Battle For The Hat

Today was the day. The day the very future of Konohagakure would be determined for better or for ill. Would it remain in Hiruzen's capable hands until such a time as Naruto had grown to an appropriate age and power to rule or would it instead fall into the hands of his warhawk of a teammate, Danzo? Only time would tell and that time was nearing far too fast for Hiruzen's liking.

-

As the two elite ANBU level ninja (Kage) entered the massive battle arena both men knew instinctually what was at stake. Both of them could be seen wearing their respective clan's battle armor that was typical of the warring clan's era that had ended only a generation before their time. Hiruzen already had his personal bo staff in hand having summoned it just before entering the arena that was to be the home of their battle. Danzo held his katana in his. Hiruzen could clearly see the Root insignia on its grip. The sight alone sent the aged Hokage into a white-hot rage that he hadn't felt in many long years.

"I see you still have your army of mindless slaves Danzo. An army mind you that I ordered you to disband over five years ago. If Tobirama-sensei could see you now he would be greatly upset at how far you have fallen into the darkness of this world". Hiruzen yelled at his old teammate. The rage he felt at his wayward teammate was clear to Danzo but if his words mattered to him he didn't show it at all. Instead, he simply spoke in a calm tone of voice as if the two of them were not about to engage in battle for the very soul of the village.

"The village needs a true leader. One who is willing to do what must be done, what should have been done so long ago". Danzo replied calmly as he prepared himself for the upcoming battle. Seeing that the time for talk was over Hiruzen propelled himself at Danzo at a high rate of speed unseen since the dying days of the second great ninja world war. Danzo casually blocked the incoming attack before he began his own assault. This, in turn, forced Hiruzen to raise his bo staff in defense. The sound of metal on metal filled the air. Hiruzen quickly pulled out a kunai and attempted to stab Danzo in the gut with his right hand but Danzo simply blocked the attack before kicking the aged Hokage a few feet away.

"Is this it Hiruzen, is this the extent of your skill and power? Has your old age finally caught up with you after all this time"? Danzo said sounding disappointed with his old teammate and perhaps many years ago his friend. But that was before he was passed over for the role of the third Hokage. Since that day nearly 40 years before he had waited nearly all his life for his opportunity to take the hat and right this wrong. Now he finally had that opportunity and he wasn't about to allow it to slip away.

"No, my old friend I'm just getting started". Hiruzen replied before the air inside the arena was ionized by his rapid increase in power. Danzo knew that the fight for the Hokage position had now truly begun. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but feel some sense of joy in this battle. He hadn't been pushed this hard in years. Not since the dark days of the second great ninja world war that had taken their beloved sensei that in some ways had laid the groundwork for this very fight.

-

Kakashi meanwhile was busy training Naruto and Naruko in their small clan compound on the outskirts of the village. He could tell almost at once that both children had felt the sudden shift in the air. He had felt such power only once before in his life and that was a night he would sooner like to forget. It was still far too painful even after seven years had passed since the nine tails attack.

"Focus on the task at hand". Kakashi ordered and soon both of them resumed their training regime of trying to climb the trees that lay on the eastern-most side of their clan compound. He had tried to keep his mind on their training but he just couldn't help this feeling of dread he had been feeling for the past few hours. He wasn't a superstitious man by any means. But he sure as sage wasn't liking the quickly darkening sky that was now forming over the village. "That's a bad omen no matter who you are". Kakashi muttered to himself.

"You say something Kakashi-sensei". Naruto asked about a third of the way up his tree. For a child only one year into the ninja academy Naruto's proficiency in tree walking was honestly astonishing. Naruko wasn't far removed in that respect but Naruto was destined for far higher things in life. It didn't hurt that Naruto already wished to be the next Hokage and if his skills thus far were anything to go on he would one day wear the hat. Still what may happen one day didn't help the feeling he was now feeling this day. Doing his best to mask his emotions which in hindsight was fairly easy given his mask he turned towards the two and addressed them.

"No, just keep working you two". Kakashi said absentmindedly. All the while watching as the sky over the village seemed to grow ever darker as stormclouds started to roll in

-

Meanwhile back inside the arena, both men were currently locked in a heated battle. Earth Style: Earthen Wave. Hiruzen called out causing the ground to shift from under Danzo's feet. This caused Danzo to temporarily lose his balance. Upon seeing the opportunity Hiruzen quickly shot forward and slammed his bo staff hard into Danzo's gut. The hit sent him flying backward at speed for several dozen feet. It was only due to his instincts that he had managed to block most of that attack at all. Nevertheless, his clan's battle armor was now next to useless and so he rid himself of the now worthless weight.

"You still have time to forfeit this fight. We need not fight any longer". Hiruzen said hoping that his old teammate would see sense and stop this mad grab for power.

"You know as well as I that the time for that is over. My fate is now set. We have walked too far down this path to stop now". Danzo said as he bit his finger and started going through handsigns at a speed that would be little more than a blur to all but a few in the village. Hiruzen at once knew what he was doing and belittled himself greatly for not stopping him the second he started waving through the complex series of hand signs. In seconds a massive cloud of smoke appeared before him making it next to impossible to see what was happening. However, once the summoned creature walked into view Hiruzen was completely speechless. For what now stood in front of him was none other than one of the world's greatest summons. A massive gold-colored dragon with eyes as green as the training fields that dotted the village and the surrounding area for several dozen miles. This was not just any dragon but the king of dragons. How he had gotten his hands on such a highly prized scroll he didn't know but he knew at once he had to send word to an old contact of his before he was killed by this massive beast. So using a bit of power he called out a small monkey and sent it away before Danzo could notice anything.

-

Meanwhile far to the north in the Land Of Iron lived a blacksmith who was hard at work forging a sword for one of the many samurai that called the Land Of Iron their home. He was just about done with it when the sound of a summons made the man slowly turn and face the unexpected guest that now stood inside his blacksmith shop.

"A monkey...here"? The man said to himself. The man quickly began looking for his summons book upon realizing what this meant. The monkey as if understanding what the man was doing simply waited until he was ready. Only then did it begin to relay its message. It took some doing but in the end, the message was clear. He was needed in the Land Of Fire. He was needed in Konohagakure.

-

In a small resort town far from the Land Of Fire one could find two-thirds of a legendary trio.

"For the 1000th time, I'm not going back to that damnable village". Tsunade told her perverted teammate. Just as Jiraiya was about to reply the very same monkey appeared in a cloud of smoke. However, unlike the blacksmith before them, both could understand what the small primate was saying. Mostly anyway. Soon after it had left the air suddenly drop by several degrees. Jiraiya wasn't sure if it was the wind that was blowing or something far less pleasant. But if how his female teammate was shaking was any indication he would have to guess it was the latter. Jiraiya eyed his female teammate with concern.

"Did you know"? She asked her teammate. Her tone was both cold and distant.

"Minato was one of my best students...so of course, I knew. It is my job to know any and everything of significance in the elemental nations". Jiraiya replied carefully.

"You knew all this time and yet you never said anything...not once in seven years". Her tone grew ever colder and ever more distant. If such a thing was at all possible.

"No...never... it was just that...will you never let me say why... as soon as I would start you would always cut me off". Jiraiya replied to the buxom beauty next to him.

For a time nothing was said nor a sound made. It was as if the world had stopped in all its actions and activities. Tsunade finally at long last turned to face her teammate. "I'll return but only for them, am I clear"! Tsunade said in a way that left no room for misunderstanding.

"Yes, I understand". Jiraiya said before both ninja began the long trek home. A trek that would take the better part of the week.

-

Meanwhile in the village council chambers stood Danzo. All the assembled knew what this meant. Even if many of them would have loved for Hiruzen to be the man making the speech. However, his severed head was undeniable proof that was now and forevermore an impossibility. I, Danzo Shimura clan head of the Shimura and now fifth Hokage of Konohagakure henceforth call this meeting adjourned. As the many clan heads began to slowly file out Danzo couldn't help but feel a small bit of joy at his most recent accomplishment. But he would soon find that his rule would be an admittedly short one.