The stone walls, moss-stained and worn, still bore the fading banner hand-written by the Third Hokage: "Reform and Redemption."
Why hasn't Hiruzen come to see me yet?
Staring at the narrow shaft of light filtering through the vent, Shimura Danzo found himself growing increasingly restless and anxious with each passing day of imprisonment.
The shinobi world was on the verge of chaos, and he had written everything clearly about the Akatsuki in his reports. Now was the time for him to burn once more for Konoha.
In the dim prison, Danzo slammed his shackled arms against the special chakra-reinforced iron bars, shouting toward the corridor, "Has the Third Hokage not replied to my letters? Has he not even read the classified intelligence I sent?"
"It's you fools interfering, isn't it?!"
His voice grew louder, his tone more agitated with every word.
"You're delaying vital action! You'll be held accountable for this!"
None of the guards wanted to get involved with the politics surrounding a former power like Shimura Danzo.
"Listen up! I am Shimura Danzo, disciple of the Second Hokage!" he roared. His lone eye burned with rage as he suddenly lunged forward, the chains clanging violently. "I am the Shadow of the Leaf! I bled on the battlefield for Konoha! I have earned my honor! I demand to see the Hokage!"
"If no one replies to me, I'll go on a hunger strike!"
At last, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, heavy and deliberate.
"The Hokage has not responded," a guard said flatly.
"He has asked that you take your blood pressure medication on time."
"I won't take it! I demand to see Hiruzen!" Danzo bellowed. "Don't tell me Homura and Koharu intercepted my messages!"
"They've officially retired," the guard replied. "Here's today's paper."
A newspaper slid through the bars and landed softly on the ground.
Danzo picked it up with one hand. The front page read:
"Fire, Wind, and Water Nations Sign Alliance Treaty"
With a subheading: "New Raikage Condemns Akatsuki's Crimes, Preparing to Travel to Konoha in Peace Talks."
In the interrogation room, smoke curled up from Hiruzen Sarutobi's pipe as he scribbled "Uncooperative" on the report form for the fourth time.
Dressed in a prison jumpsuit, Kisame Hoshigaki sat silently, head bowed.
"Kisame," Hiruzen sighed, trying again. "We've treated you with courtesy because I see potential in you. I still believe the Will of Fire might burn within you yet."
The Third Hokage truly didn't understand this world anymore.
This was the fourth time he had tried to talk Kisame into switching sides. Surely the goodwill of a Hokage would work on someone reasonable?
Yet Kisame remained utterly unmoved, totally unresponsive. Even when Hiruzen revealed that the masked man wasn't the legendary Madara Uchiha but rather a young upstart named Obito Uchiha, Kisame had barely reacted.
That whole "Eye of the Moon" plan? A sham. Kisame had just been a pawn.
But still, no response.
Hiruzen's pride was stung. He wasn't about to give up.
What was so great about Obito's pipe dream? Hiruzen launched into a passionate speech about the Will of Fire and Konoha's future, envisioning a peaceful world shaped by real action, not illusions. It was a far more grounded dream than Obito's twisted fantasy.
Then inspiration struck.
"How does Konoha's food compare to the soldier pills you got in Akatsuki and Kirigakure?"
Kisame was quiet for a long time. Then, finally, he spoke.
Hiruzen's eyes lit up.
Kisame continued, "But I still need to see Itachi. Otherwise, I'll never understand."
Then he fell silent again.
Apparently, after Orochimaru, Itachi Uchiha had become the next man to haunt someone's heart.
The Hokage was about to try again, but
Two ANBU entered one with a monkey mask, codenamed "A," the other a fox mask, "Shen."
"Hokage-sama," said A, peeking through the doorway, "the new students at the academy are waiting for your lecture on the History of the Founding of Konoha."
Hiruzen coughed lightly, "Understood. I'll be right there. Kisame, take some time to think about it."
After all, the first lecture had to be given personally by the Hokage. The students had to hear about Konoha's roots from someone who'd been there.
As Hiruzen left, he glanced back at the village's prison.
He thought to himself, It might not be long before a lot more people end up here.
If the Marines had Impel Down, then Konoha should have its own…
"A, spread the word. From now on, the Konoha Prison will be renamed 'Mount Merit Penitentiary.' May those within truly find a chance to reform."
The ANBU nodded in praise. The Hokage truly had a benevolent heart.
Meanwhile, in the world of pirates Impel Down.
"I'm logging off for now. Garp's here again."
Inside the iron bars…
"You again, old man?" Ace grinned as soon as he saw the familiar figure.
"Have you thought about what I said last time?" Garp's fists were clenched. His voice was low and strained.
Ace chuckled. "I'm not going to die here. The three of us still have dreams to fulfill."
"Garp, how about you join my crew?"
Since being locked up, Ace had completely transformed from the conflicted youth Garp remembered. Gone was the hesitation about whether he even deserved to exist.
This was a man who had found clarity.
Garp's temples throbbed with frustration. "You idiot. The execution platform's already built. The date is set!"
Ace just laughed again. "I won't die here! I'm the son of Gol D. Roger, Whitebeard's foster son, the future savior of the world, and a vice admiral who'll storm Mary Geoise and capture the Five Elders. You? You're just a washed-up naval hero, a relic of a bygone era."
Where was he even keeping all that ego?
Garp could barely believe what he was hearing. His grandson… trying to recruit him into piracy?
At first, he'd thought Ace was just scared, calling him "Gramps" more often these days.
But no. The kid was dead serious trying to win him over.
The somber atmosphere vanished. Garp grew annoyed.
He suddenly pulled open the prison door with a growl.
Guards nearby panicked.
Garp bellowed, "Stand back! I'm beating this brat on behalf of the Navy!"
None of them dared stop him. His reputation still held weight.
He charged in, fists flying, pummeling Ace who, despite the seastone cuffs, raised his arms in surrender and muttered, "I may be a pirate, but I'm still family."
That only made Garp more exasperated. He threw a punch right for Ace's face
Only to watch Ace dodge with ease.
He's using Observation Haki?
Garp stared at him, stunned. Then at his own fist.
"…Your execution is in three days," he said darkly. "Whatever plan you've got, you'd better use it before then. Or you're not getting out of this one."
Once, Ace might've missed it.
But now, strengthened and sharpened by hardship, he caught it instantly.
Three days left. Time to make his move.
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