Fighting Fate 13

The next day, the air in the Hokage's Office seemed frozen solid, so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Shimura Danzō burst in like an ill wind. He did not even bother with his customary knock, and his one eye gleamed with an almost urgent chill.

"Hiruzen! Something terrible has happened!" His voice was firm and heavy with certainty. "Itachi Uchiha is dead!"

The pipe in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand jerked, scattering ash. He looked up, shock and disbelief filling his eyes. "What? Itachi... How could this happen?"

"According to our latest intelligence," Danzo said, his voice cold and merciless, "Itachi Uchiha died at home. Fugaku Uchiha must have done it!"

"To remove the last obstacle within his clan and cement everyone's resolve to stage a coup, he even killed his own son—a son who tried to protect the village and wavered over which side to take!"

"Even a tiger doesn't eat its own cubs. Fugaku Uchiha has gone mad! This proves the Uchiha have descended into complete madness. We can't hesitate any longer, Hiruzen!"

He stepped forward and slammed his cane against the floor. The crack struck like a blow to the heart, and his tone carried the force of an ultimatum:

"Give the order, Hiruzen!" Danzo's voice rose sharply. "If you keep hesitating, it'll be too late! Do you want to stand by and watch Konoha, built by the First Hokage and our teacher, burn in the flames of civil war?!"

"When the streets run red, we'll be remembered as the ones who destroyed Konoha!"

As Hiruzen Sarutobi wrestled with himself, gripping his pipe stem so hard he nearly crushed it, the office door opened again.

The two Advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, hurried in. Their faces were equally grave and urgent.

"Hiruzen, Danzo is right!" Koharu said