At the same time—
Inside the inn where the Cloud delegation was staying in Konoha.
"The operation failed."
Shimura Danzo stood rigid, his single visible eye cold as ice as he stared at the two across from him.
Opposite him sat Tsuchikage's advisor Dodai — known here simply as Dodai (Tsuchidai / 土台) — and the composed blonde kunoichi Samui.
Dodai frowned faintly.
"I know."
The moment Sarutobi Hiruzen escaped with Tenzo, both sides had received intelligence through their own channels. Each had pieced together roughly what happened.
Both were furious.
Danzo's voice grew sharper.
"From what I understand, if your Cloud men hadn't suddenly turned on my operative, Hiruzen would never have escaped."
"Now Hiruzen lives. Your people exposed themselves."
"How do you intend to clean this up?"
A Failure No One Would Admit
Dodai's jaw tightened.
He knew.
The Cloud field commander had made a reckless decision.
Wood Release was priceless.
But at that moment, the correct move would have been cooperation — kill Hiruzen first, seize Tenzo after.
Instead—
Pride had taken over.
The Cloud commander had believed total victory was guaranteed.
He had been wrong.
Worse—
He had revealed Cloud involvement directly in front of Hiruzen.
If news of the ambush reached Konoha—
The Cloud delegation in the village, and even the imprisoned Eight-Tails jinchūriki Killer B, would be in grave danger.
The failure rested squarely on Cloud shoulders.
But admitting that to Danzo?
Not happening.
Dodai spoke evenly.
"Victory and defeat are common in war."
"Hiruzen is still a Hokage-level shinobi. Unexpected outcomes are normal."
"This is not the time to assign blame."
"It's time to discuss how to end this."
"End This?"
Danzo's gaze shifted toward the corner of the room—
Where packed luggage sat ready.
He laughed coldly.
"You're not thinking about cleanup."
"You're thinking about escape."
He had rushed here the moment he learned the Cloud delegation was preparing to depart.
Had he come later—
They might already be gone.
Dodai smiled calmly.
"You misunderstand."
"We prepared like this to draw you here."
"We are under Konoha surveillance. We couldn't approach you openly."
That part wasn't a lie.
He did want Danzo here.
But they had also prepared to flee if necessary.
Because there was no other option.
They couldn't break out by force.
But without justification, they couldn't leave Konoha overnight either.
So—
They needed Danzo.
One Rope. Two Grasshoppers.
Danzo narrowed his eye.
"What exactly are you suggesting?"
Dodai folded his hands.
"Fulfill your promise."
"Release Killer B."
"And arrange our safe departure."
Danzo laughed in disbelief.
"Fulfill my promise?"
"Did you fulfill yours?"
Dodai ignored the rising hostility.
"Right now, we are tied together."
"If we fall into Konoha's hands, do you believe you'll walk away untouched?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"Even if we are captured, Konoha will not kill us easily."
"Once a new Hokage ascends, Cloud can apologize. Offer compensation."
"Do you think Konoha would start another war?"
"But you?"
"If news spreads that you colluded with Cloud to assassinate your own Hokage…"
"Do you still have a place in Konoha?"
That was ruthless.
Cloud had botched the operation.
Now they intended to dump all consequences on Danzo and leave.
Classic Cloud politics.
Danzo's teeth ground audibly.
"You're threatening me?"
Dodai remained calm.
"No."
"I'm stating facts."
"We can afford to lose."
"Can you?"
Silence fell heavy in the room.
Dodai continued.
"If you help us leave, everything can be pinned on Cloud."
"Once free of constraint, we will publicly claim responsibility."
"As long as you deal with your surviving subordinate—the Wood Release boy Hiruzen took—"
"Hiruzen may know the truth."
"But he'll have no evidence."
"You can still compete for Fourth Hokage."
"Everyone wins."
Danzo's Calculation
"Impossible."
"That would put my fate in your hands."
Danzo refused immediately.
"I will not be controlled."
Dodai shook his head.
"By the time we return to the Land of Lightning, your Hokage election will be over."
"If you win—"
"Then like you once said, a little dirty water means nothing."
"If you lose…"
He smiled faintly.
"Then that's your problem."
Danzo's expression flickered between fury and calculation.
He hated this.
He hated being cornered.
But the logic was sound.
Dodai pressed further.
"Between you and Namikaze Minato, Cloud prefers you."
"For that reason—"
"We're prepared to offer support."
He pulled out a prepared storage scroll and placed it forward.
"It's not much."
"But enough to help you sway several small clans in Konoha."
Bribery.
Open and direct.
Danzo stared at the scroll.
For a long moment—
The room was silent.
Then—
Slowly—
He reached out and took it.
The deal wasn't clean.
It wasn't ideal.
But Danzo understood something fundamental:
Power doesn't come from purity.
It comes from survival.
And survival sometimes required swallowing poison—
As long as you lived long enough to become the one holding the knife.
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