Hokage Office.
"Fractured!"
Danzo slammed his hand on the chair, his face full of fury as he glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Hiruzen, Elder Koharu just died like that!"
"It has nothing to do with Ethan Chen!"
Zilai couldn't help but speak up. "Elder Danzo, even Minato said the assassin used a Water-style technique. It was most likely the secret art of the Hozuki Clan from Hidden Mist—the Water Gun Technique. What does that have to do with Ethan Chen?"
Zilai had no great opinion of Ethan either, but Danzo's bias was just too much to stay silent.
"Elder Koharu insulted Ethan just earlier, and publicly on the street. Don't you think that's a little suspicious? Investigate it!"
"If we just let Ethan do whatever he wants, where is the dignity of us village elders?"
His gaze was cold and locked onto Hiruzen.
Mitokado Homura sat quietly beside them, eyes lowered, saying nothing.
Elsewhere, the Three Sannins of the Leaf sat silently, observing the rising tensions between Danzo and Hiruzen.
They were all curious about what their teacher would do.
Hiruzen sat on the central throne. Though his hair had grayed with age, this moment represented the peak of his shinobi career.
His body was still in top condition, and his years of battle experience allowed him to draw out over 100% of his potential. He was capable of fighting even the Third Raikage on equal terms.
Now, Hiruzen was reading the report, frowning, before raising his head to look at Danzo.
"So, what are you really saying..."
He straightened his posture, staring at Danzo with not a trace of intimidation.
Homura said sternly, "What I mean is, Ethan's behavior is the definition of bullying the weak and fearing the strong. He gains a bit of power and thinks he can do whatever he wants. How is this any different from what Madara Uchiha once did?"
"If we don't rein him in now, the future Leaf won't be the same Leaf."
"He could become the next Madara. Leaving him in the village will destroy everything."
Tsunade couldn't help but interrupt. "Come on, Elder Homura, that's way too much. Ethan is nothing like Madara Uchiha."
Homura glared at her. "Tsunade-hime, I'm just being honest. If he were truly a good person, would he dare inject King Seal into me?"
Tsunade shrugged. "Why wouldn't he? Ethan inherited our Senju clan's Wood Release and also the Uzumaki clan's sealing arts. He's a rare genius."
"He made a professional judgment that your body was suitable. You always say you're willing to sacrifice everything for the village—why does that change when it's your own body?"
"You!"
Homura was furious. The evil chakra of the Two-Tails inside him surged, transforming his eyes into feline slits and his teeth into sharp fangs—truly a terrifying sight.
Danzo was momentarily startled by Homura's transformation and quickly took two steps back.
"Homura, calm down!"
Hiruzen appeared in front of Homura in a flash, thrusting his right hand—now glowing with the five elemental chakras of Wood, Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind—into Homura's seal.
"Five Elements Seal!"
Homura's body emitted the roar of the Two-Tails. Moments later, all the blue chakra around his body was absorbed back inside.
Hiruzen sighed. "Homura, you should leave for now. You're in no condition to stay."
Homura's face twisted with anguish. Taking a deep breath, he got up and walked out. Watching his retreating back, Hiruzen felt the man had aged a decade in that moment.
He had foreseen this outcome the day he became a Jinchuriki.
As long as those tails were inside him, this kind of breakdown was inevitable. What elder, what strategist—it all vanished overnight!
Now people looked at him like he was a monster.
In the end, he was restrained and watched.
Ethan was ruthless!
The moment Homura left, Hiruzen turned to Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, assign ANBU to monitor Elder Homura. He's just become a Jinchuriki and is emotionally unstable. We must prevent any accidents."
"Yes, Sensei."
Hiruzen then glanced coldly at Danzo. "Everything you just said is baseless speculation. Madara? Ethan isn't even from the Uchiha clan."
Tsunade nodded. "Sensei is right. Ethan is a direct descendant of my grandfather and has mastered the Uzumaki clan's most intricate sealing arts. Don't forget, it was your Uzumaki elder who lost control of the Two-Tails."
"If Ethan hadn't stepped in, the damage to the village would've been catastrophic."
Danzo's chest heaved, glaring at Tsunade. "If Ethan hadn't interfered, we could've sealed it ourselves! Look at the north side of the training grounds—it's destroyed!"
"Oh please, Elder Danzo. Do you even know how to seal anything? Are you going to seal it with your head?"
"You! You!"
Hiruzen raised his hand to silence them. "Enough. Danzo, your bias against Ethan is too extreme. Let's go see for ourselves."
He tossed a report in front of Danzo—the one detailing Ethan's defeat of the Third Mizukage.
Danzo picked up the file with a scowl, but his expression changed as he read.
It took him a full ten minutes to finish reading, after which he grunted. "Fine. Let's go."
Hiruzen sighed and turned to Jiraiya and Tsunade. "You two should head back."
"Yes, Sensei."
Only Hiruzen remained in the office.
He murmured into the empty room, "Hashirama-sensei, I don't want to sit and wait for death... but he's already walking the darker path."
...
Ethan flickered back into his room and looked up to find someone waiting outside the door.
It was Uzumaki Mito.
"Aren't you going to sleep?" she asked.
"Granny Mito, is something wrong?"
She looked at him for a moment before saying, "You did well today. Don't worry."
Ethan smiled. He wasn't worried.
He simply didn't want to kill Homura or Danzo so easily. If he did, all their past crimes might fade with them, their sins forgotten.
No—he wanted to expose every foul deed they'd committed in Konoha under the bright light of day, let the whole village know, and have their names forever nailed to the pillar of shame!
"I understand your intentions. Hiruzen will give us a satisfying result."
Ethan blinked. Even now, Mito had faith in Hiruzen?
As Hokage, Hiruzen was too indecisive.
He let Orochimaru live because of sentiment, and let Danzo do dirty work in the name of old friendship.
Seeing Ethan's doubt, Mito simply said, "Just wait."
And with that cryptic line, she left.
The next morning, Ethan was awakened again—this time by Kyushin Nai.
Surprisingly, it was Hiruzen at the door.
He directly invited Ethan to join the Administrative Department—and not just as a member, but as its head!
"Elder Akimichi Takekaze suddenly fell ill. I think it's time we let some fresh blood step in. What do you say?"
At the same time, with ANBU leadership stretched thin, Hiruzen offered Ethan a dual role—as Deputy Commander of ANBU, with permission to form his own squad.
The current ANBU Commander? None other than Sakumo Hatake.
[System Prompt: Based on host's current situation, three options are presented.]
[Option 1: Reject all offers and stay home as a lazy ninja. Reward: Danzo's Wind Release Ninjutsu Collection.]
[Option 2: Accept only one of Hiruzen's offers. Reward: Akimichi Clan's Secret Technique—Multiplication.]
[Option 3: Accept both roles. Reward: Danzo's criminal evidence leads + Ultra Long-Range Recording Device.]
Ethan looked over the options and replied calmly, "Alright. I accept."
Though the multiplication technique was tempting, what he needed more was evidence of Danzo's crimes and that ultra long-range camera.
It was a miniature, high-tech device—similar to Earth-era surveillance gear.
Manufactured by Air Shinobi, it could record visuals from up to 1,000 meters away for ten minutes.
So, the tech level in the ninja world wasn't as primitive as Ethan had assumed.
Before leaving, Hiruzen sighed. "Ethan, I hope you understand—as Hokage, I constantly balance the scales."
"Sometimes I must lean to one side—even if it's not right."
"From today on, you're my chosen successor."
After the monkey flew away, Ethan finally understood.
Hiruzen hadn't hesitated because he doubted killing the enemy—he just didn't want to get his hands dirty.
He didn't want to tarnish his name, so he let others do the killing.
He wouldn't personally slay a fellow student—but he would hand the blade to Ethan.
Whether or not Ethan killed them, Hiruzen could claim innocence.
"So cunning!"