As soon as Danzo finished speaking, two Root ninjas appeared in the Hokage's office with a flicker. Their masked faces remained emotionless as they each pressed a kunai against the necks of Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. The cold steel against their throats sent an immediate wave of panic through the two elders.
"Danzo! What do you think you're doing?!" Homura barked, his voice laced with both disbelief and fear.
"Danzo! This is treason! Do you intend to kill us?!" Koharu shrieked, her hands gripping the armrests of her chair.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The rhythmic sound of Danzo's cane striking the wooden floor filled the room as he slowly made his way forward. His single visible eye, sharp and calculating, bore into the two elders like a predator toying with cornered prey.
"I won't kill you," Danzo finally said, his tone calm but resolute. "After all, we were once teammates." He exhaled slowly before continuing, "But since you both oppose my appointment as the Fifth Hokage, I cannot have you interfering. You'll have to stay out of sight for a few days."
With a casual wave of his hand, he signaled his subordinates.
"Take them away. Keep them in the Root prison until I say otherwise."
"Yes, Danzo-sama!" the two Root operatives responded in unison.
Danzo's expression darkened instantly. His grip on his cane tightened, and his voice came out cold and sharp.
"What did you just call me?"
The two Root ninjas immediately stiffened, as if ice had replaced their spines. A tense silence filled the room before they both hastily corrected themselves.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
A thin, satisfied smirk crept onto Danzo's lips as he nodded.
"That's better."
The elders, still in disbelief, struggled as they were forcefully dragged out of the room.
"Danzo! You cannot do this to us!" Koharu screamed, her voice echoing through the hallway.
"Mark my words, Danzo! You will regret this!" Homura shouted, his voice seething with fury.
Danzo simply watched, unbothered, as the heavy doors of the Hokage's office closed behind them. The moment they were gone, he turned his attention to the Hokage's hat resting on the desk. Slowly, deliberately, he picked it up and placed it on his head. A slow chuckle built in his throat before spilling out into the empty room.
"Hahahahahaha… Regret? I don't think so. I am Hokage now."
Outside, the village of Konoha was experiencing an eerie silence. As the news of the Third Hokage's death spread, a heavy weight settled upon the hearts of the villagers.
All over Konoha, Root operatives had discreetly taken control of various positions. The veteran shinobi, those with experience, could sense the change. They felt the shift in power, the tightening of an unseen grip around the village. Something was off.
Among them, Sarutobi Asuma stood motionless, staring at his father's lifeless body. His hands trembled, clenched into tight fists. His heart pounded in his chest as raw grief threatened to consume him.
Kurenai Yuhi stood beside him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Asuma," she said softly, "I know how much this hurts, but now is not the time to break down. We know who the enemy is—Orochimaru. One day, we will make him pay for what he's done. But right now, the Sarutobi Clan needs you. Your father's funeral needs you."
Asuma's breath hitched. His voice, when he finally spoke, was barely above a whisper. "I understand, Kurenai… I will not falter. My father's legacy… the Sarutobi Clan… I will bear it all."
And with that, the funeral of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, commenced.
The people of Konoha gathered in mourning, clad in black. The ceremony was somber, filled with the quiet sniffles of villagers who had lost their protector. But among them, two notable figures were missing—Homura and Koharu.
This did not go unnoticed.
Among the crowd stood Souta Kazuki, arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on Danzo, who now stood at the forefront, speaking words of condolence. A calculating look flickered across Souta's eyes.
"So, the two elders are missing, and Danzo is in complete control of the situation," Souta murmured to himself. "I wouldn't be surprised if they were locked up somewhere."
Within the psychic space, the funeral was being watched by those who had long since left the world of the living.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood stiffly, staring at his own funeral with an expression of deep discomfort.
Hashirama Senju nudged him playfully. "Well, old monkey? How does it feel watching your own funeral?"
Hiruzen's mouth twitched. "How do you think it feels?" he muttered bitterly.
The gathered spirits watched in awkward silence. Hiruzen suddenly felt even more uneasy. Why were they all looking at him like that? Haven't they all died before? Haven't they all attended their own funerals from this space?
Before he could voice his frustrations, Souta materialized into the psychic space, his chakra forming into a solid presence. He stood before Hiruzen, arms crossed.
"I must say," Souta mused, "watching your own funeral must be… an experience."
Hiruzen let out a weary sigh. "It's strange, to say the least."
Souta didn't press the matter further, instead shifting his gaze toward the funeral. His expression darkened.
"Danzo won't waste any time," he muttered. "Konoha is about to become his personal battlefield."
Hashirama's interest was piqued. "A battlefield? Are they hosting some kind of event after the funeral? Maybe a feast? I love feasts!"
Bang!
Hashirama yelped as he was smacked on the head.
"Idiot! You used to be Hokage, can't you see that something is seriously wrong with Konoha right now?!"