Orochimaru gave a sly, expectant grin at Neji, eager for his reply.
Neji glanced at him, perplexed, and began, "I-"
Another roar interrupted him, and his expression darkened.
"Wait!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, his voice hoarse with effort. He glared sharply at Orochimaru, furious, as though he'd rather kill this traitor than die in unrest.
"I should have struck you down with my staff back then!" he seethed filled with regret.
"Neji," he raspyly continued, "Konoha is your home." If he couldn't see this matter through, he wouldn't rest in peace.
"Heh playing the heart card now?" Orochimaru sneered. "Neji-"
"Quiet!" Neji snapped, his face flushed. "Will you both let me speak?"
He pointed at Orochimaru first. "What does your and Danzo's scandal have to do with me? What does it matter whether I become Hokage or not?!"
Orochimaru froze, silenced, and Hiruzen's face softened. "Good, good boy…"
But before Hiruzen could finish, his hope vanished.
"Next, you." Neji shifted his finger to Hiruzen. "Did I say I want to become Hokage? What's your hurry?"
Neji was irritated now. "Look if you're done, be gone."
He was done with two headstrong men.
Hiruzen gasped for breath, stumbling to stand. Orochimaru's lips twitched; the Sound Four lifted him and departed silently.
After they left, Neji exhaled deeply. With Hiruzen gone, Danzo would be next. He'd had enough of being watched daily this past month. Before making any move on his bigger plans, Danzo had to go.
Soon after, Might Guy, Kakashi, and members of Anbu gathered by the arena. At the sight of Hiruzen's lifeless body, grief weighed on them.
In the following days, Konoha began rebuilding and held solemn funerals for the Third Hokage and those who died in battle.
There was no time for mourning. Word of Konoha's upheaval would soon spread across the villages. The Fourth Shinobi World War? Konoha had never lost. With its advantageous terrain and rich resources, many powerful shinobi had emerged like Shisui Uchiha, White Fang, Minato Namikaze…
For a time, Konoha left other villages in the dust. But now, having suffered such a blow and with the Third Hokage's death they had lost their pillar. The shinobi world would watch closely, sensing the opportunity.
Konoha urgently needed to rebuild and reassert its strength. Council elders were in turmoil. The most critical issue: appointing the Fifth Hokage.
In Konoha's council room, Tsunade, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura sat discussing urgent matters.
When the topic of the Fifth Hokage arose, Danzo could no longer restrain himself. He had planned and waited for this moment: to sit in this seat.
"I believe the Fifth Hokage should be…" Danzo cleared his throat confidently, "none other than me."
Tsunade and Mitokado exchanged surprised looks. They knew of Danzo's ambitions, but he was so blunt.
In other villages, the mantle of Hokage passed from generation to generation a tradition, if unspoken. Although Konoha lacked promising young leaders now, Danzo was very old. What if he didn't last long? Would the Hokage change again soon?
They hesitated to disagree.
Danzo smiled knowingly. To him, it was a done deal. No youth qualified; Tsunade and Jiraiya had no interest in the role. He saw no competition.
"Then, Tsunade, Mitokado don't think about it. There is no one more suitable than me," he said calmly, reminding them to acknowledge the truth.
"This cannot be delayed any further."
The two elders tensed. Was this an ultimatum?
After a moment, they sighed. Konoha truly could not wait.
"Very well, Danzo. We agree to your proposal. But you know... you've led Root for years, operating in secrecy. Few have even met you."
Danzo nodded. The next day, a crowd assembled before the Hokage offices, murmuring among themselves.
"Is that the future Fifth Hokage?"
"I heard Konoha has a Root division within Anbu. That must be its leader."
"Yes. I heard his power rivals the Third Hokage's, and he studied under the Second Hokage."
Guy and Kakashi frowned they knew Danzo well: ruthless, unprincipled.
"Better wrong a hundred than miss one," was his creed.
"Not sure that's a good thing," Guy murmured, patting Kakashi's shoulder. "Just do your part this is youth."
They considered opposing him but Danzo's credentials and influence made him immovable.
Neji stood among them, still confused. Why had the situation unfolded this way? Wasn't Jiraiya supposed to look for Tsunade? Where was that headed?
He glanced again Naruto still hadn't left.
"Hey Naruto," Neji asked, "where's the Toad Sage?"
"Oh, you mean that pervy old man!" Naruto rubbed his chin, grinning. "It's been a while since I've seen him."
"Right I remember. He left before the Chunin Exams, said he needed inspiration... that pervy old guy!"
Naruto scoffed he couldn't believe that man was one of the Legendary Sannin. Who knew what he'd gotten them into?
Neji turned back to watch Danzo atop the building.
His presence had caused dramatic change in this world.
On the rooftop, Danzo looked down at the crowd, satisfaction warming him.
"Heh," he breathed, "after today, I will be the Fifth Hokage."
He finally realized his dream.
"Hiruzen watch closely. Under my rule, Konoha will swallow the other shinobi villages and unify the shinobi world."
"Danzo, hurry," Mitokado urged from inside. "Don't keep everyone waiting."
"Ahem ahem everyone, I know you may not know me well… I am, uh, a disciple of the Second Hokage."
"Hold on!"
A voice rang out sharply across the square.
"You want to be Hokage?
I OBJECT!"
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