Konoha's Morgue
In the dimly lit morgue of Konoha's Anbu headquarters, Shizune emerged from the examination room, her face pale and solemn. She took a deep breath before delivering the confirmation:
"The body has been identified. It is indeed the Sixth Hokage."
The grim announcement sent a wave of silence through the room. Konoha's senior advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, exchanged heavy sighs before quietly leaving, their expressions clouded with sorrow and unease.
The death of a Hokage was no trivial matter. The news quickly spread, prompting an emergency meeting of Konoha's department heads and elite Jonin.
The Emergency Council Meeting
At the center of the council chamber, Ibiki Morino stood with a grim expression. "According to testimony from a Root member, Danzo left the village over a month ago to meet with Kabuto Yakushi. The Danzo who remained in the village was merely a body double."
The room buzzed with murmurs of disbelief.
Ibiki continued, "Furthermore, the analysis of Danzo's body revealed significant traces of Hashirama Senju's cells, corroborating the claim of his contact with Kabuto."
Inoichi Yamanaka frowned deeply. "A Hokage consorting with a known rogue ninja and dangerous criminal like Kabuto, especially during a time when the village was under attack by the Akatsuki, is a serious breach of trust. If this becomes public knowledge, it will severely damage the credibility of the Hokage's office. Not to mention his disgraceful performance at the Five Kage Summit..."
At that moment, Shikaku Nara entered the room, his expression unusually serious. He carried with him news that would shake the council to its core.
"Just now, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire has officially revoked Danzo Shimura's title as the Sixth Hokage."
"What?!"
The room erupted into chaos.
A Hokage being stripped of their title—especially posthumously—was unprecedented in Konoha's history.
Shikaku raised a hand to quiet the room. "This decision is not without precedent. The Daimyo has always been a man of compassion. Even Sakumo Hatake, the 'White Fang,' was posthumously exonerated of his disgrace. For the Daimyo to take such a drastic step, Danzo's actions must have been truly unforgivable."
The room fell into a heavy silence. The weight of the situation pressed upon everyone present.
Finally, someone voiced the question on everyone's mind:
"If Danzo is no longer the Hokage, then who will take his place?"
Shikaku took his seat, his tone measured but firm. "The Daimyo initially intended to reinstate Kakashi Hatake as the Sixth Hokage. However, given Kakashi's recent ordeal, the responsibility will once again fall to Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade's Reflection
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and red, Tsunade sat alone in a lakeside pavilion, a bottle of sake in hand. She stared at the rippling water, her thoughts heavy.
The gentle breeze that stirred the lake's surface seemed to carry with it the weight of her memories. Her lips curled into a bitter smile.
"Danzo is truly gone... And now, I am Hokage once more. That kid, Naruto... he really doesn't take no for an answer, does he?"
Tsunade recalled the time when Naruto Uzumaki had secretly taken Shizune aside to deliver a message meant for her. Though she had dismissed it at the time, the memory now resurfaced with painful clarity.
Shizune approached, cradling Tonton in her arms. "Lady Tsunade, I believe Naruto, as both Shikaku and Kakashi have said, must have had his reasons. At the very least, his care for his comrades has never wavered."
Tsunade's dull eyes flickered with a faint light. She lifted the sake bottle and drank deeply, the liquid burning her throat.
After a long pause, she sighed. "If Jiraiya were still alive, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way. None of the Hokage before me ever met a peaceful end."
Her gaze softened as she continued, "But even knowing the curse that comes with this title, we still dedicate ourselves to this village, giving everything we have until our final breath. That is what it means to be Hokage."
She let the empty sake bottle slip from her fingers. It floated on the lake's surface, carried away by the gentle current.
With renewed resolve, the Fifth Hokage stood and turned toward the village, her steps firm and determined.
Konoha Hospital
In the sterile quiet of the hospital, Kakashi Hatake stirred restlessly in his sleep. His dreams were vivid, a kaleidoscope of memories and regrets. He saw his teacher, Minato Namikaze, his teammates, Rin and Obito, and the countless moments they had shared.
But the dream took a darker turn. He relived the moment his Chidori pierced Rin's chest, her wide, terrified eyes and pale face haunting him. Yet this time, the surrounding Mist ninja morphed into countless versions of Obito, their gazes filled with contempt.
"Kakashi," they sneered, their voices dripping with disdain. "You said you would protect Rin. So why did you kill her? Why!?"
In the dream, Rin's bloodied hand reached for his left eye, her voice twisting into Obito's. "Kakashi, you don't deserve this eye. Give it back to me!"
CRACK!
Kakashi jolted awake, his breathing ragged. His hand instinctively clutched his left eye socket, now an empty void beneath the bandages.
"Kakashi, you're awake. Another nightmare?"
The gentle voice brought him back to reality. He turned to see Tsunade sitting by his bedside, her expression calm yet concerned.
Kakashi lowered his trembling hand, offering her a weak, apologetic smile. "Lady Tsunade, forgive me. I must have embarrassed myself."
Tsunade shook her head. "There's nothing to apologize for. Anyone who went through what you did would find it hard to sleep peacefully."
The revelation of the masked man's true identity—Obito Uchiha, Minato's student and Kakashi's former teammate—had sent shockwaves through Konoha. For Kakashi, the betrayal cut deeper than anyone could imagine.
The younger generation of Konoha ninja, unfamiliar with Obito's history, could only sympathize with Kakashi's pain. But for those who had grown up alongside him, the news was a devastating blow.
"To think that Obito survived and chose not to return to Konoha..." Tsunade began, her voice heavy. "Instead, he became the mastermind behind the Akatsuki, orchestrating years of chaos and destruction. It's unthinkable."
Kakashi's voice was barely above a whisper. "And to think... sixteen years ago, it was Obito who controlled the Nine-Tails, who caused the deaths of Minato-sensei and Kushina. If only I had realized sooner..."
Guilt, regret, and anger surged within him, threatening to consume him.
Tsunade placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "At least we can be thankful for one thing—Obito is not the real Madara Uchiha."
Kakashi let out a bitter laugh. "A small mercy, I suppose. The name 'Madara Uchiha' alone is enough to incite war."
The Valley of the End
Far from Konoha, at the legendary Valley of the End, Madara Uchiha arrived, his pace brisk and determined. The sight before him, however, stopped him in his tracks.
The twin statues of himself and Hashirama Senju still stood, but his likeness had been defaced, his face now staring at Hashirama's chest.
Madara's laughter echoed across the valley, starting as a chuckle before erupting into a maniacal roar. But as his laughter subsided, it was replaced by seething rage.
"Who... WHO DARED TO DO THIS!?" he bellowed, his voice shaking the earth.
A shadowy figure emerged from the ground, its voice dripping with malice. "It was Naruto Uzumaki, the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. And, Lord Madara, your Rinnegan... is in his possession."
Madara's eyes narrowed, his fury boiling over. "Naruto Uzumaki... You will pay for this insult!"