Danzo’s Crisis

Within minutes, a dozen medical ninjas rushed into the Hokage's office. Danzo, unconscious and battered, was quickly placed on a stretcher. Medical ninjas surrounded him, employing Sage Jutsu in a frantic attempt to stabilize him.

"This isn't good!" one of the medical ninjas exclaimed. "The Wind Release Chakra in Danzo-sama is spiraling out of control again!"

Danzo lay on the stretcher, his body marked with fresh, bloody wounds that appeared faster than the medical team could treat them. Kakashi watched the scene unfold, his face grim. The wounds on Danzo's body looked suspiciously like those caused by Naruto's Wind Release and Blood Storm Technique.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, picked up his cigarette rod and started smoking furiously. He reflected on the recent developments with a mix of frustration and nostalgia.

Danzo had visited the office for the first time in three years, and Hiruzen had been somewhat nostalgic for their old confrontations. However, Danzo's recent behavior, specifically his secretive practice of forbidden techniques that Hiruzen had warned him against, had led to this crisis.

Why did Danzo have to learn such dangerous techniques? Hiruzen thought. And now he's paying the price. If he dies, it could be considered a strange sort of victory... especially since he always plotted against me.

Kakashi's thoughts mirrored Hiruzen's, though he felt a twinge of sadness. He knew about Danzo's covert activities and couldn't help but think that Naruto had done something beneficial for the village by putting Danzo in this state.

Naruto, oblivious to the full extent of the situation, looked at the dying Danzo with growing anxiety. Danzo, don't die now! he thought. Who will Sasuke get his revenge on if you die?

Fuming at the situation, Naruto ran up to the medical ninjas, his concern palpable. "Doctors! Is this old man going to be okay? How can he suffer like this at his age?"

The medical ninjas, too engrossed in their work to respond, ignored Naruto's pleas. He stood off to the side, anxiously praying for Danzo's recovery.

As Naruto watched, it became clear that Danzo's wounds resembled those from Wind Release Ninjutsu. A sudden realization hit him.

It must be Orochimaru! Naruto thought. With the Chūnin exam coming up, Orochimaru must have teamed up with the Sunagakure ninjas to attack Danzo and disrupt Konoha's plans!

Naruto glared at the injured Danzo and, in a dramatic fashion, addressed the room. "Who could have used Wind Release Ninjutsu to harm our old man from the Leaf Village?"

The Third Hokage's face went blank with shock. Danzo's blood pressure, already unstable, surged dangerously high upon hearing Naruto's accusation. His condition worsened, and he lost consciousness entirely.

"This is terrible!" the medical ninjas cried out. "Danzo-sama's blood pressure has spiked! We need to move him to the hospital—quickly!"

Hiruzen, his frustration evident, snapped at Naruto. "Naruto, stop disturbing the medical ninjas and come here!"

Naruto, still looking worried, reluctantly complied but kept glancing back at Danzo. If one didn't know better, it would seem like he was a close relative.

Hiruzen, visibly stressed, grabbed some antihypertensive medication from his drawer and took it himself. Meanwhile, the medical ninjas finished their work and quickly transported Danzo to the hospital.

As the medical team left, the ninja who had gone to collect the mission reward returned. Hiruzen handed the reward for Team 7's mission to Kakashi, who divided the 18 million taels among the team. Each member received 4.5 million taels.

Naruto, glancing at his share, turned to Hiruzen with a mischievous smile. "Grandpa Third Generation! I want to issue an S-rank mission!"

Hiruzen's eyes widened. "What's the mission?"

"I suspect there are spies from Sunagakure in the village!" Naruto declared. "I want Team 7 to investigate this for a month!"

The room fell silent, with everyone staring at Naruto in shock. Team 7 exchanged bewildered glances.

Kakashi knew Naruto's motives; he was just trying to ensure that the villagers wouldn't use the mission reward to remove their team again.

Hiruzen, initially stunned, quickly realized that rejecting Naruto's request might lead to trouble. He was reminded of past events when villagers had used similar tactics to remove Team 7. If he refused, Naruto might cause chaos.

Just then, a secretary approached Hiruzen, whispering urgently. "Lord Third Generation, Jiraiya-sama sent word that he will be returning to the village soon."

Hiruzen's face lit up with joy. The long-awaited return of Jiraiya was finally approaching, and it overshadowed even Danzo's critical condition.

"Hahaha! Naruto, I approve your mission!" Hiruzen declared with a hearty laugh. "You'll handle the task of finding the spies!"

He gestured for the secretary to draft the mission scroll, and Naruto, eager and triumphant, paid the fee and received the scroll.

As Kakashi and his team prepared to leave, Hiruzen stopped them. "Oh, and by the way, the village will be holding a joint Chūnin exam with other villages soon. I'll inform you of the specifics when the time comes."

Hiruzen then turned to his secretary. "Have the Genin completed the required tasks for the Chūnin exam?"

The secretary checked the records and replied, "As long as Naruto doesn't run off on another mission in the next two days, the Genin only need to complete a few more tasks to meet the promotion requirements."

Hiruzen sighed. Naruto's penchant for extreme missions had made it challenging for many Genin to qualify for the exam.

Just then, Hyuga Hiashi and Nara Shikaku entered the office.

"Third Generation-sama," Hiashi began, "we need to issue a C-rank mission worth 20 million taels..."

And so, amidst the chaos and the excitement of upcoming events, Konoha's leadership braced for the challenges ahead.