Chapter 17: Koharu Utatane
Kawakaze and Sakumo stood in the shadows, their eyes fixed on Danzo as he departed, his face twisted with hatred.
"Why don't we just kill him?" Sakumo's voice was low, heavy with gloom, his words laced with unmistakable killing intent. His hand hovered near his blade, confident that a single strike would be enough.
"He's of the same generation as the Third Hokage and holds a high-ranking position in Konoha," Kawakaze replied calmly, his tone carrying a tinge of reason. "If we just kill him outright, it'll be hard to explain. Our roots are still in Konoha," he added with a shrug, "As for those useless lackeys under his command, they don't matter."
Sakumo's jaw tightened as he absorbed his younger brother's reasoning. It was sound. Danzo's current strength was unimpressive, far removed from the level of difficulty he presented when battling Sasuke later on. His value to the Third Hokage was likely the only thing keeping him relevant. Acting rashly now could invite the Third Hokage's wrath upon the Hatake Clan—an outcome that would cost far more than they could afford.
"I wonder what other tricks he has up his sleeve," Sakumo muttered, his tone laced with disdain. "An ambitious man in the shadows, always grasping for the light."
"There are always people like that," Kawakaze replied with a faint smile. "They value power but lack the luck to truly wield it."
He didn't take Danzo seriously. In the original story, Danzo met his end at the hands of Sasuke not long after briefly serving as Hokage—a fitting conclusion to his sinful life. Whether he would even make it that far in this timeline was uncertain.
"That old fool," Sakumo said, his voice heavy with quiet resolve. "Sooner or later, I'll deal with him myself."
To anyone else, it might have sounded as though Sakumo were lamenting some great loss, his tone aggrieved, yet the intent behind his words was crystal clear.
"Haha, it's late, Big Brother. Time to get some rest," Kawakaze teased, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Big Sister-in-law is waiting for you under the covers to make a baby."
He punctuated the comment with a lewd gesture, pretending to reach for his brother's vital parts. Sakumo deftly sidestepped and shot him an exasperated look before heading toward his room.