Huff-
White smoke drifted into the moonlight, rising slowly as the pipe in Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand glowed faintly, then dimmed.
His once snow-white hair had now turned fully black under the moonlight. The marks of age were nearly gone from his face. His body was back at its peak, brimming with chakra and strength.
He was waiting for his old friend, Shimura Danzō, and tonight he would put an end to that friendship.
"Sigh... Danzō."
The Third Hokage let out a long, complicated breath.
Shimura Danzō was a man destined for misfortune.
From the in-universe perspective, he was a fallen shinobi, corrupted by time and ambition, who had long lost sight of his original heart.
From a meta perspective, his fate was even more pitiful created solely to take the blame for the Hokage's failures. He didn't even exist before Shippuden; he was missing from the old team photos of Hiruzen's youth.
Foolish Danzō, always thinking he missed his chance to become Hokage because he hesitated during that final battle. That belief haunted him his entire life, becoming a demon in his heart.
But the truth was, he never had a chance to begin with. He was never in the running. During that selection process, Hiruzen had been the only candidate. Tobirama Senju's chosen successor had always been him Sarutobi Hiruzen.
There had always been a slight pang of guilt about that. It was part of the reason Hiruzen had let Danzō act so freely all these years.
But really did Danzō ever stop to think? Did Koharu, Homura, or Kagami have any shot at becoming Hokage? Not a chance. Some lacked strength, others would never pass political screening. And Danzō? He fell in the "not strong enough" category too. Even the Uchiha would've had a better chance.
Wearing a watch and wielding Shisui's Mangekyō still only made you a sewer-tier A-rank ninja, not even top class. Look in the mirror, brother.
What do you think can block a barrage of cage traps, five-element volleys, and ANBU suppression techniques? You'd get crushed.
Click.
The door creaked open.
Shimura Danzō stepped into the courtyard. His expression was as gloomy as ever, leaning on his cane, eyes sharp and cold.
Hiruzen turned to face him. That sour look probably came from being dragged out by ANBU in the middle of the night.
"Hiruzen, what's so urgent... wait. Are you using a Transformation Jutsu?"
Danzō looked Hiruzen up and down, stunned at how young he appeared.
Hiruzen smiled. There was a hint of smug satisfaction in his voice.
"No. I really did become younger. In every way. That's why I can now take on problems I couldn't face before. I called you here because of that."
"Damn it. Did you use Orochimaru's experiments? First Hokage cells? That's forbidden! As the Hokage, how could you commit such a disgraceful act?"
If you want a definition of "the pot calling the kettle black," this was it.
"You should resign in shame!"
Unbelievable. What a hypocrite.
Hiruzen rolled his eyes. "I could probably serve the village for another thirty years. And no, it's not First Hokage cells. What I am saying is that I plan to reform the ninja system starting with a nine-year overhaul of the Ninja Academy."
"Thirty years? Clinging to power like that? You're embarrassing yourself and betraying the will of our teacher!"
So that's all he heard?
"Listen to me. This world is facing a crisis. Aliens are already watching us."
"What nonsense are you spouting now?" Danzō sneered. In his eyes, Hiruzen was suffering from senile dementia. His time was near.
"To deal with that threat, I'm launching a project a new vision for a prosperous and powerful village. A city of knowledge and strength. I call it Konoha Academy City. This upcoming Chūnin Exam will be the last of its kind. Those who fail will return to school and relearn the Will of Fire. Also..."
"There is no longer any need for Root."
Hiruzen's voice was calm but firm.
"What Konoha needs now is unity, not division. Root's operations have exceeded the village's control. It has become a threat to stability."
Danzō let out a cold laugh.
"Hiruzen, I disagree. Are you questioning my loyalty? Everything Root has done was for the future of the Leaf!"
You really never stop lying, do you? Practically every major villain came from your little projects.
Hiruzen remained silent. Their decades of friendship now felt like a stranger's touch. He was done with this.
"I've made my decision."
Before he could even finish, Danzō interrupted, shouting, "You've gone mad! How can you"
Shimura Danzō, you're beyond saving.
Enough talk. Hiruzen made his move.
"Darkness Illusion Technique!"
"Damn it! Hiruzen, you!"
Darkness consumed Danzō's vision. He was blind, helpless.
Before he could react, Hiruzen launched into action.
Shisui's eye and Izanagi were troublesome to deal with but Hiruzen, the student of Tobirama Senju and master of all Leaf jutsu, was perfectly equipped to counter ability-based powers. As long as he had enough chakra, his jutsu library always had a solution.
What he hated most were brainless brutes who charged in fists-first.
As Hokage, he had the right to strike first.
"Tri-Seal Barrier!"
Danzō frantically tried to activate his resurrection trick, but Hiruzen's sealing technique was faster, allowing no room to breathe. His real body and shadow clone deployed a green, pyramid-shaped sealing barrier.
"Now, Enma-go!"
"I've been waiting, Hiruzen."
Enma, already hidden nearby, transformed into the Adamantine Staff and shot forward. In an instant, it expanded into an unbreakable cage, locking Danzō in.
By the time Danzō's vision returned, he had no strength left to resist.
He had been utterly defeated.
He didn't even get to use a single move.
"Hiruzen, what have you done?!"
Enraged and trapped, Danzō roared. He tried to summon his chakra, but the dual-layered seal made it impossible.
This was a trap from the start.
Danzō was furious. If Hiruzen hadn't ambushed him, with both Senju and Uchiha powers at his disposal, how could he have lost so fast?
"Konoha's reform begins tonight."
Hiruzen relit his pipe, one hand behind his back, staring Danzō down.
"I am the Hokage."
That sentence that one sentence had haunted Danzō his entire life. It shattered him.
He opened his mouth to curse.
But Hiruzen, as if reading his mind, inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly.
"Danzō, show some dignity. Think about your body. The real question you should be asking is why I waited until now to do this."
The Hashirama cells in his body. The three-tomoe Sharingan in his hand. Shisui's eye. The mountain of crimes. Danzō couldn't utter another word.
"Your sentence? Likely life imprisonment. Maybe, just maybe, if the next Hokage issues a pardon, you'll be out in thirty years."
Hiruzen spoke as if sealing the final verdict.
"You walk in the light, and I dwell in the shadows. Without me, how will you do the dirty work? You, a man of ideals, can't protect Konoha without darkness."
Danzō's voice trembled with desperation.
"There's no room for that anymore. Shōnen manga doesn't need dark, depressing tragedies. The old ninja system was a mistake. And as Hokage, it's my duty to change it."
Hiruzen's tone was firm and resolute.
After a moment of silence, Danzō realized Hiruzen was serious.
He asked, "What are you going to do with Root?"
"Most will return to the normal ninja ranks. The worst offenders... will serve time with you."
Hiruzen gave a final judgment.
"Konoha is about to face dangers you, as a fallen shinobi, can't help us fight. I know things you'll never understand."
Fallen shinobi...?
That label infuriated Danzō more than anything. He clenched his teeth.
"You'll regret this. Hiruzen."
And that was the cue.
"I am the Hokage."
Without sparing another glance at the fuming Danzō, Hiruzen turned and gave his orders to the ANBU.
"Shin, you and your squad handle things here. Secure all the forbidden items his eyes, his hand. Kō, you and your squad, come with me."
When several ANBU squads appeared, Danzō finally realized this really had been a trap all along.
The old friend he had known weak, hesitant, indecisive had changed.
With swift and decisive action, Hiruzen led the ANBU straight to the Root base.
Not because he didn't trust the ANBU, but because Root still had a few serious powerhouses. Sending the ANBU alone would've led to major casualties.
But as the Hokage? All he needed to do was issue the Will of Fire.
And unless they were absolute fanatics, the Root members would surrender.
That night, the notorious fallen shinobi Shimura Danzō and the corrupted Root were finally brought to justice.