Naruto: The Chosen Undead

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Chapter 102 Politics in Darkness

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The Judgment Hall—as it was unofficially known—was unlike any other space in the Hokage's building. It had been constructed decades ago, during the first generation of Konoha, when most shinobi occasionally needed to answer for their actions. It was a room of absolute authority, designed to strip away pretense and enforce the gravity of accountability.

The chamber was vast and oppressive, its walls swallowed by an endless, pitch-black void. No windows, no decoration, nothing to distract or comfort those brought before the Hokage. At its center, a single podium stood illuminated under a harsh, pale light that poured down like judgment from the heavens. This was where the accused stood—alone and fully exposed. Above and behind the podium, the Hokage's desk loomed like a throne of shadows, flanked by two smaller seats for his senior advisors.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado sat there now, their faces lit faintly by the same sterile light that illuminated the podium.

Today, however, the seat of the Hokage felt heavier than it ever had.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat rigidly, his hands folded before him, his expression carved from stone. Today, they would not be advisors; they would be witnesses to the fall of their comrade.

The heavy doors at the far end groaned open, their deep, resonant creak cutting through the chamber like the turning of fate's own gears. The sound lingered, bouncing off the high stone walls, marking the arrival of those who now stepped through.

King Enma entered first. His fur bristled with quiet tension, his sharp, golden eyes scanning the room. He moved with the deliberate weight of a being who had lived through wars, his presence both regal and watchful.

Behind him, flanking either side of the entrance, came Shibi Aburame and Tsume Inuzuka. Their expressions were unreadable, but the air around them was thick with the scent of calculation and barely restrained aggression.

And between them—caught in the eye of the storm yet unmoved by its presence—walked Shimura Danzo.

His posture was rigid, controlled, his steps measured and deliberate. His bandaged face revealed nothing, the single visible eye peering forward with the detached scrutiny of a man who had already weighed the worth of every person in the room.

The chamber felt smaller as he entered, the weight of his presence pressing down like a vice. The air grew stifling—not from heat, but from the sheer gravity of the moment.

Danzo moved with the confidence of a man who was never unprepared.

He stopped before the podium, pausing just long enough for his eye to adjust to the light.

From his place near the center, King Enma glanced toward Hiruzen, his gaze unreadable. And then, with a slow, deliberate nod, the monkey king vanished, departing for Mt. Huaguo without a word.

But the message was clear.

Be careful. This man is dangerous.

Shibi and Tsume melted back into the shadows, their presence lingering like the weight of unsheathed steel.

They did not speak.

They did not move.

Yet their silence was a threat all on its own.

Now, Danzo stood alone in the light.

Exposed. But not vulnerable.

His gaze swept across the chamber once, pausing only briefly on Hiruzen before continuing—measuring, calculating, adjusting.

"This is not the reunion I was expecting."

"You will speak with respect," Koharu snapped at Danzo's informal tone. "You are standing before the Hokage, Shimura Danzo, and you will remember your place."

Danzo's lips twitched, almost forming a smirk, though it disappeared as quickly as it had come. He inclined his head slightly.

"My apologies, Hokage-sama," he said smoothly. "To what do I owe the honor of being summoned from my long and quiet stay at the Fire Zen Temple? My pumpkins are in season, you know. It would be a shame to let them go untended."

Hiruzen said nothing.

"Shimura Danzo," Kohta began, "you stand accused of conspiracy against Konoha, of engineering the downfall of the Uchiha Clan, and of treasonous acts that have undermined the safety and stability of this village. How do you plead?"

"Oh," Danzo said softly, almost musingly, "so this is to be a trial." He let the word hang in the air. "How quaint. Normally, trials require witnesses, evidence, a formal process… and yet here we are."

His eye settled on Hiruzen.

"This seems rather unorthodox, even for you, Saru."

"You know why you are here, Danzo."

"I'm afraid I don't," Danzo said. "Perhaps you could enlighten me."

Hiruzen's gaze didn't waver. "Shisui Uchiha's corpse has been recovered," he said. "And a post-mortem analysis has revealed many things. Among them, evidence of your betrayal—evidence that you conspired to steal his Sharingan and eliminate him to further your own ambitions. Evidence that your actions directly led to the circumstances that necessitated the Uchiha Massacre."

"Interesting," Danzo said finally, his voice as calm as ever. "And you've brought me here to what? Confess? Explain myself?"

"I've brought you here to answer for your crimes."

"There are no crimes for me to confess to," Danzo began. "I assure you, I was not the one who attacked Shisui Uchiha and took his eye. But…" He paused, letting the word linger in the room. "Seeing as you've given me no time to prepare, no chance to gather evidence or even make my case, it seems you've already decided that I'm the culprit."

His voice cut through the room like a scalpel.

"Tell me, Hiruzen—what would Tobirama-sensei say about this? About a trial where judgment is rendered before evidence is presented?"

The trio remained silent.

"Well," the war hawk said finally, "it's most… regrettable what happened to the Uchiha, but I assure you, I am innocent." His words hung in the air with a cold certainty. "And, should you allow me, I can prove it."

Koharu's and Kohta's eyes widened faintly at his statement, but it was Hiruzen who replied. "Go on."

"First," Danzo said, "I would like Hiashi Hyuga to step forward."

For a moment, the room held its breath.

Hiruzen tapped his finger lightly on the armrest of his chair, a deliberate gesture that caused the darkness at the edges of the hall to ripple and shift.

Hiashi Hyuga emerged from the shadows, his long black hair flowing loosely over the traditional robes he wore. His pure white eyes glimmered faintly as he approached, his Byakugan already analyzing every detail of Danzo's form.

Danzo's expression remained unreadable. "It's good to see you again, Hyuga-dono."

Suddenly, a shadow stretched unnaturally from the darkness, as the tendrils of the Shadow Possession Jutsu latched onto Danzo, freezing him in place.

"Shikaku," the ex-elder said softly, "it seems Hiruzen has chosen to share his greatest shame with yet more people."

Neither Hiashi nor Shikaku responded.

Hiruzen had selected Shikaku Nara and Hiashi Hyuga for this trial for one crucial reason: Kotoamatsukami.

This insidious ability terrified Hiruzen on a level few jutsu ever had—to the point that, after the plan to stop the Uchiha Coup d'État was over, he would have commanded Shisui to destroy his Mangekyō.

Shisui Uchiha had once explained its nature to him: the Mangekyō Sharingan's power manifested differently in each eye.

The left eye, which Shisui called Kotoamatsukami's Amatsu no Me (Heavenly Eye of Truth), was undetectable and unbreakable—a perfect, untraceable genjutsu. However, it could only be used once every ten years.

The right eye, known as Kotoamatsukami's Yomi no Me (Underworld Eye of Control), was a weaker variation. Its effects were detectable by extremely powerful sensory shinobi, and with effort, it could be broken. Unlike the left, this eye could be used once a year. Though weaker, Yomi no Me was still dangerous enough to influence critical events.

The forensic analysis of Shisui's body had confirmed traces of Yomi no Me in the chakra residue surrounding his mutilated eye socket. Danzo likely wielded the weaker eye now. It explained why he hadn't simply enthralled Hiruzen or the Daimyō to seize control of Konoha outright.

Hiruzen glanced briefly at Shikaku. He was there to counter Danzo's subtle maneuvers, his brilliant mind anticipating deception at every step. Hiashi Hyuga was there to make sure Kotoamatsukami wasn't cast.

"Proceed, Danzo."

"If you would allow Hiashi-dono to examine my body with his Byakugan, he will find no trace of Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan. I assure you, whatever suspicions you have, they are baseless."

Hiashi's expression remained stoic, though his Byakugan flared as he focused on Danzo. His sight pierced through layers of muscle and bone, scanning for the chakra network abnormalities that would indicate the presence of the Sharingan.

"There is no Sharingan in Danzo's body."

The revelation sent a ripple of doubt through Koharu and Homura.

Hiruzen, however, remained calm. "We never spoke of any suspicion about you possessing the Sharingan."

"No," Danzo admitted, "you didn't. But it is something you would think, isn't it, Hiruzen? In your mind, such an action aligns perfectly with who you believe I am."

The room fell silent again.

"You've created quite the mess for yourself, Saru," Danzo continued after a moment, his eye gleaming faintly. "The Uchiha Massacre, Shisui's death, the fractured trust in this village… all of it rests on your shoulders. And yet you drag me out of my exile to sit here and entertain your doubts? Truly, it is unbecoming of the Hokage."

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, his sharp gaze locking onto the bandages wrapped around Danzo's right side.

"As I've already proven my innocence in this matter," Danzo continued, "I have a proposal. Lift my banishment. Allow me to return to Konoha, and I will dedicate myself to uncovering the true culprit behind Shisui's death and the Uchiha's demise."

The room froze. Every gaze shifted to Hiruzen, waiting for his response.

But the chair where the Hokage had been seated was empty.

Suddenly, there was a sharp, tearing sound.

All eyes turned toward the podium, where Hiruzen now stood, gripping the tattered remains of Danzo's bandages in his hand.

Danzo's right side was exposed, and the sight drew collective silence.

His torso and right arm were marred by grotesque scars, half his flesh appearing as if it had been seared away. Jagged lines of burnt, blackened tissue ran along his ribs, and his shoulder was gnarled and twisted. Where his right eye should have been, there was nothing but a hollow, sunken void, ringed by claw-like burn marks. The wounds seemed ancient, yet raw in their horror—a testament to a trauma that should have claimed his life.

Hiruzen's gaze shifted from the exposed flesh to the torn bandages in his hand. His voice reverberated through the chamber.

"I remember the day you lost your right eye, Danzo. When Kinkaku, in his Nine-Tails cloak, clawed it from your skull. And your right side..." Hiruzen's voice grew harder. "Blown apart by Ginkaku's Tailed Beast Bomb."

Danzo's calm mask did not waver, but his voice—edged with subtle indignation—broke the silence.

"Might I remind you, Hiruzen, that it was I who shielded you—saved your life—when you foolishly pursued vengeance against the Kinkaku Force."

Hiruzen's voice cut him off.

"No," he said. "You didn't save my life. You were a burden I had no choice but to protect."

Danzo's single eye narrowed, but Hiruzen pressed on.

"That battle wasn't about you. It wasn't your vengeance. It was mine—against the men who murdered Tobirama-sensei.

"So that's how you see it!"

"Yes, Danzo," Hiruzen replied and flung the torn bandages at Danzo's feet. "That is how I see it. For decades, I let Torifu and Kagami's deaths weigh on me. For decades, I convinced myself that I owed you something because I failed to save them. I let that guilt blind me—to your actions, to your ambitions, to your betrayal of everything this village stands for. But no more."

Danzo's eye fell to the bandages at his feet.

"Truly hurtful to hear, Hiruzen."

"I doubt it," Hiruzen replied coldly. His hands blurred in a flurry of precise, calculated strikes, each jab landing on Danzo's torso with pinpoint accuracy. The motions were so fast, so surgical, that it was only when Hiruzen stepped back that the room realized what had happened.

Hiashi's eyes widened as he recognized the technique.

It wasn't the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist, but something close—an adaptation of chakra-blocking taijutsu that mimicked the Gentle Fist's effects without the Byakugan. Hiruzen had designed it himself, and it was a technique so secret it was taught only to the ANBU. Hiashi felt a rare flicker of respect—and unease—as he was reminded of the terrifying adaptability of the Third Hokage.

Danzo's body wavered. His exposed scars began to ripple unnaturally, and then his face… melted.

The transformation was grotesque, like wax dripping from a candle. The lines of Danzo's features distorted, his flesh reshaping itself as the illusion broke. Within seconds, the man standing at the podium was unrecognizable. His true form was revealed: a younger man with almond-shaped, gray eyes and smooth, shoulder-length black hair. His face bore a thin mustache.

Hiashi's Byakugan flared as he confirmed what everyone in the room already realized.

"Agari Kaisen… of the Kedōin Clan."

The room tensed.

The Kedōin Clan had joined Konoha during the Second Shinobi War, their unique jutsu allowing them to perfectly replicate the appearance—and even the chakra signature—of their target. But they had been all but wiped out during the Nine-Tails' attack on the village.

Agari Kaisen was supposed to be dead.

"How were you able to find me?"

Hiruzen's gaze was like iron. "You made two mistakes," he said. "First, you stretched Danzo's scars too far. The damage to his right side was extensive, but not to the degree you replicated. Second,"—Hiruzen's eyes flicked to the bandages on the floor—"his bandages lacked the hue of the healing ointments Danzo always uses. Subtle details, but enough to expose you."

Agari's calm demeanor faltered slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line.

"And," Hiruzen continued, "you underestimated my ability to know when I am talking to the real Shimura Danzo. That was your third mistake."

"You truly are the Professor. Nothing gets past your eyes, even at your age."

Then it happened.

A huge amount of chakra flared across Agari's chest. Intricate black symbols began to spiral outward from his sternum, forming a glowing seal.

"The unseen ones who support the great tree of Konoha from the depths of the earth..." Agari said, his voice eerily serene. "We are Root."

"Reverse Tetragram Sealing Jutsu!" Kohta shouted.

Hiruzen didn't hesitate.

Kohta had been trained personally by Tobirama Senju in the art of fūinjutsu, and his judgment in matters of seals was beyond question. The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Jutsu, a powerful and fatal technique, was unmistakable.

Hiruzen's mind immediately worked through the implications.

The symbols etched into Agari's chest began to bleed, forming a black orb of chakra that rapidly expanded outward, threatening to pull everything within the sphere into the void.

Time seemed to slow for Hiruzen as he recalled every detail he knew about the jutsu. It was designed to erase all evidence, sealing everything within the user's corpse. For a fleeting moment, his thoughts drifted—Minato's Rasengan. He remembered the way Minato had explained it, how it required perfect chakra control to shape and compress energy into a devastating sphere. Then, his mind jumped again—Naruto's fireball technique. Hiruzen began to recreate it, adapting the principles of the Rasengan into something of his own. He had molded pure fire chakra into a compressed sphere, though it lacked the unexplainable life that Naruto's flames carried. His version was far less stable, far more dangerous to the user.

But right now, it was his only chance.

Hiruzen raised his scorched hand, summoning the unstable fireball, its surface flickering with volatile energy. With a swift, precise motion, he hurled it toward the rapidly expanding seal. The fireball collided with the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing sphere. The explosion was deafening, the two jutsu clashing with such ferocity that the chamber itself seemed to shudder. For a moment, it felt as though the air had been ripped from the room.

Then, silence.

The seal collapsed, its power exhausted by the sheer intensity of the fireball. The remnants of the black orb faded into nothingness, leaving Agari's lifeless body to slump forward on the podium. Hiruzen's hand trembled faintly as he looked down at it, the skin blistered and raw. The fireball was powerful, but it was far from perfect—dangerously so.

"Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen straightened, his mind snapping back to the present.

"Yes," he said. He cast a glance at Agari's lifeless body.

"Well, our suspicions have been confirmed. Shimura Danzo did, in fact, steal Shisui's eye and conspired against both the Uchiha and Konoha itself."

"Hokage-sama, Shimura Danzo is still out there."

"I am aware," Hiruzen replied, his tone measured but heavy with meaning. "And the fact that he sent Agari to this meeting tells us one thing: Danzo still commands resources. His network of Root agents survives in the shadows, and we know far too little about it."

The tension in the chamber was palpable.

"Hokage-sama, if I may." Hiashi continued, "I propose a joint venture between the Hyuga Clan and Konoha's leadership. We will conduct a full screening of all shinobi within the village, using the Byakugan to identify any hidden Root agents among them."

While the proposal seemed selfless on the surface, it was a transparent bid for prestige. If the Hyuga Clan were to successfully expose Root operatives, their political influence within Konoha would rise significantly.

Before Hiruzen could respond, Koharu spoke. "It won't work," she said bluntly.

"Pardon, Elder Koharu?"

"You couldn't detect Agari when he stood right in front of you, Hiashi. Even with the strongest Byakugan, you failed to see through his disguise. Do you take Danzo for a fool? He would have ensured that all his agents were trained in the Kedōin Clan's jutsu."

Hiashi hesitated, then bowed his head slightly. "You are correct, Elder Koharu. My eagerness to help may have clouded my judgment. My apologies."

Hiruzen's expression remained neutral, though he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He had seen through Hiashi's motives the moment he spoke, but at least the man had the humility to accept his mistake.

"Thank you, Hiashi," Hiruzen said diplomatically.

Tsume muttered under her breath, "Fucking politics."

Hiruzen's voice was calm, but there was an edge of urgency. "We need actionable plans. Danzo will anticipate any overt attempts to dismantle his remaining network. We must operate as if every move we make is already being observed."

Shikaku tilted his head slightly, thinking aloud. "If we assume Danzo still has a network, he'll keep his agents compartmentalized. Root's operatives won't know each other's identities or locations. He's always valued control over efficiency. But… he has to communicate somehow."

Koharu frowned. "You think you can intercept his communications? Danzo doesn't operate through conventional means. He won't leave a trail for you to follow."

Shikaku nodded faintly, unfazed by her dismissal. "True. But if he's sending orders, they'll need to be encoded or delivered through intermediaries. That's a weakness. If we identify those intermediaries, we can begin unraveling his network."

Kohta adjusted his sleeves and addressed the room. "Danzo's network isn't just a collection of agents. It's a system. A machine built on secrecy and loyalty. To dismantle it, we have to dismantle the system. Start with his resources—cut off his supplies, his safe houses, his funding."

"Root isn't a rogue faction that operates in the open," Koharu interjected. "If anything, Danzo's hiding in the cracks of Konoha's infrastructure. Strangling his resources will take time—time we don't have."

"I agree with Kohta. Disrupting Danzo's network is the only way forward. However, it's not enough to dismantle his system—we need to flush him out."

"And how do you propose we do that?" Homura asked Hiashi. "Danzo has lived in the shadows for decades. He'll only come into the open if we force him to."

"I want a full screening of all former Root operatives currently residing in Konoha," Hiruzen began. "Each of them is to be monitored and tagged with a chakra marker unique to their individual signature. Ensure they are tracked, and any unusual activity is reported immediately."

The room shifted uneasily, the weight of the directive sinking in. Hiruzen didn't pause.

"I want Konoha's barrier system reconfigured," he continued. "The monitoring team assigned to the barrier must be handpicked and vetted, with their sole focus being the movements of all shinobi within Konoha. No exceptions."

"Hiashi," the Hokage said, "your clan will begin a patrol of Konoha and its borders. Coordinate with the intelligence division. I want your Byakugan to watch for any signs of Danzo's operatives or agents attempting to infiltrate—or exfiltrate."

Hiashi nodded, his expression stoic, though his mind clearly churned with the implications of such a task.

"Finally," Hiruzen said, "I want Shimura Danzo declared an international fugitive. Place a bounty on his head in the Bingo Book. Detail explicitly that he has Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan, that he killed Shisui, and that he is a traitor to Konoha."

"Why announce this to the entire world, Hiruzen?" Koharu demanded. "Do you realize how reckless this is? Konoha's enemies will leap at the opportunity to ally with Danzo, to exploit his knowledge of the village!"

Hiruzen's gaze didn't waver as he answered calmly, "And what makes you think Danzo hasn't already sought such alliances in secret?"

Koharu opened her mouth to retort, but Shikaku spoke before she could, his sharp mind already connecting dots others hadn't yet seen.

"Do you plan on Itachi Uchiha hunting Danzo down?"

The question cut through the air like a blade, drawing startled glances from the others. Hiruzen didn't respond immediately, his expression unreadable. But the slight shift in his gaze confirmed Shikaku's suspicions.@@novelbin@@

Hiruzen made a mental note to have a private conversation with Shikaku later.

Hiashi furrowed his brow. "Would that man even do it?"

"Of course, he would," Koharu interjected dismissively. "Danzo robbed Itachi of a battle with Shisui. Itachi would love to kill the man who stole his prey."

Hiruzen silently thanked Koharu for the quick lie. It would easily play into the narrative surrounding Itachi and serve to reinforce the image of him as the psychopath he pretended to be.

Before the conversation could continue, Hiruzen's attention snapped to the barrier jutsu surrounding the Judgment Hall. He felt a chakra presence outside and gestured to allow them entry.

In a swirl of leaves, an ANBU appeared, kneeling before the Hokage and presenting a sealed scroll. Hiruzen took it without hesitation, his sharp eyes scanning its contents. His face hardened, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening with intensity.

"Any word from Jiraiya?"

The ANBU nodded. "Yes, Hokage-sama. We've received word that Jiraiya-sama will be arriving in Konoha in a month. He has found a new lead on Orochimaru."

"Send Jiraiya a message immediately. Tell him to head to the Wave Country instead. He is to drop everything, even if Orochimaru himself is standing in front of him."

The ANBU bowed and vanished in a flicker of chakra.

"Must be something serious," Shikaku said, his tone curious but cautious, signaling for an explanation.

Hiruzen considered for a moment, then chose to share only what was necessary.

A few minutes later, he finished. Koharu's eyes narrowed.

"And you think the Nine-Tails granted Naruto something akin to Scorch Release?"

"Then it's imperative that Jiraiya checks on the jinchūriki's situation," Kohta added. "If it's true, this changes many things about how we approach his training and protection."

Hiruzen nodded, silently thankful for Kakashi's speculation.

"And Naruto's… armor?" Shikaku asked casually.

Hiashi frowned slightly. "What armor?"

Shikaku said with a poker face, his tone, however, amused. "Rumor has it Naruto Uzumaki's been running around the village in a full set of metal armor. Very… Uzumaki-like, wouldn't you say?"

Hiruzen's expression didn't change, though inwardly, he sighed. Shikaku was too perceptive for his own good sometimes.

"It's an heirloom," Hiruzen said smoothly. "A gift from his mother. Something passed down to the Uzumaki Clan's males."

Shikaku nodded, but the faint glimmer in his eye told Hiruzen the man wasn't entirely convinced.

"Hokage-sama," Hiashi interjected. "Jiraiya-sama may take some time to reach the Wave. I suggest sending additional backup to Team 7. Reinforcements who can assist… and perhaps help assess Naruto's unique situation."

Hiruzen considered this, nodding slowly.

"You have someone in mind for this, Hiashi-dono?"

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Author Note:

Let's take a moment to unpack this chapter because there's quite a bit to discuss. First and foremost, Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan and the idea of it having two distinct abilities—this is purely my own addition, not canon. But the reasoning behind it stems from patterns we've seen in the series.

Every known Mangekyō user in canon has had two unique abilities, one per eye. Given how revered Shisui's genjutsu was, I thought it made sense to expand on the mechanics of Kotoamatsukami. This is where the distinction between Amatsu no Me (Heavenly Eye of Truth) and Yomi no Me (Underworld Eye of Control) comes in.

Canon tells us that Ao recognized the effects of Shisui's genjutsu when Danzō used it on Mifune. What's crucial here is that Ao was able to break Mifune free from the illusion—suggesting that this form of Kotoamatsukami wasn't absolute. Contrast that with what we see in the Fourth War: Itachi, under Edo Tensei's control, uses Shisui's eye on himself to escape Kabuto's influence. That instance was instant, untraceable, and unbreakable. It established a hierarchy of power between the two eyes.

So, I ran with that. The left eye, Amatsu no Me, represents the pinnacle of genjutsu—a perfect illusion that no one can detect or break, but with a decade-long cooldown. Meanwhile, the right eye, Yomi no Me, is a weaker variation, still incredibly powerful, but detectable by high-level sensors and requiring effort to break. Unlike its counterpart, it has a shorter cooldown of a year, making it more practical for repeated use. This also gives a solid reason why Danzō didn't simply enthrall Hiruzen or the Daimyō—he had the weaker eye, one that wasn't foolproof.

Now, onto Danzō not being eliminated here. A lot of you seemed certain he was done for, and honestly? That surprised me. If you've been following the story closely, you'd know that Danzō is too entrenched, too knowledgeable about Naruto, and too deeply embedded in Konoha's underbelly to go down this easily. He still has key operatives, hidden resources, and—perhaps most importantly—he still plays a role in Naruto's development. So no, this wasn't an easy exit for him. But make no mistake, Hiruzen's actions here change things—Danzō is now a criminal in the eyes of Konoha. The question is, how does that shift the balance of power moving forward?

Then there's the added detail of Tobirama's squad meeting their end at the hands of the Kinkaku Force. This was an extrapolation on my part. Canon never clarifies what happened to Kagami Uchiha or the other team members after Tobirama's sacrifice. Since the Kinkaku Force was notorious for being strong enough to kill a Hokage, it felt fitting that most of his squad wouldn't have survived either. This also served as a way to add weight to Hiruzen's backstory—his revenge against the Kinkaku Force wasn't just about fulfilling his duty. It was personal. And the fallout from that mission—losing nearly everyone close to him—created the vulnerabilities that Danzō exploited for years. Hiruzen carried that guilt, and it shaped many of the choices he made regarding Danzō's unchecked influence. That's the kind of nuance I wanted to explore.

Finally, Hiruzen recreating Naruto's fireball technique. This was very intentional. I wanted to show that chakra, when understood at a deep enough level, can be manipulated in ways that mimic even techniques from Lordran. This raises a crucial question: if Naruto himself begins to apply these principles, what happens when he attempts to reconstruct jutsu through magic instead of chakra? Since this is a Dark Souls crossover, you can bet that's something we'll be exploring in due time.

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[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 5k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 50, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.

To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!