The dimly lit chamber of Root Headquarters seemed to close in as Danzo Shimura narrowed his lone visible eye, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his cane. He had long dealt with arrogance from the younger generation, but this boy—this Shouta Kazuki—was different. He was brazen, defiant, and completely unshaken in the face of danger.
"You have a dangerous tongue for someone so young," Danzo said, voice edged with both warning and intrigue. "But arrogance will only get you killed."
Shouta tilted his head, his golden eyes gleaming with an almost amused light. "You sure talk a lot for someone who calls himself the head of a secret organization. I thought people in the shadows preferred silence."
Danzo's fingers twitched ever so slightly. For the first time in years, he found himself thrown off by a mere child's words. His subordinates stood at the ready, awaiting his order, but he raised a hand, signaling them to stand down. He had underestimated this boy before, but no longer. There was something about Shouta Kazuki—something that made even Danzo hesitate.
"You misunderstand, child," Danzo began, his voice deceptively patient. "I do not need to boast. My name alone commands respect. I am not merely an elder of Konoha—I am the leader of Root. My influence runs deeper than you can imagine."
Shouta frowned as if in deep thought before snapping his fingers. "Ah, so you're the 'big root' I heard about earlier."
Danzo's expression barely shifted, but the slight twitch of his jaw betrayed his irritation. The Root—his organization—was indeed named after the very foundation of Konoha, the unseen force that ensured the village's survival. But the way this boy said it…
"Yes," Danzo confirmed, though he sensed a trap in the boy's words.
Shouta grinned. "So that makes you the biggest root of Konoha, huh? The main 'Dagen,' as you say?"
Danzo blinked. Something felt… off.
"But wait," Shouta continued, placing a thoughtful hand under his chin. "The Hokage is the leader of the village. And you take orders from him, right? That means you must be his Dagen."
A slow, burning realization settled into Danzo's gut. This boy—this brat—was toying with him. He wasn't just mocking Root; he was insulting Danzo himself. Worse, he was implying that Danzo, the one who had long worked in the shadows to surpass Hiruzen Sarutobi, was merely the Hokage's… appendage.
Danzo's lips curled into a snarl. "You little—!"
"I mean," Shouta went on, feigning innocence, "I've heard old men shrink with age. Maybe that's what happened to your position in Konoha, too?"
For a moment, there was silence.
Danzo's subordinates stiffened. No one, no one, had ever spoken to Danzo Shimura like this and lived. His body tensed as rage flooded his veins, but then—he smirked.
"You are reckless," Danzo said, taking a slow step forward. "But I admire your confidence. If you are so sure of yourself, why not put your skills to use? Join me. I will train you, make you stronger. I will mold you into something greater than you could ever be on your own."
Shouta raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You mean make me your pet?"
Danzo ignored the jab. "Under my guidance, you could become more than just another ninja. I can make you a true force in Konoha—perhaps even my successor. When the time comes, you could take my place, leading the true foundation of this village."
Shouta stared at him for a long moment before sighing. "Nah, I think I'll pass."
Danzo's expression darkened. "You would refuse such an opportunity?"
Shouta stretched his arms casually. "You keep talking about big roots, but I don't need yours. I already have my own." His grin widened, his voice dripping with mockery. "Actually, my big root is so impressive that all the great warriors in history would be in awe of it!"
Danzo's eye twitched. He had suffered many insults in his life, but this… this was absurd.
"Enough of your nonsense!" Danzo barked, his patience finally snapping.
In a blur of motion, he moved, his speed enhanced by his Body Flicker Technique. His hand was already reaching for his blindfold, ready to unleash the power hidden beneath. If persuasion would not work, then he would simply control the boy.
But to his shock, Shouta disappeared the moment he moved, mirroring Danzo's technique flawlessly.
Danzo froze, his mind racing. That speed… he matched me perfectly. This brat—he's been hiding his true abilities!
Shouta reappeared a few feet away, looking completely unbothered. "Whoa, careful there, Elder Dagen. You almost tripped."
Danzo's blood boiled, but he forced himself to remain calm. If Shouta Kazuki was truly this skilled, then that only confirmed it—he had obtained some kind of opportunity. A power that needed to be controlled.
But before Danzo could act—
BOOM!
The heavy wooden doors to Root Headquarters exploded inwards, the force shaking the very walls. Smoke and debris filled the chamber, and from the ruined entrance, a figure stepped forward.
Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The Third Hokage stood at the front, his red and white robes swaying with the force of the blast. Behind him, ANBU operatives flooded into the chamber, weapons at the ready.
Danzo barely contained his rage as he pulled his hand away from his blindfold, cursing under his breath. So close!
Shouta, on the other hand, groaned internally. Damn it, old man, you ruined everything! He had been so close to baiting Danzo into using Kotoamatsukami. Now, all that effort was wasted.
Hiruzen exhaled a slow stream of smoke from his pipe, his expression unreadable. His eyes flickered to Shouta briefly before settling on Danzo. "Danzo… what exactly do you think you're doing?"
Danzo straightened his back, his expression neutral. "I should be asking you the same thing, Hiruzen. This is my domain. You have no authority here."
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened. "As Hokage, my authority extends over all of Konoha. And I will not stand by while you overstep your bounds."
The two elders stared each other down, the weight of years of conflict pressing between them.
Shouta crossed his arms, sighing in disappointment. "Man, you politicians sure love your dramatic staring contests."
Danzo shot him a warning glare, but Hiruzen simply turned away, addressing his ANBU. "Take Kazuki back to the surface."
Shouta clicked his tongue but followed as ANBU moved to escort him. He glanced back at Danzo one last time, his golden eyes twinkling with amusement. "Guess we'll have to continue our Dagen talk later, huh, Elder Danzo?"
Danzo said nothing, but as Shouta left, the boy could feel the old man's glare burning into his back.
And that only made him smile wider.
As he walked alongside Iruka, Souta felt a strange warmth. Iruka had come rushing to his aid without hesitation, ready to stand against Danzo himself if necessary. It reminded him of Naruto's story—how much of an influence Iruka had on his life.
At the same time, back in the Root base, the atmosphere had turned icy.
Danzo Shimura glared at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his remaining eye flashing with barely contained frustration. "Sarutobi! I already let the boy go. What more do you want?!"
Hiruzen's eyes were sharp and unyielding. "What I want, Danzo, is for you to remember your place. You went too far today."
Danzo's expression darkened. "Everything I do is for Konoha!"
Hiruzen let out a dry laugh. "Is that so? Tell me, Danzo, at what point did 'protecting Konoha' become synonymous with kidnapping children?"
Danzo gritted his teeth but said nothing. He could not deny his intentions were always shrouded in shadow, but to him, the end always justified the means.
"Hmph! You may be Hokage, but you are blind, Sarutobi! One day, you will regret this decision!"
Hiruzen turned away, his cape swaying as he walked towards the exit. "Perhaps," he said without looking back. "But for now, the only thing I regret is ever trusting you."
The Anbu followed him, leaving Danzo alone. In his frustration, he slammed his cane against the ground. But to his dismay, the impact wasn't as satisfying as he hoped.
Damn it… I already broke the door earlier.
For a long time, Danzo simply stood there in silence, gripping his cane, his mind racing with thoughts of what to do next.
Meanwhile, Souta Kazuki reached the Ninja Academy and glanced up at the sky. The events of the day had been unexpected, but if there was one thing he had learned…
Power alone doesn't determine one's place in the world.
It was the people who stood beside you that truly made you strong.