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Hyūga Clan Compound.
Hyūga Hinata and Hyūga Hiashi sparred in the courtyard.
With both possessing the Byakugan, their strikes aimed precisely at vital points.
Of course, the gap in strength was vast.
Hinata stood no chance of injuring an elite jōnin.
Hiashi, too, held back—this was merely a training session.
Thud!
Hiashi took half a step back, nodding inwardly.
Good power.
He had noticed Hinata's rapid improvement lately—not in the Gentle Fist or Byakugan, but in physical prowess.
For a moment, he wondered if she'd secretly consumed some tonic.
But that was absurd.
After a dozen minutes, the spar ended.
Hinata, still young, had exhausted her chakra.
Yet Hiashi was pleased.
"Hinata."
Hyūga Rinka, holding Hyūga Hanabi, handed her a towel. "Rest for now."
Hiashi smiled at the scene—until Hyūga Hizashi entered.
"I'll leave you to talk."
Rinka excused herself, taking Hinata with her.
"Hizashi, why aren't you at the Hokage Tower?"
Hiashi's tone was neutral.
"Lord Hiashi, a matter requires your decision."
Hizashi bowed, then relayed Sasame's request.
Ever since Hiashi had used the Caged Bird Seal on him, Hizashi no longer called him brother—only "Lord Hiashi."
A reminder of the Hyūga's unyielding hierarchy.
"Agree to it."
Hiashi didn't hesitate.
"Why?"
Hizashi frowned. "This will offend the two Hokage Advisors."
"Hizashi, you're being shortsighted."
Hiashi shook his head. "Sasame is the Hokage's disciple. Do you think he'd act without her approval?"
"The Hokage's will?"
Hizashi's eyes widened in realization.
"Lady Tsunade is new to the role—and unlike the Third, she's impatient. She likely aims to remove the Advisors."
Hiashi nodded. "Assist her. This is an opportunity."
(He wouldn't admit it was fear of Sasame.)
But Hizashi found the logic sound.
Tsunade, ambitious and young, wouldn't tolerate power-sharing.
Aiding her now would earn the Hyūga favor.
"Remember this, Hizashi."
Hiashi's voice turned stern. "The Hyūga endure by understanding and obeying the Hokage's will—no matter who holds the title. Just as the Branch Family serves the Main Family."
"Understood."
Hizashi's expression dimmed.
This was a warning—no matter his current authority, he remained a servant of the Main House.
"Leave me."
Hiashi waved him off.
Clan Head first, brother second.
For the Hyūga's traditions, he had to be ruthless.
Danzō's Residence.
Since losing Root, Shimura Danzō had returned to the Shimura Clan's estate.
Though rarely mentioned in the original story, the Shimura were no weaklings.
As founding members of Konoha—and with Danzō's influence—they thrived.
"Lord Danzō."
Aburame Torune knelt before him. "The Hokage Advisors request an audience."
"Let them in."
Danzō's eye narrowed.
Though Root was disbanded, its core members still served him.
Thus, he knew everything happening in the Hokage Tower.
Three days prior, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had nearly clashed with Hyūga Hizashi over a dispute.
Tsunade intervened—but the rift was deepening.
If this continued, the Advisors' authority would erode entirely.
Unacceptable.
Soon, Koharu and Homura entered.
"Trouble brings you to an old friend, I see."
Danzō tapped his cane, feigning indifference.
The two exchanged glances.
Even in exile, Danzō's intel network remained intact.
Root's training went far beyond the Will of Fire.
Its members shed their names, emotions, pasts, and futures—only missions remained.
To ensure secrecy, all bore the Tongue Eradication Seal—preventing them from speaking of Danzō.
This was why disbanding Root changed nothing.
Those who embraced darkness couldn't return.
"Danzō."
Koharu stepped forward. "No pleasantries. One question: Do you still want to be Hokage?"
Danzō's face darkened. "Do you have a plan?"
"Kill Tsunade. You'll take her place."
Koharu took a breath. "She's far weaker than Hiruzen. Your chances are high."
"Hiruzen is old," Homura added. "After his son and grandson's deaths, he's broken. If Tsunade dies, he won't resume the role—he'll appoint another."
Danzō's pulse quickened.
Their reasoning was flawless.
Hiruzen was weakened.
Jiraiya had left.
Orochimaru, though unreliable last time, wouldn't refuse now.
With the Advisors' support, the Hokage seat was within reach.
Only Tsunade stood in his way.
Her Byakugō Seal and Strength of a Hundred made her hard to kill—but not impossible.
Danzō had a counter: Sealing Techniques.
After the Uzumaki clan's fall, Konoha's Sealing Squad was formed.
Many high-ranking ninja studied sealing—but the best were Namikaze Minato, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Shimura Danzō.
If he sealed Tsunade's techniques, her regeneration would fail.
Even the Byakugō had limits—enough fatal wounds, and she'd fall.
"I can't act within the village."
Danzō's ambition won out.
The Hokage title was his obsession.
From the Third to the Fifth Hokage, he'd waited too long.
If he delayed further, he'd die waiting.
Without Root, his influence would fade.
This was his last chance.
"We'll lure Tsunade outside."
Homura said firmly. "Then you strike."
"Are you certain?"
Koharu's voice wavered. "If she escapes, we're finished."
"No matter. Tsunade is no match for me."
Danzō waved dismissively.
He had Wood Release, sealing arts, and the three-tomoe Sharingan.
Plus two Izanagi uses—more than enough for Tsunade.
And he wasn't alone.
Root members like Aburame Torune, Aburame Fū, Yamanaka Fū, and Shiragaki—all jōnin-level—would assist.
In short: "The advantage is mine."
"Ensure she's alone."
Danzō added. "She's appointed guards recently. A nuisance."
"Understood."
Homura smirked. "We'll use Hiruzen's name to lure her out."
"Good."
Danzō felt no remorse.
His bond with Hiruzen had soured long ago.
Once, they'd been complements—Hiruzen the sunlit leaves, Danzō the shadowed roots.
Together, they'd protected Konoha.
But over time, Danzō gained nothing.
Now, stripped of Root, he'd been discarded.
"Hiruzen… you forsook me first."
Danzō's heart turned to ice.
After Tsunade, Hiruzen would pay.
Decades of debt, finally settled.
Konoha Military Police Force HQ.
With Genshō Maruboshi assuming command, the force was reborn.
Per Sasame's suggestion, it split into Shinobi Affairs and Civilian Affairs.
Though technically a genin, Maruboshi's prestige was immense.
When Tsunade appointed him, even Hiruzen couldn't object.
After all, the two were fellow disciples of the Second Hokage.
Sarutobi Asuma was a generation below.
And Maruboshi was stronger.
Hiruzen could only lament Asuma's missed destiny.
At best, Asuma might become a jōnin-sensei and elder—nothing more.
The deaths of his son and grandson had broken him.
"Old Man Maruboshi."
Sasame knocked, then entered.
Maruboshi, white-haired and aged, had initially refused the post.
But Sasame's plea—"Konoha is in crisis; we need veterans like you"—had swayed him.
A true Will of Fire believer, he'd accepted.
"Sasame? What brings you?"
"A case for the Military Police."
Sasame handed him a file. "Nine shinobi have died in identical explosions. I suspect sabotage."
Frankly, he was shocked at how easily he'd uncovered Danzō's scheme.
The man was bold.
This experiment—called "Ox King's Heaven"—created bomb-summoning beasts named Nue, using Hashira Cells.
Nue absorbed chakra until detonating catastrophically.
Danzō intended them as weapons—akin to Kirigakure's Three-Tails suicide bomb.
But the project was unstable, still in testing.
Maruboshi's integrity made him the perfect investigator.
This case would rock Konoha—and restore the Military Police's reputation.
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