Naruto: Blacksmith

"It won't be you?!" Hiruzen gasped before realization dawned. "You're here to stop me… to keep me from interfering?"

Suddenly, everything clicked.

At first, Hiruzen found Itachi's actions peculiar. If Itachi had resolved to act on his own, why bother explaining so much?

Now he understood. Itachi wasn't there to confront him but to keep him occupied.

The display of his Mangekyō Sharingan, the revelation of Tsukuyomi it had all been a deliberate strategy.

Itachi didn't want to fight the Hokage but needed to ensure he wouldn't interfere. By revealing his plans and demonstrating his power, Itachi hoped to persuade Hiruzen to stay out of it.

That suspicion was confirmed by Itachi's words moments later.

"Hokage-sama," he began with reverence, "you're the person I respect most. That hasn't changed neither in the past nor now. That's why I don't want to fight you."

As he spoke, the distorted surroundings of the Tsukuyomi began to crumble. The genjutsu was lifted, though Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan continued to gleam with unwavering determination.

"Hokage-sama, I don't know if I could defeat you. But if all I need to do is delay you… I am confident I can."

Hiruzen remained silent, his mind racing.

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he clenched the mouthpiece of his pipe between his teeth. His gaze bore down on the desk, eyes narrowed in thought.

He had never fought against a Mangekyō Sharingan user before, but Konoha's records provided a wealth of information about its capabilities.

And Hiruzen knew Itachi's strength well.

Even without the Sharingan, Itachi was on par with an elite Jōnin. With it, he stood among the strongest of his rank.

While the full extent of the Mangekyō's power remained unclear, it was evident that even without it, Itachi could delay him for a considerable time.

And today was the festival.

Most shinobi were on leave. While some might respond to the sounds of combat, it wouldn't be enough.

Would Danzo be able to hold out until reinforcements arrived?

Root was unlike other shinobi units. Its members lived without identities, resting only between missions.

Thus, even during the festival, Root was likely still protecting Danzo as usual.

Killing Danzo within the Root base would be nearly impossible, even with Itachi's intel.

Yet, the fact that Itachi had crafted such a meticulous plan meant he was confident in his success.

Hiruzen knew Itachi's meticulousness and composure too well. If Itachi believed he could accomplish this, failure was unlikely.

In other words, the outcome hinged on Danzo's ability to defend himself.

Hiruzen's gaze hardened as he stood abruptly.

Itachi reacted instantly, planting one hand on the ground and leaping backward.

But Hiruzen followed, swiftly removing his Hokage robes and hurling them toward Itachi.

The heavy garment temporarily obscured Itachi's vision but did little to slow him.

Swish

With a clean motion, he unsheathed his sword and slashed the robes in two.

The sound of tearing fabric filled the air, but by the time Itachi regained his line of sight, Hiruzen was already upon him.

Jumping onto his desk, legs bent, the elder launched himself like a cannonball.

Boom

Itachi raised his sword to block, but the unexpected strength of the aging Hokage knocked the weapon aside and forced him to retreat.

Swoosh

Before Itachi could steady himself, a kick struck his chest. His body seemed to twist for a moment before collapsing—

But it wasn't his body.

Suddenly, a flurry of crows erupted from where he had stood, swirling around Hiruzen in chaotic disarray.

The elder turned sharply, adjusting his stance as his sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.

The scenery around him began to change.

The office vanished, replaced by a desolate, withered wasteland. A dim sunset bathed the sky, but the most unsettling feature was the enormous Sharingan spinning slowly above.

"Genjutsu... When?"

In the distance, Itachi's figure materialized, hazy and flickering like a mirage.

"From the very beginning," Itachi replied calmly. "I knew you wouldn't abandon Danzo. So I employed another illusion to prepare this ground."

Hiruzen's brow furrowed.

"Then why didn't you subdue me with *Tsukuyomi* immediately?" he demanded, his keen eyes scrutinizing Itachi for any clues.

But his efforts were futile.

Itachi's expression remained as unyielding as ever.

"I already told you," Itachi said, "I don't want to harm you, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen remained silent, his mind churning through possibilities. But Itachi's next words shook him to his core.

"I've made preparations. This is an action Konoha, as a village, cannot prevent at this moment."

"Konoha…?" Hiruzen murmured, sensing something strange in Itachi's phrasing.

He wasn't merely addressing Hiruzen as Hokage; he spoke of the entire village.

Was this arrogance on Itachi's part, or was there something more Hiruzen didn't know?

"That's right Konoha," Itachi continued, perceiving Hiruzen's thoughts. "The person cooperating with me to eliminate Danzo… no one in Konoha can stop them. Not even you, Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen's heart sank.

At first, he thought Itachi was bluffing.

But then, considering the situation, the person capable of infiltrating Root to assassinate Danzo must possess incredible skill.

It wasn't out of the question that this person was far stronger than he had imagined.

"Who is this person?" Hiruzen demanded, his voice filled with restrained fury.

"He calls himself 'Madara.'"

The name fell like a thunderclap.

"Madara?" Hiruzen repeated, incredulous. "What Madara?"

"Madara… Uchiha."

"What?!" Hiruzen exclaimed, stepping back in shock.

"He's the one who controlled the Nine-Tails during the attack on Konoha six years ago. I found his traces while investigating that night's events."

A chill ran down Hiruzen's spine.

"Are you saying Madara is alive?"

Itachi nodded slowly.

"That man is extraordinarily powerful. Even wounded, his strength far exceeds mine. His eyes are set on Konoha, and eliminating Danzo is merely one step in his plan."

Hiruzen staggered, his thoughts unraveling.

Madara Uchiha.

That name carried more weight than any other in Konoha's history. The man who had nearly destroyed the village at its inception—the founder who became its enemy.

"This is… impossible," Hiruzen murmured, shaking his head. "Madara should have been dead for decades."

"Would you like me to explain it in detail?" Itachi asked calmly. "I have no problem doing so, but while we talk… Danzo…"

Hiruzen clenched his fists, torn between the mounting dilemmas.

"I can't handle everything at once. If it really is him…"

"Then you understand why I must act as a rogue ninja," Itachi concluded, closing his eyes briefly before reopening them, his gaze resolute. "But this time, it's my way of protecting Konoha."

---

In Konoha, a dark current stirred beneath the surface, though the villagers remained blissfully unaware.

Dressed in new kimonos, families enjoyed the festival, laughing and playing under the illuminated streets.

Kuro followed Naruto, watching as the boy's boundless enthusiasm showed no signs of waning.

"Kuro, look!" Naruto shouted, pointing excitedly ahead. "There's a balloon-popping game up ahead! If you pop more than ten balloons with shuriken, you win a prize. Let's go!"

Fresh from the goldfish scooping stall, Naruto grabbed Kuro by the arm and dragged him toward another booth in the distance, surrounded by a crowd.

________

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