Hiruzen, You Will Regret This

For reasons he couldn't quite name, Hiruzen's temples started throbbing the moment he saw Danzō.

Whenever Danzō's uniquely gloomy aura drifted into the Hokage's office, followed by the word "Uchiha" leaving his mouth, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel irritated.

With all the village affairs to handle inside and out every day, why did he have to keep fixating on the Uchiha?

Based on years of experience dealing with him, Hiruzen could tell that Danzō was about to stir up trouble again.

As it turned out, Hiruzen knew his old friend all too well.

Danzō completely ignored Kakashi, who was reporting on work, and slapped a scroll directly onto Hiruzen's desk.

"I have important matters to discuss with Hiruzen. Wait outside for now."

Kakashi pursed his lips behind his mask, but due to Danzō's position, he could only stand by and await orders.

The message was clear enough: I can give you face, but not that much.

Danzō didn't bother arguing with him. He casually pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Hiruzen.

"Hiruzen, you should know why I've come to see you."

"Mm, if you spoke any louder, the whole village could hear you."

Hiruzen couldn't help muttering a few more words. "Danzō, don't get so worked up every time the Uchiha are involved. This kind of attitude will only worsen the conflict between both sides."

Danzō couldn't care less about that now. He waved his hand grandly, cutting off Hiruzen's lecture.

"You should know about the Uchiha clansman, Uchiha Eiji, making unauthorized contact with the Jinchuriki."

Hiruzen gave a slight nod. "Mm, Eiji treated Naruto to a bowl of noodles."

Danzō stared straight at Hiruzen, waiting for the next sentence that never came.

"And then?"

"What do you mean, 'and then'? Then they both went home."

Danzō slammed the table hard. This was utter nonsense!

What did he mean, "went home"? Could an Uchiha just go home like that?

He should be in Anbu's prison undergoing interrogation!

At this moment, Danzō's dissatisfaction with Hiruzen grew even stronger.

If he were Hokage, there wouldn't be a single breathing Uchiha left by now.

But there was no helping it—back then, Lord Tobirama hadn't chosen him.

Danzō gritted his teeth. "Hiruzen, you should know how important the Jinchuriki is to the village."

Hiruzen brewed some tea and poured a cup for Danzō as well.

"I understand. Lord Tobirama once said that the Jinchuriki is a vital combat asset for the village."

With that, he pushed the teacup toward Danzō. "Drink your tea, drink your tea."

Danzō had no mind for tea right now.

He was about to die from anxiety.

"Monkey, aren't you worried that the tragedy from a few years ago will repeat itself?!"

A nameless fury surged in Hiruzen's heart.

"What's this 'Monkey' nonsense! Use titles during work hours, Hokage Assistant Shimura Danzō!"

Danzō was always like this—usually putting on a tough front, but if the other party was tougher than him, he'd generally back down.

He dropped that cold demeanor and looked rather subdued.

"Have you forgotten Lord Tobirama's words? The Uchiha are a naturally evil clan. They must be—"

Hiruzen couldn't be bothered with Danzō.

No matter how much Lord Tobirama targeted the Uchiha, he never thought about killing them all off one by one.

Besides, he had promoted Kagami as his bodyguard—that alone spoke volumes.

As for you, Danzō, you probably can't stand seeing a single breathing Uchiha.

He pulled out Eiji's file and placed it in front of Danzō.

"Eiji is a good kid, just like Kagami. He's not one of those dangerous Uchiha."

At the mention of Kagami's name, Danzō suddenly paused.

"Kagami is dead. There won't be another Uchiha like him. Do you understand?"

"What about Shisui?"

"This..."

Hiruzen's words choked Danzō. How could he have forgotten about Kagami's descendant?

Seeing Danzō fall silent, Hiruzen tried to persuade him again.

"Danzō, the matter of Eiji must be handled with caution. The current rift between Konoha and the Uchiha cannot afford any more conflict."

After a brief silence, Danzo stood up.

"No, hand Eiji over to me for interrogation. If there's no issue, I'll naturally release him back to the Uchiha."

"I disagree."

Hiruzen refused without a second thought.

He knew the Root Organization's interrogation methods well. Eiji was only an eleven-year-old child; if taken in, he'd either die or be skinned alive.

And if Konoha treated their genius ninja this way, the Uchiha might resort to dangerous actions.

This single incident could very well become the spark that ignites full-scale war between both sides.

By then, who knows how many more people in the village would have to be sacrificed.

"Hiruzen, coddling the Uchiha like this—you'll regret it!"

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

Danzo snorted coldly, slammed the door, and left.

Hiruzen angrily smashed his teacup, pulled out his pipe, and took a fierce drag.

In no time, the office was thick with smoke.

Hiruzen seemed to have forgotten Kakashi was still there, chain-smoking as if trying to choke him to death.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Only when he heard Kakashi's coughing did Hiruzen remember the man's presence.

He opened the window and waved away the secondhand smoke filling the room.

Gazing at the Hokage Monument in the distance, after a moment he spoke to Kakashi: "Keep an eye on Eiji. Report to me immediately if anything happens."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

Just as Kakashi was about to leave, Hiruzen called him back. "Wait. What about Naruto..."

He hesitated, but ultimately didn't say it.

"Forget it. Go on with your work."

Meanwhile, back at the Root Organization, Danzo angrily smashed an expensive tea set.

"Ryoma. Keep a dead watch on Eiji. The moment he dares approach the Jinchuriki again, arrest him directly!"

"And if he resists?"

Danzo let out a cold laugh, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.

"Then kill him outright. I'll take responsibility."

At the Uchiha Clan Compound, in a small room, Eiji suddenly sneezed several times.

"Which bastard is cursing me behind my back?"

For some reason, Eiji felt a chill down his spine, as if some old geezer might crawl out of a dark corner at any moment and stab him.

He put away his scroll and checked the time.

"Let's go grab some dinner first."

After stepping out, Eiji hadn't gone far before he hurried back.

He strapped on Xiao Er, grabbed some kunai and shuriken.

Most importantly, a small scroll packed full of Explosive Tags.

No matter who comes, just watch me blow you to pieces.