Chapter 12

Konoha

Hiruzen sat hunched in the chair, every breath dragging pain through his ribs. Nono Yakushi worked in silence, her hands glowing green as she pressed them against his side. The warmth of the healing chakra contrasted sharply with the biting ache of his wounds. She muttered something under her breath—he couldn't tell if it was annoyance or sympathy.

"I'm not made for this anymore," he said, his voice raspy with exhaustion. He winced as Nono's chakra reached a particularly sore spot. "It was too close. Much too close."

Nono huffed without looking up. "Close enough that you're still breathing. Now hold still."

Hiruzen managed a small grunt in reply, his mind elsewhere. He was too old for this, he thought grimly. Pain shot through his side as Nono worked, and he clenched his teeth, suppressing a groan.

The fight had been brutal, closer than he cared to admit. He had been apprehensive going into it—no, terrified. Not of Danzo's strength, but of his own limits. He was no longer the man he once was.

And…this was his first real fight as Gabriel. The thought lingered bitterly. Even with the memories of Hiruzen—the God of Shinobi, a man who had fought Orochimaru and the resurrected First and Second Hokage at once—it had been jarring. What if Muscle memory alone hadn't been enough ? What if his movements had been just a fraction slower than they should have been, his strikes lacking the decisive sharpness of his prime? If not for the Hashirama cells coursing through him, patching up injuries and bolstering his stamina, he might have lost. He might have died.

His hand tightened around the armrest of the chair. Danzo would have exploited any weakness. A split second of hesitation, a fraction of a misstep—that's all it would have taken.

"If you keep fidgeting, I'm going to let you heal on your own," Nono muttered, though her focus never wavered as her chakra sealed a particularly deep wound.

Before Hiruzen could respond, an ANBU flickered into the room, appearing as if from thin air. The figure wore a nondescript mask, plain and devoid of identifying marks.

"You're strong," the ANBU said, "There was no need to summon me."

Hiruzen winced again as Nono pressed her glowing hands against a broken rib, sending a fresh jolt of pain up his side. He gestured for her to continue, biting back a retort.

"Thanks, Sensei. But a ninja is never too prepared - you were the one to teach me this".

The ANBU reached up, revealing the face of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. His features were sharp, his white hair framed a face that, even in death, radiated authority and intellect. His eyes, cold and piercing, regarded Hiruzen with something between wonder and proudness.

Tobirama's lips curved into a faint, wry smile. "It's a pity about Danzo," he said, his voice calm but carrying an edge. "He could have been good for the village—if his ambition hadn't consumed him."

Hiruzen's grip on the chair tightened, his gaze steady despite the ache in his body. "Danzo's idea of what was good for Konoha left too much destruction in its wake."

Tobirama inclined his head slightly, his expression inscrutable. "Perhaps. But the strongest leaders often tread the thinnest line. You've done well, Hiruzen… but even you must know how thin that line truly is."

He made a pause.

"And now... what's the plan?" Tobirama asked.

Hiruzen exhaled, straightening despite the ache in his ribs. "Now," he said, "now that the internal threats are mostly dealt with, now that the Clan Head have remembered why I am the Hokage, I will truly become to reform Konoha."

Ibiki Morino knocked firmly on the heavy steel door. It opened without a sound, revealing the stark, cold lighting of the underground chambers beneath the Hokage Tower. He stepped inside, his boots clicking against the polished stone floor, the air heavy with the scent of antiseptic and something faintly metallic.

"Hokage-sama," he said.

The sight of Hiruzen the previous day, standing over Danzo's corpse like a god from an apocalyptic legend, still played in Ibiki's mind. The sheer display of power, the raw authority that had filled the amphitheater, would have made his chest swell with pride—if pride wasn't such a dangerous, fatal indulgence in his line of work. Mistakes got you killed.

Hiruzen, seated at the far end of the chamber, looked up and saluted him. The familiar sight of the Hokage in his robes was almost jarring after seeing him clad in battle armor, wielding Enma with such deadly precision. The man before him seemed calmer now, almost... younger. Ibiki didn't comment. Some things weren't worth questioning.

"You're prompt," Hiruzen said, gesturing toward a heavy table at the room's center.

Ibiki stepped further into the chamber, his sharp eyes taking in the sight before him. Danzo sat at the table, completely unchained, his body unnervingly still. The corpse-like pallor of his skin and the faint shimmer of Edo Tensei's chakra gave him an eerie, unnatural presence. Ibiki's lips tightened. The sight of Danzo resurrected, stripped of his autonomy and reduced to a tool, was something even he would need time to adjust to. Nearby, another figure worked on Danzo's original body. Nono Yakushi, also bound to the world by Edo Tensei, meticulously examined the detached arm, the grotesque array of Sharingan dull and lifeless. She moved with precision, her expression neutral, as though dissecting a long-dead experiment.

"I have stripped him of his will," Hiruzen said, his tone firm but quiet. "He will answer your every question. Everything he knows about Root, its agents, and their recovery is at your disposal." The Hokage's eyes flicked to the side, his voice dropping slightly. "I've already asked about the Uchiha massacre. What he did to Itachi…" He trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished.

Hiruzen's gaze hardened again. "Be thorough. I want nothing left uncovered. His demise has not been spread - only the Clan Heads and the trusted Anbus that controlled the perimeters know of it. But news like that spread - so be quick."

Ibiki bowed deeply as the Hokage rose and turned to leave. Hiruzen's robes trailed behind him as he exited the chamber, the door closing with a resonant thud. The moment it sealed, the air seemed to shift, the absence of the Hokage amplifying the grim silence of the room.

Ibiki turned to the resurrected Danzo, his lips curling into a cold, predatory smirk. "Well then," he said, stepping closer, his voice low and edged with menace. "Let's see just how much you have to tell me."

Kabuto adjusted the microscope, his fingers steady as he fine-tuned the focus. Under the lens, chakra pathways unfurled like a living map, their intricate designs offering more questions than answers. Usually, such delicate work consumed him, but today his thoughts were elsewhere. Something had shifted yesterday—a colossal surge of chakra that vibrated through Konoha like the echo of a dropped stone in a vast cavern.

He had sent careful inquiries to Root operatives he knew about. Nothing had come back. The silence was its own warning. Kabuto knew better than to push. A spy's greatest weapon was patience, his greatest defense invisibility. Stirring the waters now would do him no favors.

The faint hum of voices in the hallway interrupted his thoughts. He frowned, tilting his head toward the sound. It wasn't the usual murmur of staff. This was sharper, edged with excitement. Curious, he stepped into the corridor, just as a nurse bustled past, her cheeks flushed.

"Hey," he called, his voice soft and friendly. "What's going on?"

She paused, her expression brightening as though she couldn't wait to share. "Oh, Kabuto! You haven't heard? The Hokage is here!"

Kabuto widened his eyes in mock concern. "The Hokage? At the hospital? Was there an attack?"

The nurse laughed, shaking her head. "Attack? No, no. Who could hurt him? He's here on an official visit." Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Well, that's the excuse, anyway. He's really here to see his daughter."

"Daughter?" Kabuto repeated, raising an eyebrow. He made a show of looking perplexed, though the pieces were already clicking into place in his mind.

"Dr. Kanna Sarutobi!" the nurse said, practically giddy. "Our head doctor! I think he's using the inspection as an excuse to visit her. Isn't it sweet? And you truly are an airhead — forgetting who's our boss father! Unbelievable!" She glanced over her shoulder suddenly and gasped. "Oh! They're coming this way!"

Kanna Sarutobi appeared first, her white coat pristine as always. Her stride was brisk, her gestures sharp as she pointed out various sections of the hospital to the man beside her. But Kabuto noticed something unusual—her cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, and there was a lightness to her voice that felt almost... eager. Happy to show her dad around. She always exuded authority, her demeanor cold and commanding. Seeing her like this was jarring.

Behind her, Hiruzen Sarutobi walked with the ease of a man who owned the space around him. His Hokage robes swept the floor, his posture upright but not stiff. He nodded occasionally as his daughter spoke, his expression calm and unreadable, though his gaze lingered on her with what could only be pride.

Kabuto bowed his head respectfully as they approached, his tone deferential. "Lord Hokage. Dr. Sarutobi."

Kanna stopped mid-sentence, turning toward him. Her sharp eyes softened slightly in recognition. "Kabuto," she said. "This is Kabuto Yakushi, one of our most talented medical assistants." She turned to her father. "Hokage-sama, he's been instrumental in some of our recent research."

Kabuto bowed deeper, hiding the flicker of unease that crept up his spine. "It's an honor, Hokage-sama," he said smoothly.

Hiruzen studied Kabuto with the kind of gaze that seemed to weigh not just the present but the potential of the man standing before him. "Kabuto Yakushi," he said thoughtfully, his tone gentle, as if he were turning the name over in his mind. Then, he smiled—a warm, almost grandfatherly expression that softened the authority radiating from him. "It's good to meet you."

Kanna, standing just beside her father, cleared her throat. "Kabuto," she began, her tone professional but betraying a hint of discomfort. "Hokage-sama has been preparing to establish an experimental research unit. It will focus on advancing medical and scientific techniques and will operate under his direct supervision." She paused, her eyes darting briefly toward her father before landing back on Kabuto.

"Given the... unique skill set required," she continued, her words slower now as she fumbled for phrasing, "this unit will include ninja medics whose... strengths are more aligned with research than... uh, combat."

Kabuto tilted his head slightly, feigning polite curiosity, though her awkward delivery sent a chill of irritation through him. She was trying, poorly, to sugarcoat it: he was brilliant but weak, a ninja who didn't belong on the front lines. Her words, carefully chosen as they were, lacked subtlety. He refrained a smile - truly, his cover was perfect.

Kanna's cheeks colored slightly, and she looked away, mumbling, "Not everyone excels in every area. That's... not a bad thing."

Kabuto bowed his head slightly to hide the flicker of a smirk. "Of course," he said smoothly, his voice free of offense. "I would be honored to assist in such an endeavor."

"Good," Hiruzen said with a chuckle, patting Kabuto lightly on the shoulder. "But you'll need to pass a little test first."

"A test?" Kabuto asked, tilting his head slightly as if the idea surprised him. "From you, Hokage-sama?"

Hiruzen laughed softly, shaking his head. "Not from me, no. Unfortunately I do not have the time. My personal medic will handle that. But with how Kanna talks about you, it will probably be a formality. Just come to the Hokage Tower tomorrow morning at eight sharp and go to the third floor. Don't be late."

"Of course," Kabuto said smoothly, bowing once more. "I won't let you down."

Hiruzen gave him an encouraging nod before turning to continue the tour with Kanna. Kabuto straightened the moment they disappeared around the corner. The grandfatherly Hokage, the awkward but earnest daughter… Kabuto adjusted his glasses, the faintest smirk touching his lips as he turned back toward his lab.

Perfect, he thought. They've handed him an opportunity, and they did not even realize it. The closer he was to them, the more useful they'll become. He pushed open the door to his lab and slipped inside, his mind already working on how to make the most of the situation. By the time the test came, he'd be ready. The Hokage might think he was pulling Kabuto into the light, but Kabuto was already weaving the shadows.

Shikamaru was running for his life, and not for the first time, he cursed every single person who had led him to this moment. His legs burned, his lungs screamed, but none of that mattered because behind him was something so horrifying, so unspeakably absurd, that even he couldn't think of a way out of it.

"Move faster!" hissed Ino, barely keeping pace beside him. Her normally sharp voice was hoarse with panic. "If they catch us—"

"I know!" Shikamaru snapped, leaping over a fallen log. "I'm not exactly trying to slow down for fun!"

"You could've fooled me!" Ino shot back.

Behind them, Choji puffed along, his face red, his steps heavy. Shikamaru's heart sank as he heard it—the low, grumbling noise that would doom them all.

Choji's stomach rumbled.

Shikamaru didn't even stop running. He just turned his head enough to glare at his friend, his voice dripping with incredulous fury. "Are you kidding me right now?!"

"I can't help it!" Choji wailed, clutching his gut like it might silence the beast within. "I skipped breakfast, and all this running—"

"Shut up!" Ino whispered, her voice barely a squeak. "They'll hear us!"

It was already too late. From the shadows came the voice they had all been dreading.

"Well, well, well," it drawled, low and smug. "What do we have here?"

Shikamaru skidded to a halt, spinning around just in time to see it emerge. His brain tried to reject the image, but there was no escaping it. An old, wrinkled pug with beady eyes and an expression that could only be described as malevolent glee was perched like royalty atop a massive, shaggy beast of a dog. The larger creature looked like it had crawled out of someone's worst nightmare, its massive jaws hanging open as if already tasting its prey.

The pug licked its cracked lips. "Thought you could outrun me, huh? Nice try, kids."

For a moment, there was silence. And then—

"AAAAAAAAAH!" Shikamaru screamed, his voice breaking halfway through. "RUN!"

He bolted without waiting, dragging Ino with him as Choji stumbled to follow. The three of them took off through the forest, crashing through bushes and dodging branches, their terror palpable.

"They're catching up!" Ino shrieked, glancing over her shoulder. Her voice climbed an octave. "Oh my god, it's SMILING!"

"Of course it's smiling!" Shikamaru shouted back, nearly tripping over a root. "It knows we're screwed!"

"I told you we shouldn't have trusted Kakashi-sensei!" Ino wailed.

"I didn't trust him!" Shikamaru shot back. "This is your fault for laughing at his stupid headband tilt thing!"

Behind them, the pug's voice rang out again, this time gleeful. "Splitting up won't help, you know. I can sniff out fear!"

"Oh my god, we're gonna die," Choji whimpered, lagging slightly behind.

"No, we're not!" Shikamaru barked, his brain scrambling for a plan. "We just—"

"Shikamaru!" Ino shrieked, grabbing his sleeve. "It's right behind us!"

Shikamaru glanced back and instantly regretted it. The massive dog was bounding after them, its enormous tongue lolling out as if it was genuinely enjoying itself. The pug atop it looked like it was having the time of its life.

"RUN FASTER!" Shikamaru screamed, his usual calm shattering completely.

"I'M TRYING!" Ino yelled back.

"What's the point?" Choji groaned. "It's over. Just leave me—"

"No one's leaving anyone!" Shikamaru snapped, grabbing Choji by the arm and hauling him forward. "You're not dying to a wrinkled pug, okay? That's not how I'm going out!"

Up ahead, the forest opened into a clearing. Shikamaru's heart lifted briefly—an escape route? But his hope crumbled instantly as the pug and its monstrous steed appeared ahead of them, blocking their path. It was like they had teleported.

"How...?" Shikamaru gasped, his voice barely audible. "How did it...?"

The pug grinned wider, its wrinkles folding into something even more horrifying. It patted the giant dog's head. "You kids are fun," it said, its voice practically purring. "But now, playtime's over."

Shikamaru froze, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He barely managed to whisper his last thought aloud.

"...Troublesome."