Naruto also showed an excited expression. After all, this was a big deal involving a battle with Orochimaru and Uchiha Madara. Their Team 7 was participating, just saying that out loud would surely make the other villagers admire them with utmost respect.
However, just as Naruto hurriedly rushed into the Hokage's lounge with Sakura and Sasuke, confidently reporting the intel that Orochimaru and Uchiha Madara had appeared, they discovered that no one in the lounge showed a surprised expression at this intel.
They didn't even bother to cast a glance of attention at them.
"What the heck, someone else beat us to it…"
Looking at Anko, who had already finished reporting about Orochimaru, and Uchiha Kage, who had long informed Sarutobi Hiruzen about 'Uchiha Madara' appearing in the Forest of Death, Naruto rather boredly rested his arm behind his head and squinted his eyes.
"You're sure it's the same mask… exactly the same as that night?"
"Yes! And he also called himself Uchiha Madara."
"Alright, I got it," Looking at Uchiha Kage, who had loyally come to report the intel at once, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
Of course, he also comforted Anko, who came second.
For a disciple to want to deal with their teacher Orochimaru, it was already as difficult as reaching the heavens, so letting him escape wasn't something Hiruzen blamed her for.
'But…'
'Orochimaru aside, what's up with this masked man?'
'He's broken into Konoha again and again, coming and going as he pleases. What does he take the Hidden Leaf for?'
'And what's that guy Itachi doing? Running off to Danzo's place at such a critical time!'
"Go get Kakashi. I have an important mission for him."
"Yes."
'That guy Uchiha Obito, he was born and raised in the Leaf. Not thinking of repaying it is one thing, but then to inexplicably become a rogue ninja?'
Still, with such a bizarre Mangekyō Sharingan, only Kakashi, who has the other eye, can deal with him.
'Only…'
"I hope Kakashi can be worthy of my trust."
He hadn't really nurtured Kakashi before, but now it seems he has no choice.
'Only the Flying Thunder God Technique can deal with Obito's jutsu.'
'Hopefully Kakashi can learn it… no, he must learn it. If he finds out Obito is alive and became a rogue ninja, he'd definitely put his life on the line to master that jutsu.'
"Hokage-sama, Itachi has returned," Just as Hiruzen was worrying over all these matters in the lounge, an ANBU ninja suddenly brought news of Uchiha Itachi.
"He's back? Bring him to me at once!", Hiruzen ordered coldly, full of killing intent.
If what happened to Asuma really was done by Uchiha Itachi, then he cannot be allowed to live.
———
"No, Hokage-sama. One of Shisui's eyes was truly taken by the leader of the Akatsuki. And the other has likely always been in Danzo's hands," As soon as he left Root, Itachi heard the emergency summons from the Hokage.
He instantly realized that his secret meeting with Danzo must have been exposed by the Third Hokage, and maybe even deliberately leaked by Danzo.
So, upon arriving before Hiruzen, he carefully explained the entire cause and effect of his meeting with Danzo.
He just hadn't expected, Asuma had actually been controlled by a genjutsu.
And it was a genjutsu cast by the Sharingan.
Even more unexpected, that masked man had shown up in Konoha again, without even discussing it with him beforehand.
There was no choice, if he wanted to prove his innocence, he had to explain in detail what Danzo said to him, and also carefully recount the circumstances under which Uchiha Shisui's two Sharingan eyes were lost.
"What did you say? Danzo took Shisui's eye?"
Compared to Asuma being controlled, or Obito being an unexpected traitor, Sarutobi Hiruzen was truly shocked this time. Cold sweat ran down his back upon learning that Danzo possessed Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Yes, that night, Shisui went to ask Danzo not to issue the clan extermination order against the Uchiha, and then…"
"Then why didn't you tell me immediately that day?"
"I…"
'Wait, the Third Hokage actually didn't know Danzo had one of Shisui's Sharingan?'
Itachi had always thought Hiruzen knew and tacitly approved of Danzo taking the eye.
But now he realizes, it was all Danzo acting on his own.
'So…'
'The upper ranks of Konoha are just a loose mess.'
'Just like the Akatsuki.'
"Forget it. I won't pursue matters from so long ago."
'These kids always suspect me of conspiracy…'
'Am I really that dark? Can't they stop blaming me for everything Danzo does?'
'Yes, there are things I didn't do well, and even let Danzo run wild…'
'But strictly speaking, I've never done anything wrong!'
"However, are you saying Danzo only asked you to kill Uchiha Kage?", Though he reluctantly believed Itachi didn't control Asuma, Hiruzen didn't fully believe what Itachi said about the conversation with Danzo. Nor could he afford to.
If Danzo dared to keep Shisui's eye for himself, Hiruzen couldn't believe he didn't have other ideas.
Like, trying to get the 'Future Diary' in Itachi's possession.
"Yes, he only said to clean up the mistake from back then."
Itachi shook his head.
That was indeed all Danzo said to him.
"Foolish! I am the Hokage! If he wants to order you around, he has to get past me first!"
'Didn't I tell him to come to me right away with anything? And yet he still went to see Danzo behind my back?'
'What an ungrateful brat.'
Hiruzen was mad at both Danzo's secrecy and Itachi's disobedience.
"If you ever plan to harm your comrades in the village, I will never forgive you, understand?"
'Uchiha Kage is way better than Uchiha Itachi.'
Hiruzen thought that Itachi would only be useful for now. Long-term, he'd have to rely on the obedient Uchiha Kage.
"Yes…", Itachi respectfully bowed his head.
But he didn't dare ignore the threat from Danzo, that mad dog.
'What if Sasuke…'
"Tonight, come with me to Danzo's place. He must hand over the eye. And as for his Root, I don't think we need to keep it anymore!"
The tree is big, and its roots deep.
Hiruzen didn't know how many little schemes Danzo had hidden from him over the years, but just this one, hiding Shisui's Mangekyō, was enough to sentence him to life imprisonment.
They were about to start a full-on war against Sunagakure, he couldn't let a time bomb like Danzo create more trouble.
"Understood!"
'Hokage-sama is finally going to deal with Danzo?'
Itachi was thrilled.
He also believed, everything dark in Konoha was caused by Danzo alone.
'If Danzo, this cancer, can be eliminated…', Itachi couldn't even imagine how bright the future of Konoha would become.
"You may leave."
Only after sending Itachi away did Hiruzen finally relax and take a puff of his pipe.
'Danzo, Orochimaru, Uchiha Itachi, Obito, Akatsuki…'
Thinking about everything from these past few days just gave him a terrible headache.
"Go find out when Jiraiya will return!"
Besides Kakashi and promising youth like Uchiha Kage, he still needed someone strong like Jiraiya to stabilize the situation.
"And Tsunade… send people to find her too. The village is in trouble, she has to return."
Blowing out a smoke ring, Hiruzen gave the order to the ANBU by the window.
"Yes!"
"Tobirama-sensei, one day, I will fulfill your wish!"
'I, the Third Hokage, will lead the Leaf to the peak of the ninja world!'
Placing the pipe on the desk, Hiruzen, now feeling chaotic, walked over to the portraits of the previous Hokage.
Looking at the First and Second Hokage's faces, he once again lit his fighting spirit.
Of course, the thing that gave him the most confidence was still—
Clatter.
Opening the seal on the drawer, Hiruzen took out the 'Future Notebook' that he had been revisiting frequently these days.
With this "treasure book," he could clearly grasp Orochimaru's recent moves and the true identity of the mysterious masked man.
"Tobirama-sensei really gave me a good treasure… if only it were more detailed."
Sighing—
Hiruzen resealed the notebook in the drawer.
Only then did he continue pondering the next step after conquering Sunagakure.
Iwagakure? Kumogakure? Or… the allied Kirigakure? Or maybe advance steadily, starting by absorbing the smaller surrounding nations?
Just thinking about the vast ninja world of the future, and his own role stirring up the storm, made Hiruzen's aged but troubled face brim with excitement.
———
"This outfit… you joined the ANBU?"
After leaving the Hokage's lounge, Sasuke finally found the chance to ask Uchiha Kage, who was dressed in full ANBU attire, about his suspicion.
"Mm."
"Don't think that just because you joined ANBU you can get cocky. Tomorrow's breakfast is still my job!"
"..."
No one knows what struck Sasuke to say something like that.
But Uchiha Kage still quietly praised him in his heart, 'What a filial child.'
Still, he really didn't expect Orochimaru to be so bold, he'd just been beaten up, yet dared to show up here again so soon.
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