Hokage's choice

After a while of mental struggle, Hiruzen knew what he wanted to do.

What he wanted was peace, every Hokage wanted that and Mizuki was the best candidate for Hokage.

But alas, sacrificing themselves for peace is something Hokage are known to do, first did it to stop Madara, his teacher did it to save them, Minato did it to protect konoha, he too will do it someday.

Guess Mizuki's chance came much earlier than his..

' Sigh, even before you got the chance as Hokage you have to sacrifice yourself for Konoha.. Mizuki you truly are a worthy Hokage.. '

Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen looked at Danzo and compromised, for peace.

" Danzo, can you make certain that Mizuki is not pushed? If he agrees to this by his own accord then only we will proceed with the plan, otherwise we will think of something else. "

Danzo gave a small smile.

" Yes, I will make sure he willingly sacrifices himself. "

The elders nodded to this, they knew how Danzo worked, his promise meant absolutely nothing, and they thought Hiruzen obviously knew this too.

So according to them, he was smiling and telling Danzo to go wild, nobody in their right mind would think he actually meant Danzo to act peacefully.

" I see, go now. "

Danzo didn't say anything anymore as he picked up his cane and walked away, tapping on the ground.

The two elders too left giving a nod to Hiruzen.

Third was left alone in his office, his face hazy from the smoke.

Meanwhile Danzo was back at root.

Sitting on his chair, remarkably similar to the Hokage's own, Danzo called for a root ninja.

" Bring me Mizuki Senju's details. His family, habits, weakness, everything. "

The root just flickered away.

Danzo was sitting still for a minute, he slowly began to caress his bandaged eye.

" Mizuki, you will willingly do what is needed, the old man will make sure of that. "

Kotoamatsukami, Dazno would use that on Mizuki the first chance he gets, he wasn't about to push a Ninja that strong for something like this, Mizuki wasn't a fool, he would see they are trying to kill him with high sounding excuses.

And no Ninja would accept that, White Fang killed himself for this, he wasn't about to bet Mizuki would do the same and not counter kill them instead.

' You are too strong for your own good, but every strong person has weaknesses, you have them too. '

He had already affected one of Mizuki's surroundings before, that being Anko.

' Anko Mitarashi, she lived despite all she has been through, I suppose that is good, she will serve her purpose now. '

Danzo a while back wanted Anko gone, just one less Hokage candidate to worry about, so he decided to use kotoamatsukami on her a few years ago, maximising her desire to end her own life, a clean kill, this together with Orochimaru crippling her, she should by all means be dead by now.

' But that girl had too much mental fortitude, with sheer instinct she managed to fight against the Kotoamatsukami, her planted desire to end herself was transformed into creating a justu to die with Orochimaru instead, such a strong willpower, pity. '

Smirking, Dazno thought how to use her last value.

' Her curse seal and conflicting desires all these years have taken a toll on her mind, she has become increasingly unhinged, her present mental fortitude can't protect her form another Kotoamatsukami, she will be the backup, in case Mizuki isn't caught. '

Danzo wasn't worried about Anko getting out of his influence, only someone with the knowledge of Kotoamatsukami would even think of looking, and that someone needed to be strong enough to eliminate the jutsu.

But Anko meeting Mizuki had provided valuable emotional support, her mental strength was coming back using him as a source, so Danzo needed her gone, coincidentally Mizuki needed to die as well, so he will use them to kill eachother.

' Yes, just like Kabuto and the walking witch, they both shall end each other, one betrayal and one revenge, a perfect kill, don't worry Hiruzen, Konoha shall remain sunny, as root takes on the darkness. '

What Danzo didn't know was indeed, Anko should have been publicly acting crazy in the original timeline, cutting kids, licking their blood, laughing about mass children deaths, she would also go for the mutual death with Orochimaru, but after that, her behaviour abruptly started to mellow down.

It wasn't until Boruto that she completely let loose, and gave up her Ninja life.

If Mizuki knew this detail, he would understand at once, the recovery in Anko's behaviour started when Orochimaru met her at the Chunin exams and let her live..

Mizuki would understand, that Orochimaru, against all odds, had secretly helped Anko in the original, he didn't even kill her when he could have, that itself was a red flag.

But clearly, it was because Orochimaru never wanted to kill Anko, this will be the conclusion that he would arrive at.

But sadly he wasn't here, or had any idea about Danzo's current plans. So this tidbit would remain unknown for now, until the right time comes.

* Swish *

The root Ninja was back with the materials.

Danzo took the pages and started going through them.

He had a primary idea set, but having more doesn't hurt, especially against someone like Mizuki.

Clenching his fist, Dazno reminded himself it was all for Konoha.

' Hiruzen don't worry, I shall bear the darkness, while you shall remain in the light. '

Though Danzo knew Hiruzen gives him permission to act, sometimes he was truly confused by Hiruzen's rebukes, did Hiruzen really tell him to handle it peacefully?

Him? Konoha's darkness?

' No, Hiruzen knows better, he knows what the root does and what he stands for, him telling me to act peacefully is just a ruse, as Hokage must remain sunny.. '

Danzo convinced himself, but still, somewhere in a corner of his mind, he still felt Hiruzen was actually expecting peace..

That's absurd, even a child could see there was no peace to be had here, if Danzo didn't know for a fact Shisui didn't Kotoamatsukami Hiruzen and he himself never did, he would truly think this is the work of a mind under influence.

Shaking his head, Danzo got rid of the messy thoughts.

' No, Hiruzen has been like this since he was the Hokage, he had changed back then, Shisui wasn't even born that time.. Hiruzen is just naive.. your choice is wrong sensei, only I can bring Konoha to the top again. '

Danzo reaffirmed his thoughts, him telling Hiruzen ' you will regret it ' repeatedly actually had substance, him being a close friend, he could see Hiruzen takes childish decisions, so it was up to him, to take the reins from Hiruzen and save him from becoming Konoha's ultimate sinner..