Late night.
Hokage's office.
"Old man, go rest."
Tsunade looked at the haggard Hiruzen Sarutobi and suggested.
"Yeah, Hiruzen, leave this to us."
Shimura Danzo was in a wonderful mood, but his face showed concern for his friend.
"I'm fine."
Hiruzen waved a hand. "I'm a father, but first and foremost I'm the Hokage. I won't let personal feelings influence Konoha."
Danzo's expression froze.
Hokage! Hokage! So annoying!
"This can't be hidden. Announce it."
Hiruzen scanned the documents and sighed.
Other than some missing Uchiha clansmen, all other ninja were dead.
Konoha's combat power had been reduced by at least a tenth.
"As for Sasuke…"
Hiruzen hadn't finished when Danzo cut in.
"Leave him to me!"
A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "No one can guarantee Sasuke won't become another Itachi. Let him join Root—I'll forge him into a blade loyal to Konoha that will never betray us."
Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan was too strong.
Whether Sasuke could reach that level or not, it was best to have him in hand.
And with him, he'd have leverage over Itachi.
Prevent waking up at night to a pair of Mangekyo staring at him.
"Hmph. Giving him to you would only ruin a prodigy."
Hiruzen's voice hardened. "Sasuke stays as he is. I'll find him a good teacher."
"Hiruzen, you—"
"I won't regret this."
Hiruzen cut off his spell of words, then asked coldly, "As for your unauthorized actions—what do you have to say?"
Danzo blinked in surprise. Not getting to say "You'll regret it" made him a bit uncomfortable.
But he couldn't dwell on it. He declared righteously, "Everything I did was for Konoha!"
"Enough! Konoha is not your tool for personal gain!"
Already furious over Sarutobi Seinosuke's death, Hiruzen snapped, "Effective immediately, Root is disbanded!"
"What?!"
Danzo's heart lurched. "I do not agree!"
"Also, you're removed as head of Root and as Hokage's advisor. Go retire, Danzo."
Hiruzen's face was iron, merciless.
Koharu and Homura, who'd been watching, were stunned.
It had been a long time since they'd seen Hiruzen act so decisively.
"Hiruzen?!"
Danzo was incredulous. "I've served Konoha! I've bled for Konoha! You can't do this!"
Hiruzen looked at him, unmoved.
"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
Danzo gritted his teeth, face twisted with resentment, and stormed out.
Outside the Hokage building, his expression was as dark as the night.
He flashed away with Body Flicker and returned to Root.
…
"Lord Danzo."
Several figures knelt before him.
"Ryoma, go to the Sarutobi compound. Get rid of Hiruzen's grandson. Make it clean."
Danzo issued orders coldly.
You stayed calm when one Sarutobi died.
How about when it's your unborn grandson too?
"Fū Yamanaka, spread a story."
Danzo continued, "Say the Uchiha downfall began because they kidnapped and killed Sarutobi Seinosuke."
He didn't believe Hiruzen could hold out.
And Hiruzen cared deeply about his image.
A blend of truth and lies would sow doubt about him.
Triple mental strikes—if Hiruzen could still remain Hokage,
Danzo would accept his loss.
"Hiruzen, you showed no mercy—don't blame me for answering in kind."
He closed his eyes and gave the final order. "Go fetch Orochimaru."
…
Senju residence.
Natsume yawned.
He was waiting for Tsunade to come back.
It was almost 2 a.m.
He could only say, wow.
They'd been discussing that long—what were they even doing?
"Why not go sleep in your room?"
Tsunade opened the door and saw Natsume on the sofa.
"Waiting for you."
Natsume rubbed his eyes. "Any later and I would've dozed off."
Warmth flowed through Tsunade's heart.
No matter how late she came home, someone waited.
It was a feeling worth remembering.
"Sorry. Too much happened tonight."
She walked up to him. "Go to your room first, I'll take a shower."
"Carry me."
Natsume refused to move from the sofa.
In his previous life, this would've never flown.
But in the ninja world, Tsunade was basically a super strongwoman.
"Why are you like a child?"
She rolled her eyes, but her body was honest—she bent down and lifted him.
A proper princess carry.
Warm and comfy.
Then he was ruthlessly tossed into bed.
Rough, nothing princess-like at all.
Natsume tugged at the corner of his mouth. Wicked woman.
He lay there, and half an hour later Tsunade returned.
She wore a white nightdress, hair blown dry and loose down her back.
Compared to her usual self, a little less heroic, a little more relaxed.
Tsunade turned off the lights.
And was immediately hugged.
She didn't push him away. On the contrary, the day's accumulated fatigue slowly melted.
So nice.
Cheek to cheek, feeling his warmth, Tsunade drifted into sleep.
…
A new day dawned.
While the two slept, news of the Uchiha massacre spread through Konoha overnight, causing a huge sensation.
Not just civilians—even clans found it unbelievable.
The Uchiha's strength was universally acknowledged.
Even those who disliked them didn't deny their power.
And such a clan had been wiped out in a single night, leaving only one orphan, Sasuke.
How absurd.
[Because of your actions, Sarutobi Konohamaru's fate has changed. You gained 100 Fate Points.]
[Because of your actions, Hiruzen Sarutobi's fate has changed. You gained 80 Fate Points.]
The notification woke Natsume with a start.
He was confused.
Konohamaru too?
"Lady Tsunade!"
With Shizune's anxious voice, the door slid open.
She froze.
Tsunade, still asleep, was cheek to cheek with Natsume, arms around him.
Hearing Shizune, she reflexively raised her head.
"I—I—I'm sorry!"
Shizune snapped out of it, bowed hard, and fled.
She was full of regret.
Should've knocked.
"…?"
Tsunade turned to stone on the spot.
Moments later, face flushed, she wanted to flee the ninja world.
"Uh…"
Natsume scratched his head, about to say something, when Tsunade punched him and sent him flying into the corner.