The warm sun of late autumn cast golden light over the village, a peaceful glow that made everything in Konoha seem calm and harmonious. The streets bustled with life. Laughter and the sounds of children training echoed in the distance. This was the Hidden Leaf Village—envied by many, admired by more.
But beneath this serenity, far below the towering faces of the Hokage Monument, hidden deep in the forests behind the cliffs, lay the secret base of Root.
Dim lights flickered above cold, iron-lined walls. The base was gloomy—cramped with the weight of secrecy and iron discipline. A few aging incandescent bulbs high above cast isolated pools of light on the metallic floor, while the rest of the base remained shrouded in oppressive darkness.
"Danzo-sama," came a voice, low and even. "Jiraiya has returned to the village. He's currently living with the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki."
Aburame Ryoma knelt on one knee before Danzo, his face blank, the high collar of his cloak masking any expression.
Danzo's expression twisted at the news, his wrinkled face growing even more severe, like a decaying mask of stone.
"…I see. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir."
Ryoma vanished in a silent flicker.
Danzo didn't hesitate. Without wasting a moment, he strode toward the Hokage's office, the heavy click of his cane echoing like a war drum.
Boom!
He threw the doors open, startling the ANBU outside. His lone eye glared.
"Hiruzen! How could you allow Jiraiya to live with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?! Are you out of your mind?! You know better than anyone what Jiraiya is like! The Jinchuriki can't be trusted to a man as irresponsible as him!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up from his desk, expecting yet another complaint about the Uchiha Clan. But instead, Danzo had come seething about something else—Naruto and Jiraiya.
Hiruzen sighed, exhaling a puff of smoke from his pipe.
"Danzo, Jiraiya made the decision himself to return to the village. He asked to stay with Naruto. I permitted it. Is there a problem?"
Danzo's scowl deepened. He hadn't expected such a calm response.
He had returned to the village under pretense—but in truth, he'd only come to assess Jiraiya's intentions. Danzo had long had designs on Naruto. Since the day the Nine-Tails was sealed inside him, he had tried to wrest control of the Jinchuriki, time and again—but always failed.
Now, with the Uchiha Clan rising in strength, Danzo grew uneasy. Root needed more power. He began recruiting from other clans, manipulating village ninja, even sending Root agents beyond the village to capture stray shinobi and missing-nin. Through the use of tongue-seal curses and mind-wiping techniques, he forcibly turned them into tools.
And now that his plans for Naruto were beginning anew, Hiruzen had brought back the one man who might stand in his way—Jiraiya.
The news had infuriated him. He sent Aburame Ryoma to monitor the Toad Sage's return. And the report confirmed his fears—Jiraiya wasn't just visiting. He was staying. With Naruto.
Danzo burst into the office, pretending righteous fury. But beneath it all, he felt the sting of bitter failure. Like a thief being robbed of a treasure he hadn't yet claimed.
"Hiruzen, I won't stand for it! Naruto is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki! He's not some orphan to coddle—he's a weapon! Emotions will only weaken him. He belongs with Root. Let me train him properly!"
Hiruzen's face tensed, the muscles in his jaw tightening.
"Danzo… I've told you before, and I'll say it again—Naruto is not a weapon. He's a child. And Jiraiya is more than capable of looking after him. He's my student."
Danzo sneered. "Orochimaru was your student too! Have you forgotten how that ended? Can you guarantee Jiraiya won't follow the same path? His return to the village—and his request to stay near the Jinchuriki—aren't you even the least bit suspicious?"
Hiruzen flinched at the name. Orochimaru. A scar that hadn't healed.
His voice dropped, calmer now. "Jiraiya is not Orochimaru. They're not the same. Jiraiya doesn't harbor darkness in his heart."
Danzo laughed coldly.
"How naive you've become. You forget—Orochimaru didn't begin as a traitor either. It was after experimenting with the First Hokage's cells that he turned. And what about Jiraiya? Wandering the world all these years. Where was his loyalty then?"
"You really believe he came back just to help Naruto? Or is he here to wrest the Jinchuriki from your control?"
He took a step forward, voice dropping to a hiss.
"Tsunade left the village. Orochimaru defected. And now, only Jiraiya has returned. Why? Why did only he answer your call?"
The words hung heavy. Hiruzen's faith wavered for just a heartbeat.
Danzo saw the crack and pressed harder. He knew Hiruzen—knew the weaknesses that power had carved into him. Decades ago, Danzo had quietly encouraged Hiruzen to frame Sakumo Hatake. He'd ensured Orochimaru's experiments came to light at the right moment. And when Minato died, it was Danzo who had pushed Hiruzen to reclaim the Hokage's seat.
He knew him too well.
Suspicion. Guilt. A thirst for power buried under good intentions.
But to Danzo's surprise, Hiruzen's voice came back steady.
"You may have a point, Danzo. But I still choose to trust Jiraiya. I believe he will not betray that trust."
Danzo stared, stunned. He hadn't expected rejection—not this time.
"You… you're choosing him over me?" he growled, finger trembling as it pointed accusingly. "After everything I've done for you?! I was your shadow! Your blade in the dark!"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
"That's exactly why I can't give Naruto to you. I know what you'll do. I know how far you'll go. And it's because I know you that I cannot entrust Naruto to Root."
"We've already taken too much from that boy. Let Jiraiya stay by his side. Let him have someone—for once in his life."
Danzo opened his mouth to object, but Hiruzen raised his hand.
"That's enough. I'm still the Hokage."
Danzo's jaw clenched. "You'll regret this, Hiruzen."
He turned on his heel, cloak flaring as he stormed from the room, bitter hatred simmering in his heart.
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