Chapter 10

Great Amphitheater, Konoha

Hiashi Hyūga arrived late to the newly constructed amphitheater, his entrance marked by the quiet scrape of the large wooden doors. As he descended into the room, his sharp eyes immediately caught Tsume Inuzuka's pointed snort of derision. The feral woman didn't bother to hide her disdain, her sharp grin suggesting she'd found some private joke in his arrival. Hiashi didn't acknowledge it, his composure as steady as stone. Tsume had never liked him, and frankly, her opinion was irrelevant.

He glanced around the amphitheater, its wooden tiers and elegant design stretching upward like the natural growth of a tree. "Quite interesting," he murmured softly to himself as he took his seat. The meeting had been called at the Hokage's request, as he wanted to do an 'officious' opening of the building with the bimonthly Clanhead meeting. Hiashi found himself torn. On one hand, dedicating such a rare ability to something as mundane as architecture bordered on reckless extravagance. On the other? It was an undeniable demonstration of Konoha's strength. A village that could afford to waste a jonin's power on building projects wasn't one to be trifled with. It sent a message louder than words: Konoha could do this because it was untouchable. And the Hyuga, as the greatest clan in the village, benefited from it.

Hiashi allowed his pale eyes to sweep - metaphorically, as he did not need to move his eyes - over the gathered clan heads. Most appeared as they usually did, a mix of neutral and mildly curious expressions. Shibi Aburame, the most trusted ally of the Hyuga, was as silent and motionless as ever, his hands hidden in the folds of his cloak. Choza Akimichi, large and steady, sat with his hands resting on his knees, his expression calm but serious. Beside him, Shikaku Nara slouched as usual, though his sharp gaze betrayed his alertness. Inoichi Yamanaka, ever the perceptive one, sat upright, his eyes scanning the room with a quiet intensity. Hiashi's gaze lingered on the Ino-Shika-Cho trio longer than expected. They looked... off. Not tense, exactly, but grimmer than usual. Shikaku's typically bored expression was darker, and Inoichi's sharpness carried an edge of unease. Even Choza, normally the steady rock among them, had a weight to his posture that was hard to ignore.

Tsume Inuzuka, too, seemed unusually solemn. Though she leaned back in her seat with her usual confidence, her eyes were hard and restless, darting around the room like a predator searching for a threat. Her ninken, usually sprawled lazily at her feet, sat upright, ears flicking attentively. It was a subtle shift, but one Hiashi couldn't miss.

The Kurama Clan head, the two advisors Koharu and Homura, and several representatives from the smaller clans were present, but none of them carried the same grim energy. Hiashi noted the contrast. Whatever had cast its shadow over Tsume and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio hadn't reached the others—or perhaps the others simply weren't privy to the same information. Hiashi folded his hands neatly in his lap as he sat, his face a mask of icy calm, but his mind was turning. Something was clearly brewing. Strange…He had already performed his habitual scan of the Hyūga compound earlier that day with his Byakugan; all his eight hundred or so clansmen were accounted for, including the ANBU members whose movements often hinted at larger events. But nothing had been out of place.

And yet... the atmosphere here felt wrong. Heavy. Grim. Something wasn't adding up. And then, the doors opened again.

Hiashi was surprised Hiroto Sarutobi entered with a calm, almost relaxed stride, the formal robes of the Sarutobi Clan draped over his broad shoulders. The crimson of a stylized monkey on his back seemed to draw the attention of every eye in the room. Hiashi Hyūga's sharp gaze immediately focused on him, and he noted the ripple of reactions from the other clan heads. Everybody was surprised to see Hiroto - even Tsume. So it was not what they were anticipated. Hiroto made his way to an empty chair near the center. This was the man everyone knew was the ANBU Commander, the one who had devoted decades to serving in Konoha's shadows. And now, here he was, stepping out into the light.

Hiroto sat down, his movements unhurried, crossing one leg over the other as he glanced around the room with a faint, knowing smirk. It was Shibi Aburame who spoke first, his voice even and detached in the neutral tone of the Aburame, as though he were making an observation about the weather. "Your presence here is highly irregular. The Sarutobi seat has been vacant for years. You are currently unable to occupy a Seat because of your post. Please explain. ?"

Hiroto sighed, leaning back in his chair with the air of a man finally indulging in a long-overdue conversation. "It has been empty for too long," he said plainly. His tone was casual, but his words carried a weight that settled heavily on the room. "And let's not pretend we don't all know the reason. I've been in ANBU."

No one here had ever said it outright, but everyone had known. Hiroto had been ANBU Commander for years—it was one of Konoha's most open secrets. But what came next was what truly caught the room off guard.

"And now," Hiroto continued, his smirk widening just slightly, "I'm not. I resigned."

The reaction was immediate. The quiet revelation turned into open surprise, heads turning, and whispers rippling like a sudden wind through the gathered clan heads. Hiroto Sarutobi had resigned? The man who was practically married to his job, who had lived and breathed ANBU for decades? The doors creaked open again, slicing through the murmurs like a blade, and in strode Danzo Shimura, his cane striking the wooden floor with echoing taps. Hiashi's gaze snapped to the man, his focus lingering—once again—on those infuriating sealed bandages wrapped around Danzo's arm and face. Seals that could block the Byakugan? The audacity was galling. But more than that, it gnawed at him. What was he hiding behind them? Danzo's sharp, calculating eyes swept across the room before locking onto Hiroto. His face tightened, the faintest flicker of irritation hardening his expression into something colder.

"Hiruzen did not consult me on this decision," Danzo said, his voice measured but carrying the edge of discontent. "And who, pray tell, has replaced you?"

Hiroto turned his head toward Danzo, his smirk softening into something closer to amusement. "Ah," he said lightly, with the kind of casualness that only made Danzo's frown deepen. "That's information privy to the Hokage.

Danzo's dissatisfaction radiating like a cold wind, but Hiroto didn't budge. His relaxed demeanor only underscored his confidence, as if to say that nothing Danzo could do or say would change the course already set. Tsume snorted again. Hiashi knew she did not like the old War Hawk.

The doors opened once more, and this time it was Hiruzen Sarutobi himself who entered, flanked by two Anbus. The room immediately fell silent as all eyes turned toward the Hokage. Hiruzen looked... revitalized. There was an energy in his step, a vibrancy that felt out of place for a man of his years. And something in his eyes…Hiashi's instincts flared, and without thinking, he deactivated his Byakugan, not wanting to risk seeming disrespectful. The action irritated him—he hadn't meant to do it, but the Hokage felt…like a Kage.

Hiruzen offered a general salute to the room, his expression calm yet brimming with authority. "Clan Heads," he greeted, his voice steady and warm. His gaze swept over them before landing on Hiroto. His expression softened, pride evident in his eyes. "The formal robes of the Sarutobi Clan suit you," he said, the warmth in his tone unmistakable. "Congratulations on being elevated to the Head of the Sarutobi Clan."

Hiashi's brows lifted slightly in surprise, though he kept his composure. Hiruzen had officially stepped down as clan leader? The Hokage had become the Great Elder of his clan and officially passed the mantle to Hiroto? That was unexpected. Did…did the old man think he was about to die? And was this meeting particular…because he was about to name his successor. Hiashi shuffled in anticipation - the Hyuga was the greatest clan in the village, and he was the greatest of the Hyuga. The name of the next Hokage was obvious.

Yamanaka, ever the diplomat, rose first. He gave a respectful bow. "Congratulations, Hiroto. May your leadership honor your clan's legacy."

One by one, the other clan heads followed suit, offering their formal congratulations. Hiroto nodded in acknowledgment as he politely thanked the honorable Clan Heads.

Hiruzen, still standing, glanced back toward the door as Ibiki Morino entered. The scarred and grim head of T&I strode in silently. Ibiki's attendance to Clan Heads meeting wasn't entirely unusual - he came each time there was something of significance to report. But coupled with the heavy atmosphere and the shift in leadership ? It was clear that whatever was about to be discussed was no ordinary matter.

Hiashi's mind briefly wandered. Was it about the sabotage at the Academy? Though, honestly, he was did not care and was quite pleased with the outcome. With Maito Gai and Hatake Kakashi—or rather, their clones—training Hinata's class, perhaps she might finally be pushed to awaken some of her potential. For now, though, that concern was secondary. The only thing that mattered was the Hokage's announcement and the glory of the Hyugas.

The Hokage strode to the head of the table and took his seat with the poise of someone who had seen—and orchestrated—far too much. His robes rippled gently as he settled, the embroidered flames catching the light. Behind him, two masked ANBU stood at attention, their presence a reminder of Konoha's ever-watchful shadow. Near the door, Ibiki Morino shifted slightly, his scarred face unreadable.

"Good," Hiruzen said finally, a smile crossing his face that seemed to melt away some of the tension. It wasn't the diplomatic smile of a politician—it felt genuine, as though he was savoring this moment. "Seeing this amphitheater restored brings me a great deal of satisfaction. It's a space that embodies progress. And progress," he said, his voice steady but purposeful, "is what we need now more than ever."

The clan heads exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. Hiruzen Sarutobi rarely made idle remarks. His words were like carefully arranged shogi pieces, hinting at moves yet to come.

"For far too long," he continued, "our village has taken a narrow view of education. We've focused all our efforts on children, molding their minds at the Academy. Meanwhile, our adult ninja—those who bear the weight of our survival—are left to learn through hardship, through trial and error. Too often, through unnecessary loss." He gestured to the amphitheater around them. "This space is not merely for council meetings. It is the foundation of Konoha's first University."

The room stirred, whispers breaking out among the clan heads. Hiashi's fingers tightened in his lap. A university? The word was unfamiliar, foreign. Hiruzen let the murmurs ripple for a moment before continuing.

"This will be a place where knowledge is shared—not hoarded. Medicine. Strategy. History. And yes, I will personally teach here." His eyes swept the room, daring anyone to question him. "This university will be open to any ninja who wishes to attend, regardless of rank or station."

The silence that followed was thick with disbelief. Free access to knowledge? Open to anyone? In Konoha, a hidden village built on secrecy and hierarchy, the idea was almost heretical. Hiashi's mind churned. What did Sarutobi hope to gain from this? Was it a bid to consolidate power or simply a gamble to reshape the village's future? Danzo's cane struck the floor as he shifted in his seat, his lips curling into a thin, sharp line. "And when, Hiruzen," he said, his voice carrying the weight of barely concealed irritation, "do you imagine you'll find the time to indulge in this... academic pursuit?"

Tsume leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Yeah, old man," she said with a grin that didn't reach her eyes. "Planning to retire and play professor, are you?"

Hiashi's eyes narrowed. The idea wasn't absurd. Was this the precursor to Sarutobi stepping down? The thought sent an uncomfortable ripple through him. If the Hokage was truly preparing to pass the torch, it would shift the entire balance of power within Konoha.

Hiruzen didn't answer, his silence more unsettling than any rebuttal might have been. Instead, he shifted gears. "Now," he said, his voice sharp enough to cut the air, "let's address the recent sabotage at the Academy." Hiashi's thoughts snapped back to the present. He didn't particularly care about the Academy incident, but he knew the political implications were significant.

"Mizuki," Hiruzen said, his expression hardening, "was a spy for Orochimaru. His actions were calculated to disrupt the education of Konoha's future. He sought to weaken us at our core by sowing instability in the very foundation of our village."

Danzo's face remained impassive, but Hiashi caught the smallest flicker in his expression. A twitch of the lips. A tightening of the eyes. Orochimaru's name always seemed to prod at something buried within the man.

"And so," Hiruzen continued, his tone shifting into something almost ceremonial, "I have taken a radical step to ensure this never happens again."

He turned to Danzo, whose demeanor shifted ever so slightly. The faintest glimmer of satisfaction appeared on his face, a predator's smirk just barely restrained. In his hands was a stack of papers, thick and official. Hiashi stiffened. The air in the room seemed to press down on him. Was this it? Was Sarutobi about to name Danzo his successor? The thought sent a jolt of unease through him. He activated his Byakugan, his vision slicing through the layers of parchment. The words Academy Reform Project snapped into focus.

Relief mingled with a new tension. So that was it. Hiruzen had handed the Academy to Danzo? The implications were unsettling, but not as catastrophic as the alternative.

"Danzo," Hiruzen said, gesturing toward the man, "has something he would like to share with us."

Danzo inclined his head, his voice measured. "Indeed."

"Yes," Hiruzen said, his smile sharpening like a drawn blade. The warmth was gone, replaced by something colder, far more dangerous. Hiashi's stomach knotted. He could not have been more wrong - this wasn't a retreat; it was a strike.

"Danzo" Hiruzen continued, his gaze fixed firmly on his old friend. "will show us what he has hidden beneath those bandages."

Hokage Tower, Konoha

Sai sat in the chair, his body unnaturally rigid. The air in the room felt heavier than usual, pressing down on him like the weight of an inkstone. His gaze stayed forward, unfocused but alert, while his mind cataloged every sound, every movement. For once, he wasn't trying to keep up with the awkward rhythm of banter.

There wasn't any.

Kakashi stood by the window, his Sharingan fully exposed, the red eye scanning the world beyond like a predator tracking its prey. His ANBU armor gleamed faintly in the light, but the man himself was unnervingly still. When he finally spoke, his voice was colder than Sai had ever heard it.

"The Hokage is in the amphitheater. And…Yamato's sealed it. It's time. You can proceed."

No casual quip. No lazy drawl. Just that.

Jiraiya, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened with a sigh. His usual humor was absent. Jiraiya's grin was still there, but it didn't reach his eyes. They were hard and focused, shadowed by an intensity Sai hadn't seen before. He knelt in front of Sai, his hands hovering just above the seal matrix etched into Sai's torso. Chakra flickered to life, and the inked patterns began to glow faintly, shifting under his touch.

"Heh," Jiraiya muttered, a grim edge creeping into his tone. "The problem with seals tied to a Master Seal is that… they're tied to a Master Seal." His fingers traced a glowing line of kanji, his smirk hardening. "Connections work two ways, Danzo."

Sai barely had time to process the words before the room tilted. A sharp, dizzying pressure surged through his head, and the world went black. Somewhere, distantly, he thought he heard someone exhale sharply, as though the air had been sucked out of the room.

He wasn't alone. Across Konoha—and wherever else Danzo's Root agents had hidden—the same thing was happening. One by one, the seals tied to Danzo's control flared, disrupting their chakra networks, and sent them crumpling like marionettes with cut strings.

Danzo's invisible army silenced in an instant.

"It's done," Jiraiya said sharply, his voice tight with exertion. He didn't look up, his hands still glowing as they pressed against the fading matrix on Sai's body. Yamato, in full Anbu garb, flickered into the room. His jaw was clenched tight, his eyes sharp with unspoken fury.

Kakashi spared him a glance. He didn't speak, but something passed between the two men—something cold, heavy, and unrelenting. They knew - behind root, behind Orochimaru, behind Yamato's suffering…It had been Danzo.

Jiraiya stood, his chakra still pulsing as he adjusted the flow into Sai's seal. "Move."

Yamato nodded, his grim determination mirrored by the set of his shoulders. "Agreed. There's cleaning to do."

Without another word, the two ninjas disappeared. Four ANBU squads waited for them on the floor below, their chakra signatures flaring briefly before they all melted into the shadows.

Left alone in the room, Jiraiya let out a heavy sigh, his hands still glowing as he fed more chakra into the seal. Each pulse seemed to drain him a little further, but he didn't stop. Couldn't stop.

"Don't die, old man," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the quiet hum of chakra.

AN :

I won't have my computer tomorrow, so here is chapter 10, a bit early.

I'll go with a weekly publication on QQ, freely available, every Saturday, with 5 early chapters on P°atr _eon - Chapter 15 will go out tomorrow. I'll post on when I remember or have the time, my main website is QQ.