It was all Danzo's fault!

Inside the office.

"Hiruzen, you've been far too lenient with the Uchiha!"

Smack!

"Danzo! Do you have any idea what you're doing?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi finished a pipeful with a stony expression. Listening to Danzo make his usual unreasonable accusations, his eyes flashed viciously, and his fury erupted!

The Shinobi Hero had grown old, not died!

Under the tacit understanding between him and Fugaku, the Uchiha were still making trouble, but it had remained just that-trouble. Relations with the village had been showing signs of improvement.

Especially with his tacit permission, Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto had become close with the major shinobi clans, particularly the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans. This had shown Hiruzen Sarutobi a new way to resolve the problem. Children's friendships were pure. By using those bonds to connect the adults behind them, perhaps he could bring his imperfect tenure to a perfect close.

If he handled this well and resolved the hidden danger surrounding the Uchiha, Hiruzen Sarutobi believed that when he eventually passed on and met the First, the Fourth, and his teacher, the Second, he could face them openly, with a clear conscience.

But resolving the fucking Uchiha problem did not mean getting rid of the Uchiha!

He was old, and he had spent too long compromising, but he wasn't stupid! Much less insane!

Danzo had actually dared to attempt to assassinate the Uchiha Clan Head's second son and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the Fourth Hokage's orphan!

How could he face the three previous Hokage who had burned themselves out for the village after he died?!

Worse still, the would-be assassins had been caught on the spot and escorted here by ANBU and the Uchiha Clan's strongest shinobi together.

Whenever he remembered the disbelief and desolation in Shisui's eyes that day, despite his unwavering loyalty to the village, Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to tear Danzo apart alive.

"Hmph. I know perfectly well what I've done. My heart and actions are as clear as a mirror. Everything I do is for the village.

But you-why have you detained the Root members I sent to protect the Jinchūriki without cause?

Everyone knows the Uchiha intend to stage a coup. My Root would gladly sacrifice themselves to stop the Uchiha Clan's plot. I simply never expected you to be so incapable of distinguishing right from wrong.

Don't you know what the Uchiha are planning now? Even three-year-old children and seventy-year-old elders know they harbor ill intentions.

Hiruzen, you've disappointed me!"

Shimura Danzō's tone was as imperious as ever as he claimed the moral high ground and lectured Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Heh... hehehe." His heavy breathing gradually turned into a cold laugh steeped in fury. Remembering the intelligence his thorough investigation had uncovered after the assassination attempt alerted him that something was wrong, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that his old friend had become increasingly unfamiliar.

Indeed, despite the measures he and Fugaku had taken, the village and the Uchiha had continued drifting apart, with conflicts erupting frequently. Most had stemmed from public opinion widening the rift between the village's shinobi and the Uchiha, while those stirring up that opinion... had seemingly appeared out of thin air.

He hadn't known until he investigated, and what he found gave Hiruzen Sarutobi quite a shock. Similar incidents had happened in Konoha several times before, including the suicide of Konoha's White Fang and Orochimaru's defection over human experimentation.

His thorough investigation even uncovered traces of the same people in the records of the Nine-Tails' Attack six years earlier.

He knew better than anyone what had happened back then. It couldn't possibly have been the Uchiha's doing-at least, not the village's Uchiha. Did any of them have that kind of power? If they did, the entire shinobi world would have known long ago. Forget lying low until now; they probably would have scorned exploiting someone else's vulnerability and openly overturned the whole order instead.

And everyone knew the Uchiha had done nothing on the Night of the Nine-Tails. Hiruzen Sarutobi had always assumed Fugaku had dared do nothing in such a sensitive position. Only now did he discover that the entire Uchiha Clan had mobilized that night, only to turn back before making it down a single street.

At first, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been rather heartened by that discovery. It proved the Uchiha were willing to stand with the village through adversity, unlike his old friend who constantly talked about the village but never did anything.

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi discovered the rest. Who the fuck said Danzo hadn't done anything? He was the one who had led his men to block the Uchiha and force them back!

Even the rift between the Uchiha and the village over these years was largely the result of this bastard's incessant provocation. The information uncovered through this investigation and questioning alone was downright appalling.

Fucking Danzo!

Almost every bad thing had this bastard's fucking fingerprints all over it!

And he still wanted to scheme his way into ousting Hiruzen Sarutobi and becoming Hokage himself? Go shoulder your own dirty deeds and eat a heaping plate of shit!

Fuck you! Bastard!

Closing his eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long breath and suppressed his anger. Then he fixed a cold stare on Danzo's lone eye and raised three fingers.

"First, as soon as you get back, withdraw every Root operative you have around the Uchiha and the Jinchūriki."

"Second, pull back every tendril Root has extended. You have three days. Don't make me act."

"You!"

"One day. After one day, I will conduct a thorough investigation of the village."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared Danzo down, his voice icy and leaving no room for argument.

"Third, starting today, I don't want to see you or Root make a single move regarding the Uchiha. Let those five prisoners serve as your warning."

"What?!" Danzo flew into a rage. What was Hiruzen Sarutobi trying to do?! It didn't matter if he couldn't get those five back, but how could Hiruzen Sarutobi, who always compromised, suddenly be so forceful?!

"Do you object?"

Danzo was about to lash out as usual, but when he saw the meaning in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, his own gaze instantly cleared considerably. Hiruzen Sarutobi was serious.

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

After a long silence, Danzo snorted coldly. There would be plenty of time yet. Leaving that threat behind, he turned and departed.

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

Bang!!

The door slammed hard. Inside the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes with a frown and lit another pipeful to steady his mood.

A moment later, someone knocked.

"Come in. All three of you."

Looking sideways at the Kage Rock outside the window, Hiruzen Sarutobi listened as Iruka recounted Sasuke and Naruto's antics at the Ninja Academy over the past six months and their mischief before enrolling. He turned his gaze away from the Fourth Hokage's carved face, lifted his chin, and passed over the ANBU files on the two boys. After dismissing Iruka, he indicated that Kakashi and Guy could share their opinions.

"Now that you've heard what those two brats have been doing, what do you think?"

"Hahahaha! Those two brats certainly have energy! But... when they skip class to train on their own, why is almost all their training taijutsu, aside from tree climbing and Water Walking?"

Scratching his head, Guy noticed something was off.

Never mind their daily mischief and close friendships with the other kids they got along with-their training regimen seemed seriously questionable.

An Uzumaki had plenty of chakra. A Jinchūriki had even more. So why did he spend every day punching trees, kicking trees, and lifting rocks?

And that Uchiha brat wasn't practicing a single genjutsu or ninjutsu. Why had he joined the Jinchūriki in specializing in taijutsu? In fact, he seemed to be leading the Jinchūriki, diving headfirst into taijutsu without any intention of turning back.

Moreover, at such a young age, he was trying to develop Lightning Release Nintaijutsu?

"When Naruto was ostracized, he ignored everyone else's opinions and became his closest friend. He taught Naruto to repay kindness with kindness and resentment with justice.

Despite being two children whose identities make them universally disliked, they enjoy considerable standing among their peers. Childhood friendships are pure. If this trend continues and someone gives it a push, Konoha's next generation will be united as one.

That does seem somewhat at odds with being a shinobi, but overall, Sasuke Uchiha has a profound and highly distinctive understanding of the Will of Fire. Whether in talent or insight, it's hard to believe he's a child not yet seven.

Still, judging by his disregard for rules, he certainly has the pride buried deep within the Uchiha Clan."

Reading the report, Kakashi's gaze flickered. Although the boy was different in every respect, he saw a faint shadow of someone he had once known.

"Hahahaha! Kakashi, you're absolutely right. This child is extraordinarily gifted. But before they are shinobi, they are people, friends, companions. Countless sparks coming together into an endlessly burning flame-that is the true Will of Fire."

Tapping his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Kakashi a satisfied look, feeling somewhat wistful, then handed over another file.

Knowing Danzo, that bastard would never let this go. Finding someone to protect these two brats would have to become a priority, along with addressing certain problems discovered at the Ninja Academy over the years...

At that thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag.

Fucking Danzo!

It had to be Danzo's fault that he'd neglected reforming the Ninja Academy!

The more he thought about it, the more Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that Danzo was the source of every last damned problem in existence. Almost anything bad in Konoha could be called one of Danzo's schemes. From major events like the deaths of Minato Namikaze and Hatake Sakumo to something as minor as a toothache today, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt he could pin it on Danzo.

Was Naruto wasting money, spending huge sums on limited-edition instant noodles and milk only to let them expire, also Danzo's scheme? Was he trying to ruin Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation, make those who knew the truth think him heartless and disloyal, and plant a thorn in Naruto's heart?

Following that logic, could Kumogakure's attempt to steal the Byakugan have been the result of Danzo allowing it?

Then was the poor quality of the pipe tobacco he'd bought these past few days also Danzo's plot, meant to sour his mood and make him retire sooner?

His gaze grew deep as Hiruzen Sarutobi sank into thought.

Meanwhile, as Kakashi read the file, his pupils abruptly contracted, and emotion flooded his normally impassive face.

What?! They'd actually been attacked inside the village?

If something had happened, how could he face his teacher and his teacher's wife?

But at that thought, Kakashi's expression suddenly froze.

It seemed... he had never had the right to face his teacher. All these years, his guilt had left him unable to face reality. He could only bury himself in missions to numb himself, even hoping to die on one as atonement.

Only now, there seemed to be a better way to atone...

Although the file did not identify who had tried to assassinate Sasuke and Naruto, Kakashi could tell from the scattered clues exactly which organization it had been.

Other than Root, which had once tried to assassinate the Hokage, what organization would be so audacious?

During that assassination attempt, he had fought Root experts as the Hokage's bodyguard. But how had these two brats survived five Root operatives?

Their eyes met, but Hiruzen Sarutobi offered no answer to Kakashi's question. He merely tapped the desk lightly.

"Since they like taijutsu and don't want to attend classes at the Ninja Academy, Guy, you can serve as their taijutsu instructor between missions. After all, taijutsu is a shinobi's foundation. Only with a solid foundation can they have a brighter future.

There's no need to teach them too much. Just occasionally offer advice and pointers as an expert who happens to be passing by."

After issuing a mission scroll and sending Guy and Iruka away, Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, organized his thoughts, and spoke.

"Kakashi, you're still young. People have to look ahead. You can't remain immersed in the past forever. ANBU no longer suits you as you are now. Let me put you in a different environment."

"...Yes."

After giving him some instructions and watching Kakashi leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi waved for the ANBU outside to collect a piece of intelligence and take it to Konoha's Military Police Force. Then he lit another pipeful and took two dossiers, one new and one old, from his drawer. Both were marked top secret, with access restricted to successive Hokage.

One contained the Second's research into the Senju and Uchiha bloodlines after the Battle of the Valley of the End.

The other file bore a name prominently across the top: Sasuke Uchiha.

"Wood Release...? How... how is that possible..."

Outside Sasuke's bedroom in the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Having just returned, Itachi was about to check on his adorable little brother when a troubled-looking Shisui stopped him and told him about Sasuke being attacked in the Forest of Death.

"Shisui... you, what did you say?!"

The three-colored dango he had brought for Sasuke suddenly fell from his hand. Uchiha Itachi trembled as though struck by lightning and stood rooted to the spot, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Root had actually attacked Sasuke in the Forest of Death?!

And there had been five Root operatives!!!

How could Sasuke possibly have survived that?!!

Why? Why would the village do this?! Shisui was already going to reveal his secret to the village to secure peace. Why wouldn't they spare even a six-year-old child?!

Why!!!

"Sigh. I never imagined this would turn out like this. Here, these are the three-colored dango Sasuke bought you. Before going to sleep, he said he was too tired to wait for you, so he asked me to wait here until you came back and give them to you."

Shaking his head helplessly, Shisui handed over the three-colored dango Sasuke had asked him to give Itachi before going to bed.

Along with them came a little note in Sasuke's crooked handwriting.

His handwriting was ugly to begin with, and since Sasuke had nearly been asleep while writing it, it was even uglier. The paper had also picked up some boar blood while they were roasting the wild boar, making it look rather filthy.

And weighed down by his worries, Shisui completely failed to notice how his words sounded to Itachi. The overly complicated situation merely left him with a bit of a headache.

[I brought back the dango you wanted yesterday. Go talk to Mom and Dad more when you've got time. Don't spend all day brooding. I'm too tired, so I'm going to sleep first.]

Silently accepting the three-colored dango, Uchiha Itachi's eyes turned scarlet. The dango and that note seemed to be the final straw, instantly shattering him. He staggered against the wall, bloody tears streaming from his eyes, then threw back his head and roared.

Sasuke was dead. He no longer cared to distinguish right from wrong. All he wanted now was for Danzo to die!!!

"Danzo, you old bastard! I swear I'll kill you!!!"

Creak-

"Yaaawn-

Who the fuck is that? Are you going to let me sleep or not?"

Startled by Itachi's reaction, Shisui looked utterly bewildered. Before he could speak, the bedroom door swung open, and Sasuke's groggy voice drifted out.

Uchiha Itachi, who had been heading outside with his blade in hand, instantly froze and turned back in disbelief.

"Huh?

Sa... Sasuke!? You... you're not dead?!"