When Asuma had rushed out earlier, Reiki had secretly applied a technique to partially counteract the poison in Asuma's system. This was why Asuma hadn't completely lost consciousness.
Hearing the commotion, Asuma had initially wanted to check on the situation. But his weakened legs gave way, and he slumped to the ground, breathless. Crawling over, he overheard the final, damning words of Ji Gu.
Rage surged through him as he realized that his own mentor, a jounin, had committed such a betrayal.
"Asuma, he was your mentor," Hyuga began cautiously.
"I won't cover for him, and I heard everything he said," Asuma declared. "He struck first... I'll make sure Hokage hears the full story. And this organization—thinking they can assassinate our village's own ninjas—do they believe they're untouchable?!"
Asuma's anger intensified as he glared at Ji Gu's lifeless body, kicking it twice in frustration. Hyuga, concerned that Asuma might take out his anger entirely on the corpse, pulled out a sealing scroll and secured Ji Gu's body.
"Let's head back now. It's dangerous outside the village, and with me being the only jounin left, I must ensure your safety," Hyuga said, proposing they return immediately. No matter what had happened, it needed to be dealt with in Konoha.
"Hold on. I need to fully remove the toxin from Asuma," Reiki said as he approached and began treating him.
Ten minutes later, with the treatment complete, the three resumed their journey. The unexpected confrontation spurred them to quicken their pace, and they reached Konoha late the next evening.
**Inside the Hokage's Office**
A body lay sprawled on the floor.
"And that's how it happened," Asuma said, finishing his recount. "Lord Hokage, we need justice. If Reiki hadn't acted quickly, Hyuga-sama and I might have been killed too!" Asuma's voice quivered with emotion, his face flushed with anger.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, frowned deeply as he turned to Hyuga. "Hyuga-sama, can you verify this?"
"I was unconscious for most of it," Hyuga admitted. "When I woke up, Ji Gu was already dead. Asuma claims he saw everything, and I believe him."
Hiruzen's confusion only deepened. He had initially suspected that Hyuga and Reiki had worked together to take down Ji Gu. But if Reiki had done it alone...
"Reiki, explain yourself."
"Sensei developed a special potion called the concealment potion," Reiki said, invoking Tsunade's name. "It lets you mask your presence briefly. I used a shadow clone to distract Ji Gu and launched a surprise attack. Perhaps he underestimated me and let his guard down, allowing me to take him out in one strike."
The Hokage massaged his temples as a headache began to form. Concealment potions? Shadow clone tactics? He did not want to drag Tsunade into this; if she found out that Root agents were targeting one of her students, the consequences could be severe.
"I see," Hiruzen finally said. "Hyuga, report to the mission office and complete the debriefing. Reiki, Asuma, you should rest. I will look into this matter and resolve it."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the three said, bowing before leaving the room.
**Asuma's Dilemma**
"Hokage-sama, Root is too brazen!" Asuma's voice cracked. "If Reiki hadn't been there, Hyuga-sama and I might not be here now. I witnessed everything... Father..." His voice softened, emotion taking over as tears threatened to spill. He was only eight years old, yet he had almost been killed on his first mission—by his own mentor.
Hiruzen sighed, placing a comforting hand on Asuma's shoulder. "Rest now, my son. I will find the truth."
Asuma nodded, his eyes still burning with unshed tears as he left, quickening his pace as an idea struck him.
**Sarutobi Hiruzen's Determination**
With the room now empty, Hiruzen approached the body on the floor, noting the wound in Ji Gu's chest and the boot marks from Asuma's frustrated kicks. A wave of mixed emotions washed over him.
Ji Gu, a Root operative all along, and Danzo—how could he authorize such an action? And to target Reiki?
"Summon Danzo!" Hiruzen's voice boomed with barely contained rage.
An ANBU operative nodded and disappeared into the shadows to deliver the summons. The others remained, eyes sharp and vigilant, knowing that Hiruzen's patience had worn thin. If Danzo failed to provide answers, they needed to be ready to intervene.
**Danzo's Arrival**
Ten minutes later, Danzo entered, his expression inscrutable.
"What's the matter, Hiruzen?" Danzo asked, his tone even.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "You dare to ask? Look at this!" He pointed at Ji Gu's body, fury simmering beneath the surface.
"Ji Gu, dead? Wasn't he Asuma's mentor? Is Asuma all right?" Danzo feigned surprise, masking his unease. He had expected to find Reiki's body, not Ji Gu's.
Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk, chakra flaring. "Did you order Ji Gu to attack Reiki? And why did Ji Gu claim to be a Root member?"
The air grew tense as ANBU operatives emerged, surrounding Danzo, prepared for whatever might come next.
>>>>>
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Danzo's face darkened as the ANBU operatives surrounded him.
"What's the meaning of this, Hiruzen?" he asked, a hint of unease creeping into his voice.
Sarutobi Hiruzen gestured for the ANBU to stand down. Once they vanished, he began speaking, recounting everything he knew about the incident.
Despite his doubts about how Reiki, a chuunin-level medical ninja, could defeat a jounin without harm, Asuma's account was clear. Although naive at times, Asuma wouldn't lie about something so serious.
"Kill a jounin without a scratch? Do you really think a chuunin medical ninja could pull that off?" Danzo sneered.
"I had my doubts as well," Sarutobi Hiruzen admitted, "but this is what Asuma witnessed. And Danzo, let me warn you—don't overextend your influence. You had no right to place someone so close to me." Hiruzen's expression hardened. This was a boundary Danzo had blatantly crossed.
"Now that you've found out, what do you intend to do?" Danzo said, dropping all pretense. Ji Gu had been his man, and he had placed him deliberately near the Hokage. If he'd been exposed, so be it. Would Hiruzen truly act against him? Could he?
This was Danzo's confidence: he had carried out countless covert operations for Hiruzen, many of which would harm Hiruzen's reputation if revealed. Danzo also believed in his own strength and the ability to reveal all these secrets if things went too far. He was certain Hiruzen wouldn't gamble on that.
"Do you think I won't take action?" Hiruzen's voice was low, his anger barely contained.
"I've stood beside you for decades. Since the day you became Hokage and I established the Root, have I done anything that threatened the village's well-being?" Danzo said calmly. "I stationed Ji Gu nearby simply to act in scenarios where I couldn't. He was never a threat to you." Danzo's demeanor conveyed the image of a man with no personal ambition, only loyalty.
Hiruzen's scowl softened slightly, recognizing Danzo had at least offered him an exit from this confrontation.
"Then tell me, why does Reiki have to die?" Hiruzen asked, turning back to his seat, his tone firm.
"Haven't you noticed? Ever since Reiki became Tsunade's disciple, we've faced one issue after another," Danzo replied. "He has ties to the Uchiha, the Hyuga, and other clans. He's positioned to influence Tsunade in all her dealings with them. If he remains, things will only get worse. He must be eliminated—unless, of course, you let me bring him into the Root Organization."
Danzo's argument was purely based on his suspicions. He had no hard evidence, only a conviction that Reiki's presence would lead to more conflicts in the future. The Root had always operated this way, and both he and Hiruzen knew it.
"Asuma witnessed everything and reported directly to me," Hiruzen said, exhaling slowly. "And Hyuga was involved, too, so of course Reiki was connected. If he returns and speaks to Tsunade, you know how serious this could become."
"Tsunade..." Danzo muttered, his annoyance clear. If Tsunade decided to escalate things, it would be a serious problem, given her reputation, Reiki's growing influence, and the deep resentment many held toward the Root. If the clans decided to side with Tsunade, not only he but the entire Root Organization could be endangered.
"I've already sent word for Tsunade to be assigned an urgent mission," Hiruzen said. "She should have left the village by now. Use this time wisely and handle the matter before she returns."
The Root Organization was a necessary evil, and for now, Hiruzen could not afford to remove Danzo entirely. His position, and the stability of the village, required Danzo's clandestine support.
"You have time then, Danzo. Ensure that those who might interfere are silenced."
Danzo's gaze hardened, a familiar gleam of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. Hiruzen, who had witnessed this behavior countless times over the years, could only sigh. While he disapproved of Danzo's methods, he knew they had often proven effective, sometimes even useful.
Reiki's case was delicate; Hiruzen recognized his potential and valued his strong connections with the major clans. For now, Hiruzen wanted to keep Reiki alive, both as an asset to Konoha and as a potential ally in turbulent times.
"I don't need to know the details," Hiruzen said finally, pulling his hat low over his eyes. "But within three days, I want this resolved. And under no circumstances is Reiki to be harmed."
This was Hiruzen's final ultimatum. If Danzo failed, the fallout could extend far beyond the Root Organization.
"I understand," Danzo said, nodding before taking his leave. He had no time to waste and would need to make quick arrangements. Meanwhile, he would also need to press Orochimaru to accelerate their shared projects. He intended to address this matter with decisive force.
>>>>>
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