The morning passed uneventfully, with no further uninvited guests making an appearance. The bloody sll that had lingered in the corner of the dojo had also completely dissipated, as though nothing had occurred.
After lunch, Kawakaze stayed indoors, sensing that sothing significant might still happen before the day ended. In the afternoon, he focused on training Nawaki, helping him refine his movents into a seamless flow. The practice for the Flying Thunder God Technique was nearing completion; he had reached a level where he could handle actual combat without issues.
Nawaki refrained from asking about the morning's events, understanding that they were beyond his involvent for the ti being. Kawakaze found himself increasingly impressed by the boy's growing maturity and sensibility.
As the afternoon training concluded, Nawaki, exhausted, returned ho under the escort of a skilled samurai. Kawakaze, mindful of potential threats, maintained his vigilance. He couldn't dismiss the possibility of Danzo's unpredictability; a man like him, who placed no value on human life, was not one to be underestimated—a realization that had grown sharper for Kawakaze over ti.
In the evening, after washing up and preparing for bed, Kawakaze was interrupted by the butler, who arrived in haste to inform him of a visitor. The guest's nature didn't seem promising.
"Where's Big Brother?" Kawakaze asked with a faint chuckle, already anticipating the situation.
"The young master is waiting in the front hall."
"Arrange for him to be taken to a private room. I'll be there shortly."
"Yes."
Kawakaze returned to his room and changed into a robe, ensuring he maintained the proper decorum, even for soone he didn't favor. Once ready, he headed to the room, where Sakumo was already seated opposite Shimura Danzo, who was flanked by two Root ninjas standing stiffly behind him.
This was Kawakaze's first encounter with Danzo. Though they had never t, the man before him fit the descriptions from the original accounts: an ominous figure, though he had yet to acquire Shisui's eye, Hashirama's cells, or Sharingans embedded in his arms.
Kawakaze studied Danzo, who returned the scrutiny. At such a young age, Kawakaze had assud control of the sprawling Hatake Clan's affairs, a fact that few outside the clan truly understood. While Sakumo was recognized as the rising star, it was Kawakaze who quietly managed the clan's real power and influence.
"What brings you here tonight, Lord Danzo?" Kawakaze asked with a polite smile, seating himself next to Sakumo. He casually poured Danzo a cup of tea, pointedly ignoring the two Root operatives behind him.
"Haha, why ask a question you already know the answer to?" Danzo replied, his laughter tinged with an unsettling undertone.
"Oh? And what makes you say that, Lord Danzo? After all, your letter didn't ntion any such reason," Kawakaze responded lightly, unbothered by the implications.
Danzo's expression darkened. His composure broke as he slamd his teacup onto the table, his tone shifting to one of stern accusation. "You killed my n. Are you going to pretend you didn't hear about that?"
Kawakaze, unperturbed, let out a soft laugh. "There's no need to get angry. Why not just co out and say what you an?"
Sakumo, sitting beside him, tensed at Danzo's hostility, but Kawakaze placed a calming hand on his brother's shoulder, signaling him to stay seated.
"Haha, Kawakaze, your youth shows in how easily you stay composed. I must admit, I lack your patience and skill in keeping my temper."
Behind the forced smile, Danzo silently cursed Kawakaze, inwardly acknowledging the cunning behind the young man's seemingly polite deanor.
"I heard Kawakaze plans to build a hospital with the Senju Clan?" Danzo began, his tone asured.
"Yes, is Lord Danzo interested as well?" Kawakaze feigned surprise, his expression as if he'd just stumbled upon this revelation.
"I'm short of funds, and your timing couldn't be better," he replied smoothly, though both n knew the truth—Root operated solely on Danzo's resources, leaving no room for large financial contributions.
"The Hatake Clan is a wealthy family," Danzo continued. "Surely, you don't need for funding."
"But I am interested in this hospital," he added, leaning forward with an intense gaze. "I want to be its director."
The boldness of Danzo's statent made his intent clear. He didn't bother with pretense. "I can protect the hospital with Root," he offered. "No interference in operations or profit sharing."
On the surface, it sounded reasonable—Root's strength was undeniable, and their protection far surpassed the capabilities of the Hatake Clan's samurai. For Kawakaze, however, the proposition had layers. Tsunade had persuaded him to lead the hospital, and he had plans for research that required absolute discretion. Root's involvent, even nominally, could jeopardize that.
"Nominal director? For popularity? Lord Danzo, this is quite the move," Kawakaze said, his smile fading as he delivered the last line with a chilling edge. "And what if I refuse?"
His calm deanor vanished, replaced by an aura of deadly intent that filled the room. You want a piece of the Hatake Clan's hard work? Just ask?
Danzo, unfazed by the oppressive killing intent, responded coldly, "You should know I've co in earnest. Perhaps you underestimate the power of my Root. It would be wise to agree—for your sake and that of the Hatake Clan."
It was a blatant threat.
Kawakaze's voice dropped, his words weighted with nace. "Rember my na—Kawakaze Hatake."
Before Danzo could react, Kawakaze vanished and reappeared behind him, his right hand closing around Danzo's throat like a vice. At the sa mont, Sakumo struck with swift precision, his kunai slashing the throats of the two Root operatives, who collapsed silently against the walls. Their lifeless bodies slid down, leaving only a faint trail of blood.
Danzo's composure shattered as he struggled in Kawakaze's grip. He couldn't die here—not yet, not before becoming Hokage.
"Are you... are you going to betray Konoha?" Danzo croaked, his voice strained as he gasped for air.
"Heh. You, Danzo, represent Konoha?" Kawakaze scoffed, his tone laced with disdain. "The land for the hospital was approved by the Third Hokage. I'm paying 120 million in cash."
"And you want to call yourself the hospital director?" Kawakaze tightened his grip, his voice mocking. "What, do you have more heads than anyone else?"
Danzo's face contorted, his expression grotesque as his airway constricted. A wave of numbness overtook him; his chakra had been disrupted by an unknown force, rendering him defenseless. The realization dawned bitterly—these brothers were far stronger than he'd anticipated. Had he known, he never would have walked into their den.
"L-let go... We can discuss the hospital."
Danzo forced out a few weak words, his voice trembling. Perhaps he didn't truly believe that Kawakaze would kill him, and even at death's door, his thoughts remained fixated on the hospital.
"Haha, you, Danzo, go discuss it with Death."
Kawakaze chuckled bitterly, his anger boiling over into dark amusent. It was the first ti he had encountered soone who valued power above their very life.
The pressure in Kawakaze's grip increased, and Danzo's eyes began to roll back.
"I... I... give... up."
Danzo mustered all his strength to squeeze out the words, his breath coming in heavy, desperate gasps as he fought to pull fresh air into his lungs, utterly ignoring the tallic tang of blood that clung to each breath.
"You should have said so earlier, Lord Danzo."
Kawakaze released him and returned to his seat, casually lifting Danzo's cup, which still bore faint traces of blood. Without hesitation, he refilled it with tea.
"Please."
Danzo, still recovering from the brink of death, snatched the cup and drained it in one gulp. The warmth of the tea soothed his raw throat, his ragged breathing beginning to steady.
"You know, killing you would be troubleso for . But that doesn't an I'm afraid to."
Kawakaze's voice carried an icy finality. "My na is Kawakaze Hatake. Make sure you rember it this ti."
He set down his own empty cup and rose to leave. "Goodbye."
Kawakaze strode out of the ditation room with a commanding air, Sakumo close on his heels. The silent, ruthless elder brother, whose unhesitating strike had ended two lives, said nothing. His aura alone spoke volus—a harbinger of the legend that would cent him as Konoha's White Fang.
In their absence, the ditation room felt desolate. Only Danzo and the lifeless bodies of two unfortunate souls remained. Cold sweat dripped from Danzo's brow as he steadied himself against the wall, his eyes wide with a mix of terror and seething hatred.
"Kawakaze Hatake," he muttered through clenched teeth, "I'll rember you."
His grip tightened unconsciously, shattering the teacup in his hand. Without sparing the corpses a second glance, Danzo staggered out of the ditation room and left the Hatake Clan grounds, his body trembling.
The confrontation with Danzo had reached a temporary stalemate, but Kawakaze knew better. Danzo was not one to let grudges fade easily.
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