Danzo Loses His Cool

Up, down, up, down.

Danzo had already lost his usual composure. His entire bearing radiated agitation.

Holding his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched with amusement as Danzo, who had always proclaimed himself the model ninja, put on this performance.

"What are you laughing at, Hiruzen?" After repeating the motion more than ten times, Danzo finally noticed Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression. Just as he was about to stand, he immediately sat upright again, his face turning cold.

"That child is four this year. If I remember correctly, five years ago, you did apply to go to Kirigakure and gather intelligence." Exhaling a mouthful of secondhand smoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo through the haze and spoke quietly.

"Hmph..." Danzo snorted and said nothing.

Because of Kirigakure's isolationist policies, Konoha had lost all intelligence on them after the Second Shinobi World War. That was why Danzo had volunteered to personally head to Kirigakure.

Of course, that was only the surface reason.

Though he always spoke of sacrifice and dedication, those words applied only to his subordinates.

Whenever it involved himself, Danzo was like an old dog. Even with his spine broken, he would still flee as quickly as possible from anywhere unfavorable to him, all while spouting lofty rhetoric.

When it came to Kirigakure, where countless ninja from other villages had gone never to return, Danzo claimed he was going to gather intelligence. In reality, he first took people to the Land of Uzushio to search for the Uzumaki Clan's legacy.

Although Mito Uzumaki had left behind every Fuinjutsu she knew before her death, Danzo believed those alone were far from enough to control a Jinchuriki.

Thus, the ruined Land of Uzushio was undoubtedly the best place to gather intelligence.

After taking Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple Orochimaru to investigate the Land of Uzushio once more, Danzo still led several Root elites to Kirigakure so no one could criticize him. But they only went as far as its outskirts, and even then, he encountered Mist Ninja. After all that--

"Hmph." The recollection came to an abrupt end. Danzo snorted again. "Even so, that brat did come out of Kirigakure. For now, he can't go to my place."

"Your son can't go to your place, so is he supposed to come to mine?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat speechless, though Danzo's words did make some sense.

After all, how could Danzo's son happen to encounter Hatake Sakumo, who was on a mission to Kirigakure, then happen to save him when Sakumo was in danger and arrive in Konoha with him?

At first, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been too busy enjoying his old friend's embarrassment and had overlooked the key details.

Now that he thought about it, this little fellow who had appeared out of nowhere really did need to be thoroughly investigated.

"Since Sakumo brought him back, let him stay with Sakumo for now. As for the brat's background, I'll send Root ninja to investigate it properly." Danzo stood, regaining his usual calm as he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Don't be too rough with your methods. After all, there's a high chance he's your son, isn't there? It may not be obvious, but in some ways, he really does resemble you as a child..." Hiruzen Sarutobi extinguished his pipe and lowered his conical hat, his tone even.

"This is my family business. You don't need to meddle in it!" Danzo turned sideways and shot Hiruzen Sarutobi a sidelong glare before flicking his sleeve and leaving.

As the door slammed shut, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his chair and looked at the photograph of Tobirama hanging on the wall beside him.

"Teacher, I never expected that Danzo... Pfft, hahaha..." Facing Tobirama's photograph, Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing.

His friend, who spent every day shouting that any means were acceptable for the village, had been growing increasingly extreme lately. Hopefully, now that he had a son, he would restrain himself a little.

With bonds, one would have something to consider before acting, wouldn't one?

Escorted by two Root members as he left the Hokage Building, Danzo immediately summoned his capable subordinate, Aburame Ryoma.

"Lord Danzo." Aburame Ryoma appeared before Danzo in a Body Flicker and gave a slight bow.

"Tell Orochimaru to meet me at the base. Also, take people and keep a close eye on the child Sakumo just brought back..." Danzo hesitated briefly, then added, "Protect him well. He may possess important intelligence."

"Yes." Aburame Ryoma did not question the order. He accepted it decisively and departed under Danzo's gaze.

Danzo remained where he was for a long time. He turned to glance toward Hiruzen's office, his brow tightly furrowed as though considering something, but quickly turned away again. After telling his remaining subordinates, "Let's go," he strode off.

On the streets of Konoha, Hatake Sakumo patiently explained Konoha's customs and local culture to Kazashiro.

Compared to the oppressive, closed-off Kirigakure, Konoha's environment was indeed much better. Children chased and played in the streets, while the vendors lining both sides of the road wore happy smiles.

"Isn't that Sakumo? Finished your mission and back already? Your son just bought vegetables from me yesterday." Upon spotting Sakumo, an elderly vegetable seller greeted him from afar.

"That's right. Kakashi has been in your care these past days." Walking up to the woman's stall, Sakumo answered with his trademark gentle smile.

"Pfft, cough, cough." Kazashiro, whom Sakumo was holding by the hand, suddenly began coughing.

Before Sakumo could ask what was wrong, the elderly woman crouched down first to check on Kazashiro. "Oh dear, what's wrong with this child? Did he catch a cold? Honestly, why is he so thin? Anyone can tell he hasn't been eating properly."

"I-I'm fine." After catching his breath, Kazashiro waved his hand to show that he was all right, but his thoughts were in turmoil. Kakashi? If I remember right, there was only one Kakashi in Naruto—the legendary Copy Ninja.

And his father was even more incredible, the famous Konoha's White Fang. Hatake... what was his name again?

Oh right, Uncle Sakumo. He was Hatake Sakumo!

Only then did Kazashiro finally realize that the ANBU who had accompanied him all the way from Kirigakure to Konoha was the legendary Konoha's White Fang, and also the man whose cause of death was among the most hotly debated in all of Naruto.

Kazashiro looked at the man beside him with a complicated expression. Indeed, though Sakumo was a ruthless ninja who acted decisively on missions, in daily life he felt like a gentle spring breeze, drawing people in without them realizing it.

After chatting with the elderly woman for a while, Sakumo took Kazashiro away from the stall and arrived at a fork in the road.

"Looks like you'll have to stay by my side for a while longer." Standing still, Sakumo closed his eyes, then opened them again and spoke with some helplessness.

"Hm?" Kazashiro was confused.

But Sakumo offered no explanation. Instead, he tightened his grip on Kazashiro's hand and led him down the road toward his home. "It just so happens that my son is your age, so the two of you can get acquainted. His name is Hatake Kakashi. He may seem cold on the outside, but he has plenty of thoughts inside."

Yeah, plenty of thoughts. I usually call people like that closet perverts.

Thinking of how the man would openly read Icha Icha Paradise in the village after growing up, Kazashiro grumbled inwardly.