At Shisui's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer contain himself. Forget keeping his emotions off his face-he slapped the desk and shot to his feet, his expression shifting wildly.
"What? You're saying that Masked Man appeared again?!"
Although he had guessed Danzo would make a move, and that Fugaku was very likely planning a counter-ambush, Hiruzen Sarutobi had never imagined that the culprit behind the Nine-Tails' Attack would appear again too!
This...
His face alternated between green and white. Countless thoughts flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, and for a moment, he even forgot where he was, completely consumed by this explosive news.
"Lord Hokage, Sasuke asked me to deliver this letter to you. Please take this scroll as well. I'll take my leave now."
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression keep shifting, Shisui bowed slightly with deference, took a letter and a scroll from inside his clothes, and handed them over.
His mind racing, Hiruzen hesitated for a moment before nodding, signaling that Shisui could leave.
"Oh, and Lord Hokage, Sasuke is a good kid in every way, except his handwriting is a little ugly. Please bear with him..."
"Hahahaha, Shisui, you're worrying too much. He's a child; a little ugly handwriting is perfectly normal. I'm over fifty. Surely I can read a few poorly written words?"
Smiling, he watched Shisui leave. After studying the two documents before him for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi opened Sasuke's letter.
It's just ugly handwriting. How bad could it...
"Uh, what the fuck is any of this supposed to mean?"
I get the part about that scheming old bastard Danzo always dragging people down to his level, then playing dirty tricks and politics.
But what does 'don't interact with him, just repeatedly show him your special CG' mean? What the fuck is a special CG?
Why can I understand every single katakana character, but not a damn word once they're strung together?
His head full of question marks, Hiruzen Sarutobi stared blankly. Still, putting it all into context, he more or less understood what Sasuke meant...
After pondering it, a smile appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face. Actually, this trick seemed pretty useful. Unless something unexpected happened, Danzo would be coming to engage in their usual tug-of-war shortly.
Perfect. I'll give it a try.
As he quietly awaited Danzo's arrival, Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the other document, still smiling. Yet the more he read, the graver his expression became. By the end, he couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath, once again struggling to keep his expression under control.
Only after a long stretch of thought did he let out a deep breath.
Remembering how he had initially used the Will of Fire as a tool to unify people's thinking, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help smiling bitterly. Who would have thought that now he would genuinely have to thank this Will of Fire, with its emphasis on the bonds between people...
After a brief silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled two more files from beneath his desk and bent over them, writing furiously. Some time later, footsteps sounded, and Shimura Danzō pushed open the door. Behind him came his two guardian generals... ahem, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
Stopping before Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk, Danzo looked down at him with his single eye. When Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't even raise his head, Danzo snorted and opened his mouth.
"Hi..."
"Danzo! I am the Hokage!"
Completely ignoring the two Hokage aides behind Danzo, who had come to join forces and pressure him, Hiruzen Sarutobi slapped his desk, his beard bristling and eyes glaring. He had no interest whatsoever in listening to Danzo's bullshit right now, and fired back the instant Danzo opened his mouth.
"...?" ×3
Danzo's lone eye instantly widened, and he was utterly dumbfounded.
What was I going to say again?
It took quite a while for Danzo to recover, and then a nameless fury surged inside him.
Hold on, I haven't fucking said anything yet! Why are you unleashing your ultimate before we've even gone through the motions?!
You've completely thrown my emotions out of sequence!
We're not even following the fucking script anymore, huh?
Why are you showing me your special CG and ending the conversation right away?! Gal ga... no, that's not how political maneuvering works!
You're supposed to trade moves with me, make compromises, raise and lower our affection scores, occasionally bring those other two in for a grand showdown to force your hand, and throw in some unspoken mutual understanding.
Only after I've pushed you beyond the limits of your patience are you supposed to show me your special CG!
How can you show me your special CG right off the bat and end the conversation?!
That's not how gal politics works! I refuse to accept this!!!
"Hiruzen! You'll regret this!"
Danzo slammed the desk, his teeth clenched. Ignoring the stunned Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, he turned and left, making sure to vent his anger on the door on his way out.
BANG!!!
The two remaining aides could only stare at each other. After all these years, what hadn't they seen? But this was genuinely something new.
Although their conversations had always ended with those two lines, this was the first time they had ever seen one begin with those two lines and then end with them as well.
After hesitating for ages and gathering his words, Mitokado Homura stepped forward, shaking his head with a sigh.
"Hiruzen, aren't you being a little too..."
"Homura! I am the Hokage!"
"..." ×2
Who asked you?! ×2
The words he had been about to say were instantly shoved back down his throat. Mitokado Homura's face twisted, and he spent ages recovering from being choked off. By the time he recovered, he had completely forgotten what he had been about to say.
He tried desperately to recall it, but couldn't. Only one sentence remained in his mind.
Did I fucking ask you?
"Hiruzen! You'll..."
"Homura, I am the Hokage!" Not listening to a word Mitokado Homura wanted to say, Hiruzen Sarutobi fired another special CG straight back at him.
"..." ×2
Mitokado Homura: (눈_눈)
What am I supposed to do? I don't even know what to say anymore...
His face alternating between green and white, Mitokado Homura could only snort. He was about to leave him with a harsh parting remark, but seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi open his mouth, apparently eager for another round, he snorted again and slammed the door on his way out.
What the hell? I haven't had my fill yet. Why are you running away already?
Smacking his lips, Hiruzen Sarutobi was left wanting more. These two fellows had pressured him plenty of times before, and seeing them suffer such a total defeat this time secretly delighted him.
Unfortunately, they had all run away before he could enjoy it for long...
Oh?
As though remembering something, Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze settled on Utatane Koharu, who was trembling in the corner.
"Ko..."
"Hiruzen, you are the Hokage!"
CRACK!
The instant Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his mouth, Utatane Koharu's lips twitched. She tossed out that line and bolted through the door.
Want to keep acting crazy? Not a chance!
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
Those were all my lines!
And another thing!
Staring at the empty doorframe, Hiruzen Sarutobi's forehead filled with question marks.
Where the fuck is my door?!
The Uchiha Clan Compound.
After borrowing the items from Kakashi and refining the plan with Fugaku and the others, Sasuke found that it was already late at night. He returned to his room, collapsed onto his bed, and fell asleep.
Gradually, a familiar sensation washed over him again. Sasuke felt his body grow weightless, as though he were rising steadily. When his consciousness cleared and he opened his eyes, he found himself in the Gray Fog Space once more.
Unlike the many times he had visited over the past three years, the Gray Fog Space, which had previously held only the three of them, seemed to have a newcomer today?
Before you continue