Konoha Village – Hokage Office
Inside Tsunade's office, Kakashi and Yamato stood guard beside Naruto. Through the window, the sound of distant chaos and a towering, deep purple giant filled the view. Naruto's eyes widened in alarm as he shouted,
"Kakashi sensei! Yamato san! Let go out! Chiga senpai is in danger!"
Kakashi sighed, looking troubled.
"Naruto, we've already been over this. This is Hokage sama's direct order. We're here to protect you—for your own sake."
"But why?! Why did Grandma Tsunade bring so many people to go after Chiga senpai? What did he even do? Just because of Danzo?!"
Yamato stepped forward, her face grim as she heard the na.
"Danzo's position in the village was... complicated. Hokage sama naturally couldn't ignore his death."
As their conversation continued, the rumbles from outside abruptly ceased. Naruto's heart sank. To him, silence could only an one thing—Chiga had been captured.
Naruto, who had always longed for affection, had grown attached to Chiga. Now the thought of him being imprisoned left him in turmoil. Red chakra began swirling from his body.
Seeing this, Kakashi imdiately tensed and turned to Yamato.
"Yamato, now!"
"Understood, Kakashi senpai!"
Yamato didn't hesitate. She extended her hand, a sealing symbol glowing on her palm.
"Hokage Style: Eardrum Soothing Jutsu – Entering the Village with Open Hands!"
The necklace around Naruto's neck rose, glowing with a bright blue light that slowly engulfed his body. The oppressive chakra of the Nine-Tails began to fade.
Yamato, unlike the First Hokage, needed the necklace's aid to restrain the beast. If it had been Hashirama himself, one strike would've silenced the Nine-Tails completely.
Naruto's knees buckled. Kakashi moved to catch him, but before he could reach him, another figure appeared beside Naruto and held him up.
The two jonin's eyes widened.
"Chiga senpai?!"
Chiga glanced at them with calm detachnt.
"What? It's only been a short while. Are you that surprised to see ?"
"No, but... Tsunade sama and the others..."
"They didn't catch . Are you two disappointed?"
Kakashi quickly shook his head.
"Not at all. I just don't want anything bad to happen to either of you."
Chiga waved dismissively.
"Then leave."
"Y-Yes... wait, what?"
Kakashi and Yamato exchanged an uncertain glance.
Chiga's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint crimson gleam flickering within. Without another word, Kakashi grabbed Yamato by the arm and exited the office.
Outside the door, Yamato looked back nervously.
"Kakashi senpai, is it really safe to leave Naruto alone with him?"
Kakashi continued walking.
"Chiga won't hurt him. What we need to worry about is how we're going to explain this to Hokage sama."
Back in the office, Chiga reached forward and flicked Naruto on the forehead.
"Ow!" Naruto yelped, rubbing his head.
Chiga rolled his eyes.
"Stop making that face. Aren't you too old to be throwing tantrums like this?"
"But I was really scared... What if Grandma Tsunade caught you?"
"Catch ? She? Even her grandfather couldn't."
Chiga's tone sharpened. "Didn't you hear what Danzo said earlier?"
"I did. That guy's the worst! The Uchiha Clan is part of Konoha too. Why are they always treated like outsiders?"
Chiga gave a rare approving nod.
"I'm glad you can see that. But Danzo isn't the only one to bla."
A cold light flashed across his eyes. He raised a finger, and in a mont, two more people appeared inside the office—Konoha Elders, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. Their faces were filled with panic and confusion.
Only monts ago, the two were in a hidden chamber, conspiring to pressure Tsunade into avenging Danzo. Before their plan could take shape, they were suddenly transported here.
When they saw Chiga, their expressions twisted in horror.
"Uchiha Chiga?! How dare you—"
They didn't finish.
Three ghostly hound heads materialized, lunging forward and swallowing them whole. One of the heads licked its lips hungrily, having missed a bite.
Sickening chewing and muffled screams filled the office. Then silence. The hound heads vanished without a trace.
Naruto paled. "C-Chiga senpai… what was that?"
Chiga turned away, walking toward the Hokage's desk.
"Just two old dogs."
He sat in the Hokage's chair and closed his eyes, as though he had fallen asleep.
Naruto, shaken, sat quietly in the corner, trying to steady his nerves.
—
Outside the building, Sasuke stood motionless, still staring in the direction Chiga had gone.
On a nearby rooftop, Tsunade frowned, deep in thought. Shikaku Nara, standing beside her, broke the silence.
"Tsunade sama, Uchiha Sasuke is still here. Should we restrain him for now?"
She shook her head.
"No. With Uchiha Chiga still in the village, touching Sasuke would be foolish."
"What about Danzo?"
Just the ntion of his na gave Tsunade a headache. She felt no sorrow over Danzo's demise. What troubled her were the consequences—especially from the other Elders.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu would almost certainly push her to retaliate, to capture Chiga and reassert control. But after witnessing Chiga's power, Tsunade knew it would be futile.
She exhaled slowly.
"Let's return to the office. We'll discuss this properly."
With that, Tsunade turned and headed back toward the Hokage building, Shikaku and the other clan heads close behind.
—
When she entered her office, the first thing she saw was Chiga in her chair.
Naruto looked up briefly, then buried his face in his hands like a child caught stealing.
Tsunade ignored him. Her eyes were fixed on Chiga.
"Uchiha Chiga… What is the aning of this?"
Chiga opened his eyes, a slow smile forming.
"No aning at all. I was just thinking—if the Senju can sit in that chair, why can't the Uchiha?"
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