Hesitation

I knew what was coming next; we all knew. We were being pursued by Kumo's Kinkaku Squad. Capture was the only way out, unless someone stayed behind. The oppressive gloom hung around us, draping over our shoulders in a deathly embrace. Someone had to be the decoy. Why had it come to this, why the fuck did this have to happen?

"They don't know our exact location yet. We should lie in wait and take them by surprise giving us a chance to get away…"Koharu rattled off as though reading from an academy book, though you could hear the question her statement. She's so stubborn and naive, two things that aren't desirable in a ninja, but in a human being they were cherished. I'll miss that about her.
"That won't work…" Uchiha Kagami argued back, clearly frustrated with the situation, with everything. "Someone will have to lure them away…"
I never liked him, he always seemed to be the cynical voice of reason, but then again I have never spent much time with him, but he's friends with Danzo so maybe I would have liked him, that goes for the Akamichi on Danzo's team as well. The hesitation in everyone's voice was killing me, I wish someone would just say it.

"A decoy… eh… whoever it is won't survive" Akamichi Torifu murmured. The statement hung in the air, silence running alongside it. There it is the sentence I knew someone would have to throw into the air. Just like I knew from the moment the Kinkaku Squad began to track us that I was going to be the one to offer up my life because that's what the Hokage would do. I opened my mouth to say as such and…

hesitated.

I can't do this. It's not fair. My life hasn't been as full as it could. Why should I die now? Why can't someone else do it? Why does anyone have to die at all? And why does it have to be me? This war, it makes me sick. I've lost so much. Kaa-san is dead so is Tou-san. It would be nice to see them again but if it would mean leaving Biwako… Biwako. I never even said goodbye to her. I'd fell all five ninja villages to see her again. I remember her watering her herbs. I remember her trying to keep a shinobi's guts inside his body, blood staining her face. I remember tears carving a path through the blood on her cheeks. Risking our lives to protect the village was what ninja do, even if it's unfair and the only death available to us is a gruesome one. Biwako knows this; the ninja she couldn't save knew this. I know this. Only Kami knows what I wouldn't do for Konoha's protection. I opened my mouth again, this time determined to give up my life for the village.

"I will do it, Hokage-sama, I will stay behind."

My eyes snapped to the one who spoke those self-damning words: Shimura Danzo.

I felt my eyes widen, surprise etched across my face. I stared at Danzo, my oldest friend.
"I know I am not the strongest or even the best strategist but my futon jutsu are most suited against multiple enemies."
I felt Danzo place his hand on my shoulder.
"Take care of the others Hiruzen" A soft smile played across his features. I could only nod as I stared at Danzo. Would I have actually done it? I looked upon my best friend's face for what could possibly be the last time, committing everything to memory so I could recount the face of the hero people would be talking about for years. He'd always been second best, second top student in the academy, second to become chunin. I knew he was bitter about it, even if he never said so. I guess we found what your first in, eh, Danzo? You sacrificial bastard, I grinned.
"I always knew you were stronger than me." Danzo grinned back.
"You two are both bright young flames of Konoha" the Nidaime interjected. "However I will be the decoy."
I blinked and I understood. The Nidaime probably had the same realisation that Danzo and I had.
"But Hokage-sama you cannot. would it not be better if someone weaker were to sacrifice themselves rather than you?"
"It is the Hokage's duty to run the village, to make tough decisions and send their ninja into the field and often to their deaths, but it is also the Hokage's duty to protect those who have faith in me and love the village. The Hokage chooses the next person they can entrust the next generation with."

The Nidiame stood "As of tomorrow, Shimura Danzo, you are the Sandaime Hokage."