"Ugh... what's going on? What happened to ? Where is this?"
Shimura Danzō stood dazed in a forest that felt vaguely familiar but unplaceable. He couldn't recall how he ended up here or what was happening.
Paralysis and high blood pressure had long rendered his thinking sluggish, so he had no awareness that it was Hiruzen Sarutobi who forcibly dragged him into the genjutsu ga.
Of course, Danzō had fiercely resisted, shouting "Yate!" in protest and refusing to play the ga with Hiruzen. So Hiruzen had taken... special asures to bring him in.
Now that they were inside the ga, quitting wasn't a simple matter. Without following the proper exit process, escaping the ga's bindings was nearly impossible.
Thus began the current situation.
At that mont, Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice echoed through the woods.
"Have you forgotten, Danzō? This place—for you, for , for Homura, Koharu, Kagami, and Torifu—it's a place we could never forget. A place we *should* never forget."
As Hiruzen spoke, Danzō's gaze snapped toward him. Thanks to the ga's restorative chanics, Hiruzen appeared healthy again, and so did Danzō.
Though his youth hadn't returned, regaining his health alone was enough—Danzō, after all, was undoubtedly Kage-level. Back in the day, he had the ambition to challenge Hiruzen for the Hokage title. Without the strength to back it, such a dream would've been impossible.
In this restored state, he watched Hiruzen, now in a tight black combat suit and slipping on battle gloves. Danzō fell deep into thought.
He knew this was a genjutsu world, but the location still felt both familiar and foreign.
Given Hiruzen's words, he focused... and then the mories ca back. Long-buried recollections that he had tried not to rember, but could never truly forget.
The people who had been there. The fading fragnts of the place. The scene finally beca clear.
His pupils contracted.
Hiruzen, having finished preparing, lowered his hands and said calmly, "You've realized it, haven't you? This is the place where our teacher passed the title of Hokage to ... and entrusted us with Konoha's future."
With those words, Danzō's mories flooded in.
That day—during a peace negotiation with the Hidden Cloud Village—they were ambushed by the treacherous Gold and Silver Brothers, forr heroes of the Hidden Cloud, who had gone rogue.
Empowered with Nine-Tails chakra, they were indisputably Kage-level. And their forces? Hidden Cloud elites.
Even so, their strength couldn't threaten the Second Raikage and Second Hokage, who were accompanied by their elite guards. It should've been a blowout.
But the two Kage-level squads were first poisoned—chakra reduced by 90%. Then ca the Six Paths tools, and the Hidden Cloud side was obliterated in a flash.
Tobirama Senju had no choice but to lead his disciples in retreat. Along the way, he was forced to pass on the title of Hokage—and chose to stay behind, sacrificing himself in the na of the Will of Fire.
This forest… was where the succession had taken place.
Everything ca rushing back. Danzō's pupils trembled as he turned sharply toward Hiruzen.
"Why... why is this scene in the genjutsu ga? Hiruzen, what did you do?!"
Hiruzen remained calm. "I simply asked Kei-kun to craft this map and a special scenario scroll. Danzō, I knew this place—this mont—was your deepest obsession."
"When Tobirama-sensei chose instead of you, you were filled with resentnt and regret. I trusted you. I indulged you. I allowed you to create Root and wield enormous power. I overlooked so many of your actions."
"It was all my decision. Because in my heart, even if you longed for the Hokage title, you were still that determined man who swore to protect Konoha forever."
"But I was wrong. I misjudged human nature. I underestimated how people change. By turning a blind eye to your actions, I allowed a disaster to unfold. That was my mistake. So I brought you here."
Hiruzen's words were not just exposition—they were a confession of his view of Danzō, past and present.
And Danzō's mind drifted again—back to that day when Tobirama had asked:
"Who among you is willing to stay behind and delay the enemy? Think carefully. This mission will cost your life."
Tobirama's voice had been cold. His eyes, colder. It felt like he was treating his disciples as disposable tools.
Everyone knew, though—it was the only way. Sacrificing one for many was the path to survival.
In that mont, Danzō had almost said, "I'll do it."
But fear seized him. His body froze. He couldn't speak.
Instead, his friend Hiruzen stepped forward without hesitation.
It turned out to be a test. Tobirama had no intention of letting anyone die. Hiruzen's resolve passed the test.
On the spot, Tobirama nad Hiruzen the next Hokage and stayed behind to face the enemy alone.
Since then, Danzō had been haunted by regret. Over and over, he replayed that mont. If he had spoken up... if he had been brave...
He believed the Hokage title should've been his.
Now, with the past resurfacing, Danzō's face twisted in rage. He growled through clenched teeth:
"Hiruzen! Stop with your sanctimonious talk! You were the Hokage—high and mighty! And ? I was cast into the shadows as Konoha's root! Why?! Our strength and talent were equal! Why did I have to lose to you?!"
"It all ca down to that mont! If I could go back—if I could choose again—I wouldn't lose! The Hokage title... should have been *mine*!!"
He roared in fury, trembling with long-buried resentnt.
Hiruzen watched him calmly. After a mont, he finally replied:
"Yes. If you had stepped forward before , the Hokage title might've been yours. But... you didn't."
—Devastation.
Danzō froze. Then his face flushed red with rage.
Lies may sting, but truth cuts deepest.
Hiruzen's words were a blade Danzō couldn't bear.
"HIRUZEN!!!"
With a roar, Danzō charged, kunai in hand.
Hiruzen didn't hesitate. He drew his own kunai and shouted back:
"DANZŌ!!!"
CLANG!
Their kunai collided in a golden flash—and shattered from the force.
Next, both threw punches. Their fists slamd into each other's aging faces, distorting them on impact and sending both flying. The force carved deep ruts into the ground beneath their feet.
At that very mont, an intense, fiery BGM kicked in.
The grand saga of old n fighting with youthful hearts... had officially begun.
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