A strange new life

6.24.d

Danzo traversed the corridors of his headquarters. The disruption of his activities in the Land of Waves was unfortunate, but any recruit from there probably wouldn’t be ready in time. He would need to reinforce and ensure the other fronts of his operations weren’t exposed now that more scrutiny was directed his way.

He crossed a door and, from the railing, looked at the training soldiers.

Some still needed work, but they’d fall in line sooner or later. Danzo had been in the business of making the perfect soldiers for years. By now, his process was the closest someone could come to perfection.

A shinobi covered in a dark cloak and deformed animal mask flickered behind Danzo. His operative knelt with one knee on the ground.

“Hinata’s location was found. She arrived in Konoha.”

Danzo didn’t take his eyes off the new batch of recruits. Among those, he was particularly interested in the mist generator. The suppressive abilities of her bloodlimit had interesting applications if others could replicate it.

“Your orders?” His operator asked.

“What about the information from the Laboratory?”

“Our team is still unable to break the seal.”

“Why?” Danzo asked.

“Uncertain. The seals are linked to a chakra signature we can’t replicate.”

“What is the status of the Iwagakure cell?” Danzo asked.

The operator’s answer was immediate.

“We are ready. The decoy squad has been assembled and outfitted. We’re waiting only for your orders.”

“And Kumogakure?”

“Preparations are slower than expected. One of your cells was wiped out by the Eight-Tails jinchuriki, and effort had to be redirected to cover the fallout.”

“They suspect our involvement?” Danzo asked.

“No, the cell in question was posing as a Konoha infiltration team; it cannot be traced back to us.”

Danzo nodded. He’d have to move other resources to shore up the front on that side. Losing that cell also served to add even more pressure on Konohagakure.

“Your orders for the girl?” The operator asked.

Capturing the clone had its benefits, but now that she had returned to Konoha, Danzo had other means of keeping her from escaping. He made a mental note to send new orders to his agent in Konoha.

“Leave her be for now.”

Danzo turned from the conditioning arena, walked deeper into the complex. The operator followed. Among his recruits were some that were worth cultivating the bloodlimit. Settling down his agents as Konoha’s citizens would be a good solution. New blood to fertilize the soil the tree grew upon.

“As you command.”

Danzo had to admit he underestimated the girl’s capabilities. Nowhere in the information he possessed were there details about her learning a version of Thunder Flying God or creating explosions without seal paper. The countermeasures designed to contain her were wholly inadequate. But now that she returned to Konoha, her fate was set.

It was only a matter of time now.

“What about the Nine-tails jinchuriki?” Danzo asked.

“A squad from Akatsuki is moving to intercept him.”

That would need his intervention, but he didn’t say anything for now. Danzo couldn’t allow the nine-tails to fall in someone else’s hand, not after all the preparation he’d done to control it. However, those orders would need to wait until the interloper had left.

“Initiate the next phase of the operation,” Danzo ordered.

“As you command,” the operator said, then disappeared.

Danzo walked alone, but not for long.

“You failed,” the newcomer said.

Danzo looked at the intruder. Dressed in their particular black robes, flytrap protruding from beneath, the black and white face. The same as the clone had described when she was five years old. How?

“She’s where I want her to be.” He said.

“You failed,” the voice repeated, tone mocking.

Danzo didn’t answer. There would come a time when he’d rid the world of the abomination. That little band of criminals had their use, but they were fast approaching the end of their usefulness.

“It’s only a matter of time before I have her,” Danzo said.

“How did a mere child thwart your plans?” The creature taunted.

Danzo didn’t deign to answer that. His weren’t the only plans thwarted.

“Your master must be so proud,” Danzo said, putting as much scorn he could in his voice. “I’ll have her in due time.”

“And here I thought you were Konoha’s greatest spymaster… tricked by a child?” The interloper said before it disappeared inside the earth again.

Danzo had long pondered how the girl had learned of his plans regarding Shisui. It shouldn’t have been possible, but it happened. While the pretense that he was obsessed with the clone was helpful in distracting his “allies,” his concerns were other.

But now, years later, he needed to thank her for her intervention. It left him free to achieve his true goal. Danzo had failed to acquire Kotoamatsukami before, but soon, it would be his.

Shisui and the Uchiha clan had their fates sealed when the boy accepted the Hokage position. The optimal result would have been that wastrel of a woman taking the position herself, but this was a minor setback at most.

Danzo had years to prepare the field for his victory. Leaked information, spread rumors that built paranoia and mistrust. Shisui’s allies would never feel safe, not when the new Hokage had their mind at his beck and call.

It didn’t matter that Shisui wasn’t one to abuse his eyes. If he did, it would only validate the rumors Danzo’s agents spread: The new Hokage couldn’t be trusted. If Shisui tried to fight back without evidence, it would look like attacking the respected council of elders without reason. If he didn’t, Danzo’s influence would only grow until he was ready to make his move.

Best of all, if Shisui gave up on the position, Danzo could move in, muster the village’s support, and deal with the Uchiha once and for all.

For now, all that remained was to stoke the flames of war, to let Konoha burn just enough to realize they needed him.

Danzo wouldn’t deny that Shisui and the Uchiha clan were formidable, but there wasn't much they could do surrounded on all sides by years of his influence and blackmail.

When war finally erupted, and the Hokage failed to protect Konoha, Danzo would return to claim what was always his. And if everything else failed?

Sometimes, you must burn the old and rotten to grow a new, stronger forest.

As long as Danzo was alive, Konoha’s roots would grow stronger, even if he had to start from the beginning again. And once he was there, his real goals could truly begin.

A world of peace and prosperity united under a single goal. United under his guidance.