Chapter 26: Storms Behind Shadows
Konoha, a temporary Hokage tent.
Danzo, having returned from the Land of Iron, leaned on a cane with his left hand. His right eye and right arm had been replaced with prosthetics, both tightly bandaged to avoid gossip.
The daimyo had just sent a letter—its contents far from encouraging.
"Danzo, your conduct at the Five Kage Summit was deeply disappointing. However, since you were appointed by me personally, removing you now would reflect poorly on my judgment. I'll allow you one hundred days to stabilize the village. Fail, and another candidate will replace you."
After reading, Danzo lit the letter on fire with a candle. His remaining eye burned coldly.
"A pity I lost my right eye... I could've used it to settle the daimyo."
He stared at the ashes in silence for a long time before summoning the head of Konoha's reconstruction efforts.
"How is the village rebuilding? Also… begin plans for carving my face into the Sixth Hokage monument."
"This…" The official hesitated. "We did receive funding from the Land of Fire, but the damage is extensive, and the people's morale is still shaky. Wouldn't repairing Hokage Rock now seem… inappropriate?"
He watched Danzo's expression carefully. No one dared push too far, especially not with the masked guards on both sides glaring silently.
Danzo's tone was firm. "Every Hokage leaves his mark on the Rock. It signals a new era. Right now, Konoha is in crisis—what it needs is a symbol of renewed strength. My face… will be that symbol."
The official nodded quickly. "Yes, that does make sense!"
"Then begin immediately. Select the materials, oversee the process, choose the sculptors. I want to inspect every step personally."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
After the man left, Danzo stepped out of the tent, his lone eye fixed on the distant cliff face where the Hokage Rock stood.
"At last… my name and legacy will be carved into history."
But his heart wasn't calm. The ambush at the Five Kage Summit still haunted him. His loss of an eye and arm had left him weak—too weak.
He gripped his cane tighter.
"I underestimated Uzumaki Naruto. His Rinnegan power has grown far beyond expectation. If I'd known, I would've taken Nagato's eyes back in the Rain Village."
Now, without his Sharingan or right arm, even defending himself was a challenge. His every move was watched. Konoha's Anbu had been quietly replaced with his own Root operatives. Within a hundred steps, he was never alone.
That night, just before the Five Kage Summit ended, a battered figure returned to the village—Terai, the Root operative Danzo had sent to track Yakushi Kabuto.
Terai dropped to one knee, bloodied and breathless.
"Lord Danzo… I found him. But his strength… far exceeds our reports."
Danzo narrowed his eye. "Then how did you survive?"
Terai hesitated. "He… let me live."
Danzo's eye flashed.
"What?"
Suddenly, a flicker of light glinted in Terai's eyes—a serpent's slit-pupil gleam.
Crack! Danzo's cane fell. In one motion, he lunged and seized Terai by the throat.
"Gurk…!"
A white snake slithered out of Terai's mouth, holding a scroll between its jaws, and then dropped lifeless to the floor.
Danzo bent over, picked up the scroll, and read it. His expression changed.
"Dispose of the body," he said coldly.
"Yes."
"I'm leaving the village. This is top secret. Not a soul can know."
"What about the Hokage's presence?"
Danzo's lips curled slightly.
"Let my double handle it."
His stand-in—a Jonin-level operative identical in appearance and mannerisms—was always ready. Danzo had planned for betrayal long ago.
"But ensure the Hokage remains visible. If he hides, it'll stir suspicion. The daimyo's already breathing down my neck. We can't afford a single misstep."
"What of your guard detail?"
His elite bodyguards, Fu and Torune, had died by Naruto's hand.
Danzo thought for a moment. "Recall Ryoma."
"Oil Girl Ryoma…?" The Root agent's tone trembled with respect.
A veteran of the Yuhi clan, Ryoma had once partnered with Orochimaru during the orphanage investigation. He was powerful—and loyal.
That night, as the final preparations were made, Danzo dressed in black and quietly exited Konoha.
At the edge of the forest, he turned back toward the mountain wall.
"When I return, my face will already be carved in stone. My era... will finally begin."
He vanished into the night.
The night deepened.
Southern Fire Country. Hidden hideout of the Akatsuki.
"Hn…" Sasuke stirred.
"Sasuke!" Karin leaned in with a warm smile.
"You're awake," said Tobi from a high perch, chin resting on his gloved hand.
Sasuke blinked, his thoughts still foggy. "Where's Naruto?"
"He fought Raikage and left the Iron Country safely."
Boom!
Sasuke's fist slammed the bedrock.
"Damn it… Naruto's strength has grown too much."
Tobi replied smoothly, "Don't be discouraged. At the end of your battle, your eyes awakened even further. Without Nagato's Rinnegan, he wouldn't have beaten you so easily."
Sasuke scoffed. "Don't insult me with excuses."
Tobi leaned forward. "Then what's your next move? If you return to Konoha now, it will only end in failure."
Sasuke's voice was cold and resolute.
"I'll transplant Itachi's eyes."
"Oh?" Tobi's tone shifted, curious.
"I need power. Enough to destroy Naruto… and Konoha."
Tobi's lone eye gleamed. "Then come with me."
Far beyond the Land of Iron, within a hidden cave nestled in the mountains.
Fwoom.
Naruto's right eye slowly opened. The transplanted Sharingan—Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyo—gleamed with a unique pattern of four scythe-like tomoe.
Orochimaru stepped forward.
"How does it feel, Naruto-kun?"
Naruto's voice was calm.
"This darkness… looks a bit clearer now."
Orochimaru smirked.
"Shisui's Kotoamatsukami is a rare genjutsu. Without Hashirama cells, it usually activates only once per decade. But you're of the Uzumaki lineage—distant relatives of the Senju. For you, the cooldown is closer to two weeks. Though… there's a risk of blindness."
Naruto looked sideways at him.
"Aren't you worried I'll use it on you?"
Orochimaru chuckled.
"If you intended to, you wouldn't have warned me. Besides, if you truly cast it, I'd never even notice."
Naruto turned his back, lips twitching.
Konan stepped forward.
"Now that the transplant is done, shall we return to Amegakure?"
Naruto was silent.
Akatsuki was moving to capture the Eight-Tails. Raikage had rushed out that same night. And that man—Bee—was likely walking into a trap.
Naruto couldn't forget him. That man who'd risked his life to protect his comrades… Naruto owed him.
"We need to build up more manpower," he said.
Konan raised a brow. "You plan to recruit?"
Naruto covered his right eye.
"There's one man I want to win over. Use him for us."
"Who?"
Naruto's voice sharpened.
"Kisame Hoshigaki. The wielder of Samehada… one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."
If you want to read more there's 15, 30, 50 chapters there of my written fanfictions and translated works in my Pat.Reon.
Here is the link: https://patreon.com/ChainsofChaosCC?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
And if you can't find it just type my name: http://patreon.com/ChainsofChaosCC