Hiruzen, Danzo, and the Uchiha

Honestly.

Hiruzen 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.

Every rising star of that era had grown under his guidance.

Even Hatake Sakumo could be considered half his student.

Besides, Sakumo's achievements still fell short of his.

And with his seniority and connections... what if Sakumo caught up?

It wasn't as if he'd done anything wrong.

Could Sakumo really use his accomplishments to force him out?

Don't I know Sakumo's character better than you 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?!

...What on earth are they all thinking?

But that was what made rumors so infuriating.

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

They just kept passing it along, delighted to have something to share.

The Third took a long drag on his pipe and narrowed his eyes.

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 tapped his pipe against the desk.

An Anbu ninja outside entered at the sound.

Kneeling on one knee, he asked quietly.

"Third-sama, what are your orders?"

The Third smiled.

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

"Yes, sir!"

The Anbu ninja dipped his head and left.

Before long.

A figure in gray robes entered the Hokage 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 best friend since their youth, and his old friend still.

He asked evenly.

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

The Third gestured toward 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 as he sat opposite the Third.

He picked up his cup and sipped the tea slowly.

After a moment.

He set down his cup and got straight to the point.

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

"I still have Root business to deal with. I don't have time to sit here with you."

The Third took a sip of tea and spoke as if it were an idle thought.

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

Danzo nodded, his expression unreadable.

"If even you've heard them, naturally I have too."

The Third snorted, 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've had my people ask around, but so far they've found nothing."

Seeing the displeasure on Hiruzen's face.

He seemed to realize something, and his brow furrowed.

"You suspect I leaked it?"

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

"Did you?"

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

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

The Third nodded ambiguously and said nothing.

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

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

"If you want someone who might have done it, I do have a suspect."

The Third lifted his cup and waited for Danzo to continue.

"Let's hear it."

Danzo met the Third's eyes, his voice grim.

"Don't forget there's a member of the Uchiha Clan on Sakumo's team."

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

The Uchiha?

The Third drank his tea without betraying his surprise.

After a long pause.

His composure returned, and he smiled.

"Don't you have business to handle at Root? I won't keep you. Go on back, Danzo."

Danzo nodded.

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

Once he was gone, the Third rubbed his brow.

"This is getting more and more tangled. 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 the room.

"Obito, Rin is here to walk to school with you."

Huh?

The boy shot upright.

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

Seeing her grandson finally out of bed, Grandmother breathed a sigh of relief.

She handed Rin and Obito a small lunch box each.

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

Rin grinned.

"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 brought Obito's brain to a halt.

Across both his lives, this was his first time holding a girl's hand.

Wait!

A little girl's hand.

...That still didn't sound right.

"We're off, Grandmother!"

"All right! Be careful on the way, you two!"

As they walked.

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

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

Rin finished her last bite and daintily wiped her mouth before answering.

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

Obito grinned, warmth spreading through his chest.

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

He silently vowed that he would protect her in this life.

Rin asked curiously.

"By the way, Obito-kun, how did you get so good at Taijutsu so quickly?"

Obito thought for a moment, then explained.

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

"That's why I'm always sleepy in class during the day."

Rin nodded thoughtfully.

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

Obito coughed twice and changed the subject.

"Ahem. Well... Rin, you look even prettier today. How come?"

Rin blushed. Obito had successfully distracted her.

"Oh, do I?"

Obito nodded repeatedly, his face perfectly serious.

"You do, you do."

Strangely enough.

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

Maybe whoever's snatching people only goes after loners... Obito grumbled to himself.

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.

Though the boy's recent transformation had been rather dramatic.

The teacher sank into thought, then smacked his forehead in sudden realization.

No way...!!!

My patient guidance must have worked!

Who else in the entire world of education could have set a child as hopeless as Obito on the right path but me, Kisuke Urahara?

Seriously, who else?!

While the teacher basked in his own brilliance.

"Snore... snore... snore..."

"Obito-kun, wake up! Class is starting!"

The teacher's expression froze.

Well...

Looks like I still have a long way to go.