CHAPTER 20

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At that moment, Hiruzen flared up, his killing intent palpable, filling the office like a sudden storm.

His overwhelming chakra pressed against the room, making the air thick and stifling.

His face was a mask of cold fury as he growled, "You dare to teach me how to manage my village?" 

Danzo's smirk faltered, the room suddenly feeling far too small.

Hiruzen's gaze shifted sharply to Homura and Koharu, who sat rigid, unable to meet his eyes.

"And you two," he continued, voice now a low, dangerous rumble, "who gained your positions because of me—now you support this maniac in creating a secret organization when there is no need for it?"

His words dripped with venom, his chakra surging even more. "Are you challenging my authority as Hokage?"

The tension in the room was suffocating. The very walls seemed to pulse with the sheer power of Hiruzen's chakra, as if it would burst beyond the Hokage Tower itself.

Danzo's eyes widened, sweat beading at his temples. Homura's lips pressed into a thin line as a cold sweat trickled down his back, while Koharu's hands clenched the armrests of her chair, her knuckles white with strain.

All of them felt the crushing weight of Hiruzen's anger.

Before the situation could escalate any further, a calm voice broke through the oppressive atmosphere. "Hiruzen, that's enough. You shouldn't do that to your teammates."

The air shifted as Uchiha Kagami entered, his presence immediately dispersing the tension.

He stood between Hiruzen and the others, his body effortlessly absorbing the Hokage's chakra pressure, protecting the others from its effects.

His calm gaze locked with Hiruzen's.

"Kagami..." Hiruzen's voice softened, recognition and guilt washing over him.

His chakra receded, and the intense weight in the room lightened. He sighed, his anger dissipating, though the frustration lingered in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, everyone. This... this was my mistake." His voice was quieter now, though the edge of his authority remained.

Kagami smiled softly, his calm demeanor disarming the situation even further. "Hiruzen, I know you're doing what's best for the village. But we're all on the same side here. There's no need for this."

He turned his gaze to Danzo, Homura, and Koharu, his expression unreadable. "You should all listen to him. He wouldn't neglect the village's safety."

Homura, Koharu, and Danzo exchanged reluctant glances, nodding in agreement.

The silent understanding in Kagami's words carried weight, and they couldn't deny it, though none of them were truly satisfied. 

Hiruzen, now calmer, opened a drawer and pulled out a scroll, handing it to Kagami.

"I've already gathered all the necessary information about Amegakure." His voice was steady, returning to the controlled tone of a leader.

Kagami glanced at the scroll, nodding as Hiruzen continued, "The leader of the Rain Village is Hanzo. He's a water-style user, and he's known for his mastery of poison techniques. His weapon of choice is a kusarigama, and his strength is formidable, likely reaching Kage level."

Danzo's brow furrowed as he listened, his eyes narrowing at the mention of Hanzo.

"Another potential threat," he thought, though outwardly, he merely nodded in acknowledgment.

Hiruzen continued, his tone matter-of-fact, "However, Hanzo's following is still small. He commands between fifty and a hundred shinobi. His military strength is low, and for now, he's more focused on developing his village than making any aggressive moves."

The room was silent as everyone absorbed the information. Homura and Koharu nodded along, though their thoughts were far from compliant.

Homura's eyes flicked to Danzo, and Koharu's lips pressed into a tight line.

Inside, Homura seethed. "Who does he think he is?" he thought bitterly.

"Without us, he wouldn't even be Hokage. We backed him, and now he thinks he can treat us like this?"

Koharu shared the sentiment. Her thoughts mirrored Homura's, a dark glimmer in her eyes as she glanced between Danzo and Homura.

The two elders exchanged brief, knowing looks. A private meeting was clearly on the horizon.

Danzo, meanwhile, was more composed, though inside, his disgust for Hiruzen's behavior only deepened.

"Hiruzen has changed," he thought, his expression carefully neutral. "He's letting his power go to his head. For the sake of the Will of Fire, I have to stop him. Konoha will only thrive under my leadership."

Hiruzen, oblivious to the silent conspiracy growing in the room, spoke with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It's fine now. No need to apologize."

He turned to Koharu, his expression softening. "Koharu, you're a medical expert, one of the finest in the village. I have a new position for you. You'll leave your role as an elder and take over as the Director of the Medical Center."

Koharu's eyes widened in shock. "What?!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with outrage.

"You're removing me from the elder position? When did the village jōnin approve this? How can you transfer me to a new department without any notice?"

Her voice shook with fury, her eyes blazing with indignation. She was visibly fuming, her entire body tense as she glared at Hiruzen.

But Hiruzen remained unfazed, his calm demeanor unwavering.

"The village jōnin already approved it," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

"More than half of them voted in favor of this after I proposed it. As the student of the Second Hokage and an expert in medical jutsu, you're the most qualified for this position. Your expertise is vital, Koharu."

Koharu clenched her fists, barely containing her rage. But when Hiruzen met her gaze with an unwavering, expectant look, she knew she had no choice.

Her pride stung, and her anger simmered, but she managed to force out a bitter reply. "Yes, you can count on me."

Hiruzen handed her a scroll detailing the jōnin's approval and her appointment.

Though Koharu was livid, she couldn't argue against the facts presented to her.

Begrudgingly, she took the scroll, her fingers trembling with barely controlled anger.

The meeting ended soon after, but the tension lingered in the air, thick and unspoken. Resentment brewed, silently festering between the elders and Hiruzen, their once-united front now fractured.

Later that evening, Danzo sat alone in his Shimura clan residence, the dim light casting long shadows over his brooding face.

His mind churned with schemes. "Hiruzen's hold over the village is stronger than I expected," he mused, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the table. "But I'll weaken it. I'll let him think he's won, for now."

Danzo's gaze flickered to the darkness beyond his window, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"First, I'll consolidate my power. I need more than just brute strength; I need specialists. Koharu's influence over the medical corps will be key." He smirked.

"She may be angry with Hiruzen now, but I can use that anger. She'll help me, even if she doesn't realize it yet."

His thoughts trailed off as the wheels of his mind continued to spin, crafting the intricate web of plans that would one day see him rise to power.

He knew the path ahead would be fraught with danger, but he was prepared. 

The seat of Hokage will be within his grasp, and nothing—not Hiruzen, not Homura, not even Kagami—would stand in his way.

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