danzō.
After all—
The Uchiha had made it clear.
If these two dared act—
They'd be arrested immediately.
Thrown into prison.
And once inside the Uchiha Police Force—
There would be no easy way out.
No fear of retaliation.
Danzō's eyes turned blood-red with rage.
He looked ready to kill.
Hiruzen's expression was no better—face dark, jaw tight—but he remained rational.
Clashing with civilians now would bring nothing but harm.
It would only lower his standing in Uzumaki Mito's eyes.
These were just civilians misled by rumor.
Not worth it.
He tightened his grip on Danzō, afraid he might unleash a Wind Release jutsu in anger.
"Let's go."
"Don't waste time here."
He dragged Danzō out of the crowd.
They ran.
Only stopping once they reached an empty clearing.
"Damn it! Damn it!"
"These worthless civilians!!"
Danzō grabbed a branch and lashed at the grass repeatedly.
Again.
And again.
Dozens of strikes—
Until he finally calmed down.
"…Hiruzen."
"You're not angry?"
He looked over.
Hiruzen had endured everything in silence.
All the insults.
All the accusations.
Not a single word in response.
Leaving Danzō alone to argue—
And lose.
"Of course I'm angry."
Hiruzen spoke calmly.
"But anger solves nothing."
"The more you explain, the more they think you're guilty."
He had already been warned.
By Uzumaki Mito.
The Uchiha would use public opinion against him.
He wouldn't fall into that trap.
There might already be Uchiha shinobi hidden nearby—
Watching.
Waiting.
For a single mistake.
To drag them into the Police Force.
And in truth—
They were right.
The Uchiha were watching.
But not only them.
The Senju.
The Hyūga.
The Ino–Shika–Chō.
Everyone was watching.
"Now isn't the time to get angry."
Hiruzen's gaze was steady.
"I have more important things to do."
"A Hokage isn't shaken by something like this."
He was already thinking like one.
To become Hokage—
He had to be one.
Even humiliation—
Could be endured.
Danzō stared at him.
At that calm confidence.
And something twisted inside him.
Had the gap between them grown this large?
Strength could be trained.
But mindset?
Vision?
Those weren't so easily bridged.
Between him and Hiruzen—
There was now a wall.
A thick one.
A painful one.
"…Hiruzen."
"I won't lose to you."
Even now—
He refused to admit defeat.
In his mind—
He was no worse.
Only lacking opportunity.
If Tobirama Senju had chosen him—
Things would be different.
Regret.
Resentment.
Both lingered.
"Come on."
Hiruzen spoke again.
"Let's train."
"Don't waste the day."
He hadn't forgotten Mito's warning.
Even if she helped suppress the Uchiha—
There was still another rival.
Senju Toma.
He had to grow stronger.
Faster.
Before the real test arrived—
When Tobirama's body returned to Konoha.
He clenched his fists slightly.
I won't disappoint you, sensei.
—
At that same moment—
At Konoha's gates—
A young man stood.
Black hair.
Handsome features.
Bearing a strong resemblance to Hashirama Senju.
Senju Toma gazed at the village.
This should have been a joyful return.
But instead—
Unease filled his chest.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
What had happened—
To make his mother summon him back so urgently?
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read chapters ahead on Patreon → patreon.com/c/MythArcStudio