CHAPTER 47

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A soft, early morning light crept over Konoha, casting a gentle glow over the village's rooftops.

But inside the Council Chamber, the atmosphere was anything but tranquil.

Three figures sat around a polished wooden table, the silence between them thick with tension.

Danzo Shimura leaned forward, his expression sharp as he broke the silence.

"Hiruzen has taken his disciples beyond the village walls on a B-rank mission," he began, his voice edged with a cold intent. His one visible eye glinted, a hint of something dark in his gaze.

Seated across from him were Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, former teammates of Hiruzen and respected members of the Konoha Council.

The two advisors exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.

"Danzo, we've been over this," Koharu said, her tone stern but restrained.

"Hiruzen has the authority to take his students beyond the village borders. They must learn to operate under real battle conditions."

"Exactly," Homura added, crossing his arms. "They're young, yes, but under Hiruzen's guidance, they'll grow stronger."

Danzo gave a slight smirk, his fingers tapping against the table rhythmically.

"Stronger, perhaps. But he coddles them, shields them too much from the true nature of war. They'll be no match for the dangers we face from beyond our borders if they are always under the protection of their 'kind' sensei."

Koharu narrowed her eyes. "Are you suggesting that Hiruzen isn't fit to train his students?"

Danzo chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. "Hiruzen's methods are... traditional, overly sentimental. He is more interested in creating loyal allies than hardened shinobi."

He took a moment, his gaze shifting toward the window.

In his mind, he envisioned Konoha's future as one where power was absolute, where loyalty was unquestioned, and where shinobi served with unwavering obedience—ideals he believed Hiruzen's compassion only undermined.

"I believe we need... contingency plans," Danzo continued. "If Hiruzen's methods fail, if he continues down this path, Konoha will be left vulnerable."

Homura frowned, a trace of doubt in his eyes. "What exactly are you proposing, Danzo?"

But Danzo waved a hand dismissively, his voice turning more measured. "Nothing for now. Only that we keep an eye on him. He may be the Hokage, but his actions concern all of us."

Koharu and Homura remained silent, their faces thoughtful but cautious. They knew Danzo too well to miss the underlying tension in his words.

However, neither were willing to confront him further—after all, Danzo's tactics, however severe, often yielded results. And for now, that was enough.

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Later that day, as Danzo left the Council Chamber, his mind raced with plans, machinations that he would enact without Koharu or Homura's knowledge.

Hiruzen had given him a perfect opportunity, taking his students into enemy territory without backup.

It was, to Danzo, an irresponsible risk that could have disastrous consequences.

He walked through the dimly lit corridors, turning a corner into a secluded chamber, hidden from the regular shinobi of the village.

Danzo entered the room where his most trusted Root subordinates awaited, their faces expressionless, clad in the muted gray and black uniforms of the Root Anbu.

Each one had been stripped of their emotions, trained to be unyielding tools of the Hidden Leaf's "darker" side.

"Prepare your squads," Danzo ordered, his voice carrying a quiet authority.

"We leave at once. Ensure you have all necessary gear; this will be no simple maneuver."

A young Root ninja, barely old enough to have seen true combat, stepped forward. "Will we be taking any specific actions, Danzo-sama?"

Danzo's lips curved into a slight, cold smile. "Hiruzen and his team have encountered rogue jonin in Uzumaki territory. Once his team engages, we will strike from the shadows. I expect... no survivors among them."

The young ninja bowed and disappeared down the hall to ready the others. 

In his thoughts, Danzo envisioned a scene where his team, his vision, stood victorious over Hiruzen's weakness.

And with him out of the way, Konoha could pursue a more "focused" path.

His mind ran through the numbers: he'd positioned 80 of his most loyal Root operatives for this ambush, plus the 20 to 30 shinobi from the Mitokado and Utatane clans.

This force would be more than enough to eliminate Hiruzen's team and cover any potential collateral damage.

He moved through Konoha with the fluidity of a shadow, reaching the outskirts where the Root operatives had assembled, each of them ready and waiting in complete silence.

Danzo surveyed them, a dark satisfaction curling in his chest. This was the strength he envisioned for Konoha—strength devoid of weakness, unyielding and absolute.

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The team moved swiftly through the trees, their movements seamless and undetectable.

Danzo led from the front, his eyes cold and calculating as they neared the battle site.

The woods were dense, thick with ancient trees and tangled underbrush that cast long shadows in the waning daylight.

His operatives spread out on his command, forming a perimeter that surrounded the rogue jonin's hideout where Hiruzen's team was engaged in combat.

From his concealed vantage point, Danzo watched as Hiruzen's students fought with impressive skill, each of them testing their limits against the rogue jonin and his underlings.

The cave entrance was littered with debris from their battle, kunai embedded in the stone, patches of burnt ground where fire techniques had struck, and discarded weapons from fallen enemies.

Danzo's gaze was sharp, studying each of Hiruzen's students as they moved through the battlefield.

Jiraiya unleashed fire techniques with fierce determination, his laughter echoing through the cave as he hurled fireball after fireball toward his enemies.

Tsunade, a whirlwind of strength and precision, dispatched her opponents with a brutal efficiency, her chakra-enhanced strikes causing small tremors upon impact.

Orochimaru moved with a deadly grace, his eyes cold and calculating as he outmaneuvered his foes.

"They're strong, but young," Danzo muttered under his breath.

"Hiruzen is leading them down a dangerous path, but they may yet serve a greater purpose... in a different Konoha."

Beside him, several Root operatives watched in silence, awaiting Danzo's signal.

In their minds, there were no questions, no hesitation—only obedience to their commander.

As the battle began to wind down, with Hiruzen's team gaining the upper hand against the rogue jonin and his forces, Danzo saw his moment.

He raised his hand, signaling his Root operatives to prepare for the ambush.

Slowly, the forest around the cave entrance filled with shadows as the Root ninja took their positions, their breaths barely audible, weapons ready to strike.

One of the Mitokado clan shinobi, who had been tasked with reconnaissance, whispered to Danzo. "They're nearly finished, Danzo-sama. Shall we proceed?"

Danzo's eyes narrowed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not yet. Let them wear themselves out further. I want Hiruzen and his students exhausted when we strike."

As the final rogue ninja Goro fell, the cave descended into silence, broken only by the sounds of Hiruzen's team catching their breath.

Danzo took one last look at his forces. Eighty Root operatives, along with the additional support from the Mitokado and Utatane clans, all hidden and ready to strike.

"Now," Danzo murmured, his voice a mere whisper that carried to each operative with precision. "We move."

Without a sound, the Root operatives and the Mitokado and Utatane shinobi surged forward, their movements a silent, deadly wave.

They closed in on Hiruzen and his team, their expressions unreadable beneath their masks.

The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows through the trees, obscuring their approach.

In the clearing, Hiruzen and his team were on edge, their senses alert after the intense battle with the rogue jonin.

But nothing could have prepared them for the sheer numbers that emerged from the shadows.

Danzo's forces encircled them, their presence looming like a dark cloud over the battlefield.

Hiruzen's face darkened, his stance shifting as he realized the enormity of the threat. "Danzo," he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with a mixture of shock and anger. "What are you doing?"

Danzo stepped forward, his expression hard and unyielding. "Securing Konoha's future," he replied coldly, gesturing to his assembled forces.

"You've let sentiment cloud your judgment, Hiruzen. It's time for a different path."

Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Sakumo, and Dai each took a defensive stance, their eyes darting between the approaching forces, realization dawning on them as they sensed the strength and purpose of the ambush.

"This is insane, Danzo!" Tsunade shouted, her voice filled with anger. "We're your allies!"

Danzo's gaze swept over them, emotionless. "Allies, perhaps. But not the kind Konoha needs."

He signaled his forces to advance. "Hiruzen has chosen to endanger the village by protecting weak ideologies. You will fall here today, and Konoha will become stronger."

With those words, the ambush began.

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