Chapter 21: Shinobi of Konoha

What does it mean to be a Shinobi ?

Is it to kill without hesitation?

Is it to save anyone who needs help?

Is to protect a clan? Or The village? Or a little brother?

Is it to sacrifice oneself for others?

Or was it to experience the pain of losing everything you hold dear?

For Kakashi,

It would probably be the last one.

Kakashi rushed towards Konoha hospital as he carried his disciple's unconscious body full of blood.

'Not again!' Kakashi shouted inside him as his eyes full of worry tries to hold back the tears forcing themselves to come out.

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A few hours earlier

"Kakashi, you've been on leave for a while now since your team members were promoted. Each of your disciples are currently taking on solo missions."

"So you mean to say that you'll be sending me on more missions from now on?"

"Not necessarily, why don't you just take this one. It's just a scheduled check up on Konoha's border. Since we got no one around to take it, why don't you check on it to lessen the eyes on you."

"I'll get to it." Kakashi accepted.

Who would have thought that upon entering the forest before the border, he would smell blood.

'was there a fight that occurred within these parts?'

Soon the stench became stronger as Kakashi felt he was getting close to it's origin.

Upon arriving at a clearing, what greeted him was actually his bright student's unconscious bloodied body.

Around him were 3 corpses whom Kakashi recognized as his disciple's family.

And some corpses he could only identify as anbu but not the one he was familiar with.

'Must be Danzo's root anbu'

Kakashi immediately went to check Osamu's status.

Osamu was alive but barely.

If he does nothing, who knows what'll happen?

Kakashi sealed the corpses and Osamu's family as he carried him and started rushing back to Konoha.

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"I need help!" Kakashi shouted taking the attention of everyone inside.

A doctor heard him and saw the bloody mess on his hands.

The doctor rushed and tried to calm down Kakashi but was mainly concerned of the patient on Kakashi Hands.

That was Himiko's son who failed to report this morning.

"Kakashi-sama no need to shout, let us take care of him."

"Please.." Kakashi replied and obeyed the doctor as the tears he held back since earlier came pouring out this time.

If you asked, why would a veteran shinobi cry over such person when he should be used to it by now.

Didn't he experienced losing more during the war?

His Father.

Obito.

Rin.

Minato and his wife, Kushina.

For years, Kakashi grieved for them.

He suffered while trying to cope of their absence in his life.

Now imagine having seen his Old teammate Obito in one Osamu.

Then he deeply cared for his disciple and taught him personally.

He made sure to teach him significant knowledge and skills that when the time comes, his disciple could fulfill his dream.

The dream to protect his precious people.

Despite that, his disciple still lost them.

Only he can understand what his disciple was feeling.

Only he knows that when, if his disciple wakes up, he will never be the same again.

That's why he will be there when Osamu wakes up.

He will be there so he won't lose another one.

"Summoning Jutsu"

His dog summons appeared in front of him.

"Take this scrolls and this letter to Hokage-sama. No need to say anything since it's all in the letter anyway."

The dogs didn't say anything and just obeyed his commands.

Their master's mood.

Was not the best at the moment.

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A few moments later

Hokage Tower

After Hiruzen read Kakashi's report and opening the scrolls containing root's remain, his chakra erupted as he commanded his own anbu.

"Summon all the clan leaders excluding the civilian council."

"I want every Jonin and Chunin on high alert as well. Have them all ready for anything, no, for everything that might happen. Do not bother Kakashi in the hospital."

"And also Summon Danzo for me but do not tell him of the clan heads attendance. Inform him that it is regarding an S-rank situation that only he and his roots can pull off."

The command was soft, it was given like any other daily task or mission.

However.

There was no reply.

There was only a shift in the air as Hiruzen felt their presence vanished ready to execute his command.

His Anbu felt it too. His tired and angry emotions as his chakra erupted earlier.

That was probably the reason why they didn't bother to reply to him and simply executed his command as their Hokage.

In their minds was a thought.

Their Hokage was old but his flames and strength as a shinobi was still there.

Somehow, their sleeping blood through out guarding him in these peaceful times, was boiling thinking about it as they went to their tasks.

Once Hiruzen Sarutobi was alone.

He began to ponder what to do next.

Hiruzen has many regrets in his life.

Tobirama's sacrifice for his disciples to escape.

The 2nd and 3rd Shinobi war and the lives lost in it

The loss of Sakumo for a failed mission probably due to Danzo's plotting, he was old but not blind, only afraid of more war and sacrifices.

And so the sacrifice of Hizashi Hyuga, for the so called peace with the village of kumo.

Minato and Kushina's death which according to Danzo, was Uchiha's ploy.

He should've known better of his old comrade. He tolerated him because of what he did was for the betterment of Konoha. He was supposed to be the darkness that protects in the shadow and not to harm his own village.

Itachi and the Uchiha Clan's massacre, once again, obviously a task given by Danzo in secret as he read Itachi's demand of protection for Sasuke Uchiha, his younger brother, the only one whom he spared.

Itachi's report regarding another sharingan user in the organization called Akatsuki and secret mission to infiltrate it.

The sharigan user was most probably the one involved in Minato's and Kushina's death during the nine-tails' rampage within the village.

His most prized student, Orochimaru's inhumane experiments.

How could he conduct it under his nose? Danzo's collaboration was the only answer that rang inside his head.

"What have you done, Danzo." Hiruzen did not lament. He was reeling in his fury for he no longer saw his old team-mate.

What he saw was an infectious disease killing Konoha.

What do you do to something that harms you?

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A few hours later every Clan head leader were present in the meeting office sitting on their designated chairs.

All from big to small was in attendance.

Yet not a single word was uttered.

Shallow breaths, that's the only sound heard.

Their attention were mostly on their Hokage who was wearing an unreadable expression.

Was this still their old and soft Hokage? What could've happened?

Soon the council elders entered and immediately read the atmosphere so they didn't say anythinga and simply sat at their designated chairs.

Then an Anbu arrived and whispered something to his ears.

He then commanded the Anbu, also in whisper to relay his orders to all present clan heads.

As soon as the Anbu did, the once quiet atmosphere got even more tense and eerily uncomfortable for any non-shinobi.

Only Mitokado and Utatane were unaware of what's going on. Hiruzen was currently untrustfull with his former comrades so he didn't tell them.

Then each Clan head ordered their immediate subordinates as each of them remained in the meeting room without any guard left.

Yet, no hostility against each other can be seen as that was the norm in every meeting of the clan heads.

After awhile, the door opened and Danzo walked in with confident stride accompanied by two subordinates.

He didn't expect the clan heads to be here but he knew them to be around even before coming in.

With great confidence he addressed the his former comrade.

"Hiru-"

He wasn't even finished when he felt the brunt of Hiruzen's chakra.

"Why?" The Hokage demanded.

Danzo looked at his old teammate and he saw none in the man's eye. He was not looking at his former comrade, he was looking at one furious Hokage.

He knows exactly what Hiruzen meant.

Even he was angry at his subordinates' failure to have Osamu or even kill him without living any evidence of their involvement!

How can 5 Jonin! Jonin!

He emphasized.

How can 5 Jonin failed to apprehend a fucking newbie Chunin?

Too bad, Danzo didn't know of Osamu's strength or even Sage mode.

Even Osamu himself probably still doesn't know he awakened something of significance.

In one piece world.

It is said anyone who possesses this type of Haki has the qualities of a king and thus are known as supreme rulers.

Once Osamu knows that, will he still bow his head towards the Daimyo?

Back to Danzo's arrival.

"What do you mean, Hiruzen?" Danzo decided to play it like a fool.

In fact he was not hopeful at all. That was the reason why he got 2 subordinates with him while the rest are on standby just a few distance from the meeting location.

"Elder Danzo. You are hereby charged for the crimes of having a Konoha chunin's entire family massacred."

"Nonsense! How could I do such a thing! I only do extreme methods but it was never to harm my fellows in Konoha."

Too bad all his answer went in one ear and out the other of Hiruzen now that he was taking a look at his Danzo's appearance.

Therefore, Hiruzen's next sentence was not within Danzo's expectations.

"I've always wondered. We are of the same age group. So why is it that only I, Mitokado and Utatane are looking old with grey hairs while you look like a man who's still in his prime if not for the bandages you wrapped around yourself all the time." Danzo became wary, something was definitely up.

All clan head leaders were present, even though his summon was supposed to be personal. Meaning, there was supposed to be only him and Hiruzen around.

"I wonder what it is you're hiding in there. Even your hair hasn't grown grey like the rest of us." Hiruzen's voice brought him out of his musings.

"All Clan head leaders, I command you as your Hokage, arrest Danzo and uncover his bandages!" As soon as he gave out the order his chakra pressured Danzo and his 2 subordinates.

Danzo however, knowing he cannot escape didn't run away but immediately opened his bandaged eye as the clan heads rushed to capture him.

Shadows, bugs, ninkens, senbons and even mind techniques erupted as it all pinned Danzo incapacitated.

While his two subordinates were blown to bits by an elongated staff and a huge hand coutesy of Hiruzen and Choza themselves.

Mitokado and Utatane were both stuck at their sitting position as several anbu were monitoring them.

Soon loud explosions and cries were heard outside. All present were aware of what was happening as they themselves mobilized their own clans.

It was a clash between Danzo's subordinates and every clan members, no and every konoha Shinobi.

As the command of their Hokage rang from the Anbu's whisper towards their Clan head's ears.

"As Hokage of Konoha, I order all clan heads, no, all leaders of Konoha's Shinobi. Protect the civilians from an incoming civil war and annihilate all enemies of Konoha! No mercy and no prisoners!"

The command was ruthless. It was not something the clan head leaders expected from their soft Hokage.

The sudden call up was not even within their expectation since it was still a few days away for their monthly meeting.

It was sudden and unexpected but at the same time, what they have been expecting from their Hokage, for a long time now.

From there, the command was relayed to their clans by their direct subordinates who were with them.

"To all of you who considers themselves a Shinobi of Konoha, the Hokage has passed down an order!"

"Protect the civilians from an incoming civil war and annihilate all enemies of konoha! No mercy and no prisoners!"

No further words were needed as Konoha, one of the biggest hidden villages, moved to eliminate it's enemies.

No one expected that they were no longer following the script painted for them to follow.

The butterfly effect and the storm came crashing down together.

Forever changing the destiny of people who lived in the Shinobi World.

End of Chapter

Words: 2000