I'm Beating You, That's Who

"Am I qualified enough to take responsibility for this?"

"I fought alongside the Third Hokage and studied under the Second Hokage! Aren't those credentials enough?"

Shimura Danzō spoke with righteous indignation.

So we're comparing titles now? Who doesn't have a few?

"As soon as Uchiha Itachi enters the Anbu or Root, we can seal his Chakra and interrogate him. Then we'll hear the truth straight from his mouth!"

Seeing the crowd hesitate, Shimura Danzō smiled.

"So my brother has to join your Root, is that it?" Uchiha Yoru asked flatly.

"Yes! Rest assured, I'll give everyone the truth. I'll find out exactly what caused the Third Hokage's death."

"If Uchiha Itachi had nothing to do with it, I'll release him!"

Shimura Danzō made his promises sound perfectly reasonable.

"Kakashi, what do we do?"

Asuma Sarutobi nudged Kakashi.

"Let's stay out of it for now. If things really go wrong, we'll step in," Kakashi said. He meant to wait and see.

He hadn't expected Tsunade to return now, much less stand on the same side as Shimura Danzō.

And when it came to prestige, Tsunade's years away from the village had done nothing to diminish hers.

"Like hell!"

Uchiha Yoru leaped down and drove a heavy punch into Shimura Danzō's face.

"You old bastard! I hadn't even come after you, and you jumped out on your own!"

"You think I won't hit you?"

Uchiha Yoru rained blows on the old dog's face.

I've put up with you long enough!

"For Konoha, for Konoha, for Konoha my ass!"

Everyone stood dumbstruck. Who would have thought they'd get to see a spectacle like this here?

"Help... me! Help... me!" Shimura Danzō cried through his swollen mouth.

The people around them hurriedly pulled Uchiha Yoru away. Shimura Danzō had followed the Second Hokage, after all; they couldn't just let Yoru keep beating him.

Though it was satisfying to watch.

Even Tsunade's eyes flashed with amusement.

"Where... are the Root ninjas? Hurry... seize him!"

Root ninjas sprang out from the sidelines, and there were quite a few of them.

"You can call for help, but I can't?"

"Where are the Uchiha Clan's ninjas? This old bastard tried to undermine your young clan head! Are you going to stand for it?"

The Uchiha Clan stood united. They were family, and they would face outsiders together.

"No!"

"Kakashi, can you clear the ordinary villagers out first?"

Kakashi came to his senses and ushered all the civilians away.

"Shimura Danzō, I spit on you!"

Uchiha Yoru spat at him.

Someone blocked it, but the insult landed all the same.

"Now you all know!"

"If I can't become Hokage, the Uchiha Clan will stage a coup! I'm telling you now: anyone who supports an Uchiha becoming Hokage, come stand with us!" Uchiha Yoru declared.

Some people hesitated.

"Itachi, show them!"

Uchiha Itachi froze, then immediately understood. He activated his Mangekyō, and an orange armored giant appeared behind him.

"Father, what about you?"

Uchiha Fugaku followed his second son's lead, and a black giant appeared behind him.

The two giants stood side by side, radiating a terrifying presence.

"Tell me, then! Is the Uchiha Clan qualified to hold the office of Hokage?"

The entire place fell silent.

No one dared speak.

Even Danzo shut his mouth. If one of those giants punched him, his old bones would...

"Then it's settled! I declare Uchiha Itachi the Fifth Hokage!" Uchiha Yoru shouted.

"Brother, go on up! Today is your day!"

Uchiha Itachi understood, and so did Kakashi.

They let some villagers back in.

"I'm honored that I can..."

"And finally, wherever the leaves dance, the fire will burn, and the Will of Fire will be passed on!"

"I'll do everything in my power to protect the villagers and Konoha!"

Whatever they felt about it, everyone burst into thunderous applause.

After the speech, most people left, but some stayed behind. Kurenai, Kakashi, Guy, and a group of elite Jonin remained.

"I know you're all my seniors, and you may look down on what I did today. Even so, I hope you'll help me govern Konoha!"

"Yes!"

"Father, where's Uchiha Yoru?" Uchiha Itachi asked.

"He said he was starving, so he went to eat. He didn't want to listen to all that empty talk!" Uchiha Fugaku said darkly.

He had thought the boy had finally matured a little, but there he was, back to his old ways.

Couldn't he at least have stayed to watch Uchiha Itachi's entire inauguration?

"Father, don't be angry. That's just how Little Yoru is."

"Sigh. Thank goodness I had three children. If he'd been my firstborn, he would've been the death of me!"

Uchiha Fugaku sighed and left with Mikoto and the other Uchiha.

"Lord Hokage!"

An Anbu Ninja knelt on one knee before Uchiha Itachi.

"You can head back. You don't need to follow me. I have something to do," Uchiha Itachi said.

Several dark figures vanished from his side.

Uchiha Itachi reached the door of a Yakiniku Restaurant. Before he went in, he heard:

"Let's celebrate my brother Uchiha Itachi becoming a ninja!"

"Put all today's barbecue on Itachi's tab!"

"Eat and drink as much as you want, everyone!"

"Choji, don't hold back! Dig in!"

Uchiha Itachi's face darkened. He had wanted to thank his brother, and Yoru had already stuck him with the bill.

After a moment's thought, Uchiha Itachi withdrew his hand from the door.

Uchiha Yoru was eating with his friends. It was better not to interrupt him. With a Body Flicker Technique, Itachi went to the Hokage Building to familiarize himself with his new workplace.

At Root.

"I did what you asked. Isn't it time you brought Shizune to me?" Tsunade demanded, her face full of fury.

Shimura Danzō's injuries were only superficial and had already healed.

"No. Uchiha Itachi still became Hokage!"

"You bastard!"

Tsunade stamped her foot, splitting the ground beneath her.

Shimura Danzō's eyelid twitched. Her strength was absurd.

"I told you my patience has limits. Don't make me take you down with me!" Tsunade snarled.

"I want to see Shizune right now!"

"You two, take Tsunade to her!"

Shimura Danzō ordered two Root ninjas to lead Tsunade away.

They brought her outside a glass room. Shizune was trapped inside, unconscious.

"Lord Danzo placed a Sealing Jutsu and Genjutsu on her. Lady Tsunade, don't try anything," a Root ninja warned.

Shimura Danzō had specifically told him to say that. He feared Tsunade might act rashly and rescue Shizune, only to get her killed.

That would put Tsunade firmly against him, and he didn't want that.

"Take good care of her!"

"Lord Danzo says he'll release Shizune if you kill Uchiha Yoru," the Root ninja said after Tsunade had seen her.

"Fine. Make sure Shimura Danzō remembers that!"

Tsunade left.

The Root ninja patted his chest. The presence of one of the Sannin is terrifying!