š HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! šāØ
š„ Let the drums of destiny roar as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurerā¦ āļø Buddyschlym! āļø šā”ļø Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!
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The air in the Hokage's office was heavy, saturated with an oppressive silence after the eerie voice had faded. Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand trembled slightly, his grip tightening around his pipe as he struggled to maintain his composure.
Suddenly, the dim light in the room flickered, casting unsettling shadows across the walls. From one of those shadows, a figure emerged. The movement was unnatural as if reality itself bent to accommodate the stranger's arrival.
The figure stepped forward leisurely, finally settling into the chair opposite Hiruzen. Cloaked in black with a hood obscuring his face, he leaned back with an air of confidence, one leg crossed over the other.
Despite his relaxed posture, an ominous aura radiated from him, making the seasoned Hokage's instincts scream in alarm.
Hiruzen's sharp eyes scrutinized the man, though his heart raced. He had faced countless enemies in his time, but this presence was differentācalm, calculated, and deeply unsettling.
"You're quite comfortable for someone who's trespassed in the Hokage's office," Hiruzen said, his voice steady but tinged with a veiled threat.
The figure chuckled softly, the sound devoid of mirth. "Comfortable? Hardly, old man. This chair is nothing compared to the thrones you and your ilk sat upon while pretending to be the saviors of this village."
The jab hit harder than Hiruzen cared to admit. His expression hardened. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The figure tilted his head slightly, as if amused. "Oh, Sarutobi Hiruzen, always deflecting. But I'm not here to play guessing games. You know exactly who I amāor at least, what I represent."
Hiruzen frowned, his mind racing. This man spoke with familiarity, as though he had been watching for years.
"I don't have time for riddles," Hiruzen said curtly. "Speak your purpose, or I'll have the ANBU deal with you."
The man laughed, low and mocking. "Ah, yes, your loyal ANBU. The same ones you sent to keep the Uchiha under surveillance? Or perhaps the same ones you've used to silence dissenters over the years?"
Hiruzen stiffened, his eyes narrowing. "You've done your research, I see."
"I've done more than research," The figure replied coolly. "I've been cleaning up the mess you and your council left behind. Starting with your dear friendsā¦ Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and most recently, Danzo Shimura."
The mention of their names sent a chill down Hiruzen's spine. His grip on his pipe faltered, and he quickly set it down to avoid revealing his nerves.
"So, it was you," Hiruzen said, his voice low. "You're the one who killed them."
"They reaped what they sowed," The man replied without hesitation. "You know as well as I do that their hands were stained with bloodāinnocent blood. They were the architects of countless atrocities, all in the name of this village."
Hiruzen's gaze darkened. "You speak of atrocities as if you are a saint. Killing them doesn't make you a savior. It makes you no better than they were."
The figure leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a cold whisper. "Don't misunderstand me, old man. I'm no savior, and I've never claimed to be better. But unlike you, I don't hide behind a veil of righteousness while sacrificing others to maintain power."
Hiruzen's breath caught in his throat. This man's words cut too close to truths he had long buried.
The figure continued, his tone sharp and unrelenting. "Tell me, Hokage, how did it feel to watch the Senju Clan disappear under your rule? Did you ever regret turning a blind eye to the experiments that tore their legacy apart?"
The mention of the Senju Clan hit like a hammer. Hiruzen's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
"And what about Sakumo Hatake?" The man pressed. "A man who should have been a hero, driven to his death because you refused to stand by him. How many more shinobi have you sent to their graves with your so-called wisdom? How many promising lives snuffed out in missions designed to maintain your precious image of balance?"
Hiruzen's hands clenched into fists. "You don't understand the burden of leadership. The choices I've made were for the village."
"For the village?" The man echoed mockingly. "Or for the Sarutobi Clan? After all, you've done a fine job elevating them to royalty in Konoha. Funny how that happened right after the Senju faded into obscurity."
The words struck a nerve. Hiruzen's silence spoke volumes, his mind flashing to the countless decisions he had madeādecisions that, in hindsight, were not always for the greater good.
"And now," The man continued, his voice laced with quiet venom, "you're planning the annihilation of the Uchiha Clan. Tell me, Hiruzen, how will you justify this one? Another noble sacrifice for peace?"
Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly. "How do you know about that?"
The figure leaned back again, a faint smirk visible beneath his hood. "I know a lot of things, old man. Things you wish would stay buried. But the truth has a way of surfacing, doesn't it?"
Hiruzen's mind raced. Who was this man? How could he know so much?
"You think you can threaten me and walk away unscathed?" Hiruzen said, his voice regaining some of its edge. "I've faced greater foes than you."
The man chuckled again, dark and chilling. "Oh, I'm not here to threaten you, Hiruzen. I'm here to remind you. Your time is running out. The village you built on lies and sacrifice is crumbling beneath you, and there's nothing you can do to stop it."
The words hung in the air like a death knell.
The tension in the Hokage's office thickened as Hiruzen barked sharply, his voice cutting through the heavy silence.
"ANBU! Restrain this intruder immediately!"
In a blur of movement, several masked ANBU operatives appeared, surrounding the mysterious figure who still sat calmly in his chair. The glint of their blades reflected in the dim light, poised for action.
Hiruzen's lips curled into a smug smile as he waited for the inevitable. "You thought you could walk in here, spouting nonsense, and leave unscathed? Let's see who you really are."
The figure remained utterly unshaken, his posture unchanging even as the ANBU closed in.
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
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