A crow arrived in the Hokage Office, pecking at the window.
Hiruzen has been distressed after Onoki wiped out the main camp in Land of Grass against Iwa, so as soon as he saw Kei's crow, he felt some relief.
It seems that atleast one important ninja is alive.
And since the crow arrived directly at the Hokage Office and not the border camp, it is definitely a serious matter. It doesn't seem like she would have escaped without some serious injuries.
He unfurled the scroll, and sighed as he read it.
"Onoki directly attacked the camp. I have barely managed to escape after he turned my arm and legs to dust. Survivors: Unknown.
He knew exactly where the camp was, and where I was located exactly.
Again, a traitor, most likely a Yamanaka from ROOT tried to kill me by betraying the village.
I am retiring.
Please prepare the compensation for the assassination attempt, and the loss due to your boyfriend obviously leaking my location.
If I was properly rewarded for my war efforts and given Flying Thunder God, not only I wouldn't have lost my limbs and turned cripple, but I could have saved many heroes.
And I hope you won't share my survival to the whole world, especially your 'friend' Danzo. He might become so happy that he might send another Aburame or Yamanaka or who knows who to finish the job that Onoki couldn't."
Hiruzen sighed as he read it, and the scroll disintegrated by itself.
It seems that she is really pissed after loosing her arm and legs.
The letter was as if she is scolding him. And calling Danzo his 'boyfriend'!?
It seems that she has become delusional with paranoia. Danzo will never betray the village as she is accusing him.
Just then, Danzo barged in.
"Hiruzen! Did any news arrive from that camp!? I saw a crow flying in."
Danzo was grumpy and mad.
Kei Uchiha is a serious threat.
She has reached the strength and reputation necessary for becoming a Hokage candidate.
While Orochimaru, and now Minato has reached the level by killing Third Raikage yesterday, there shouldn't be even a possibility of an Uchiha becoming even a candidate for Hokage.
His last assassination attempt failed. Not only she killed Onoki's son, but his elite Aburame ROOT was 'killed in crossfire' officially.
And she leaked this in the entire village that the Aburame tried to assassinate her by storming into the Aburame clan, and Shibi told her that the particular Aburame ninja was ROOT ninja.
Now, there are some ridiculous rumours flying around that Danzo assassinated major Senju clan members like First Hokage's grandson Nawaki, Hatake Sakumo, and lots of Uchihas.
Ridiculous!
He didn't have anything to do with that foolish brat Nawaki!
And as for Sakumo, he just spread rumours and leaked the mission failure to drag down his reputation, so that he couldn't become the Hokage. Who would have thought that he was so fragile that he committed suicide!?
He didn't assassinate any member of Senju clan. They just died in experimentation with Hashirama cells.
As for the Uchihas, it wasn't assassination. It was cutting off the strong cancer cells of the cancer that is Uchiha clan and getting Sharingan.
And she is the most problematic cancer cell that just refuses to die.
Recognising that she has gained the strength to become the next Hokage, he decided to sacrifice the whole main camp. The previous attempt with Onoki's son failed.
Afterall, she is very good at escaping. And her guard would be the lowest in the camp itself.
He had been trying to play both Iwa and Kumo against each other to betray their alliance, and somehow managed to make a deal with Onoki.
But after informed by his ROOT that a crow entered Hokage Office, Danzo seethed.
Useless Onoki!
He calls himself a Kage and can't even kill a brat!?
Hiruzen decided to ignore the wishes of a now retired kunoichi, and spilled the beans.
"Onoki attacked the main camp. Someone leaked the location. His main target was Kei.
She somehow managed to escape, but has lost her limbs. She won't be able to handle Iwa anymore.
So Danzo, take your ROOTs and immediately head to the Iwa battlefield. Minato and Jiraiya are Kumo, and Orochimaru can't leave the Suna battlefield."
Danzo was satisfied with this outcome.
Even if Kei survived, after loosing her limbs, she won't be able to compete for the Hokage seat. And her frightening learning speed means that her Sharingan is powerful. He will take her eyes and use them for the greater good of the village.
But, heading to Iwa battlefield is dangerous. That Onoki might turn against him and kill him. Dust Release is too formidable.
"Hiruzen, I am crippled-"
"I heard that you have been meeting with Hanzo in secret. Dust Release can easily be countered by dodging. It's slow.
But Hanzo's poison can't really be dodged or easily dealt properly with even with wind release. Some poison will reach.
Without Tsunade, going against him is basically suicide.
So, I believe that you are more than capable."
Danzo frowned. His most powerful ROOT was killed by Kei in the last assassination attempt.
And there is no powerful enough ninja to protect him against Onoki if he goes in person.
Hyuga Hizashi is likely killed by Onoki. And Hiashi won't step on dangerous battlefield because he is from the main family.
"Let Orochimaru come with me-"
"No. Orochimaru can't leave the Suna battlefield."
"Shikaku-"
"Ino-Shika-Cho also can't leave the Kumo battlefield."
"Jiraiya. Third Raikage is already dead."
"Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee have gone mad for revenge. Jiraiya can't leave Kumo either."
"You are the Hokage. A Kage should go against another Kage."
"Danzo, you are my friend and rival. I consider you to be have strength equal to me.
Afterall, you were just a hand-raise late than me from becoming the Hokage, right?"
Danzo gritted his teeth, and said,
"Hiruzen, you will regret this!"
"Danzo, I am the Hokage."
"Fine! I will go!"
Danzo grumbled and left the office, shutting the door behind him with force.
Hiruzen sighed in relief and slumped down on his chair, looking at the Uchiha clan compound in the center of the village.
Senju clan has disappeared. Many died in the First Ninja War, many died in hopes of awakening Wood Release by transplantation of Hashirama cells, and the the remaining ones slowly left the compound and mingled with the village, abandoning the Senju name in fear of getting targeted.
Nawaki died in Second Ninja War. Tsunade developed haemophobia and left the village, and Kushina now lives with Minato. Moreover, Tsunade has gambled away all the assets of the Senju clan.
So right now, Uchiha clan is undoubtedly the strongest clan. Gaining much more strength since they had to be deployed in war and many have gained Sharingan because of it. Thankfully, the comrades that died for awakening their Sharingan were mostly Uchihas as well.
While Fugaku has been handling Kiri well enough, he can't compare to Minato. But Kei's reputation had been very strong.
Afterall, because of her vapourising the Iwa camps with her flashy ninjutsu, the casualties on the Iwa battlefield was the least. And she had developed good friendship with Hizashi, and in turn Hyuga clan who helped her in finding Iwa camps.
And Kei actually killed Onoki's son and made the Iwa Jinchurikis to wait inside their village in fear of loosing them.
Infact, Han has deserted Iwa a few weeks ago, which Uchiha clan will surely boast that he got scared of Kei. That's why he hasn't released that information yet.
And she had stormed into the Aburame clan and handed over the body of the traitor who led her into the trap that Onoki's son had placed, and demanded huge compensation from the Aburame clan after the war ends.
Shibi threw Danzo under the bus, telling her that the Aburame ninja was Danzo's subordinate.
And rumours have spread about Danzo targeting her and lots of others, which was no doubt spread by her.
'Sigh... she doesn't care that it is war-time, causing internal conflict...'
Uchiha clan has already been enraged about their next Hokage candidate aside from Fugaku being targeted, and once they know that she has lost her limbs, rumours will surely spread that Danzo betrayed the village and colluded with Onoki.
That's why, he sent Danzo away from the village.
Well, since the main camp is most likely wiped out by Onoki, and it will take time before Kei arrives...
'Kei abandoned the camp...'
That will be enough to suppress the rumours against Danzo. Afterall, her own teammates also died one after another, and only she survived.
Compared to Kei who can't fight anymore, Danzo is more valuable for the village.
Hiruzen sighed and looked at the portrait of the First Hokage.
If he was as strong as First Hokage, he wouldn't have to sacrifice some people of the village for maintaining stability.
Well, he have also punished Danzo by sending him to Iwa battlefield, and negotiate with Onoki.
Hiruzen could only let out a tired sigh.
He has decided, after the war ends, he will retire for all the lives that were lost because of him being not as strong as First, or even Second Hokage.
Still...
"Kitsune, tell Tsunade to come back to the village, even for two-three weeks."
The most he can do for Kei is to have Tsunade treat her to calm her and Uchiha clan down.