The mansion of the Daimyō of the Land of Fire was bustling with discussions about the restru of Konohagakure.

  A long table was set in the grand hall.

  The Daimyō of the Land of Fire, Mitsuhide Akechi, sat at the southern end of the table.

  To the east were five senior advisors to the Daimyō, all wearing dark high hats.

  To the west sat five representatives from Konoha: Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, an ANBU squad leader a white cloak and animal mask, the jōnin representative Shikaku Nara, and the head of the Root division—Danzō Shimura.

  Mitokado Homura began, "We io tinue our alliance's policies against Akatsuki..."

  Across from him, the bespectacled and schorly chief advisor replied, "Sihe vilge has been reduced to this state, the Land of Fire will fully support its restru. First, we must address the budget... and then work on repairing strained retions with other nations."

  At this point, Danzō interjected, "More urgent than those matters is determining the Hokage!"

  Shikaku Nara immediately tensed. As expected... it has begun!

  As the jōnin representative, Shikaku had previously proposed Kakashi Hatake as the Hokage. However, he khat another man coveted the Hokage's seat—Danzō Shimura!

  Kakashi’s assion would not e without resistance.

  The Daimyō fanned himself leisurely. "’t we wait until Tsunade recovers?"

  Utatane Koharu replied, "Daimyō-sama, Tsunade is still in a a, and we don’t know when she will wake up. Given the current state of the vilge, it will be difficult for her to lead effectively. Moreover, she bears some responsibility for the vilge’s destru..."

  The "responsibility" Koharu referred to was Tsunade’s decision to hide Naruto in the secluded Mount Myōboku, which had forced Pain to invade Konoha in search of him.

  The Daimyō sighed. "I had inally thought of choosing Jiraiya. I admired him greatly, but as, he is no longer with us. Are there any other didates?"

  At this moment, Danzō opened his mouth. "If that’s the case—"

  "I nominate Kakashi Hatake!" Shikaku interrupted forcefully, ign the icy gre Danzō shot his way.

  "Oh! The son of the White Fang, is it? Hmm, not bad!" The Daimyō seemed pleased. He turo the advisors. "What do you all think?"

  "His reputation, strength, and character are all outstanding!"

  "But isn’t he a bit too young?"

  "Wasn’t the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, even you the time?"

  The advisors voiced their opinions oer another, and the situation began to tilt in Kakashi’s favor.

  Then, the bespectacled chief advisor asked, "Kakashi Hatake—whose disciple is he?"

  Mitokado Homura answered, "He was the disciple of the Fourth Hokage."

  The Daimyō cpped his hands. "The Fourth Hokage was Jiraiya’s student, and Jiraiya was the Third Hokage’s student. Hmm, it seems there’s no issue. Very well—"

  Just as the decision seemed settled, Danzō coldly interjected, "The Third Hokage’s teags have dohing but push the vilge toward ruin!"

  The Daimyō fli Danzō’s pierg gaze, hastily raising his fan to cover half his face.

  Seizing the moment, Danzō tinued, "The leader of Akatsuki, who destroyed our vilge, was once Jiraiya’s student. This is the result of eag fn nations our teiques—a fatal mistake!"

  "This misguided idealism, passed down through geions, led to the betrayal of our allied nations and gave Orochimaru the opportunity to attack the vilge!"

  "And now, Akatsuki’s new rising star is her than a remnant of the Uchiha —a rogue ninja, Sasuke Uchiha!"

  Shikaku’s expressirim as he listeo Danzō’s accusations.

  Suddenly, Danzō’s lips curled into a ing smile, and he delivered another bombshell. "But above all, the greatest failure lies with another of Jiraiya’s disciples—Konoha’s ails jinchūriki, Naruto Uzumaki, who has betrayed the vilge!"

  “!!” Shikaku’s expression ged drastically, and the entire hall erupted in shock.

  The chief advisor excimed, "Wait a moment! Isn’t Naruto the hero who defeated Akatsuki’s leader? Isn’t he currently resting and being celebrated for his deeds?"

  "Heh." Danzō sneered, gng at Shikaku. "You should ask the jōnin representative, Shikaku Nara, about that."

  The Daimyō turo Shikaku. "Shikaku, what is going on?"

  Sweat trickled down Shikaku’s face.

  So, Danzō’s spies had uncovered this after all...

  But he quickly posed himself. "Daimyō-sama... it is true that Naruto did not return to the vilge after the battle. However, it is too early to clude that he has betrayed us!"

  Danzō, however, pressed on with baseless accusations. "We have received critical intelligence suggesting that Naruto Uzumaki has been in tact with Akatsuki’s sed-in-and, plotting against the vilge."

  The advisors frowned. "Is this intelligence reliable?"

  Danzō added fuel to the fire. "It is highly credible... I even suspect that Pain’s atta Konoha art of a spiracy between him and Naruto."

  The Daimyō pondered deeply. "That doesn’t seem likely. Naruto is said to be a pure-hearted boy, a role model for many ninjas."

  Danzō retorted, "There is no such thing as ‘unlikely.’ Within him lies the ails, the embodiment of evil. No matter how pure-hearted he may appear, the darkness within him will iably e him. Furthermore, this oute stems from Jiraiya’s ie teag, Tsunade’s indulgence as Hokage, and Kakashi’s negligence as his jōnin instructor."

  The chief advisor adjusted his gsses. "Daimyō-sama... even if Danzō’s cims are unproven, it seems Kakashi is temporarily unsuited to bee Hokage."

  "..." Shikaku wao ter, but Danzō’s exploitation of Naruto’s alleged betrayal had already shifted the tide irreversibly.

  Bang! Danzō smmed the table and decred with vi, "What kind of Hokage does the vilge need now? One who turide in the worst of times! Someone who bring about reform aablish new rules for the ninja world. That Hokage... must be me!"

  "..." The Daimyō closed his eyes in ption.

  Shikaku hurriedly interjected, "Daimyō-sama, you must not take Danzō’s words at face value. Konoha’s ANBU is also trag Naruto’s whereabouts. I believe the truth will soon e to light—"

  The Daimyō opened his eyes and made his decision. "Very well. It is decided. Danzō, you shall be appointed as the Sixth Hokage!"

  A triumphant smile crept across Danzō’s face. He thought to himself: I had po use the power of my right eye to manipute the Daimyō if the situation turned unfavorable. But by exploiting the matter of Naruto’s alleged betrayal to undermine Kakashi’s didacy, things have gone even more smoothly than expected. Shikaku, not even you turn this around now...

  ---

  After leaving the Daimyō’s mansion, Danzō walked with his e alongside a white-cloaked ANBU operative.

  "How is the task I assigned yressing?"

  "Following your instrus, we have spread rumors among the vilgers that Naruto and Pain spired to stage the attack. The story cims that Naruto fled the vilge after you exposed his plot."

  Danzō smirked. "Excellent."

  The ANBU operative hesitated. "Danzō-sama, there is still no crete evidehat Naruto has betrayed the vilge. Moreover, he is one of the few individuals with strength parable to Jiraiya. Isn’t this move risky?"

  Danzō replied coldly, "Whether or not Naruto has betrayed us, as the ails jinchūriki, he is a destabilizing factor for the vilge. This budding threat must be eliminated before it grow."

  "Furthermore, no matter how powerful a on, if it ot be wielded by me, it is a liability. Sacrifig Naruto is a necessary step for Konoha’s future!"

  Pg a hand over his right eye, Danzō’s ambition burned brightly. "Onaruto is dealt with, I will take trol of the ails. Then, I, Danzō Shimura, will bee the stro Hokage in history!"