Naruto : Shisui Uchiha & Gacha in multiverse

SLAM.

The table cracked under Hiruzen's fist, the sound echoing through the Hokage's office like a thunderclap. His eyes, usually calm, now burned with fury as he glared at the man standing before him.

"How dare you attack Shisui, Danzo!"

Danzo didn't flinch, though his single eye narrowed. He opened his mouth to speak, but Hiruzen wasn't in the mood for excuses.

"Shut up!" the Hokage snapped, his voice sharp and commanding. "You attacked a loyal shinobi of the village. That alone is enough to send you to prison!"

Danzo remained silent, though in his mind, he scoffed. Hypocrite. As if you didn't expect this. If Shisui was so important, why didn't you send the ANBU to protect him?

But he bit his tongue. He knew Hiruzen. The man clung to ideals of light and peace, always trying to wash his hands clean of the dirty work. Meanwhile, he was the darkness, the necessary evil Hiruzen would never admit to needing.

"I'm disbanding Root immediately," Hiruzen declared. "You're stripped of your position as an elder. Go home, Danzo. And don't let me see you outside these walls again."

Danzo's expression turned icy. Same line again, he thought bitterly. How many times have I heard this farce?

"You'll regret this, Hiruzen."

"I said shut up, Danzo. I am the Hokage!"

Bang.

Danzo slammed the door behind him, the sound reverberating like a final judgment.

Silence lingered in the room until Hiruzen let out a long, weary sigh. His shoulders slumped as he turned toward the darkened corner of the office.

"I'm sorry, Itachi," he said quietly. "I know what Danzo did, but he's made sacrifices for the village. The truth is, the village still needs him. I can't deal with him too harshly, not now."

From the shadows, Itachi stepped forward, his face calm but the sorrow in his eyes unmistakable. He opened his mouth to speak, but Hiruzen continued before he could.

"Danzo is extreme," Hiruzen admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "He's never trusted the Uchiha. Not truly. Not since Kagami."

He paused, gaze distant.

"I saw the same light in Shisui that I once saw in Kagami, that rare spark of loyalty and wisdom. But Danzo doesn't see that. He doesn't want to see it. To him, any risk is too great if it threatens the village."

Another sigh, this one deeper.

"Forgive me, Itachi," Hiruzen said, standing slowly. He removed his Hokage hat, holding it against his chest as he turned to face the young Uchiha. His eyes, once filled with fire, now shimmered with guilt.

"For Shisui… I should've done more."

Seeing him like this, Itachi was stunned for a moment.

The Hokage, removing his hat and asking for forgiveness?

If he told anyone, no one would believe it. Not the clan, not even Shisui if he were still alive.

But Itachi composed himself quickly, his voice calm and respectful as always.

"It wasn't your fault, Hokage-sama," he said softly. "Danzo-sama… his vision isn't as broad as yours. That's why he could never lead the village. But you are Hokage because you carry the burden of everyone, Uchiha and non-Uchiha alike."

Hiruzen looked at him, eyes tired, the weight of decades pressing down on his shoulders. For a moment, the title of Hokage felt less like an honour and more like chains.

"I wish things could've been different," he murmured. "I wish I could've protected Shisui better."

Itachi didn't reply immediately. He simply bowed his head. Deep down, he had his own thoughts, regrets, burdens. But now wasn't the time to speak them aloud.

"The Uchiha clan is proud, but not blind," he said after a pause. "If they saw what I just saw, maybe they would understand the difference between strength and leadership."

Hiruzen gave a faint, bitter smile. "I hope they do, Itachi. I truly hope they do. Because if not..." He trailed off, placing the hat back on the desk.

"...then we may all be heading toward something we can't stop."

Itachi understood exactly what Hiruzen meant. His fingers clenched subtly at his side.

Noticing the reaction, Hiruzen's eyes narrowed for a moment before he changed the subject.

"So… Shisui's body. It's not with you?"

Itachi shook his head slightly, his voice tinged with regret. "No, sir. He jumped into the river."

A heavy sigh escaped Hiruzen's lips. "I placed too much burden on him..."

There was a pause, then Hiruzen asked again, more carefully this time, "And his eyes?"

"Danzo-sama took one," Itachi replied, his tone growing colder. "Shisui entrusted the other to me."

Hiruzen forced his expression to remain calm, but inside, his heart began to race.

I can't be alone with either of them...

It's good the ANBU is waiting for my orders.

In a situation like this, Hiruzen found it ironic that he trusted Itachi more than Danzo.

At least Itachi had been conditioned, manipulated, some would say, into loyalty.

Danzo, on the other hand, wanted the seat of the Hokage for himself.

I must stay alert around him. More than ever.

Keeping the warm mask of the wise grandfather in place, Hiruzen smiled gently.

"Don't worry, Itachi. I won't allow him to use Shisui's eyes for the wrong purpose."

He paused, then gestured toward the door.

"You should go. The Uchiha clan meeting must be over by now. Find out what happened."

"Yes, Hokage-sama." Itachi bowed respectfully and exited through the door.

Once alone, Hiruzen tapped the table twice.

A moment later, an ANBU with silver hair and a dog mask appeared silently.

"Find Shisui's body," Hiruzen ordered quietly.

Without a word, the shinobi vanished into the shadows.

Staring at the empty space where the ANBU had stood, Hiruzen muttered to himself,

"He still hasn't escaped the darkness..."

He turned his gaze toward the window, where the Hokage Rock stood tall in the distance, the carved faces of his predecessors staring back at him.

"I did everything for the village..."

************

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