In the corridor of the Hokage Tower, Danzo walked slowly toward the office.
He had come to talk to Hiruzen about Root's manpower.
The Third Great Ninja War had been raging for nearly half a year, and Root had suffered heavy losses. They needed fresh recruits.
When he reached the office door, he raised a hand and knocked twice.
No one answered.
After waiting three seconds, he turned the handle and pushed the door open. The room was empty.
Danzo stood in the doorway, his single eye sweeping the room before settling on the chair behind the Hokage's desk.
Afternoon sunlight streamed in through the window, falling across the back of the chair.
He walked over.
Without hesitation,
he turned and sat down.
The chair tilted back slightly under his weight.
Danzo reached out and turned the chair halfway around, facing the window.
The rooftops, the streets, Kage Rock in the distance.
From this spot, all of Konoha lay before him.
This position should have been his.
Then he turned the chair back toward the desk.
The documents were stacked unevenly, with Hiruzen's notes scattered across them, many still unfinished.
Off to the right sat a separate pile of files. A handwritten note was stuck to the top one.
"Keep an eye on this."
Danzo casually opened the top file.
A young face.
Kitahara Kaede, Genin, fifteen years old.
Civilian background, both parents deceased, no clan ties.
Ninja Academy evaluation: below-average chakra reserves, no talent for ninjutsu, no outstanding qualities. Recommended transfer to logistics.
Danzo's gaze paused on that line.
He turned to the next page.
Dan Katō's field report—
"Successfully completed eight B-Rank-level missions, zero casualties, exceptionally high-quality intelligence. Recommended for promotion to Chunin."
The two evaluations described two completely different people.
Danzo read through the file again from