Meeting and Rage

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The Sand Village (Suna) and the Sound Village (Otogakure) have joined forces in a plan to bring Konoha to its knees.

At the center of this conspiracy is none other than Orochimaru.

But behind the scenes, another key player lurks in the shadows—Shimura Danzo. Without Danzo's assistance, it would have been impossible for thousands of Suna shinobi and hundreds of Otogakure ninjas to infiltrate Konoha, evading detection by the village's border patrols and sneaking all the way to the outskirts of the Hidden Leaf.

Danzo, acting as the "third-party ally" in the plan to bring about the Konoha Crush, provided critical intelligence, covered their tracks, and erased evidence. Though his Root forces were small in number, each operative was an elite shinobi, at least of Chūnin rank, capable of turning the tide of battle.

The fact that these Root operatives weren't deployed to defend Konoha against external threats spoke volumes about Danzo's true intentions.

Danzo had only one goal—that Hiruzen Sarutobi would perish in this conflict. Even if Konoha suffered heavy losses, it mattered little to him. In Danzo's mind, Konoha possessed enough strength and resources to recover from any temporary setback. To him, the weakness in recent years wasn't the village's strength—it was Hiruzen's leadership.

Danzo believed that once he claimed the title of Hokage, he could restore Konoha's dominance in the ninja world. This was his unwavering "confidence."

The loss of a few Konoha ninjas? The death of civilians? The destruction of buildings? To Danzo, these were just minor sacrifices in the name of the "greater good."

But losing Menma, the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails? That was a line even Danzo couldn't cross.

The Nine-Tails was a strategic weapon—a power Danzo wouldn't allow to slip through his fingers.

When he received word that Menma had fallen under Orochimaru's influence, Danzo, the cold and calculating "Darkness of Konoha," could no longer contain his fury.

"Fools!" Danzo's voice was icy as he addressed the Root operative kneeling before him. "Send word to Orochimaru. Tell him to return the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki immediately, or he will face the consequences. I will not tolerate this insult."

Danzo, usually composed, couldn't stand being outmaneuvered by Orochimaru.

"Yes, Danzo-sama!" The Root shinobi bowed and vanished in a blur.

Another figure stepped from the shadows, kneeling before Danzo. "Danzo-sama, we've received a message from Mitokado Homura. There's an urgent council meeting. You are requested to attend immediately."

Danzo narrowed his eyes but gave a curt nod. "Understood. Ensure the tasks I've given are carried out without delay. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Danzo-sama!"

After issuing his orders, Danzo grabbed his cane and left the Root headquarters, making his way toward the Hokage's administrative building. As he passed beneath the towering Hokage Monument, he glanced up at the carved faces of Konoha's past leaders. His eyes briefly flickered with a mix of ambition and hunger.

Soon… it will be my turn.

With that thought lingering in his mind, Danzo ascended to the top floor, where the high-ranking officials were already gathered.

Inside the Hokage's office, four figures awaited him: Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, Jiraiya, and Nara Shikaku, the latter serving as the Hokage's chief strategist.

Danzo's gaze swept the room briefly before he took his seat on the far left, next to Homura.

Without preamble, Homura spoke up. "Danzo, you've arrived just in time. We were about to discuss the critical matter of Hokage succession. Now that Hiruzen has fallen in battle, we face numerous challenges, but first and foremost is selecting the next Hokage. Koharu and I are in agreement that Jiraiya is the most suitable candidate. We plan to submit his nomination to the Daimyō. We'd like you to co-sign the proposal."

Though the succession of the Hokage required the approval of the Fire Daimyō, everyone in the room knew it was largely a formality. The leaders of the five great shinobi villages had, for decades, been chosen by their villages, with little interference from their respective Daimyō.

The Daimyō's role was mostly symbolic. Once the village reached a consensus, the approval would follow without issue.

In fact, the only known case of Daimyō interference in Hokage succession occurred when Tsunade fell into a coma, and Kakashi was nominated to become the Sixth Hokage. However, even that scenario had been more about Danzo's political machinations than any genuine opposition from the Daimyō.

Whether in the original timeline or this alternate one, Danzo had always coveted the title of Hokage. So, when Homura—an old friend—spoke of supporting Jiraiya for the role, Danzo felt a cold knot tighten in his chest.

"I agree with Homura," Koharu added. "Jiraiya is the right choice for now. Danzo, I assume you share our opinion?"

Having been close allies for years, Koharu and Homura knew Danzo's ambition well. Though Hiruzen had often kept him in check, the two elders had also played their part in tempering Danzo's influence. They recognized his utility, but they were equally aware of the danger he posed to Konoha if given too much power.

Konoha needed Danzo for certain tasks, but the village couldn't afford to let him gain full control.

Now, with the Fifth Hokage position at stake, they were determined to keep him out of it.

Jiraiya, with his strength, reputation, and deep ties to the village, was the obvious choice to lead Konoha in its time of need.

Hearing his closest allies reject him so bluntly, Danzo's expression darkened. The room grew noticeably colder as his chakra flared, but after a moment, he regained his composure. He shot a fleeting glance at Jiraiya before responding in a low, measured voice, "If that's what you've decided, then I'll support it."

Though his tone remained calm, only Danzo knew the storm of anger and resentment brewing inside him.

Across the room, Nara Shikaku maintained a neutral expression, but inwardly, he let out a small sigh of relief. The immediate tension had passed—for now.

Before anyone could respond, Jiraiya, who had remained unusually quiet, suddenly spoke. "I appreciate the faith you all have in me, but I'm not the man for the job." He leaned back, folding his arms. "You know my nature—I'm just not cut out for a role like Hokage."

Danzo's eyes flickered with something dark, and Shikaku felt his stomach tighten. If Jiraiya turned down the offer, Danzo might see his chance, something that could plunge the village into a more precarious situation.

"Jiraiya," Koharu said sternly, "this is about the village's survival. We're not in a position to be selective."

Jiraiya waved a hand dismissively. "I'm not running from responsibility. I just believe there's someone more suited for the job than me." His face grew serious as his gaze swept across the room. "Tsunade."

A stunned silence followed. Shikaku's mind raced, quickly catching on to Jiraiya's reasoning. *Of course—Tsunade.*

"Tsunade?" Koharu echoed, raising an eyebrow. "She hasn't been seen in the village for years. Do you truly think she would return, much less accept the position?"

Jiraiya nodded firmly. "I'm confident. She's the best choice to lead Konoha. I'll take responsibility for tracking her down and bringing her back."

Homura and Koharu exchanged uneasy looks. After a brief pause, Homura said, "Very well, Jiraiya. You may go in search of her, but if Tsunade refuses to return or you cannot find her, you'll have to take the mantle of Hokage yourself. The village cannot afford a prolonged absence of leadership."

Jiraiya's face was set with determination. "I understand. But trust me—I'll bring her back."

Danzo, standing silently, fumed inwardly. He had no intention of allowing Jiraiya—or Tsunade—to stand in the way of his long-held ambition. He had spent his life in service to Konoha's future, but it was a future with him in control.

"Good," Koharu said, her voice softening slightly. "In the meantime, Shikaku will handle matters with the Daimyō. We must reassure the other nations that Konoha's leadership remains strong."

Shikaku nodded, though his thoughts lingered on other pressing issues. *Sunagakure's betrayal, Orochimaru's attack, and most troubling of all—Menma.*

The rogue Uzumaki, the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, had defected to Orochimaru's side. With the power of the Kyūbi under his control, Orochimaru could deal a devastating blow to the village.

As if reading his thoughts, Homura spoke up again. "There's another critical matter: Uzumaki Menma. We need to retrieve him before Orochimaru uses the Nine-Tails against us."

Koharu nodded grimly. "He is our top priority. We can't afford for the Nine-Tails to remain outside Konoha's control. The threat is far too great."

"I'll take care of it," Shikaku offered. "I'll work with the ANBU to track Menma down, but we'll need more than brute force to bring him back. This must be handled delicately."

"I can assist with that," Jiraiya interjected. "While I'm out searching for Tsunade, I'll also gather information on Orochimaru's movements and Menma's whereabouts."

Homura nodded thoughtfully. "Be cautious, Jiraiya. The stakes are high."

Jiraiya's usual carefree demeanor returned with a grin. "Don't worry, I've handled worse. Besides, no one knows Orochimaru better than me."

Danzo, still silent, gripped his cane tighter, his eyes cold. While the council focused on finding Tsunade and retrieving Menma, Danzo's mind was already racing with plans of his own. He couldn't allow Jiraiya, and especially not Tsunade, to get in his way.

He wouldn't let anyone stop him from taking the seat of Hokage.

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