In one of the inner rooms of Root's base, a solemn silence filled the air. Four young shinobi knelt in front of Danzo, who watched them from an elevated position, his hands behind his back. His presence commanded respect and fear in equal parts, and the dimness of the room intensified the seriousness of the meeting.
Danzo's firm voice broke the silence.
"I have summoned you because each of you has proven to be a valuable asset to the Root Anbu. This task is of utmost importance to the future of our village and there must be no failures."
His gaze swept over the four shinobi in front of him.
"First, let me explain the nature of the mission. In Kusagakure, we have confirmed the presence of a woman from the Uzumaki Clan. She is used as a tool by the ninjas of that village thanks to her extraordinary body, which possesses unique vitality and healing abilities. Beside her is her daughter, a baby girl who, like her mother, is an Uzumaki."
Danzo took a step forward, his tone becoming more serious.
"Your mission is to rescue both of them and bring them back to this base. Their survival is paramount. Kusagakure will not give up easily, so you must be prepared to face their resistance. This is an assignment that will test your individual skills and your ability to work as a team."
He paused for a moment, assessing each of the young men.
"Now, I will explain why you have been selected for this mission."
Danzo turned to the first ninja, a young man with dark hair and piercing eyes.
"Shisui," he began. "Although you are the youngest of this team, your combat prowess is unmatched. Your skills in genjutsu, kenjutsu, fire ninjutsu, and your Body Flicker Technique have earned you the title of 'Shunshin no Shisui' during the Third Great Ninja War, your actions being decisive on multiple occasions. You will be the leader of this team."
Shisui nodded firmly, his expression calm but full of determination.
Danzo continued, turning to the next shinobi, a young man of about 18 with pearly eyes and the unmistakable mark of the caged bird seal on his forehead.
"Hisao Hyūga, from the Hyūga Clan's Branch. Your Byakugan will be crucial in locating the Uzumaki. It will be easy for you to locate the mother since her chakra reserves are enormous. Additionally, your ability in close combat and your experience as a scout make you indispensable for this mission."
Hisao bowed his head slightly in respect, his eyes denoting discipline and loyalty.
The third ninja, a 17-year-old boy with short blond hair and a calm demeanor, was the next to receive Danzo's attention.
"Naoto Yamanaka, your clan's secret skills will be very useful for infiltration and information gathering, plus your basic knowledge of medical ninjutsu could make the difference in case the targets are injured or any of the team members suffer injuries."
Naoto smiled slightly, showing confidence in his abilities.
Finally, Danzo turned to the fourth member of the team, an 18-year-old young man with brown hair and a serious appearance.
"Ryo, although you do not come from a ninja clan, your skills in bukijutsu and your experience with poisons are exceptional. You are a cunning strategist, able to use your weapons and toxins to neutralize multiple enemies at once. Your talents more than make up for the lack of a recognized bloodline."
Ryo bowed his head in thanks, his gaze denoting unwavering resolve.
Danzo took a step back, his gaze taking in the four of them.
"Shisui will be your leader on this mission. Whatever he orders, you will carry out without question. Each of you has a role to play. If you work together, there will be no obstacle you cannot overcome."
He paused for a moment before adding in a darker tone.
"Remember that the Root cannot fail. If any of you jeopardize this mission, you will face the most severe consequences. Loyalty to Konoha and to me is absolute."
Shisui stepped forward, his voice firm and respectful. "Understood, Danzo-sama. We will carry out this mission."
Danzo nodded, satisfied.
"Good. They will leave at dusk."
Danzo called the meeting to a close. The four shinobi bowed deeply before leaving.
/////
The main hall of the Uchiha compound was elegant. The windows let in the soft light of dusk, illuminating the face of Fugaku Uchiha, who stood waiting in front of a low table. In front of him, Danzo entered the hall accompanied by three children. One of them wore a mask made for children during festivals, while the other two, though small, had serious looks.
Fugaku raised an eyebrow at Danzo's peculiar company. "Danzo-sama, when you mentioned the need to meet with me, I didn't expect you to come with someone... let alone children."
Danzo walked forward calmly, letting the children take up positions behind him. His voice was firm, but filled with apparent warmth. "They are more than just children, Fugaku. Allow me to introduce them to you."
He pointed to the masked boy first. "This is Kimimaru. Although his identity must be kept secret for security reasons, he is an orphan that I am personally caring for. He possesses a natural talent that needs to be guided."
Fugaku studied the boy silently, noting the firm posture and disciplined air, but he said nothing.
Danzo continued, addressing the other two. "This is Kabuto, eight years old, and Yōji, seven. They are both part of Root, but I have made a decision that may surprise you."
Danzo paused, looking directly at Fugaku. "I want to form a special genin team, a group that will walk in the light of Konoha. They will not be Root shinobi, my intention is to mold a new generation of elite, prodigies capable of matching or even surpassing the legendary Sannin."
Fugaku crossed his arms, pondering Danzo's words. "It's an interesting idea, but I can't help but notice that Kimimaru seems too young to become a genin."
Danzo gave a slight smile. "You are right. Kimimaru will not be part of this team. To complete the formation, I had thought of another candidate… your son, Itachi."
Fugaku's face hardened for a moment, though he tried to maintain his composure. "Itachi is still at the academy. He is young and has only just begun to explore his potential."
Danzo nodded slowly. "That may be true, but I've already heard that he's a genius. Some of his teachers are planning to suggest to the Hokage that he allow his early graduation. His talent is evident, Fugaku, and it would be a waste not to hone it from now on. Besides, Itachi won't be trained in the Root methods, he will walk under the light of Konoha alongside Kabuto and Yōji."
Fugaku didn't respond immediately. Although Danzo's words were persuasive, he knew there were risks in allowing his son to be under the influence of someone like him. However, as he considered Danzo's words, he couldn't help but think of Shisui. Ever since he had begun serving under Danzo, the young man had shown remarkable growth. Although Shisui couldn't speak about the missions he undertook, Fugaku had noticed that Root's training and missions had made him stronger. Furthermore, Danzo had taken care of Shisui's father's medical expenses, a gesture Fugaku couldn't ignore.
Danzo, shrewd as ever, sensed the hesitation on Fugaku's face. "I understand your doubts," he said in a softer tone. "But you can rest assured. My intentions for this team are pure. This team will not be an extension of Root. Rather, it will be a symbol of hope and a bright future for Konoha."
"Besides," Danzo added, "this team needs a sensei who lives up to its potential. Someone who can guide these prodigies like Hiruzen guided the Sannin. Who better for that role than me?"
Fugaku's surprise was evident, though he quickly hid it. "You yourself? That's… unexpected."
Danzo irritatingly confidently. "If I really want to train a new generation of elite, I must invest my experience directly into them. I don't entrust this project to anyone else."
Fugaku stared at him, still undecided.
Then, Danzo added, with a slight smile, "Fugaku, I must say that I hope that this team will not only become a new generation of elite, but that one of its members can become Hokage in the future."
That last statement resonated deeply with Fugaku. The possibility that Itachi could achieve that position excited him. Fugaku had dreamed of a future where the Uchiha had a central role in the village, and the idea that his son could be Hokage was something he couldn't ignore.
Finally, he sighed. "If this is for the good of Konoha, then I will accept. But I expect you to keep your word and keep Itachi out of the darkness."
Danzo nodded slightly, his smile remaining unchanged. "Of course, Fugaku. You can trust me. Our goal is the same: Konoha's bright future."
Fugaku didn't reply, but the atmosphere in the room grew more tense. Although he had agreed, he couldn't ignore the doubts that continued to haunt his mind.
Danzo, satisfied, motioned for the children to leave. When they had gone, the atmosphere was filled with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.
/////
In the Hokage's office, moonlight filtered through the blinds, illuminating the papers piled on Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk. As he was reviewing the day's reports, a knock on the door interrupted his concentration.
"Go ahead," he said in a firm but calm voice.
A chunin in charge of the Academy entered with a folder in his hand, bowing respectfully before approaching the desk.
"Hokage-sama, I have a report from the Academy teachers."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, taking the document. As he read it, his expression hardened slightly.
"Early graduation of Itachi Uchiha, requested by Danzo?" he muttered, more to himself than to the chunin.
The chunin nodded. "Yes, Hokage-sama. It seems that Danzo-sama requested the special assessment for Itachi, and the results were exceptional. The teachers had no objections and approved the request."
Hiruzen closed the file and left it on his desk with a sigh. "Understood. You may leave."
The chunin bowed again and left the office. Just a few minutes later, another knock on the door announced the arrival of a new messenger, this time a ninja from the administrative records department.
"Hokage-sama, I have a report from the Records Department."
The ninja handed him a scroll, which Hiruzen quickly unrolled. His gaze darkened as he read it.
"Team 13... Jonin sensei: Danzo Shimura. Genin: Itachi Uchiha, Kabuto Yakushi and Yōji Aburame," he read quietly, his tone a mix of disbelief and annoyance.
The messenger remained silent, awaiting instructions, but Hiruzen only waved him away. Once alone, the Third Hokage leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as he processed the information.
"Danzo…" he muttered, lightly gripping the scroll. "You didn't even bother to inform me."
Although Danzo's lack of communication was irritating, Hiruzen did not take any immediate action. Instead, he began to ponder the motives behind his former comrade's decisions.
"First you recruit Shisui Uchiha for Root," he thought, "and now you take Itachi as your disciple. What are you planning, Danzo?"
He knew well of Danzo's distrust and contempt for the Uchiha. Therefore, his insistence on surrounding himself with them seemed unusual to him. However, after a few minutes of reflection, he came to a conclusion that seemed logical to him.
"Of course," he muttered to himself, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "It's the old tactic: keep your allies close and your enemies even closer. You're making sure the most promising Uchiha are under your command and you'll get rid of them when they trust you the most, trusting their direct superior so they won't be on the alert around you… with a mindset as dark as ever, Danzo."
Even though his reasoning seemed sound to him, he couldn't ignore the implications of it. Fugaku Uchiha might not realize it, but Danzo was already strategically positioning himself within the clan, and although he too felt distrust for the clan, destroying such an important force in the village was not in his plans, Hiruzen deeply regretted not having Kakashi Hatake available to infiltrate Root and keep a closer eye on Danzo.
"Kakashi is one of our most powerful Jonin," he thought, "but I cannot remove him from his current duty. Protecting Naruto is a priority. We cannot afford for anything to happen to him, I have no doubt there will be more assassination attempts, especially by Iwa ninja, who hold a great grudge against Minato."
His mind briefly wandered to Orochimaru, another of the village's most powerful ninja. He thought about how his relationship with him had deteriorated over the years.
"Orochimaru," she whispered, a hint of sadness and concern in her voice. "You're becoming more distant… and you're more involved with Danzo than with me now."
The Hokage sighed, feeling the weight of the village on his shoulders. Finally, he rose from his seat and walked to the window of his office, from where he could see the imposing Hokage Mountain, with the faces of his predecessors carved into the rock.
With a determined look, he declared quietly, "It doesn't matter what you plan, Danzo. I am the Hokage. And I will protect this village, even from you."
The night breeze began to fill the office as Hiruzen stood, contemplating the uncertain future ahead.