"Bang!"
Deep within Root's underground base, Danzo Shimura smashed his desk to pieces with a single punch.
It was already the third desk he had destroyed.
Not just the desk—the shattered fragments scattered across the floor, the broken objects strewn everywhere—each one stood as silent proof of the fury consuming him.
Standing nearby, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado watched quietly. Though their expressions remained calm, a faint sense of helplessness lingered in their hearts.
They understood why Danzo was so enraged.
Everything he had struggled for his entire life… had been reduced to nothing.
And they also understood why Hiruzen Sarutobi had made such a decision. Danzo had gone too far—far beyond what could be tolerated.
In truth, the fact that he was still alive was already an act of mercy. Hiruzen had likely paid an unimaginable price just to preserve that much.
Danzo had no more chances left.
Unless something extraordinary happened—something so critical that it forced him back into power—his fall was final.
And even that possibility seemed distant.
"Calm yourself, Danzo," Homura sighed. "At this point, you have no one to blame but yourself. This is the result of your own actions."
"Ha! My own action?" Danzo spun around, glaring viciously at him, his voice rising into a roar. "Yes—mine! Everything that led to this moment—there's only one reason, only one!"
"And do you even realize the consequences of what you've done?" Koharu shook her head lightly, her tone sharp.
"During the Nine-Tails incident, you refused to deploy Root—that alone angered countless people. Hiruzen had to concede significant benefits to the Uchiha just to protect you."
"And then, while he was away in the capital, instead of showing gratitude, you sent Root assassins to carry out a killing?"
Her voice grew colder with each word.
"You've gone too far, Danzo. How could you make such a decision? Did you not know that Senju Natsuhiko was accompanying him?"
"This time, Hiruzen paid an enormous price just to keep Senju Natsuhiko from acting against you. What right do you have to be angry here?"
Every word struck like a blade.
And gradually, Danzo's fury began to subside.
The name Senju Natsuhiko burned in his mind like a brand.
Regret surged within him.
He regretted not being more forceful back then—not taking that boy into Root when he had the chance.
He regretted not being more decisive… not eliminating him outright when he still could.
And at the thought of Natsuhiko, another figure surfaced in his mind—"Kinoe."
His finest experimental subject. A true wielder of Wood Release.
Now that boy was missing.
Whether dead… or in Natsuhiko's hands, it hardly mattered.
Either outcome was disastrous.
Because once someone began to follow the trail, it would inevitably lead to truths too dangerous to uncover—
Such as the First Hokage's cells… and even his remains.
At that thought, Danzo's expression hardened.
He had made his decision.
No matter how furious he was, no matter how desperate he felt—he had to endure.
To lie low. To wait.
Because in his eyes, the root of everything… was Natsuhiko.
That boy was the enemy he hated most.
The one he wanted dead above all others.
As for Hiruzen…
There was no gratitude in Danzo's heart. He knew full well that Hiruzen had protected him only to protect himself.
In the end, the reason he had fallen this far was simple—
"Because… I am not the Hokage."
—
Inside the Hokage's office building, Hiruzen sat quietly, reviewing documents.
For now, the matter of Danzo was settled.
Stripping him of everything he had built was, in many ways, a punishment far worse than death.
Hiruzen had never wanted things to come to this.
But reality had forced his hand.
The rise of Senju Natsuhiko… and worse, the fact that Danzo had exposed the Wood Release experiments to that very boy—had pushed everything beyond the point of no return.
One could easily imagine what kind of devastating blow it would deal to Konoha if that boy truly decided to stir things up.
"…I really am not a qualified Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared absentmindedly at the document in his hands. After a long while, he let out a weary sigh.
"I placed all the darkness on your shoulders, turning you into the shadow of the Hokage. That immense power made you lose your way… and my indulgence allowed you to act without restraint, step by step leading you to where you are now."
He slowly closed his eyes.
He knew exactly why Danzo Shimura had become what he was.
In the end, it all traced back to him.
That lingering sense of guilt, combined with their long-standing bond, had kept Hiruzen from ever truly considering killing Danzo.
Perhaps it was simply age. The people from his generation were disappearing one by one, and after the death of Biwako, he could feel his own heart softening.
Lowering the document, Hiruzen took a deep breath.
He didn't know how Danzo would react upon receiving the order.
But no matter what that reaction might be, his decision would not change.
Unless something absolutely unavoidable occurred, letting Danzo fade into retirement would be the most merciful—and most appropriate—ending.
With that thought, Hiruzen refocused and turned his attention back to the stack of documents.
Recently, he had been entirely preoccupied with matters concerning the Fire Daimyō, leaving little time to deal with Danzo or the growing pile of internal reports.
Now that the issue had been resolved, the Daimyō had agreed to the terms negotiated between him and Natsuhiko.
And those terms…
They had made Konoha extraordinarily wealthy.
An increase of sixty percent in financial support—what did that even mean in practical terms?
Even after allocating a portion to Natsuhiko as originally agreed, the remaining funds still exceeded the support the Wind Daimyō provided to Sunagakure.
It was almost unimaginable how much Konoha had gained this time.
Of course, Hiruzen knew this wasn't truly a crippling loss for the Daimyō. His wealth was beyond ordinary comprehension.
"Still… the aftermath of this will need careful handling. After all, the Daimyō remains the de facto ruler in the eyes of the people."
Muttering to himself, Hiruzen picked up another report.
"Oh? That boy Senju Natsuhiko has returned?"
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
If Natsuhiko was back, then it meant he had successfully brought back the Uzumaki survivors.
Though Hiruzen couldn't help but wonder why it had taken him so long—an entire week for such a task.
Still, he chose not to dwell on it. Truthfully, he had little control over that boy anyway.
But as his eyes continued scanning the document, his expression suddenly froze.
For a moment, he almost failed to catch his breath, his blood pressure spiking as the contents sank in.
The report detailed how, during the mission, Natsuhiko had been attacked by none other than Jiraiya.
The head of Konoha's ANBU… attacked by one of the legendary Sannin.
If this became public, it would be nothing short of a massive scandal.
It took him a long moment to recover. Finally, he lowered the document slowly, his gaze darkening.
"So… you've made your move already, Senju Natsuhiko."
—
"…Hiruzen Sarutobi really is decisive."
Natsuhiko looked at the report in his hands, a strange expression crossing his face.
After temporarily settling Yamato's situation, he had shifted his focus back to the state of the ANBU and Konoha during his absence.
Naturally, the first thing he reviewed was the condition of the ANBU itself.
Overall, things were progressing well. However, without him present, Kakashi Hatake and the others had acted with noticeable caution.
Rather than recklessly expanding their numbers, they had promoted capable members from the reserve ranks.
At the same time, Kakashi and his two companions had coordinated efficiently, selecting individuals within their former teams who possessed both experience and ability, elevating them accordingly.
It was a steady, controlled approach—perhaps slower than aggressive expansion, but far more stable.
Many of the former squad leaders had now been promoted to division commanders, while those who had performed well among the rank-and-file were elevated to squad leaders.
On the surface, this restructuring established a clear chain of command—but in reality, the teams themselves were still far from cohesive. Their coordination and training hadn't caught up yet, which meant they couldn't truly function as effective combat units.
To compensate, veteran members were paired with the newly promoted ones, carrying out missions together to ensure operational stability.
It was, admittedly, a sound approach.
But there was a key issue that couldn't be ignored—those veteran members deserved better compensation.
Fortunately, the negotiations between Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Daimyō had already concluded, and the funds Natsuhiko had requested were delivered almost immediately.
With that financial backing, Natsuhiko could now handle these matters with ease.
This time, he intended to comprehensively improve the treatment—no, not just the treatment itself, but the conditions across every leadership level within the ANBU.
"Not just compensation… the ninjutsu archives should be opened up to them as well."
In many ways, the ANBU had become a miniature society of its own. Especially now that Minato Namikaze was gone and Hiruzen no longer dared to interfere directly, Natsuhiko effectively held complete authority within it.
The ANBU maintained its own repository of techniques—most of them seized from enemies over time.
Previously, access to these techniques had been limited to high-ranking division commanders and a select few with outstanding merit.
Now, Natsuhiko planned to gradually expand that access.
For the time being, he would open it to mid-level and lower-level leaders—squad leaders and those who had demonstrated exceptional contributions.
They would be allowed to choose techniques best suited to themselves.
After all, shinobi had their own ambitions—and nothing motivated them more than gaining new and powerful jutsu.
At this point, Natsuhiko was treating the ANBU as a testing ground—a smaller version of Konoha's governing system.
Here, he could implement his ideas, refine his methods, and experiment with his vision.
Because becoming Hokage wasn't just about ambition.
It required real governance—the ability to balance countless moving parts.
And since he had this opportunity, there was no way he would let it slip by.
—
Beyond the ANBU, Natsuhiko also paid close attention to the broader situation within Konoha.
For now, the village remained stable.
After Hiruzen's return, he had launched a full-scale mobilization effort. Civilians were being recruited and organized to participate in rebuilding the village.
With such a large influx of funding, this kind of operation was entirely sustainable—and ultimately beneficial for Konoha.
As for other developments, the only matter that gave Natsuhiko pause was the Uchiha clan.
Ever since the Nine-Tails incident, Uchiha Shin had made no contact with him.
Of course, Natsuhiko himself had been far too busy to reach out.
But that didn't mean he had stopped observing.
He had been watching—carefully—both Uchiha Shin and the clan as a whole.
In particular, he was curious to see how Shin would react after Natsuhiko revealed his identity as a member of the Senju.
So far, however… the response had been somewhat disappointing.
Still, the Uchiha required further observation. Only with time would their true intentions become clear.
But Natsuhiko had no intention of waiting forever.
If Shin failed to make a decision, then Natsuhiko would simply find someone else.
—
Compared to that, there were few other matters worth noting.
Yet just as Natsuhiko was preparing to rest, something in the day's reports caught his attention—
A decision from Hiruzen regarding Danzo.
"Stripping Danzo of all his positions… that's probably more painful for him than death."
Natsuhiko tapped lightly on the desk, his thoughts turning to the matter.
Truthfully, Danzo's fate wasn't surprising in the slightest.
To put it bluntly—he had brought it upon himself.
If anything, Hiruzen had been merciful.
He hadn't chosen to kill Danzo outright.
Had it been Natsuhiko instead…
Danzo's ashes would have already been scattered to the wind.
However, Danzo's downfall didn't actually serve Natsuhiko's interests. He still needed the man to play a role.
"It seems I'll have to accelerate things on Orochimaru's side. Still… with Yamato in my hands, dealing with this shouldn't be too difficult."
The matter of Yamato required careful guidance from Natsuhiko. He had already set things in motion once; whether the effect would fully take hold still needed verification.
But he believed that as long as Yamato still harbored the instinct to protect Danzo, it was only a matter of time before he would break.
And once that happened, it would become the perfect opportunity to move against Orochimaru.
Natsuhiko's entire strategy was built on exploiting everything and everyone he could to achieve his goals.
Yamato, Orochimaru, Danzo, and even Hiruzen Sarutobi—none of them were exceptions.
"But before dealing with all that, there's something else that needs attention."
He set down the document in his hand and lightly touched his chin in thought.
"Kakashi and the others have been focused entirely on developing their respective divisions… and have completely neglected administrative affairs. That won't do."
Administrative work was far more important than most people imagined. While he didn't intend for them to handle ideological governance or anything of that sort, assisting with administrative operations was still essential.
Unlike Hiruzen, who insisted on handling everything personally—an approach far too exhausting for one person—Natsuhiko had no intention of overworking himself that way.
In his previous life, he had read about a so-called "supreme strategist" from a thousand years ago who had literally worked himself to exhaustion by handling everything personally.
Besides, Natsuhiko firmly believed in one principle: many hands make light work.
He was not some unparalleled genius strategist—just someone reasonably intelligent.
The decisions he made alone were not guaranteed to be correct. With enough capable people supporting him, all he needed to do was control the overall direction.
"Thinking about it carefully, I should personally handle the expansion of the administrative department… and beyond civilian staff, I'll need one or more secretaries."
A secretary was absolutely necessary.
Of course, the kind of secretary he needed was one who was competent in work—not in anything else.
Strangely enough, Natsuhiko found himself a little puzzled.
In his previous life, he had been a completely unrestrained lecher, yet after coming into this world, those worldly desires seemed to have faded significantly.
It wasn't that they had disappeared entirely.
Rather, his focus had simply shifted toward more important matters instead of indulging in trivial satisfaction.
A capable secretary could eliminate many burdens, especially one who could understand his thoughts and intentions. Such a person would make everything significantly easier.
But that kind of secretary also needed absolute loyalty—only then could they be trusted with his deeper affairs.
In truth, there was someone Natsuhiko somewhat envied in this regard.
That woman from his own clan who was currently away from Konoha—Tsunade.
After becoming Hokage, she reportedly delegated most responsibilities, yet the village remained stable. In addition to Shikaku Nara handling much of the administrative workload, another crucial reason was that she had a perfect secretary—Shizune.
With Shizune supporting her, Tsunade could make broad strategic decisions while leaving the finer details to others.
That was exactly the kind of arrangement Natsuhiko wanted.
But after thinking it through, he realized people like that were surprisingly rare for him.
"Though… it's not as if there's no one."
He stroked his chin lightly, considering Senju Renge.
That woman had already shown signs of intelligence, and her loyalty didn't seem like something he needed to worry about.
After all, she was a member of the Senju clan—and more importantly, her mother was already effectively under his control.
Beyond her, Natsuhiko had also already obtained all internal records of the Senju clan.
Senju Shōma had kept his promise and did not back out. Because of that, Natsuhiko would also be able to select some truly valuable talent from within the arrangement.
"In fact… it might not be a bad idea to see if there's anyone worth cultivating among my old classmates as well."
Natsuhiko stretched lazily before standing up. He had to admit, he had been born into a rather peculiar era—one where fortune and misfortune were tightly intertwined.
On the fortunate side, he had come into the world during the post–Second Great Ninja War baby boom. That generation would later become one of Konoha's most steadfast pillars of power.
Once, he had even thought that if he ever defected in the future, the people sent to capture him would most likely be his own former classmates.
And those same classmates… would eventually become the teachers of the so-called "rookies of the new generation."
But the unfortunate side was equally obvious—he had also coincidentally lived through the Third Great Ninja War.
There was nothing he could do about such uncontrollable circumstances, but at the very least, he had survived to this point.
And he had avoided becoming cannon fodder on the battlefield—even if, on another kind of stage, he was arguably still playing the role of cannon fodder in a different sense.
Glancing at the sky outside, Natsuhiko stood and stretched once more.
It wasn't yet time to get off work, but if he chose to leave, no one in the ANBU would dare question him anyway.
"I promised Renge a stage to show her worth. Let's see if she can handle it."
—
"Grandfather, are you still going through those documents?"
Inside the elder residence within the Uchiha clan compound, Uchiha Shin was carefully reading through the clan's historical records.
These records detailed the rise and changes of the Uchiha clan, as well as their long-standing entanglements with the Senju clan.
It seemed they had been left untouched for so long that a layer of dust had settled over them.
But Shin paid it no mind. He was completely absorbed.
He knew that the Senju and Uchiha had once joined forces to establish Konoha—but the finer details had always been unclear to him.
He had lived in that era, yes, but he had been too young at the time—too young to take part in anything meaningful, too young to influence events in any way.
All he knew was that the Senju and Uchiha had once been mortal enemies.
He knew that Uchiha Madara had left the village and later attacked it, only to be defeated and killed by the First Hokage.
He knew that the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had harbored deep hostility toward the Uchiha clan and actively suppressed them.
Beyond that, however, he truly knew very little.
That was why he needed to read these records—to understand them, to interpret them, and to use them as a basis for judging the current situation.
Just as he was becoming fully immersed in the sea of history, a voice pulled him back to reality.
Only then did he notice his granddaughter standing beside him.
Taking a deep breath, he turned to her and smiled faintly.
"Yes… I'm still reading."
"You've been reading for days now, Grandfather. Have you found anything useful?" Uchiha Sora asked as she sat down, glancing curiously at the scattered documents.
She didn't know exactly what these records contained, but judging by their worn, aged appearance, they were clearly very old.
She was intelligent enough not to ask why he was reading them. If he wished to explain, he would. If not, asking would only make things uncomfortable.
She had no desire to put him in that position—or anyone else, for that matter.
"A few things… but also a great deal of confusion," Shin sighed.
Through these records, he had indeed come to understand more about the relationship between the Uchiha and the Senju. Yet there were still many things he could not easily judge.
He glanced at his granddaughter, then suddenly paused, as if a thought had struck him.
A decision formed in his mind—and he finally spoke.
"Uchiha Sora, you've always been very perceptive, and the way you see things is different from the rest of us. There's something I'd like to ask for your opinion on."
"My opinion?" Sora blinked, then a faint smile appeared on her face. "My thoughts might be a bit childish, but if it can help you, Grandfather, I won't hide anything."
"That's fine. Let me explain the situation."
Uchiha Shin carefully organized his thoughts before speaking.
"A long time ago, there were two clans that were mortal enemies. They fought for over a hundred years, leaving behind endless hatred and bloodshed.
But later, two extraordinary clan leaders emerged. They abandoned the hatred of the past and worked together to create a relatively peaceful era."
He paused briefly, watching his granddaughter sit quietly and listen with full attention, and nodded slightly in approval.
"However, after that, one of the clan leaders began to develop a flawed ideology. He eventually betrayed the peace they had built together.
But his clansmen believed that the arrival of peace was something extraordinary, so they did not follow him when he left.
Even so, his departure still caused great destruction. And although his people remained, they were still met with suspicion and distrust from the other side.
As time passed, that era of peace disappeared entirely, and the two clans were once again engulfed in hatred.
But now, someone from the other clan—someone like their old leader—has offered an olive branch. However, the person who received it isn't the current clan leaders, and both clans are in a bad state. What should they do?"
Shin spoke slowly and deliberately, each word carrying the weight of his inner confusion.
These were the doubts that had been haunting him the most, the uncertainties that refused to leave his heart.
Faced with the olive branch offered by Natsuhiko Senju—and the desire that had taken root in his heart because of it—he found it almost impossible to resist.
And yet the clan's condition, the deep-seated hatred within it, kept him trapped in a constant state of contradiction.
He wanted to accept it, but he didn't dare. He didn't want to accept it, yet he could not bring himself to let it go.
He longed for the clan to reintegrate into Konoha. He longed for change. He even longed for the clan's rise once more.
But reality made him hesitate, and there were still things he did not dare to voice aloud.
What he feared most was the possibility that the young man who had mastered Wood Release might use this opportunity to turn him into nothing more than a puppet controlling the Uchiha clan from behind the scenes.
Because the gap between them… was simply too vast.
He could not match him in strength. He could not match him in status within the village. He could not even match him in calculation.
That overwhelming disparity filled Shin's heart with unease.
And yet, he had to admit—this truly was an opportunity for the clan's rise. An opportunity he desperately desired.
"Why not accept it?"
Just as Shin was drowning in hesitation, Sora suddenly spoke with unusual seriousness.
"The value and benefits of accepting it clearly outweigh rejecting it. And if it isn't the clan leader, why can't someone else make the right decision on behalf of the clan leader?
Peace and war, tranquility and hatred—everyone already knows which is better to choose.
Otherwise, why would the clan members in your story not have followed the departing clan leader?
Because everyone desires peace. Everyone desires stability.
Since those clan members back then were even willing to defy their leader and reject him, since that will to resist and pursue what was right already existed… then why would they abandon it now?"
"Make the right decision on behalf of the clan leader… the will to resist… the will to pursue what is right…"
Shin murmured those words under his breath, and in the next moment, a surge of excitement rose within him.
"So that's it… back then, we had already made our decision… we had already chosen our path!"
With Sora's reminder, Shin suddenly realized that they had, in fact, already made a similar choice in the past.
When Madara Uchiha left, he had wanted to take the clan with him—but the clan had refused to follow.
This was the beginning of a rebellion against the clan leader. If that was the case, then why couldn't he, Uchiha Shin, do the same?
What Madara Uchiha had once believed in—and what he had done—could, in a sense, be seen as a betrayal of peace and tranquility, a return to the hatred that had long since been laid down and forgotten.
But the clansmen of that era had refused to revisit that hatred. They had refused to follow Madara Uchiha.
So the ancestors had already given them the answer. The truth he had been searching for had, in fact, already been experienced by history itself.
"I see… so that's how it is…"
Uchiha Shin stood up, his eyes sharpening with newfound clarity.
He already knew what he needed to do. Since the olive branch had been extended, he had no choice but to grasp it.
Just as Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju had once set aside hatred to establish Konoha together…
Just as their ancestors had once defied Madara in the name of peace and stability…
Then he, too, could do the same. He could abandon the clan's hatred and work together with Natsuhiko Senju.
He could even oppose the faction within the clan that clung to old grievances in order to preserve peace and stability.
And if necessary… he could overthrow the current clan leader for the sake of the clan itself.
"Even if cooperating with you is extremely dangerous, I have to admit… I cannot give this up."
Shin thought silently, his fist tightening slightly.
"Even if I end up becoming a puppet, I cannot allow the next generation to continue down the same path.
For the sake of the clan… for the sake of peace… I have to take this gamble."
With that thought, Shin exhaled heavily, and a faint smile finally appeared on his face.
He turned to look at Uchiha Sora with a sincere expression before smiling and saying, "Thank you, Sora. If it weren't for you, I might have remained lost for much longer."
"No, Grandfather," Sora replied softly, shaking her head with a gentle smile. "Even without me, I think you would have found the answer soon. You were only lost because you were thinking too much and worrying too much."
"Hahaha… perhaps you're right."
Shin laughed heartily, then stroked his chin and suddenly asked, "Shall we go out for dinner tonight?"
"Go out?" Sora blinked, then smiled brightly. "Yes! We haven't gone out in a long time. How about dumplings?"
"I knew you liked dumplings," Shin said with a nod. "Alright, then we'll have dumplings."
—
On the streets of Konoha, Natsuhiko walked forward together with Senju Renge.
After finishing work, he had informed the Four Senju guarding him in the shadows before heading straight home. Today, however, he had called Renge out, as there were things he needed to discuss with her.
In front of him, the woman showed no resistance whatsoever, as if she were the type who would accept anything he decided without question.
But Natsuhiko was not in the mood for anything of that sort. Perhaps in the future, when he had enough power and status, he would consider it more seriously.
"Is there anything you especially want to eat?" he asked casually, glancing around at the bustling streets of Konoha.
The village was truly prosperous. Everywhere he looked, there were different kinds of food stalls and restaurants, enough to give him a rare moment of indecision.
After all, his demands regarding food had always been extremely low. During missions, he could even ignore eating properly—he would not hesitate to consume something as unappetizing as a live rat if it came to survival.
"I'll follow whatever Natsuhiko-kun chooses," Renge said softly, shaking her head. Her voice remained as cool and ethereal as ever. "Whatever you decide to eat is fine with me."
"I see," Natsuhiko replied indifferently, before making the decision. "Then let's have dumplings."
"Dumplings?" Renge looked at him in slight surprise. "I understand. I'll tell my mother to prepare them as well in the future."
"No need," Natsuhiko shook his head lightly, to her surprise. "It's not like I particularly like them either."
"Then why choose them? Trying something new?"
"Something like that," he said casually. "When I was a kid, I once helped a girl and used dumplings to cheer her up… but in the end, I never actually got to eat them myself."