Day Hiruzen, You Will Be the Village's Root!

With a soft click, the ceiling light in the Hokage Office came on.

The bright light drove away every shadow, illuminating the spacious office down to the smallest detail.

Kagami Uchiha sat behind the broad desk, his back straight and his expression composed.

Fifteen minutes later, the door to the Hokage Office opened, and Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō entered one after the other.

Their expressions differed, but both took their places before the desk.

"Have a seat," Kagami Uchiha said calmly.

They sat on the sofas to either side.

"Lord Tobirama entrusted me with the Hokage Position before he died. To be honest, it's a lot of pressure. I'll need your help." As Kagami Uchiha spoke, his gaze shifted to Hiruzen Sarutobi on the sofa. Then his tone changed. "Hiruzen, you won't have a problem with that, will you?"

At the new Hokage's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately rose, setting everything else aside. "As Lord Tobirama's disciples, we will uphold the Third Hokage's authority."

Danzo watched Hiruzen squirm. He felt a little sympathy, but a secret thrill rose in his chest.

"Good!" Kagami Uchiha nodded with satisfaction, then grew solemn. "The Second Hokage has only just passed. The village is unsettled, and outsiders keep probing Konoha. I have an idea, and I'd like to hear what you think."

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately composed himself and leaned forward slightly, listening with respectful attention. Danzo abruptly stood, his face grave.

Kagami Uchiha's gaze passed over Danzo and settled on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hiruzen."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward at once. "At your service."

"Before our teacher left us, he entrusted the village to me." Kagami Uchiha leaned back in his chair, his tone almost conversational. "But he also said Konoha's prosperity depended on those who shed blood in the shadows."

Hiruzen Sarutobi lowered his head slightly. "Yes."

Kagami Uchiha's gaze darkened. "I want to establish another department alongside the existing Anbu."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at once, his expression solemn as he waited for more.

Kagami Uchiha did not speak immediately. He glanced at Danzo, tapped a fingertip lightly against the desk, then looked back at Hiruzen.

"Root. That's the department I intend to establish. Its foremost purpose will be to eliminate, from the shadows, anything that stands in the way of Konoha's prosperity."

Kagami Uchiha kept his eyes on Hiruzen Sarutobi as he explained evenly:

"This department will handle only the dirty work that cannot see the light of day. At home, it will remove any threat to the village's stability. Abroad, it will carry out assassinations and gather intelligence."

He paused. When he continued, his voice held the coldness of someone discussing tools:

"Its members will need no names, no feelings, not even a past or a future. They will need only absolute obedience. They will be tools for clearing obstacles from the village's path."

A trace of heaviness flickered in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.

He did not agree at once. He lowered his gaze and fell silent for a moment before looking Kagami Uchiha in the eye.

"Lord Hokage," he said in a low, steady voice, "I understand. If the village is to prosper, some shadows cannot be avoided."

He paused, then spoke with conviction. "Since you trust me, I'll shoulder this burden. I'll oversee the department myself and make sure its blade strikes only the village's enemies, never Konoha itself."

A measured look of approval appeared in Kagami Uchiha's eyes.

He nodded slightly. "Good. I'll leave it to you."

"Go and make the preparations."

Hiruzen Sarutobi bowed again. "Yes."

He turned and walked out with measured steps. The heavy wooden door closed softly behind him.

For a moment, the office was quiet.

Kagami Uchiha raised his eyes across the desk to Shimura Danzō, who had remained standing to one side.

He regarded Danzo silently, his expression calm.

"Tired of standing? Sit." His voice was much warmer than the cold authority he had shown Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Some of the stiffness left Danzo's shoulders. He lowered his remaining arm and slowly sat on the sofa behind him. His empty sleeve swayed with the movement, painfully conspicuous.

He spoke in a low voice. "Kagami, Root... you gave it to Hiruzen?"

He had followed the Second Hokage all this way. He knew better than anyone how tempting such power in the shadows could be—the true blade beneath the village.

He had thought the department would eventually be his.

Kagami Uchiha looked at his empty right sleeve. A fleeting sadness crossed his eyes. "I know what you want to ask."

"You would once have been the best person to command Konoha's darker side. But you lost an arm. The injury took a toll on both your body and your mind, and you've only just recovered from your battlefield wounds. I can't put a burden soaked in blood, one that would never let you rest, on your shoulders."

Danzo's throat shifted as he tried to protest, but Kagami Uchiha raised a hand to stop him.

Kagami Uchiha leaned back, his tone easing. "I won't make my brother bear Konoha's filthiest darkness while he's still missing an arm."

"I understand."

Danzo was silent for a long time. His remaining hand slowly clenched. A tangle of emotions churned in his eyes: frustration, gratitude, and above all, heartfelt loyalty to Kagami Uchiha.

As if sensing Danzo's turmoil, Kagami Uchiha turned toward the night beyond the window. "I haven't forgotten about your arm. You know Lord Tobirama was secretly pursuing a line of research before he died."

"Research into transplanting the First Hokage's Hashirama Cells."

Shimura Danzō's pupils contracted sharply.

Tobirama had poured enormous effort into that top-secret project to strengthen Konoha's fighting power. But the risks and the turbulent times had forced him to shelve it.

Kagami Uchiha turned back to face him, his voice firm. "The situation has stabilized for now. I intend to restart that research."

"For one purpose: to heal your arm and restore you to full strength."

Danzo froze. Emotions surged through him, leaving him speechless.

He had spent his life fighting, killing, and carrying heavy burdens. He had accepted the loss of his arm as a permanent wound. He had never imagined it might be restored.

Kagami Uchiha watched his expression and continued, his voice steady and resolute as he spoke from the heart:

"The Second Hokage has only just died. Konoha looks strong, but its foundations are riddled with weaknesses. Next, I intend to reform the entire village from top to bottom."

"Intelligence, diplomacy, the military, education, and medicine. I'll rebuild all five from the ground up."

He leaned forward slightly and looked at the friend he trusted most. "I want to appoint you chief of the Konoha Intelligence Department."

"You'll oversee every intelligence network in the village, every source inside and out, every report and risk assessment. From now on, all of Konoha's intelligence, open and covert, will be coordinated by you."

"Root is a blade that cannot see the light of day. But the intelligence department is Konoha's eyes and ears, its shield against what lies ahead."

Kagami Uchiha spoke with earnest conviction:

"Danzo, you're meticulous, decisive, patient, and steady. You're the only one who can help me hold Konoha together and safeguard its intelligence network."

"I hope you'll become my eyes throughout the Land of Fire, and even across the entire Shinobi World!"

Danzo sat on the sofa, his remaining hand tightening. For the first time in days, a bright light kindled in his eyes.

He looked up at Kagami Uchiha in the Hokage's seat, his voice trembling slightly.

"Kagami... no, Lord Hokage! I understand."

"Whether my arm is restored or not, from this day on, my life is yours to command, and Konoha's to use."

A faint smile touched Kagami Uchiha's lips.

"Brother Danzo, I still remember how you used to look after me. When we're alone, call me Kagami like you always have. There's no need for formality between us."

"Kagami... you... all right. I understand." Warmth spread through Danzo as he saw Kagami Uchiha's easy smile.

For a while, the atmosphere in the Hokage Office softened.

"By the way, Kagami, there's something I'm not sure I should say." Danzo gathered himself, looking as though he could no longer hold it in.

"Go ahead," Kagami Uchiha replied.

"The Uchiha Clan—your family. What will you do about them? You know someone like you is rare even in the clan's history. You understand what I mean."

Having said it all in one breath, Danzo looked up at Kagami Uchiha nervously.

"I understand. The Second Hokage's concerns about the Uchiha were never baseless. But I've already made arrangements. Don't worry. I won't let you down."

Kagami Uchiha saw the unease on Danzo's face and answered reassuringly.

"That's good. I'm sure you can handle the matter of your clan and the village. After all, you're about to become Konoha's Third Hokage!"

Danzo looked at Kagami Uchiha with open admiration.

Kagami Uchiha waved a hand. "All right. Your wounds haven't fully healed. Go home and rest. I'll announce the details at the Jonin meeting."

Danzo took the hint and excused himself, closing the door gently behind him.

Kagami Uchiha watched Danzo leave, then slowly leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Danzo was right. The matter of the Uchiha Clan required careful judgment and proper arrangements. He could not afford to be careless.