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Danzo's POV – Hospital Room

Danzo sat in the dim hospital room, the harsh light reflecting off the bandages that covered the right side of his face and arm. His body ached, but his mind was far more troubled than the pain he felt from Hisato's attempt on his life. The burn of the failed assassination lingered, but it wasn't just Hisato that consumed his thoughts now.

Haruto.

The report lay open on his lap, detailing the young shinobi's performance in the Chunin Exams. His victories were impressive, unsettling even. But it was what Haruto had done before the exams that gnawed at Danzo's thoughts. After the failed assassination attempt on him, Hanzo found out his assassin had killed Aba-Chan, the old woman who had raised him like a mother.

Apparently his assassin thought Killing Abaa-Chan had been intended to destabilize him, to make him vulnerable, to throw him into emotional chaos.

But Haruto didn't break. He was flourishing.

Damn it.

He had flourished in the chunin exams.

Danzo's left hand clenched tightly, the muscles in his right arm twitching beneath the bandages. The experimental treatment he was receiving from the Hokage's cells was promising—his body was healing slowly but surely—but he couldn't afford to focus solely on his recovery. Not with someone like Haruto out there, growing stronger every day. Haruto knew, or at least strongly suspected, that Hanzo had been behind Aba-Chan's death, even if he didn't have the proof, Hanzo trusted his intuition. Haruto a threat.

He's a risk I can't allow to grow.

But Danzo couldn't act openly. Not now. Too many eyes were on him, and with tensions rising across the villages, the timing wasn't right. His last attempt to eliminate Haruto had been a near disaster. He had barely managed to cover his tracks after the attempt on Haruto's life, and now, with Haruto's rise in the ranks, even more attention was being drawn to him. The boy's potential was catching too much interest.

Danzo leaned back, his body groaning in protest from the movement. His injuries were healing, but it would take time. And time was not a luxury he could afford. He had hoped that killing Aba-Chan would have sent Haruto into a spiral, made him reckless, emotional, prone to mistakes. But Haruto had not only survived it, he had thrived. The boy's cold, calculated way of responding to tragedy had unsettled even Hanzo.

He could feel the frustration building, a deep, pulsing anger that came from being unable to act. Haruto was growing stronger, and Hanzo could do nothing about it. Not directly. Not yet.

Damn him. Danzo's thoughts turned darker. He's a problem that needs to be solved.

But how?

The political situation was fragile. His last attempt on Haruto's life had nearly exposed him, and if he made another move too soon, it would surely draw attention. But the world was shifting—tensions were rising between the villages, and Danzo's network of spies whispered of war brewing. Two years, maybe three at most, and the world would be thrown into chaos again.

War is coming, he thought, a dark smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. And war is the perfect cover for people like me.

Danzo could already see the possibilities. He would stoke the flames of conflict, push the villages toward the brink. In the confusion, the chaos, Haruto could be dealt with. He wouldn't need to make a direct move—there were ways to ensure that Haruto didn't survive the coming storm.

But for now, Danzo would play the part of the weakened leader. He was already considering using a cane once he left the hospital. Appearing weak would give his enemies a false sense of security. They would think him broken, vulnerable. Let them think he was no longer a threat.

Danzo's eyes narrowed as he folded the report in his lap. He couldn't act against Haruto yet, but when the time was right, he would ensure that the boy's rise was cut short. Until then, he would focus on his recovery, on his plan.

This time, I won't fail.

He knew that war would bring opportunities, and when it came, Haruto wouldn't be ready for what was coming.

With a grim smile, Danzo allowed himself to relax, his thoughts already turning to the next steps. The embers of war were smoldering, and Danzo would be ready when the flames finally erupted.

And when they did, Haruto would fall.