Guren's POV (Nearby Hokage Manor - Hidden Leaf Village)
As a formerly proud commanding officer of the Sound Village, Guren was inherently aware that she was valuable. So inherently helpful, he had not even bothered to brand her with the cursed seal. She was powerful enough on her merit, rivaling the likes of Kimimaro even with the seal. Oh, she was no fool; her master was a cruel one. Her death would likely be at his hands or due to his betrayal. Her use only made the prospect of her ever leaving him unacceptable. She was well aware of this, but she had no choice. She had been a rare one for the Sound. She had been loyal, honest, and dedicated. The rest tended to be more mercenary. There was an exception; Kimimaro had always been the most faithful. Zetsu, now ingrained with their master due to the loss of his own, was equally as loyal. The man seemed to not have anything. Almost a pet at this point, though she doubted he realized that. Kabuto seemed loyal in some ways, but his raw intelligence and cruel mind made it hard to tell. Yet Guren now could not claim to be as loyal as he thought. It had begun when she had fallen into a depression once Orochimaru had deemed her ill-fit to be a vessel.
The despair ate at her; she had failed at one task in life. She had taken to wandering a bit. Attempting to discover purpose, she found it, of course. She had discovered a young man she had become attached to.
Yukimaru, as he had been named, was a sickly, mild boy. Likely to die young and yet so hopeful. He saw the good in life even when surrounded by the bad. He had given meaning to her life that not even her master could provide. Perhaps it had been the want to right the wrongs she had suffered. To give someone the life she never had a chance to live. However Orochimaru discovered Yukimaru, and discovered a power within him… one that the man saw as a threat. Guren had sworn Yukimaru's usefulness and loyalty…
It mattered little, for the second her master realized there was a threat to his power. Well, he had taken care of it. Of course, it was not himself; Kabuto had been the one to kill him. From the grizzly sight of the remains, he had done so violently as a statement as much as to hurt her. Guren had nearly killed Kabuto before he had arrived. She was so angry and broken that she prepared to strike down her master even. But he had merely chuckled at her rage. Offering her a deal he seemed so sure she would accept.
If she had spent ten years of absolute servitude to Orochimaru, she would have gotten to see Yukimaru again. She had insisted Kabuto be removed due to her murderous rage when faced with the man. Her master had sent him away. However, Guren thought he had done this to avoid losing one of his two most valuable pawns. He claimed he could resurrect him. Guren was no fool; she had demanded proof of the claim. He had chuckled at her, killed a nearby grunt, and did as asked. Guren had almost cried seeing him again. He may not be blood, but he was her son. Yet ever the cruel man, Orochimaru had dispelled the technique coldly, removing her son from the corpse. An unspoken threat, even if she earned her son he could take him away. Guren had little option. Though she knew something would snap one day…
She knew he was playing her and that he would likely extend the servitude, but she had little else to hope for. A majority of her life had been dedicated to Orochimaru. Even now, it was all she knew. Her only escape had been Yukimaru, and he had killed him. He also was the only way the woman would see him again. So, as Guren saw it, she would obey either until death or Yukimaru's return.
She hated her choice at the moment. Anbu were powerful in their own right, but she had shredded whole squads before. Yet now they stood her ground with her. It seemed the Leaf had increased its power in the peaceful age they enjoyed.
She ducked under the wind blade of one anbu and avoided the fire coated blade of the other. Her armor was great for ignoring the kunai fired from the small puppet above where the trapped Fu was. But the two Anbu had summoned blade techniques that were problematic and made the armor a burden now. The wind blade simply was so refined it could slice through it. The flame was simply so hot it would burn her inside it. Not to mention, she had to be careful to avoid them clashing near her. It would indeed cause a sizable explosion. As she stepped back to avoid another slash from the duo, she felt her foot trip over something. Her eyes widened as she fell.
'What did I?' Her eyes saw a kunai stabbed into the ground. 'So that was why he kept firing those, they weren't attacks but a set up!'
As she fell, the two Anbu closed their swords, trying to match their blades as they cut into her. But she merely weaved one hand desperately. "Crystal Style: Pentagonal Prison!" she called as crystal welled below her before flying upwards absurdly quickly. All three shinobi were crystallized as trapped in the frame.
Fu panted harshly as he dispelled his puppet. The man coldly examined the crystal structure below and looked for movement. He couldn't see into it from his angle above it but knew motion would be apparent; he waited a full minute before he let his guard down as he expected Guren may have a way out. He would likely be unable to stop her if she was still in play, but he had planned to explode a series of explosive tags sewn into his clothing. It would certainly kill him, but it would be well worth it to stop her from helping her master. He then gripped his tanto harshly as he prepared to free himself from the crystal. He lacked enough chakra to attempt to shatter the crystal but needed to be freed to report to Danzo. He robotically swung the tanto into his ankle. The first strike cleaved through the bones but failed to cut entirely his own limb. This shifted his weight enough that with a painful crack, his still attached and trapped ankle shattered against the weight. He felt tears fill his eyes but calmly cut the other one with an odd strike. He fell through the air toward the ground. The man flowed his remaining chakra through his body to survive the fall before the crystal he dropped next to suddenly extended out. Fu barely felt much but pressure. But his body trained to ignore the pain. Instead, he focused on the events he was subjected to. He saw the crystal had caved in his chest, cutting and crushing as it grew through the shinobi. He finally let out a gasp of pain as Guren seemed to grow out of the crystal that had impaled the man. She stood on the tip, looking down at the dying man with some level of pity.
They had both served in their life. Both had been dutiful servants hoping to gain the world from a master who seemed to have it. Yet this servant was no more. He would likely be remembered for only his failure. Danzo could be just as unforgiving as her own. Was there ever, honestly, a difference between the two? The man had met death willingly as if he did not fear the end. Yet Guren feared dying; she had experienced happiness and selfishly longed for it again. Perhaps she was not a good servant. Deep down, she wished to be free of her service.
As she prepared to walk away, she passed two of the dead Anbu. Guren's eyes widened as she realized there was no crystal on them! As she turned, the two thrust tanto into her stomach. She coughed blood onto the two, gripping their wrist and crystalizing them both. She swore the two smiled even as they were engulfed. She stumbled back, obviously wounded harshly. She lowered herself to her knees as she gripped both tanto. With a cold efficiency, she ripped both out. Splatters of blood fell as the blades left her body. The pain was immense; only her experience saved her from passing out. She then pressed her hands to the wounds, filling them with crystal. Indeed rudimentary, but it would keep her alive for now.
She panted as she eyed the field. She heard a crash as her master fought the two powerful old men even now. She couldn't hear Kimimaro, but doubtless the machine was soon to be done. If she were to leave, it would be a clean escape.
She knew Orochimaru would never give her Yukimaru. Merely wished to keep her working until she was useless. She should seek a new purpose. She looked down at her blood. She rested both tanto and her hair tie there. Orochimaru would likely realize eventually she was alive, but it would fool him for at least the day. She flinched as she felt a crazy boom as her "comrades" fought valiantly.
'What am I even doing?' Her mind raced. She wasn't sure. That was a new way to live. Without even checking on her comrades, she fazed into the earth. She would wait for an opening and escape.
Orochimaru's POV (Hokage Manor - Hidden Leaf Village)
Orochimaru had always been told he had an ego problem. Something that he had always resented, it suggested his self image was inaccurate. Time and time again, he proved himself to be superior to his peers. Others always seemed to find flaws in him, but they were either jealous or blind. They always had nitpicked his personality and morality, all while ignoring his genius and innate talent. Of course Orochimaru had spent his career as a Leaf shinobi achieving greatness. Both his mind and power had grown to be feared. He had thought they would surely give him the role of Kage. Especially since it was his own sensei retiring. It would restrict him in some ways, but in others… oh, it held possibilities. Enough to where Hiruzen had warned him of his consideration, he had deemed he would accept it. It only fits a man such as himself, after all. He had always pondered the idea of running a village.
But the damned bastard had been given the role. He was from no prominent clan. He was taught by the damned Toad Fool even. Yet he had grown at astounding speed, and Unlike Orochimaru had been seen for it. Despite his young age, he was enough to be considered for the role. To be given it over him… Orochimaru initially had been foolish enough to think his experience would win him it. After all, with age came wisdom. In the third shinobi war, Minato shattered his confidence, it had been yet another reason to leave the Leaf.
Minato had done something even the Snake would begrudgingly admit was astounding however. A Stone shinobi army approached, and their large size and straight path made it clear. They intended a direct assault on the Leaf amid the global war that was the Third Shinobi World War. Engagements with both the Cloud and Mist had left them wide open. Minato Namikaze, upon hearing this intel, had made a simple request. He wanted to launch a solo assault on them. Orochimaru had been on leave and, upon hearing the bastard's request, refused to offer his aid. Why should he interfere if the man wanted to perish and give him the position for free?
Orochimaru flinched as Hiruzen's staff crushed three of his ribs. He quickly spat himself from the now hollow body. His unique ability to heal has always proved useful. As he flew from the old body, he lunged forward. Attempting to crush his attacker's throat with his bare hands. Infuriating he was batted back by the cane of Danzo. As he flew away Hiruzen took advantage of the opportunity to attack him.
"Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Orochimaru hissed as he slid through the kunai, weaving hand signs. He allowed several large snakes to crawl towards the older men. Hiruzen immediately roasted them with a basic fire jutsu, but this instant was enough for Orochimaru to roar gleefully.
"Wind Style: Great Wind Breakthrough!" A sudden, strong gust of wind sent the two men flying back towards the barrier. Their flight boosted even further by the explosion of fire and wind nature chakra. Orochimaru's mind raced as he cackled at the two men's potential death.
It had been foolish looking back on it. Of course the fools of the Leaf had chosen the man, he was flashy and heroic….
Minato was absurdly powerful with the jutsu he used. Instant teleportation and an absurdly powerful technique labeled the Rasengan. It had made him into an avatar of death. Orochimaru had thought he was too naive and weak to use it to his fullest potential. Yet the man had slaughtered the army single-handedly. The returning Rock shinobi had spoken of horror stories of blonde men killing squads nearly instantly. His promotion had been assured with the accolade and his bingo book entry being updated to a flee on sight.
Orochimaru may have been disloyal to some degree, but it was shockingly painful to lose what he thought was a sure race. He had been filled with rage. Arranged various troubles for Minato. But the man seemed near flawless. He countered any problem quickly and efficiently. So, instead, he shifted to easier targets. Anything to pursue his greatness and purge his festering jealousy.
His experiments had always been done on bandits before. Harmless blights to society would hardly be missed after all. But the rage had influenced him in strange ways. Soon, he started to use civilians for experiments. The experiments before had been cruel, for sure. But a necessary, cruel, logical one. These were still scientific, but his hatred shined in the new inhumane ways he went about testing his new hypothesis. But while in the employ of the village, his hatred merely grew, it had multiplied.
He had always been confused by the loyalty displayed by Tsunade and Jiraiya. The three of them were rewarded for their remarkable talent by the type of missions they didn't expect survivors from. They had overcome the challenges, but Orochimaru knew he was being used. It simply was infuriating when he was superior to them all. They would use the three of them to solve all their problems before their untimely demise. He needed to strike back, and strike back he did. His subjects soon shifted to shinobi. He would randomly arrange for the death of shinobi. Then, take them after their supposed "death". Soon, it was no longer even science. Cruelties done for his own amusement. The Uchiha were his most aggressive of betrayals.
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The men seemed sure to hit the barrier before Hiruzen's staff grew enormous, knocking them away from the barrier in the last instant. Orochimaru frowned as Danzo signed as the two of them landed. He breathed in deeply before spitting out mini balls of wind. Orochimaru deflected one with Kusanagi and was knocked off balance. He managed to weave around the next then drop to his back. But he was shocked when Hiruzen was above him. Holding onto the end of his staff, he weaved hand signs with a smile.
"I'm glad you're so durable, my pupil! It allows me to install you with so many lessons! Lightning Style: Lightning Quake Flash!" Hiruzen called with a smile as his hands fired off a bundle of lightning. Orochimaru grunted in pain as the lighting smashed him into the ground while shocking him violently. Orochimaru prepared to swap his body as his skin turned black. But his eyes widened when he couldn't. On his shirt lay a seal of some kind. Danzo had bonded a seal to his body! Until he removed it, it seemed he would be unable to heal. Before the Snake could counter this, Hiruzen slammed his enlarged staff viciously, crushing him even further. The staff then turned back into Emna, who ground and pounded into the Sannin viciously. Each strike embedding him further into the ground. He then threw him into the air. Orochimaru furiously flexed his chakra at the seal as Danzo looked to finish him off.
"In the next life, I hope you learn loyalty scum. Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves!" Several large waves of wind flew from Danzo's mouth, cutting Orochimaru into pieces. There was silence as they waited for Orochimaru to rise. Seven long seconds went by before they relaxed. Arrogant fools…
Orochimaru appeared behind Danzo. Who barely manages to duck the blade to the back of his head. So close a call the sword grazed his skull, blood flowing down to cover his face. Orochimaru pursued after him, ducking a long-range thrust from Hiruzen's staff and attempting to slice Danzo in two. But the advanced-aged man managed to stumble back, only receiving a minor cut on his torso. Hiruzen flew in as the staff shrunk and landed a bone-crushing knee to Orochimaru's face. Sending the man sliding back bonelessly. The two merely seemed to stretch as the man spat himself out yet again now panting harshly.
"Sarutobi, if you need me to take point with your pitiful stamina. I, of course, understand." Danzo stated as he subtly signaled he was at sixty-five percent of the chakra reserve left. Hiruzen laughed merrily as he signaled back fifty-five.
"You underestimate me, old friend. I feel young teaching my students again." Hiruzen countered with false merry.
"A comedian as always sensei." Orochimaru hissed. "You grow arrogant with age, old man! Without the other fossil here, you'd be dead already!"
"I assumed you taught him shinobi don't make excuses?" Danzo asked.
"He's my problem child."
"Jiraiya?"
"Clown."
"Tsunade?"
"Bit of a brat, honestly."
"So you do know."
"I find it best to pretend not to."
Orochimaru growled at this. The rage filled him yet again. Even now, he was being overlooked! His mind reminisced even as his anger grew. The Uchiha was a bit much, he would admit. Danzo, while cooperating with him, investigated. Someone had manipulated the Uchiha, he reasoned.
Someone of considerable power and way. Blatantly admitted to trying to do the same with Itachi and Shisui Uchiha for a similar goal. Yet someone else had set him up. Hiruzen believed it was some odd play to claim innocence from Danzo. But Danzo had known the truth. Orochimaru had arranged for the Uchiha to attempt a coup. Then leaked the knowledge to Hiruzen afterwards. They had all met in secret and decided to jail them.
At first, Orochimaru merely did it blindly. Looking to hurt the Leaf as they had to him. But his mind, as always, had found another route. He, even more than wanting greatness, sought knowledge. Primarily with jutsu, though, any chakra-related phenomena often worked. In the chaos of crushing the Uchiha, he had managed to gain several Sharingan. He had considered using them, but Kakashi Hatake was a prime example of their price. So, for now, he sat upon them.
Orochimaru had to accept the truth. Jutsu is a beautiful and flexible art. But it simply wasn't enough to gain the knowledge he yearned for. So, he had turned to science. Inspired by the soldier pill and the Akimichi's unique pills, he sought to make a steroid to increase his power. He developed many, but most simply did not seem worth the trouble of being used in combat.
Until he met Ikam. The man was arrogant and murderous. But with his unique knowledge, Orochimaru had finally developed a combat steroid. He then had Ikam offer it to any traitorous Leaf he could find. Easy enough with a village as broken as that. Mizuki had been an excellent choice. Just average is sufficient to get a feel for the drug. And the man had held off three Genin near his original level alone. He assumed the gate boy probably finished him off. An intriguing technique but not worth the cost, even for him.
Once he had received the body, improvements had been made. Before, Mizuki had somewhat lost his mind. It took some tweaking, but now his Cursed Energy Shot is ready. Losing the only noticeable flaws.
"Well done. I see why you're both considered legends. You always did warn me, sensei, that my arrogance may very well become my downfall. I suppose in that sense, you did teach me something… kukukuku." Orochimaru spoke in between his pants. Clearly, near the end of his rope from the sustained assault of his elders, he suddenly drew a syringe that both men recognized; they both rushed forward, hoping to stop him from injecting the drug.
The syringe injected the serum into the Sannin before either could stop it. The swell of chakra stopped them in their tracks. Enma quickly jumped into Hiruzen's hands as a staff as Danzo fired off shuriken. Both are nearly instantly recovering from their momentarily flinching at the chakra level of the Sannin now. Orochimaru cackled as he dropped Kusanagi and rushed the two. Danzo attempted to jump back and fire off a jutsu, but Orochimaru appeared behind him, kicking him into the ground so hard it created a hole.
"My physical enhancements are quite thrilling, kukuku!" He caught a staff thrust that now seemed slow and pulled Hiruzen in. Enma, being the clever bastard, was reformed into monkey form and pulled the Sannin into a full Nelson. Hiruzen rushed forward with murder in his eyes. Orochimaru smirked as he flexed out of the Nelson and kicked Emna across the clearing. Hiruzen fired in with a jumping roundhouse that Orochimaru caught and slammed the man into the ground. Sealing with one hand, he prepared to finish him off before dodging a windball. His eyes flicked to the barely standing Danzo. He smirked as he shifted towards him, firing off with glee, "Ninja Art: Sound Wave!" He called as a powerful blast of sound fired toward Danzo. It tore through his body with ease. Destroying his robe and showing off a discolored arm. Before either could even react, Danzo seemed to reform. It was as if an illusion had faded and revealed a healed Danzo, though his robe was still torn. Both men were stunned into silence as Danzo's arm revealed pale skin that seemed to almost glow at night. With nine open, Sharingan glared from the man's arm. The tenth one was slowly closing as he fired off a jutsu. So shocked was the Sannin that he barely dodged this before he shot off. Wanting to crush the annoyances with his own hands. Before he could break Danzo's neck, Hiruzen somehow appeared in between with a grimace. Obviously somewhat exhausted from the long bout of combat.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!" A large wall appeared, and Orochimaru painfully flew through it. This led to a monstrous haymaker from Emna, sending him flying back and slamming into the remnants of Hokage Manor with a crunch of bone. He hatefully spat himself out and glared at the two. The two stared back, tensing, before Orochimaru merely smiled.
Hiruzen had no time to react as Manda burst from the ground, biting the old man in half. Another of Danzo's Sharingan closed as Hiruzen formed back. Hirzuen seemed surprised but quickly fired off another jutsu at Manda. "Wind Style: Fujin's Fang!" A large tooth-shaped gust of wind formed, slamming through the large Snake. Manda screamed in pain as he poofed away. Hiruzen ducked as he dodged a kunai thrown from his former student, watching in horror as Danzo was beheaded by the absurdly quick-flying Kusanagi. But once again, Danzo reformed a little bit away from his death and stabbed the Sannin from behind. Orochimaru spits out yet another body for himself. But he was fatigued. He jumped back, staring intensely. Yet he smiled still.
"So the rumors were true, kukuku. The Uchiha truly did have a technique capable of rewriting reality itself!" He roared happily. "When I kill the two of you I will learn it for myself!"
"Izanagi. It allows a user of the Sharingan to rewrite reality for a time. In my case, I rewrite each death you cause." Danzo stated simply. Hiruzen stood with him but was infuriated by the revelation.
"If you want sensei, I'll let you kill him before I kill you, " Orochimaru said with a wide smile. Hiruzen obviously felt some way about the technique, it would only serve his purposes if the two turned against each other.
"Danzo will pay for his crimes, make no mistake. But that will be after you receive punishment!" Hiruzen shouted and focused on the Snake. In truth, he was exhausted. Danzo's trick gave them an edge.
"Oh, Danzo, you think I haven't heard of a technique as fascinating as Izanagi?" Orochimaru taunted. "You can use it for a few seconds to control reality at the cost of your eye's sight and a massive amount of chakra. The extra eyes in your arms… you're spamming it using extra eyes! Each use costs you one eye. I imagine you have seven more uses. KUKUKUKU! I SEE I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO BENEFITED IN TRAGEDY!"
"Correct. Using this benefit, I'll aid the Leaf by writing the end of your story!" Danzo screamed defiantly. He went to weave hand signs as Hiruzen charged forward to close the distance. But with the amp, the drugged Orochimaru merely met Hiruzen's charge with a smile. He slammed an uppercut into Hiruzen's chin. The old man stumbled back open for a leg kick. Kusanagi, still moving on its own, pierced through Danzo's heart. But Danzo faded once again, now above Orochimaru, already finishing a jutsu. "Wind Style: Great Wind Breakthrough!" The stolen technique slammed the Snake into the ground hard. Before The Snake could escape, another flame dragon slammed into the wind, holding him down and causing a massive explosion. Hiruzen and Danzo both jumped back, landing on the small amount of Hokage manor that still stood from the three destructive battles. Looking down as the smoke cleared, they could hear the snake still heaving himself out. So both barely reacted as the Snake crushed both their throats from behind.
"A simple clone." He taunted.
The two faded above, unleashing crushing kicks to the Snake's skull. Sending the Sannin flying through the building and collapsing it on top of him. The two landed on top of the rubble. To see the other two battles had concluded. None of their men were standing. Neither were the Orochimaru's.
"It seems your little Anbu has gotten better. I never expected they'd manage to kill my favorites!" Orochimaru screamed angrily as he flew through hand signs. The two older men attempted to move but stumbled and fell to their knees. They had nothing left, and the snake seemed to be going strong. "But you can't keep up anymore! Fire Style: Great Blaze Ball!" An absurdly large fireball flew toward the two, incinerating them where they stood. Orochimaru flinched as he realized the illusion.
"Foolish to think the Sharingan was merely for one purpose. With them, I can wield genjutsu to fool even the likes of you." Danzo whispered as Orochimaru felt a kunai where his heart would be. Danzo sent wind chakra into the blade and bisected the Sannin. Orochimaru flew out of the mouth of the top half. But this achieved little as Hiruzen's staff again slammed into him in giant form, crushing him. He threw the staff back hard enough to send it flying. Before either old man could react, snakes bit into their ankles. Holding them in place as Orochimaru beheaded both. They faded back in behind him, and without missing a beat, he cut them both as they faded in, bisecting both. They then fade in from above. But snakes flew from the Sannin and bit into the men, pumping them full of venom. They then slammed the men down as Orochimaru walked forward and checked Danzo's arm to see all the Sharingans closed.
"Excellent, paralyzed by my lovely snakes and out of fight. That can only mean this pathetic battle is over… Anything to say? Perhaps a preference on who dies first?" Orochimaru asked gleefully.
"Curse you Orochimaru! I should've killed you when I had the c-" Hiruzen began to roar, however Kusanagi sliced through his lower jaw before he could, ending his statement with a sickening crunch and splat. Hiruzen, to his credit, didn't beg nor attempt to scream as his face fell apart. Nearly flinch as Orochimaru stabbed him repeatedly and viciously. Twisting the blade after stabbing into his heart. Hirzuen died silently with a tired sigh.
"Tragic truly kukuku. Any words for you, Danzo?" Orochimaru asked as he raised the blade over his head.
Dazo merely offered a small smile. "Today will be yet another failure for you, Orochimaru."
The Sannin smiled back before viciously hacking the man relentlessly. Chopping him into small pieces, and coating himself in blood in the process. He rose from his work with a smile. Looking around, he saw multiple ninjas attempting to bypass the barrier angrily. How cute they were. In this form, he could slaughter a lot of them very well. But he had achieved his goal. This should stop them from bothering Ikam and himself for a while.
He shifted his eyes, looking for signs of his subordinates. Kimimaro, or what was left of him, was left smiling next to an Anbu member. He frowned at this, unsure what to smile about in failure. Guren's scene was odd. Plenty of dead Anbu, and he could smell her blood. Perhaps her body had been destroyed. He sunk into the ground as the barrier started to fade. Losing them both was unfortunate, but he had replacements in mind. It may be time to recall Kabuto. With roars of anger and despair, the Sannin escaped this battlefield, unaware his subordinate did as well.
Various shinobi rushed into the bloody scene as the barrier disappeared. Screaming and sobs were heard as they realized they had lost both legends. Some went off hoping to find the Sannin and avenge their Kage. Others lost to grief simply shouted, cried, raged, or some form of all three. Others seemed stunned. But before any decisions could be made, the two men's bodies seemed to disappear, in their place were the tired but alive bodies of both. The various shinobi immediately celebrated the pleasant surprise.
"Thanks for the chakra Sarutobi. I didn't have enough to pull off a Kotoamatsuki to convince him of our death without it. Shame to lose nine Sharigan in one day, but necessary in this case." Danzo commented. The bandages were removed from his face, now revealing a blind Sharingan.
"You realize you will be facing significant charges for this?" Hiruzen asked, standing next to the man.
"I made the mistake, and I am prepared to pay for it," Danzo answered simply. You'll find most of the Root gone, though. I may not be necessary to the future of the Leaf, but the Root is. Hopefully, they'll learn from my mistakes."
"You won't face death, my old friend. Not after this, but you will be imprisoned immediately! And any who have left the Leaf will be treated as traitors!" Hiruzen yelled as he stood. His eyes were focused, but the pain was in his eyes. "This will be indefinite for the charge of treason!" The crowd of shinobi hesitated before several restrained Danzo. "I want all clan heads and civilian members of the council in for a meeting yesterday!" The men hustled off, eager to help now that they knew they were fine. Hiruzen watched sadly as Danzo was escorted away. He knew he was within his right. But as always, his old friend left him feeling conflicted. Working with the Snake, then betraying him to no personal benefit.
"What are you thinking, old friend?" He asked out loud. Silently wishing for the wisdom many have credited him with.
AN
Remastered: Much better chapter even before I touched it. Even now love how I did this fight, wanted to emulate the brawl between Orochimaru and Hiruzen while upping the grit and scrappy feel to it. Glad to have improved it.
