"Because of Tobirama's delay, Naruto had already been led away by the Root ninja."
Hashirama sighed, leaning back in the Hokage's chair. "I thought you said Menma being here would prevent any trouble?"
Jiraiya shook his head. "I assumed Danzo wouldn't be stupid enough to make a move with a Kage-level witness present. I was wrong."
Tobirama's reanimated body was still fragile, and he knew it. "Hmph. Whether you accept the position or not is irrelevant. You're taking it today, whether you like it or not."
Blue chakra erupted from Tobirama's body, filling the room with crushing pressure. The air itself seemed to solidify, pressing down on Jiraiya's chest.
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "So powerful! He's generating actual air currents just by releasing chakra?"
But before he could process the display, Tobirama's body began to fracture. Cracks spiderwebbed across his skin, and he shattered like glass before quickly reforming.
"This body can't even handle a fraction of my true power," Tobirama muttered, flexing his fingers. The reanimated form—taken from a mere genin—could barely withstand his chakra for more than a second or two.
"Tobirama, stop messing around," Hashirama said, standing up from behind the desk. "You're going to break it before we even get started."
"Ahahaha! Sorry, sorry!" Tobirama laughed, though his expression remained sharp. He turned to Jiraiya. "You there—Jiraiya, was it? Don't take it personally. My brother just has a temper."
Jiraiya rubbed the back of his head. "I get it. He's worried about the village. But I really can't be Hokage."
"Why not?" Hashirama asked, his tone suddenly serious. "I read the records. You've been traveling the world, searching for the Child of Prophecy—the one who'll bring change to the shinobi world."
Jiraiya nodded. "The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku foresaw it. He said my disciple would be the one to change everything."
"And you've found him," Hashirama stated, not asked.
Jiraiya's lips twitched. "Naruto?"
"Yes—and no." Hashirama's gaze was piercing. "It's Menma inside him. The one who can perfectly master the Nine-Tails' power. With that much chakra, unless someone reaches the level of me or Madara, no one can stop him."
Jiraiya couldn't disagree. "Exactly. That's why I took him as my disciple. I don't need to travel anymore."
"Then why are you still running?" Tobirama interjected sharply. "Escape and retreat are never qualities of a Konoha ninja!"
Jiraiya hesitated. "I..."
"Other missions," he finally said. "Tsunade would be a better Hokage than me. She's patient, resourceful, and she actually has the personality for it."
Tobirama snorted. "So you want to push responsibility onto a woman? Is that what Hiruzen taught you? And you say you love my grandniece? Dragging her back into this vortex while you run away is a cruel kind of love."
"That's not what I meant—"
"Then explain it," Hashirama cut in, his voice low. "I've been watching Danzo for years. He's a problem, but Hiruzen keeps him on a leash. The Jinchuriki are unstable, but they're under watch. Orochimaru is a threat, but we have time. What exactly are you running from?"
Jiraiya looked at the two legendary Hokage, then at the wall where Tobirama had punched a hole through the stone. He took a deep breath.
"Fine," he said. "I'll do it."
Hashirama's face split into a wide grin. "Hah! That's the spirit! Now you're a true Konoha ninja—"
"DANZO! YOU'RE ASKING FOR DEATH!!!"
The roar shattered the moment like a thunderclap. Jiraiya was already moving before the sound fully faded, bursting out of the Hokage's Office with Tobirama and Hashirama on his heels.
"That idiot," Tobirama hissed, his knuckles white as he gripped his arm. "I actually believed he had a plan."
Hashirama shook his head as they ran. "No use regretting it now. Let's minimize the damage."
Five minutes earlier, at the entrance to the Root Base—
Danzo stood wrapped in a black cloak, his face hidden in shadow. Behind him lay a pile of valuables—scrolls, weapons, enough wealth to buy a small village.
"Bring out Menma," Danzo said, his voice cold. "You're not qualified to receive this."
Naruto stared at the treasure with wide eyes, drool practically forming at the corner of his mouth. "You bad guys are so annoying," he muttered, though he immediately summoned Menma from the sealed space.
Menma appeared in an instant. The moment his feet touched the ground, the air temperature dropped ten degrees. His aura was ice-cold, suffocating.
Danzo's cloak slid back, revealing a ferocious face scarred with old wounds. His right eye swirled with three tomoe Sharingan—until they suddenly morphed into a four-bladed shuriken pattern.
"Now!"
Danzo locked eyes with Menma. A terrifying surge of ocular power erupted from his eye—a phantom force screaming into Menma's mind.
Menma, already on guard, performed a personality switch the instant he saw the Sharingan.
Naruto emerged, his eyes instantly going blank and puppet-like.
But only for a fraction of a second.
Switch again.
Menma returned, his eyes blazing with fury. "Danzo!"
A blinding light exploded from him—golden and red, like a sun going nova. It expanded outward with terrifying speed, swallowing the entire Root base in the blink of an eye.
The ground shook. The sky screamed.
"SHIMURA DANZO!" The shout echoed across the valley, carrying enough killing intent to make the trees tremble. "YOU'RE ASKING FOR DEATH!"
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