The Third Hokage: First Move Send Danzō to Prison

"Konoha really is thriving these days. Even someone like you must feel a bit nostalgic for home, no?"

"No... not in the slightest."

Itachi and Kisame quietly emerged at the edge of the village, their cloaks of black and red clouds swaying lightly in the wind.

The moment word of the village attack reached him, Konoha's top undercover agent had rushed back under the pretense of "scouting the target and assessing the situation."

It seemed Orochimaru had failed... and the village was even livelier than when he left. There were more buildings now, more people. Through the wide-brimmed hat and the wind chimes dangling from it, Uchiha Itachi gazed wistfully at his homeland.

The dynamic between Itachi and Kisame was reminiscent of the relationship between Chan Wing-Yan and "Big Head" in Infernal Affairs. Until the very end, Kisame probably never realized that Itachi was the traitor in their midst.

"It's been a long time since you were last here, right? Before we track the Nine-Tails, how about a cup of tea?" Kisame suggested as they passed by a dango shop.

Thoughtful as ever Kisame didn't even like sweets.

"All right," Itachi nodded. It really had been ages since he last tasted a three-color dango.

Just as they were about to enjoy their afternoon tea, Itachi's ring began to pulse.

An emergency meeting. No choice but to go.

In a desolate ruin somewhere far away, the members of the Akatsuki gathered via phantom projections. Each figure appeared around a towering stone statue, their forms ethereal yet radiating power.

Pain stood at the highest point, his Rinnegan scanning the group with cold authority. His voice was low and commanding.

"The plan to capture the Tailed Beasts is moving forward. We begin the assignments now."

The ever-dutiful Kisame nodded. "Perfect timing. Itachi and I are already near Konoha. Let us start with the Nine-Tails."

"No. The Tailed Beasts must be captured in order from One to Nine. Based on elemental compatibility, Sasori and Deidara will take the One-Tail. Itachi and Kisame, you're assigned the Four-Tails."

After assigning the targets, Pain paused.

"Also, your combat data has been leaked. Be more cautious. Don't die so easily."

!!!

"What! Our intel was leaked? There has to be a mole!" Deidara's projection shouted.

"Doesn't matter. Eternal art doesn't lose power because of intel leaks."

"It probably sold for a fortune... what a waste."

"I'll offer this traitor to Lord Jashin!" Hidan declared solemnly.

Suddenly, Deidara pointed at Itachi and threw out a wild accusation.

"It was him! Itachi! His intel is the only one that's vague, and it's from Konoha!"

He was just guessing. Deidara couldn't stand Itachi the guy was always too aloof. They'd clashed during their recruitment.

Pain didn't stop him. He simply watched silently.

"No. It just means less of my information has been exposed," Itachi replied calmly.

Kisame nodded. "That's true. Itachi rarely fights. There's less chance of his abilities leaking."

Facing the group's suspicious glares, Itachi ever the wolf among sheep began a methodical analysis.

"Besides, I don't even know your intel. If we're asking who in this room would have access to all our data…"

He raised his head toward Pain's high perch.

"There's only the leader and-"

He suddenly turned, Sharingan spinning wildly as his gaze locked onto Black Zetsu.

"Our intelligence officer!"

A bold prophet indeed.

Kisame turned as well, frowning. "He's right. Zetsu, you're the most suspicious. It can't be the boss, so it must be you. Explain yourself."

If this hadn't been a projection, Samehada would already be pressed against Zetsu's neck.

Black Zetsu was stunned.

"What? Me?"

He stammered, trying to defend himself.

"It's not possible. I've always been loyal! And I have no ties to Konoha! Why would I do such a thing?"

Then a horrifying thought struck him. Pain and Konan were both students of Jiraiya Konoha's Sannin. If it wasn't Pain... could it be Konan?

"Come to think of it," Deidara muttered, stroking his chin. "Your jutsu is kinda like the legendary Wood Style. And you're not even classified as a rogue ninja…"

"You're right. You might actually be a Konoha plant."

The others began staring at Zetsu.

"Come on! My jutsu has nothing to do with Wood Style! I've never even belonged to a village. How can I be a rogue ninja?"

"Exactly. Your background is suspiciously vague. Totally mysterious," Deidara pressed on like an amateur detective on a roll.

"Look at the rest of us. I'm from Iwagakure, the boss is from Amegakure, Sasori is from Sunagakure…"

"Just because I'm not from a village doesn't mean I'm a spy! I joined way earlier than any of you!"

Black Zetsu cursed under his breath. Deidara's mouth never stopped running. One of these days, Obito was going to shut it permanently.

Things were spiraling. Tension was rising. A fight could break out any second.

Finally, Pain stepped in to end the chaos.

"That's enough. I'll investigate this myself. For now, return to your missions."

...

Back in Konoha, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his office, finishing paperwork related to the Sand's attack. His consciousness, however, was still lingering in an online discussion thread.

[Why the Third Hokage Wasn't the Villain]

Attached image: "Seventh Hokage Naruto says Grandpa protected him since he was little."

Attached image: "Chakra ghost Minato explains why Naruto's identity was hidden."

Attached image...

Before he could post the third image, the thread was locked. Someone had flooded it with inappropriate content.

"Damn it," Hiruzen muttered, crushing the soda can in his hand.

He was just about to blow off some steam in the mobile ninja game using his best character, "Edo Tensei First Hokage," when he heard a tapping at the window.

A crow.

Itachi's crow clone.

"You're back."

"Lord Third... the Akatsuki is about to make its move. They've started the Tailed Beast capture operation."

Hiruzen took a slow drag from his pipe, nodding solemnly.

"Itachi, come back. Tsunade might be able to treat your condition. Dying in exile isn't your fate."

The crow shook its head.

"The village has changed. Danzo is in prison. You can return to the ANBU, or even become an instructor at the academy. Danzo will pay for what he did."

Still, the crow shook its head. Itachi conveyed that as long as the village and Sasuke were safe, any sacrifice was worth it. If Sasuke could enjoy peaceful school days, then nothing else mattered.

Such noble arrogance. And yet... it was clear Itachi had a strong self-destructive streak.

Maybe I should send him to the neighboring dimension, Hiruzen mused.

After that conversation with Ace's brothers, nothing had come of it. The Fire Shadow Studio's storyline at this point couldn't compare to the big battles brewing next door...

He couldn't just wait for Naruto and Sasuke to "evolve" into unstoppable forces before stepping in. If anyone could change Ace's fate, it would be someone like Itachi.

At the very least, it would be a gesture of goodwill among forum friends.

"Ahem. Itachi, there's no need to go this far. You're one of Konoha's finest, a true bearer of the Will of Fire. Once this mission is complete, I have another assignment for you."

"My body... probably won't last much longer," the crow replied.

It even coughed.

"Wait for Tsunade's return. As soon as she's back, come home. This task is critical. Right now, you're the only one who can do it."

The crow nodded. Its chakra faded, and it disappeared.

Hiruzen tapped out his pipe, scattering ashes onto the floor, a touch of weariness in his expression.

Itachi... he clearly didn't intend to follow orders. That boy was fully prepared to die by Sasuke's hand as a form of atonement.

If Danzo was the rogue king, then Itachi was the rogue prince.

And their reasons were eerily similar.

"For Konoha."

"I never even gave the damn order..." Hiruzen muttered.

Back then, nobody listened to the Hokage. If it wasn't what they wanted to hear, it was a "bad order." Everyone just called him surrounded by corrupt advisors.

The Sannin ignored him. Danzo ignored him. Itachi ignored him. Even the Hyuga clan ignored him. Every story-important character in a shonen manga never listens to the Hokage.

Damn you, Kishimoto.

Hiruzen picked up a pen and started writing lesson plans for the ninja academy.

Maybe, just maybe, he liked teaching more than being Hokage.

But there was no choice. The burden of the great Fire Nation and all its provinces still rested on his shoulders.