" Hiruzen, what did you call me here for?"
The door to the Hokage Office swung open, and Shimura Danzo walked in slowly, his face gloomy.
A faint haze of smoke drifted through the Hokage Office. Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been smoking, set down his pipe when he saw Shimura Danzo enter and asked in a low voice:
"Danzo, what have you been doing lately? Does Uchiha Itachi's disappearance have anything to do with you?"
"I've told you many times: don't provoke the Uchiha Clan any further. What exactly are you trying to do?!"
Shimura Danzo gave a cold snort and replied flatly:
"Hiruzen, you're still the same as ever. All you do is smooth things over, and you never come up with any way to solve the problem!"
"Enough! I just want to know: where is Uchiha Itachi now?!"
The Third Hokage slammed his hand down on the desk. Though his eyes had grown cloudy, they now shone sharply as he stared fixedly at Shimura Danzo.
"Isn't Uchiha Itachi right in front of you?"
Shimura Danzo answered calmly. The Third Hokage froze for a moment, then the Root Ninja behind Shimura Danzo removed his mask, revealing Uchiha Itachi's face.
"Uchiha Itachi... When did you join Root? No, wait! Danzo! What have you done?!"
The Third Hokage looked shocked. Uchiha Itachi had joined Anbu, not Root. After all, he was the son of the Uchiha Clan's leader. Even Shimura Danzo had to consider how the Uchiha Clan would react before bringing Uchiha Itachi into Root.
By joining Anbu, Uchiha Itachi could build up a record of merit. But joining Root would practically ruin his life.
After all, many Root missions involved targeting their own shinobi. The organization had a terrible reputation and was notorious throughout the village.
Not only was it nearly impossible to leave Root once you joined, but even those who did leave found it difficult to be accepted by ordinary Konoha shinobi.
No one wanted to work alongside a butcher with the blood of their own people on his hands. You could never know whether you might be his next target.
Looking at Uchiha Itachi standing respectfully behind Shimura Danzo, the Third Hokage's thoughts raced. Within moments, he steadied himself and turned his gaze to Shimura Danzo:
"Danzo, did you use Kotoamatsukami on Uchiha Itachi?!"
"That's right. It was the best way to plant one of our pawns deep within the Uchiha Clan. If the Uchiha Clan ever had other ideas, Uchiha Itachi could stop them!"
Shimura Danzo readily admitted it, his expression touched with a hint of fervor.
"You... The Uchiha Clan hasn't rebelled! They're still Konoha's shinobi! And Uchiha Itachi is on the village's side, too! How could you act against one of our own?!"
The Third Hokage's face filled with anger as he scolded him.
Shimura Danzo said nothing. He knew his old friend's character well. The Third Hokage might keep scolding him, but in truth, he would only support Shimura Danzo's actions in secret.
Sure enough, after a few more words of reprimand, the Third Hokage said no more. He neither punished Shimura Danzo nor ordered him to release Uchiha Itachi. Instead, after a brief silence, he asked:
"The method you used to control Uchiha Itachi was Uchiha Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, wasn't it?"
"That's right... Unfortunately, now that Uchiha Shisui is gone, Kotoamatsukami can only be used once. Even if another Uchiha Clan prodigy could nurture these Mangekyo, it would take at least twenty years before they could be used again."
Shimura Danzo's voice held a touch of regret. The Third Hokage, however, felt somewhat relieved. Having eyes like those in Shimura Danzo's hands put considerable pressure on him as Hokage.
The Third Hokage wasn't surprised that Kotoamatsukami couldn't be used for twenty years.
Even Uchiha Shisui himself needed a ten-year cooldown before he could use those eyes again. If another Uchiha were to nurture them, it would naturally take even longer.
To the Third Hokage, this was actually a good thing. Without those eyes, Shimura Danzo might settle down a little, and there would be no need to worry about him using them to brainwash others.
The Third Hokage could prepare for himself, using various seals and checks to make sure he hadn't been brainwashed. But the shinobi under his command had no such elaborate means of checking or defending themselves. If someone really tried to exploit a loophole, Kotoamatsukami could still accomplish a great deal.
Now, though, Kotoamatsukami was unusable for twenty years. Even if Shimura Danzo found a Uchiha capable of nurturing the Mangekyo, Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo would probably be nothing but a pile of bones by then. It was practically as good as being permanently disabled.
"If Kotoamatsukami can't be used, then leave it at that. What happened with Shisui back then was our fault. Danzo, you'd better lay those eyes to rest in the ground."
The Third Hokage took a drag from his pipe and spoke in a somewhat low voice. Shimura Danzo sneered.
"What's done is done. There's no reason to be ashamed. Everything I've done has been for Konoha's prosperity!"
"As for those eyes, I won't be able to use them again anyway. I'll return them to Uchiha Shisui someday."
"Good!"
The Third Hokage let out a long breath. He looked hesitant, but in the end, he asked:
"Uchiha Itachi... Can your Kotoamatsukami control him completely?"
Shimura Danzo lowered his head slightly, concealing the scorn in his eyes.
"Of course. Even an Uchiha who has awakened the Mangekyo can't resist Shisui's Kotoamatsukami. Uchiha Itachi may be a prodigy of the Uchiha Clan, but compared to Uchiha Shisui, who awakened the Mangekyo, he's still a long way behind."
"What?! Do you hope Uchiha Itachi can escape Kotoamatsukami, or do you want him to remain under my control forever?!"
The Third Hokage stiffened and raised his head, his gaze turning cold. His good comrade seemed to be getting a little carried away!
"Hmph. As the Hokage of Konoha Village, I know how to weigh what matters! It's best for Konoha if Uchiha Itachi remains under control forever!"
"But this kind of genjutsu can't be used again and again. Kotoamatsukami is a special case. If we truly want to govern Konoha well and bring the Uchiha Clan completely to heel, we'll have to rely on our own methods."
"Besides, Uchiha Itachi was already a shinobi loyal to Konoha. Using Kotoamatsukami on him was a complete waste. You should have used it somewhere more important!"
Shimura Danzo was about to say more, but the Third Hokage waved him off:
"Regardless, these matters are your mistake! Starting today, neither you nor the Root shinobi may leave Konoha Village without my written order! This restriction will remain in effect until I lift it!"
Before you continue