One hour later.
Veigar stepped out of the Hokage Residence.
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, smoking his kiseru silently. Behind him, sunlight poured through the tall windows, casting a golden blaze across the floor.
Smoke curled upward in soft rings from the pipe, drifting like ethereal clouds that shimmered in the light, mysterious and ephemeral.
"Veigar…"
The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes suddenly, shaking his head faintly, murmuring under his breath:
"What exactly are you?"
Outside the Hokage Residence.
The scorching sun shone down on Veigar, bathing him in a dazzling brilliance that seemed intent on purging every shadow from his soul.
He stepped into the shade of the street, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Third Hokage… I'm looking forward to this."
Chuckling softly, Veigar's steps seemed noticeably lighter.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura—old comrades, each with their own agenda—had always played their game of political balance. But the sudden arrival of Veigar as an unpredictable variable tipped the scale in Hiruzen's favor.
Still, the waters had been muddied.
Soon, it would be time to "fish in troubled waters."
By background, Veigar should have been close to the Third Hokage. But after this incident…
Suspicion was inevitable.
Which, in truth, was exactly what Veigar wanted.
At the same time, Hiruzen had proposed that Veigar be promoted to jōnin of the village.
And what better way to motivate someone than with the promise of merit and prestige?
But to earn merit? Heh…
You see it, don't you? Really take a good look.
If Veigar were to leave the village, what would Danzo's response be? What would he do?
Hiruzen didn't need to guess, he already knew.
And if Veigar succeeded in earning enough merit…
For Hiruzen, either outcome was acceptable, both were entirely to his advantage.
Hiruzen gazed out at the peaceful village scene outside his window, exhaling smoke as he muttered:
"Seems it's time for Danzo… to step aside."
Step aside—temporarily?
Why only temporarily?
That, of course, depends on who you ask.
"The Root's power… let me handle it for now."
That night.
Hiruzen summoned Danzo for a private meeting. No one knew the details of their conversation, but when Danzo left, his expression was ashen and thunderous.
Hiruzen, on the other hand, sat calm and still, his gaze glinting with quiet intensity.
By the next morning, a formal announcement was made to Tomou Uchiha and the rest of the Uchiha clan.
Danzo was no longer the head of the Root, and he nearly lost his position as an advisor to the Hokage as well.
Observation status imposed.
Moreover, Danzo was placed under strict confinement, prohibited from leaving the Shimura clan compound.
In a single night, the power structure of Konohagakure had been reshuffled. Hiruzen's influence once again stood at its peak.
Two days later.
Veigar and Shōgetsu officially withdrew from the Konoha ANBU.
Shōgetsu returned to report to the Konoha Military Police Force, while Veigar awaited new orders from the Third Hokage.
After a hearty meal at Ichiraku Ramen, Veigar was heading home when he was intercepted by two "former" colleagues.
Although Danzo had relinquished control of the Root, some of his subordinates had not been handed over to Hiruzen.
They represented the Root's true core.
Among them were Chitora and Hibari.
Moreover, Danzo and Orochimaru's secret experiments were still ongoing, only buried deeper underground now.
In a shadowy alley, Chitora and Hibari, both masked, blocked Veigar's path from both ends.
"Number 17, Lord Danzo wishes to see you."
"Come with us. Now."
Chitora's tone was cold and unyielding as he stepped forward.
"I'm a bit busy right now," Veigar replied, a mocking smile spreading across his face. "Could you pass along a message for me? Tell Lord Danzo I'll drop by in a few days. Sound good?"
The grin on Veigar's face could have come straight out of a villain's monologue in a noir film.
"You don't have a choice."
The moment Chitora finished speaking, he lunged at Veigar. At the same instant, Hibari moved in from behind.
Their orders were clear: Bring Veigar back alive, no matter what it took.
What happened to him on the way back? That wasn't their concern.
Earth Release: Stone Fist Technique.
Ittō-ryū: Hibari Slash.
Both struck with full force right from the start.
But seeing Veigar's calm, mocking expression unsettled Chitora. There was something dangerous lurking beneath that composed façade.
Rasengan: Revolving Heaven.
Boom!
Clang!
The Stone Fist and ninjatō attacks were completely deflected by Veigar's spiraling Rasengan defense. He didn't even take a scratch.
"Damn it."
Seeing their attacks neutralized instantly, battle-hardened Chitora and Hibari knew they were in trouble.
They tried to fall back immediately.
Put distance between themselves and Veigar.
But… that was easier said than done.
Veigar didn't waste a second. As soon as he repelled their attacks, he launched a swift counter.
His target: Chitora—the higher threat of the two.
Boom!
Veigar stomped hard, the ground beneath him trembling slightly.
With Rasengan: Revolving Heaven still active, he charged straight at Chitora like a battering ram. With no space to dodge, Chitora had only one option left:
Earth Release: Stone Fist Technique—again.
KRA-KOOM!!
This time, it wasn't defense, it was offense. Veigar's spiraling chakra sphere collided with Chitora's stone-coated arm.
But the result was different.
This time, the Rasengan didn't bounce off, it shattered the stone like dry bark. Chitora's right arm took the full brunt of the hit.
CRACK! SNAP! CRUNCH!!
"Aaagh!"
Staggering back, Chitora clutched his mangled right arm, amber eyes glaring at Veigar with a mix of pain and alarm.
Veigar wasn't about to let up.
He dropped his defensive Rasengan technique and charged after Chitora for a finishing blow.
Clenching his jaw, Chitora turned to flee.
Too late.
A shadow dropped from above, another Veigar.
Phenomenal Evil Rasengan.
A shadow clone had flanked him from behind.
And Hibari? He'd already fallen prey to an earlier shadow clone strike.
Back at Ichiraku Ramen, Veigar had sensed the surveillance on him.
He suspected who it was immediately: Danzo Shimura.
So he set a trap.
Before leaving Ichiraku, he had already created a shadow clone.
By luring Chitora and Hibari into the alley, he'd set the board.
And when they struck?
The game was already over.
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