On the Third Hokage's desk lay the official terms of surrender from the Land of Earth. The documents clearly stated their willingness to pay reparations—but they came with conditions.
First, Konoha must recall Kujo Ishiki from the Land of Grass.
Second, Konoha must provide medical aid to reverse the snailification of Iwagakure's shinobi.
Third, Deidara must be returned to Iwa.
The last condition meant little to Hiruzen. Deidara was just a child—promising, perhaps, but still a wild card. Whether he lived or died didn't concern him. Returning him was a non-issue.
The first condition was the foundation of peace.
The second, however, was more complicated. Orochimaru's intel had been clear—only a powerful genjutsu user could reverse snailification. Among all known shinobi, only Uchiha Shisui was capable.
Orochimaru had taken the liberty of crediting Shisui with part of the reason for Iwa's surrender. The public was now told that Kujo Ishiki and Uchiha Shisui had combined their jutsu to force Iwa to yield.
Hiruzen wasn't fully comfortable with Orochimaru's framing—but what was done was done. And he'd still need Shisui's genjutsu to treat the afflicted.
He took mental note of the growing closeness between Orochimaru, Ishiki, and the Uchiha clan.
The Uchiha had always been a thorn in his side. Especially after the Nine-Tails' Night, he had never fully trusted them.
Another scroll sat beside the surrender terms—it was from the Land of Grass.
A nation known for dealing in intelligence and jutsu dissections, they too had lowered themselves in total submission.
Kujo Ishiki alone had frightened two nations into surrender—one of them being a Great Nation.
Even Hiruzen had to marvel at the fact.
Then—BANG!
The doors to the Hokage's office slammed open. Shimura Danzō, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado stormed in together.
They'd received the news too, and they were panicked.
Danzō felt no joy upon hearing of the Land of Earth's surrender.
Because it wasn't Konoha's army that broke them—it was Kujo Ishiki and Uchiha Shisui.
He had no time to suppress the spread of this narrative. The surrender envoys had already reached the border camps, and the truth was circulating.
The man the Land of Earth feared was none other than the one Kumogakure once called "Ishiki the Revitalizer."
But now? That name had changed.
Now they called him—the Rainbow Demon.
Danzō had received confirmed reports: Uchiha Shisui had done almost nothing, and yet he had been raised to heroic status.
Orochimaru and Kujo Ishiki were plotting treason. Danzō was certain of it.
But he could do nothing.
Frontline intel confirmed it—only Shisui's genjutsu could reverse snailification.
Even Danzō's own elite genjutsu specialists in Root had tried. None could disrupt the subconscious-level jutsu at work.
Danzō was fuming.
Kujo Ishiki, the Rainbow Demon. Uchiha Shisui, Body Flicker. Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Three.
These three had become thorns in his flesh, and yet he couldn't touch a single one.
Because Kujo Ishiki was now a true war hero.
And Danzō knew another hard truth—the Land of Earth had no answer for Kujo Ishiki.
Had Orochimaru not intervened, Ishiki might've marched into Earth territory and drowned them in a snail apocalypse.
In that case, the Third Hokage wouldn't be receiving surrender envoys—he'd be planning how to annex their land.
Danzō believed it wouldn't be long before the entire village chanted the names of Kujo Ishiki and Uchiha Shisui.
And when that happened, their fame would reach heights Danzō dared not imagine.
But worst of all?
He'd placed himself in direct opposition to Kujo Ishiki long ago.
If only he hadn't provoked the boy…
Had he recruited Ishiki back then, he might've had him on his side—as Orochimaru's disciple, as a puppet candidate for the Fifth Hokage.
Then, just as he once schemed to control Orochimaru from the shadows, he could've done the same with Ishiki—a secret Hokage beneath the mask.
Now, Danzō was convinced that Orochimaru had stolen that very strategy.
And it made him furious.
But he knew one thing for certain—he had to act before Ishiki returned to Konoha. If he didn't, he would never get another chance.
"Hiruzen! What are you going to do about Kujo Ishiki?" Danzō barked as he stepped forward, voice sharp and hostile.
Even if Hiruzen had once seen Danzō as a brother-in-arms, this tone was beyond rude. And right now? Hiruzen had had enough of Danzō's crap.
"Danzō, watch your tongue," Sarutobi said coldly, setting down the file in his hands and glaring at him.
But Danzō wasn't done. "Kujo Ishiki and Uchiha Shisui's recklessness will paint Konoha as a target! Their actions threaten the very peace we've fought to maintain!"
Hiruzen rolled his eyes. Even the two advisors behind Danzō gave him looks of disbelief.
"The Land of Earth surrendered and offered reparations," Hiruzen said, lighting his pipe with practiced calm, his gaze saying: go ahead, keep talking.
Just because he disliked politics didn't mean he was a fool.
The situation was clear—as long as Ishiki lived, he was the ultimate deterrent against Earth Country. A weapon.
And as long as Shisui was here, Earth had a reason to yield—because they couldn't afford to lose their snailified shinobi.
As for Danzō's warning about making enemies? It was nonsense.
Konoha had always been a prize in the eyes of the Great Nations.
Its territory was the most fertile. Its heartlands the richest.
Any chance to bite off a piece of Konoha—any of the Great Nations would take it without hesitation.
Besides, Konoha and Earth had already been at war before this.
Peace wasn't being broken. If anything, it was being enforced.
Danzō's face flushed from pale to red to green. Damn you, Hiruzen, he thought. You've grown a spine.
He clenched his jaw. Fine—if the Third refused to act, then he'd play the villain.
Danzō's eyes burned with resolve.
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen," he spat. "I've warned you about the threat of Kujo Ishiki time and again. Let him be, and he'll destroy the Leaf."
With that, he spun on his heel, thumped his cane, and shot one last glare at the silent Koharu and Homura.
Then he stormed out.
Hiruzen watched the shift in his face, reading it like a book.
He knew it—Danzō was going to act from the shadows again.
Root… perhaps should never have been allowed to exist.
But dismantling Root would be no easy feat.
All sixteen members were Danzō's loyal dogs. Even if Hiruzen stripped him of his title, Danzō would still wield control.
He glanced at the remaining two advisors.
They, too, had been working behind his back.
Perhaps he'd been too lenient in the past—given these old snakes the illusion that his reign was weakening.
Now… perhaps it was time to reassess both the Council and Root.