The Hokage Building was the tallest structure in Konoha.
It represented the Hokage’s supreme authority over the Hidden Leaf Village, as well as the Hokage’s resolve to protect the village and place its people above all else.
At that moment, however, the atmosphere inside the Hokage’s conference room was decidedly tense.
It all began with a report delivered half an hour earlier.
“Reporting to Lord Hokage.
The Hidden Mist spy has been silenced by an unidentified faction.
However, at the scene, my subordinates discovered traces of ANBU-exclusive trace-erasing powder and body-dissolving fluid.
Yet yesterday, all ANBU personnel were accounted for, and none of the body-dissolving fluid or trace-erasing powder in our supply kits was missing or depleted.”
“An unidentified ninjutsu was also used.
Its effects match the Vacuum Great Sphere Technique with approximately ninety-five percent similarity.”
“Furthermore, while searching for the spy yesterday, ANBU encountered interference from a third party.
Everyone we apprehended subsequently died by mysterious suicide while in custody.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression darkened as he read the report.
He knew perfectly well where the evidence presented by the White Fang was pointing.
The ANBU training division.
In other words, Root.
Root had access to the same ANBU-exclusive supplies.
Moreover, Danzō’s signature technique, the Vacuum Great Sphere, was common knowledge.
Hiruzen also knew that Danzō had used Root to carry out numerous questionable operations over the years.
What he hadn’t expected was that Danzō would have the audacity to collude with a foreign enemy’s spy!
Before long, Danzō pushed open the door to the Hokage’s office.
One eye was wrapped in bandages, and his expression was gloomy.
His remaining eye swept across the entire conference room.
Even the ANBU shinobi concealed in the shadows instinctively averted their gazes.
Danzō made no attempt to restrain the intimidating presence of a man accustomed to wielding power.
Whenever he appeared, even Hiruzen Sarutobi would tense up and deal with him cautiously.
Ambition burned within Danzō like a raging fire.
It could make a man powerful, and it could even make him seem younger.
Although Danzō was approaching fifty, his steps remained steady, and his presence sent a chill through those around him.
Hiruzen, by contrast, appeared increasingly old and frail.
Yet the immense pressure Danzō radiated had absolutely no effect on Hatake Sakumo.
The White Fang stood silently, like a towering mountain—or a blade whose sharp edge was fully exposed.
Hiruzen handed Danzō the intelligence report compiled by ANBU.
Several minutes later, Danzō slammed the document onto the table and glared at Sakumo.
“These accusations are slander!
Baseless allegations without a shred of proof!”
“Lord Danzō, ANBU is responsible for investigating the matter,” the White Fang replied calmly.
“We are not responsible for debating the truth.”
Although he addressed Danzō respectfully, there was very little respect in his tone.
“Back when I was fighting alongside Lord Second, you were still a little brat who hadn’t even stopped nursing!”
Danzō’s retort was carefully calculated.
On the surface, he was simply striking back at Sakumo.
But his words also reminded Hiruzen of the camaraderie they had shared on the battlefield in their younger days.
As expected, Hiruzen’s expression softened slightly.
“Lord Danzō,” Sakumo replied evenly, “a truly strong person doesn’t need to demonstrate his power by intimidating others.
And a truly brave person doesn’t falter when facing danger.”
His words struck directly at Danzō’s deepest and most sensitive wound.
That single moment of hesitation in front of the Second Hokage had haunted Danzō throughout his life.
He regarded it as his greatest disgrace.
“White Fang!
You…
Shut your mouth!”
Danzō sprang to his feet.
His face flushed crimson, and his remaining eye blazed with murderous fury.
“If…
Lord Danzō wishes to spar, the White Fang is available whenever you like.”
Sakumo’s voice remained as calm as before.
He had practically ignored Danzō’s furious outburst.
“You…”
“All right, all right.
Danzō, you’re hardly a young man anymore.
Why quarrel with someone from the younger generation?” Hiruzen interjected, playing the peacemaker.
“Hmph.”
Danzō snorted and sat back down.
“Since there is no direct evidence, let us put this matter to rest.
However, the personnel roster of the ANBU training division must be handed over to ANBU for oversight.”
Hiruzen spoke as Hokage, and his decision effectively settled the matter.
Danzō left the Hokage’s office in a fury.
At that moment, his hatred for the White Fang reached an unprecedented level.
He could submit only part of the personnel roster, but from then on, recruiting and deploying personnel for future operations would become considerably more difficult.
Originally, Root had functioned as his private army.
Now, half of its personnel would be subject to ANBU supervision.
Although Danzō would retain command authority, carrying out his plans would no longer be as convenient as it had been before.
He had suffered a loss he couldn’t openly acknowledge.
After all, he really had been in contact with the spy.
He really had ordered his subordinates to interfere with ANBU’s investigation the previous day.
But he hadn’t been the one who silenced the spy.
He had assumed the spy had already returned to the Land of Water with the message Danzō had entrusted to him for the Mizukage.
…
Meanwhile, Yakumo had no idea that someone else was taking the blame for the spy’s death.
He was busy planning how to obtain another supply of body-dissolving fluid and trace-erasing powder from Kakashi.
They were essential tools for anyone planning to kill someone and dispose of the evidence.
Should he simply tell Kakashi the truth?
It might not be such a bad idea.
After all, Kakashi had already seen a glimpse of his true strength.
As long as Yakumo kept his Water Bullet Technique a secret, he wouldn’t be revealing everything.
Besides, once someone had done you a favor, asking for another was easier the second time around.
That afternoon, Yakumo once again pulled Kakashi into their familiar dark corner.
His expression was tinged with a hint of ingratiation.
“What is it this time?” Kakashi asked helplessly.
He couldn’t understand why Yakumo insisted on dragging him into dark corners whenever he needed something.
Didn’t Yakumo realize how easily people could misunderstand what they were doing?
“Body-dissolving fluid and trace-erasing powder…”
“Got it.
I’ll bring them tomorrow.”
With that, Kakashi turned and hurried away, leaving Yakumo standing there in confusion.
“Hey…”
Yakumo watched him go.
Kakashi hadn’t asked where the previous supply of body-dissolving fluid had gone.
Yakumo understood that this was because Kakashi trusted him almost unconditionally as a friend.
But as their bond grew stronger, Yakumo found himself facing a difficult question.
If the time came, would he really be able to stand by and do nothing while Sakumo died?
“Why was Kakashi looking at me so strangely?”
“Have you never heard of the Ninja Academy’s Three Sacred Sites?” Mori Yasuko asked in astonishment.
“What Three Sacred Sites?
Where?”
“The Grudge Alley, where people settle their scores; the First Hokage’s Toe, touching which supposedly brings good luck; and the Confession Corner, which symbolizes romance.”
Yakumo froze.
“Don’t tell me you mean the place Kakashi and I just went to?”
“That’s right.”
Yakumo was utterly dumbfounded.
Why had he never heard of these so-called Three Sacred Sites at the Ninja Academy?
“You have to believe me…” Yakumo hurriedly defended himself.
“I really…
don’t like Kakashi.”
“Then who does Yakumo like?” Yasuko asked with a mischievous smile, a sly glint in the depths of her eyes.
Without thinking, Yakumo glanced toward Kurenai Yuhi, who was chatting happily with Asuma Sarutobi.
“Looks like I don’t have anyone I like right now.”
Kurenai and Asuma were practically destined to end up together.
According to the original storyline, Asuma would die young, while Kurenai would have grown into an exceptionally beautiful woman by then.
But she would already be carrying Asuma’s child.
Yakumo believed that many things in this world could be entrusted to someone else, but when it came to giving birth, it was better to handle the matter personally.
“So…
you like Kurenai Yuhi, then?” Yasuko suddenly leaned closer and whispered.
“Yes…
That’s right.”
Perhaps because he was already preparing to give up on the idea, or perhaps because the two of them had developed a deep sense of trust after surviving a life-and-death crisis together, Yakumo readily admitted his feelings to Yasuko.
Though perhaps they weren’t really feelings of affection.
…
He might simply have been attracted to her looks.
“I suppose I used to like her a little.
Just a little.”