That same afternoon— Inside the towering building of the Hokage's Office, the air was heavy with unease. Curtains were drawn, guards dismissed. Only three people were present in the dimly lit room.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, sat behind his desk, his pipe unlit for once, his face unusually serious. Standing before him were two of his most trusted advisors: Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, veterans of the village's first generation, and longtime allies of the Hokage.
Koharu spoke first, her voice tight with worry. "Hiruzen, the reports from the Academy this morning—are they true? "
Homura frowned. "Iruka claims the boy maintained perfect chakra control for over a minute. If that's accurate… then the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki is advancing far too quickly. "
Hiruzen exhaled slowly. "It's true. "
He turned the crystal ball on his desk, and an image shimmered into view— Naruto, sitting calmly in class, a green leaf glowing faintly with chakra against his forehead.
The boy's expression was relaxed, his concentration effortless. There wasn't a single flicker of instability in his chakra flow. Even Hiruzen, after decades of training, had to admit—it was flawless.
Homura's brows knit tightly. "That level of precision… even most jōnin couldn't achieve it so young. "
Koharu crossed her arms. "This is dangerous, Hiruzen. The boy's potential is too great. If he loses control—if the beast inside him awakens—"
Hiruzen raised a hand, cutting her off. "I am well aware of the risk. "
He stared at the image silently for a long moment, then said quietly, "Talent like this… must not be wasted. But neither can it be allowed to grow unchecked. "
His voice softened, but there was a cold edge beneath it. "Power is a double-edged sword. In the wrong hands, it becomes destruction. In the right hands, it becomes protection. "
Homura's gaze sharpened. "And whose hands will it be in, Hiruzen? Yours… or his? "
For a brief moment, the room went still. Then the Hokage smiled faintly. "As long as I draw breath, that boy's power will never threaten Konoha. "
But the advisors exchanged uneasy looks. They'd known him too long. They heard the subtle implication in his tone. He wasn't going to destroy the boy—he was going to control him.
Koharu's eyes narrowed. "Danzo will not stay silent about this. "
"I know, " Hiruzen said, his tone hardening. "That's why we'll handle this quietly. The fewer people who know, the better. "
Homura hesitated. "Then what will you do? "
The old Hokage leaned back, his fingers drumming softly on the desk. "I'll increase surveillance. The ANBU will report every training session, every unusual activity. " "And…"—he paused, lighting his pipe— "I'll assign Iruka to observe him more closely at the Academy. He's kind, patient. If anyone can keep the boy's emotions stable, it's him. "
Koharu frowned. "And if Iruka fails? "
"Then we'll take more… direct measures, " Hiruzen said quietly. His eyes gleamed behind a haze of smoke. "I have my ways of guiding a child's heart. "
Homura and Koharu exchanged looks, understanding exactly what he meant. The Third Hokage—the man the villagers revered as the "Professor, " the wise and gentle leader—was also the same man who had once orchestrated countless quiet manipulations behind the scenes. His kindness and cruelty were always balanced with precision. He didn't rule through fear like Danzo—he ruled through attachment. And no one in Konoha could resist the warmth of the Hokage's "grandfatherly" smile.
Hiruzen took another puff of smoke. "Send word to the ANBU stationed near the Academy. I want constant updates. "
"Yes, Lord Hokage, " the two advisors said in unison. As they turned to leave, Hiruzen spoke again, almost absently. "…And if Danzo contacts you, tell him I'll meet him at sunset in the old council chamber. "
Koharu and Homura stiffened slightly, but neither argued. They bowed and left.
The office fell silent once more. Hiruzen looked at the still image inside his crystal orb— Naruto's calm face, his steady chakra, his unshakable focus.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of the old man's lips. "Minato's son… Kushina's spirit… and yet, something entirely different. "
He tapped his pipe against the ashtray. "Will you be my greatest triumph, boy… or my greatest mistake? "
The smoke rose and curled through the air, forming ghostly shapes that twisted and vanished in the dim light.
That evening, as promised, the secret meeting took place in a windowless chamber deep beneath the Hokage's tower. Only two men sat facing each other at a long table: Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo. The tension between them was thick enough to cut.
Danzo spoke first, his voice low and gravelly. "So, it's true. The jinchūriki's control has already surpassed the Academy's standards. "
Hiruzen nodded slightly. "You've seen the reports, then. "
Danzo's single visible eye glinted dangerously. "You're losing control, Hiruzen. If we don't act now, that child will grow beyond your reach. "
Hiruzen's reply was calm, almost too calm. "I've been watching him carefully. He's obedient. Polite. Still impressionable. "
"Don't delude yourself, " Danzo snapped. "The moment that demon inside him stirs, your soft words and kind smiles won't save you. "
He leaned forward, his tone icy. "Hand him over to Root. I'll ensure he never becomes a threat. "
Hiruzen's eyes turned cold. "Danzo… if I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times—Root was disbanded. "
Danzo sneered. "And yet, you still rely on my shadows when your precious ANBU can't handle the dirtier work. "
The two men stared at each other for a long, silent moment. The faint drip of water echoed from somewhere in the dark.
Finally, Hiruzen spoke, his voice quiet but firm. "You will not touch that boy. He is under my direct supervision. "
Danzo's eye narrowed. "Then you'd better keep him on a tight leash. "
He rose, cloak swishing behind him. "Because if you can't… I will. "
And with that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Hiruzen alone in the cold, empty chamber.
The Hokage stared into the darkness for a long time, his face unreadable. Then he whispered softly to himself:
"Uzumaki Naruto… you truly are the key that could change everything. "
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