Naruto: Madara is my Daddy

The Third Hokage had spoken. In the silent, tense conference room, who would dare to object?

Only one person.

"No! I absolutely do not agree with this!" Danzō stood abruptly, his voice a harsh, grating sound that filled the room. "You, too, are an indecisive fool, Hiruzen! Under your leadership, Konoha will stagnate, never achieving its rightful place at the pinnacle of the Five Great Shinobi Nations!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled faintly, a sad, knowing look in his old eyes. He replied softly, "I have never sought such empty glory, Danzō. I care not for false titles. So long as the Will of Fire is passed down through the generations, that is enough."

"Damn it!" Danzō gritted his teeth, his knuckles white where he gripped his cane. "You will regret this, Hiruzen!"

"Silence, Danzō! I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen's voice was suddenly sharp, a reminder of the authority he still wielded.

"Hmph!" At this point, Danzō knew there was no more to be said. He turned and stormed out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Hiruzen asked, taking the Hokage hat from Minato and placing it on his own head. "Danzō, the meeting is not over. Will you not participate?"

Danzō paused at the door, glancing back over his shoulder. "For the sake of the village, there are more important matters that demand my attention. I will not waste my time in this pointless meeting!"

Seeing that Danzō would openly defy him, Hiruzen frowned. After a moment of silence, he shook his head with a weary sigh. "Forget it. It does not matter if he is here. Let us continue."

Danzō walked out of the Hokage Building alone. At the bottom of the last flight of stairs, he paused and looked back at the Hokage Rock, the stone faces of his predecessors carved into the mountain. "One day," he vowed, "I will become Hokage, and I will make all other nations bow before Konoha." He gave a subtle signal, and a Root ninja instantly materialized before him.

"Lord Danzō, what are your orders?"

"Find the genin named Kabuto, the one Orochimaru left behind as his eyes and ears in Konoha. Tell him I have urgent business with his leader."

"Yes, sir!"

That evening, Danzō walked alone into a hidden, dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the village. A cold wind blew through the crumbling structure, carrying the scent of dust and decay. "Come out," Danzō said softly to the shadows. "I know you are here."

"Hehe, you're late, Danzō." A shadow detached itself from the gloom, and Orochimaru's serpentine form appeared before him.

Danzō raised his head, his single eye glinting in the dim light. "Your flair for the dramatic is as unique as ever."

"Hmph. You did not summon me here merely to reminisce," Orochimaru purred, his lips curling into a smile. "Tell me, what important matter requires my attention?"

"The missing Uchiha clan. I have found their hiding place."

"Oh?" Orochimaru's golden, slitted eyes lit up with interest. "As expected of you. I have been searching for months and found nothing. So… what are your plans?"

"I intend to wipe them out," Danzō stated flatly, "and use their eyes for my own purposes. Orochimaru, I recall you have a particular admiration for the boy, Uchiha Itachi." As he said the name, Danzō's voice carried a deliberate weight.

"Hahaha, as expected, I can hide nothing from you," Orochimaru said, his smile turning greedy and sinister. "You are willing to share such valuable information with me. Could it be… that you require my assistance?"

"You are still conducting research on Hashirama's cells, are you not?"

"Hmm," Orochimaru hummed in affirmation. Experimental research was more important to him than anything. He would never give it up.

"Very good. Tonight, I will lead my forces to annihilate the Uchiha. If you are interested, you may accompany us. Uchiha Itachi's body will be yours for the taking."

Knowing that such a generous offer from Danzō must come with a steep price, Orochimaru smiled slightly. "Just tell me what it is you want."

"I want Hashirama's cells," Danzō said, getting straight to the point. "After the Uchiha are eliminated, I will take their eyes. To control such a large number of Sharingan, I will require the power of the First Hokage." Having said this, Danzō slowly raised his right arm, which was wrapped in bandages. "Fashion for me an arm, one infused with Hashirama's cells, and transplant the spoils of our hunt onto it."

"Uchiha Itachi will be your reward for this service."

"Tsk tsk tsk…" Orochimaru looked calm, but inwardly, he was shocked. This old war hawk is even more ambitious than I imagined. To desire the power of both the Uchiha and the Senju… what a magnificently greedy fool. However, the conditions he offered were something Orochimaru simply could not refuse. Uchiha Itachi… his young, powerful body was too tempting a prize. If he refused, Danzō would never reveal the Uchiha's location. And the two of them had a long history of mutually beneficial, if clandestine, dealings. In order to continue their cooperation, Orochimaru no longer hesitated.

"Very well. I promise you."

"Hmph," Danzō added, "let me be clear. You will have to fight for Itachi's body yourself. All I will do is provide you with his location."

"That is already a great favor. You, of all people, should know that in the ninja world… information is everything."

"Of course. No problem," Orochimaru replied, a greedy light shining in his eyes. "As it happens, I recently acquired a perfect experimental subject. He has a unique physique that can accept any organ or cell transplant without rejection. I will use his right arm as the vessel for the power you seek."

"Good. Just do not play any of your usual tricks." Having achieved his goal, Danzō did not plan to stay any longer. Tonight was a pivotal moment for him, and time was of the essence. Hiruzen had infuriated him, and he intended to vent all his rage upon the Uchiha clan.

"By the way, Danzō, there is something I wish to confirm." Before he left, Orochimaru's voice stopped him. "Hanzō of the Salamander… is he already dead? I know you had some connection with him. You should be aware of his affairs."

Danzō was secretly shocked. Orochimaru's intelligence network was truly formidable. He even knew of his past cooperation with Hanzō. He did not hide it. "We have not been in contact for a long time. I do not know if he is dead or alive."

"I see." Hearing Danzō's answer, Orochimaru did not press the issue further.

"Why do you ask of him so suddenly?"

Orochimaru sneered and walked past Danzō. "No reason. Just a casual inquiry." During his time in the Akatsuki, Orochimaru had been observing Pain and Konan. He had discovered that nearly all of their secret bases were located near the Hidden Rain Village, and that Konan's chakra would often stagnate there before disappearing. Most importantly, they wore the forehead protectors of the Hidden Rain. Orochimaru was now certain that the true leader of the Akatsuki was hidden within that village. Combining that with Danzō's answer and the fact that no one had heard from Hanzō in a long time, it seemed the leadership of the Hidden Rain had changed. And the new leader was most likely Pain.

Things are getting more and more interesting, Orochimaru thought to himself. Once I obtain the young body of Uchiha Itachi, I will have the opportunity to go to the Hidden Rain Village and seize the Rinnegan for myself, without the other members of the Akatsuki ever knowing.

Tsk tsk tsk… that unique Eye of God will, eventually, be mine.

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