The Confused Third Hokage

"Tut, tut, tut!"

The Black Mist had already dispersed. Shiraishi stood with his hands behind his back, holding the Ten Thousand Soul Banner. The unconscious Danzo and two others lay at his feet.

Shiraishi strolled over to the Third Hokage. His right hand emerged from behind his back, and the Ten Thousand Soul Banner in it rose into the air of its own accord. An invisible force that drew in souls emanated from the banner. The souls of the Third Hokage and Danzo turned into two balls of deep blue light and dropped into Shiraishi's palm.

A smile appeared on Shiraishi's face. He casually tossed the two souls forward, and they flew apart. Danzo's soul entered the Third Hokage's body, while the Third Hokage's soul entered Danzo's.

The Ten Thousand Soul Banner, still floating in the air, suddenly fluttered. At Shiraishi's command, two streams of icy ghostly energy flew out and shielded the newly swapped souls, ensuring the transfer went smoothly.

With that done, Shiraishi had completed his initial plan. In a relaxed mood, he went over to the unconscious Minato Namikaze and crouched beside him.

"Lord Minato, Lord Minato..."

At Shiraishi's calls, Minato slowly opened his eyes, but his mind was still hazy, and he remained in a daze.

Minato's vision gradually cleared. A youthful face, handsome and carrying a hint of boyishness, came into view.

"You..." Minato's voice was a little hoarse.

"I'm Shiraishi. I was the one who told you about tonight's events this afternoon." Shiraishi looked at Minato with a friendly smile.

Memories churned in Minato's mind, and he came fully awake in an instant. He hurriedly pushed himself up into a sitting position.

"Lord Hokage..."

"The Third Hokage and Lord Danzo fought each other to a standstill, and both fell unconscious." Shiraishi helped Minato to his feet and explained what had happened.

Once standing, Minato saw the Third Hokage and Danzo lying on the ground. A look of concern crossed his face, and he hurried to the Third Hokage's side to check on him.

After checking him over and confirming the Third Hokage was stable, with only a few external injuries, Minato finally breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He turned to look at Danzo, who lay nearby.

"Lord Danzo is unharmed," Shiraishi said to Minato, crouching beside him.

Only then did Minato fully relax. The war was not over yet, and if the village's two most important leaders were hurt now, who knew what sort of trouble the other ninja villages might stir up?

"Lord Minato, please take the Third Hokage to the hospital for treatment." Shiraishi lifted Danzo's unconscious body.

"What about Elder Danzo?" Minato asked with concern, carrying the Third Hokage on his back.

"I'll take Lord Danzo back to Root for treatment. What happened tonight must not get out," Shiraishi replied.

"Thanks for all your hard work, Shiraishi," Minato said sincerely.

Shiraishi nodded with a smile, then carried Danzo away. Minato followed close behind with the Third Hokage on his back.

The next morning, the sun slowly rose behind Kage Rock. Golden rays broke across the sky, casting the first light of dawn over Konoha.

Deep underground, Root Base had no windows, and a resting room was lit only by lamps. On the wooden bed, Danzo's body suddenly opened its eyes.

Dizziness—overwhelming dizziness. His brain felt as though an electric drill had churned it into mush. In all his decades of life, Hiruzen Sarutobi had never felt so awful.

"Wa... water..." Hiruzen Sarutobi croaked.

Shiraishi, who had been waiting nearby and secretly helping Hiruzen Sarutobi regain consciousness, wore a Root mask. He picked up the glass of cool water prepared in advance and handed it over.

Still groggy, Hiruzen Sarutobi shakily took the glass, slowly raised it to his dry lips, and poured the cool water into his mouth.

"Lord Danzo, are you all right?" Shiraishi asked deliberately.

Hiruzen Sarutobi froze. His muddled mind cleared somewhat, and he turned to Shiraishi, asking uncertainly, "What did you call me?"

"Lord Danzo?" Shiraishi asked again, feigning confusion.

This time, Hiruzen Sarutobi heard him clearly. His eyes flew open as he looked at the masked ninja before him, then glanced around the room.

"What did you call me?"

"Lord Danzo!" Shiraishi answered again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shuddered. The glass slipped from his hand and landed on the bed. Suspecting he had fallen under a Genjutsu, he hurriedly raised both hands to form hand seals.

"Lord Danzo, are you all right?" Shiraishi asked with concern again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi formed hand seals several times but detected nothing unusual. His gaze fell on his hands, and his pupils suddenly widened.

These weren't his hands!

As a seasoned fighter, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew every part of his own body. He was certain this wasn't it.

Could he really have turned into Danzo?

At the thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer sit still. Fighting through his discomfort, he got out of bed and sat on its edge.

"Bring me a mirror," Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered.

"Quickly!" Hiruzen Sarutobi, already confused, had completely lost his usual composure and urged him impatiently.

"Yes." Shiraishi replied, then left the room and went into the next one to pick up a small, single-handled mirror he had prepared earlier.

After waiting about a minute, Shiraishi returned to the room and held out the mirror.

Unable to wait any longer, Hiruzen Sarutobi snatched it and raised it before his face.

In an instant, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind went blank.

The face reflected in the mirror in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand was Danzo's.

Had he really turned into Danzo? Was this Danzo's scheme? What had happened last night?

"Da... Where is the Third Hokage now?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked urgently.

"The Third Hokage was attacked last night. He's in the hospital receiving treatment," Shiraishi replied.

"Attacked?" Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his voice.

"Yes! The Third Hokage was attacked last night. Luckily, the village's jonin Minato Namikaze happened upon the scene. Minato drove off the attacker and saved the Third Hokage," Shiraishi replied.

This was the explanation he and Minato had deliberately concocted while leaving the secret passage last night, to cover up the fight between the Third Hokage and Danzo.

"Minato Namikaze..." Hiruzen Sarutobi was even more confused. He remembered meeting Danzo in the secret passage last night. Their conversation had gone nowhere, Danzo had attacked, and they had fought. Then...

He couldn't clearly remember what had happened next. He only recalled that a Black Mist had suddenly appeared, and he had lost consciousness.

Minato had nothing to do with any of it. So how had he ended up being attacked and rescued by Minato?

"I'm going to the hospital. I want to see the Third Hokage." Hiruzen Sarutobi rose to his feet.

"Lord Danzo, but your body..." Shiraishi said, pretending to be concerned.

"I'm fine. I'm going to the hospital to see the Third Hokage." Hiruzen Sarutobi forced down the emotions churning inside him and adopted Danzo's usual manner, speaking coldly.

"Yes!" Shiraishi lowered his head respectfully, then suggested, "Lord Danzo, please allow me to accompany you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Shiraishi a long look. "Let's go."

"Yes!"

Shiraishi replied and followed Hiruzen Sarutobi out of the room.