Hiruzen, Danzo, and the Uchiha

To be honest.

Hiruzen himself was speechless at these thoughtless rumors.

After all these years,

his contributions to Konoha had been irreplaceable.

It was under his leadership that Konoha had won the Second Shinobi World War.

The rising generation of powerful shinobi from that era had all grown under his guidance.

Even Hatake Sakumo could be considered half his student.

And Sakumo's achievements still fell short of his own.

With his seniority and connections... so what if Sakumo caught up?

He hadn't done anything wrong.

Was Sakumo going to use his accomplishments to force him out of office?

Do you think you know Sakumo's character better than I do?

Why would I need to fear him seizing power?

I was the one who ordered the news of Sakumo's failed mission sealed! Hello?!

...I really don't know what goes through their heads.

But that was what made rumors so infuriating.

Most people couldn't tell a rumor from the truth.

They simply took delight in passing it on.

The Third Hokage drew deeply on his pipe, his eyes narrowing.

If he considered the two rumors together,

whoever was behind them was trying to kill two birds with one stone.

...Could it be him?

The Third Hokage tapped his pipe against the desk.

An Anbu Ninja outside entered at the sound.

He knelt on one knee and asked quietly,

"Third Hokage, what are your orders?"

The Third Hokage smiled.

"I haven't seen my old friend in a while. Sorry for the trouble, but could you go to Root and fetch him?"

"Yes!"

The Anbu Ninja dipped his head and left.

Before long,

a figure in a gray robe entered the Hokage's office, leaning on a cane.

Bandages covered the right side of his face. His exposed left eye was half-lidded, as though nothing in the world interested him.

Shimura Danzō!

Hiruzen's close friend from his youth—and still his close friend in old age.

He asked evenly,

"Hiruzen, why did you summon me here so late?"

The Third Hokage gestured to the freshly brewed tea on the desk and smiled.

"Shikaku gave me some fine tea the other day. I called you over to try it."

Danzo raised an eyebrow but said nothing more. He sat opposite the Third Hokage.

He lifted his cup and slowly savored the tea.

A moment later,

he set it down and got straight to the point.

"Hiruzen, if you have something to say, say it."

"I still have work at Root. I don't have time to sit around with you."

The Third Hokage took a sip of tea and spoke as if it were an afterthought.

"Then I'll be direct. Have you heard the recent rumors about Sakumo?"

Danzo nodded, his expression undisturbed.

"If even you know about them, naturally I've heard."

The Third Hokage gave a cold snort, irritated by his old friend's subtle jab.

"Since you're so well informed, have you found out who leaked the classified information?"

Danzo shook his head.

"I had my men investigate everywhere, but they've found nothing so far."

Seeing the displeasure on Hiruzen's face,

he seemed to realize something. His brow furrowed.

"You suspect I leaked it?"

The Third Hokage gave a noncommittal hum and fixed Danzo with a penetrating stare.

"So was it you?"

Danzo's heart tightened. After a brief silence, he said,

"I had nothing to do with this. Bringing Sakumo down would do me no good."

The Third Hokage gave an ambiguous nod but said nothing.

Growing agitated, Danzo struck the floor hard with his cane.

"Hiruzen, after all these years of friendship, you still don't trust me?"

"But if we're talking about who might do this, I do have someone in mind."

The Third Hokage raised his teacup and waited.

"Let's hear it."

Danzo looked him straight in the eye, his voice chilling.

"Don't forget, Sakumo's team has a member of the Uchiha Clan."

"If the clan wants to put forward a candidate for the next Hokage, Sakumo would be a formidable rival."

The Uchiha?

The Third Hokage quietly sipped his tea, hiding his surprise.

After a long pause,

he regained his composure and smiled.

"Don't you have work waiting at Root? I won't keep you. Head back, Danzo."

Danzo nodded.

He gave the Third Hokage a long look, then left without turning back.

Once he was gone, the Third Hokage rubbed his brow.

"This is getting more and more complicated. Who could it be...?"

The next morning,

sunlight slipped through the window and crept across the sleeping boy's face.

The boy grumbled and rolled over, with no intention of getting up.

Just then,

a voice called from outside.

"Obito, Rin's here to walk to school with you."

Huh?

The boy shot upright in bed.

He dressed as quickly as he could and hurried out of his room.

Grandmother breathed a sigh of relief when her grandson finally got up.

She handed Rin and Obito each a small lunchbox.

"Grandmother just made breakfast. It's getting late, so eat on the way."

Rin said with a bright smile,

"Thank you, Grandmother. We're off!"

Grandmother's eyes crinkled with affection. She clearly adored Rin.

"All right, all right."

Rin took Obito's hand.

"Let's go, Obito-kun."

The sudden happiness short-circuited Obito's brain.

In either of his lives, this was his first time holding a girl's hand.

Wait!

A little girl's hand.

...That didn't sound much better.

"We're leaving, Grandmother!"

"All right. Take care on the way, you two!"

As they walked,

Obito ate his breakfast and glanced curiously at Rin beside him.

"Rin, what made you come get me for school today?"

Rin finished her last bite, daintily wiped her mouth, and then answered,

"You've been late so often lately. I was a little worried about you."

Obito grinned, warmth spreading through his chest.

Aside from Grandmother, Rin was probably the person who cared about him most.

I'll protect you in this life, he vowed silently.

Rin asked curiously,

"By the way, Obito-kun, how did your Taijutsu improve so fast?"

After thinking it over, Obito explained,

"I've actually been training in secret at night lately."

"That's why I'm always tired and sleeping in class during the day."

Rin nodded thoughtfully.

"Is that so? But haven't you been sleeping in class since school started, Obito-kun...?"

Obito coughed twice and changed the subject.

"Ahem, well... Rin, how come you look even prettier today?"

Rin's cheeks reddened. He had successfully distracted her.

"Huh? Do I?"

Obito nodded repeatedly, his face perfectly serious.

"You do, you do."

Strangely enough,

Obito didn't run into a single old lady on the way to school with Rin.

Maybe they only grab people who are alone... Obito thought wryly.

When the teacher saw Obito in his seat on time,

he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

It seemed Obito had finally come to his senses.

But the boy's recent transformation was rather dramatic.

The teacher fell into thought, then slapped his forehead in astonishment.

Could it be...?!

My patient guidance must have worked!

Who else in education could set a kid as hopeless as Obito on the right path?

Besides me, Kisuke Urahara, who else could do it?!

While the teacher was basking in his own brilliance,

"Zzz... zzz... zzz..."

"Obito-kun, wake up! Class is about to start!"

The teacher's expression froze.

Well, then...

It seemed I still had a long way to go.