Naruto: Konoha's Psychic

Hiruzen nodded slightly, his expression unreadable, but Inoichi could sense the wheels turning in the Hokage's mind. The Third Hokage knew that if this was true—and Hiruzen had little doubt that it was—it would mean confronting Danzo directly. Such a confrontation could unsettle the balance within the village, something Hiruzen had always tried to avoid. But this time, it seemed there was no avoiding it.

"Bring Inoiki here," Hiruzen finally said. "We need to hear his account firsthand. I will summon Danzo as well. This matter must be addressed immediately."

Inoichi exhaled, relieved that Hiruzen was taking swift action, though the anger inside him had yet to subside. His son had been attacked, and the threat to his family could not be ignored. But now, with the Hokage involved, there was hope for justice.

"Yes, Hokage-sama," Inoichi said, bowing again before turning to leave the office. His next stop would be to bring Inoiki and prepare for the confrontation that lay ahead.

As Inoichi exited the office, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he stared out the window. Danzo had gone too far this time. There would be consequences.

Hiruzen took a deep, steadying breath, letting the weight of the moment settle around him. His voice was calm but firm as he said, "Itachi, summon Danzo to the Hokage's office and tell him to come with the ninja named Fu."

Though Itachi was not physically in the room, he had been stationed just outside, ever vigilant. The moment Hiruzen's command reached his ears, Itachi moved with silent precision, appearing before the Hokage in an instant. He dropped to one knee, head bowed, his Anbu mask and dark attire marking him as a shadow of the village.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," he replied, his voice devoid of emotion, cold as the smoke that coiled around him. In the blink of an eye, he vanished into a cloud of white, leaving nothing behind but the faint whisper of his departure.

----

Danzo arrived at the Hokage building half an hour later. Almost simultaneously, Inoichi appeared with his son Inoiki and his close friends, Shikaku and Choza. Both groups entered the Hokage's office together.

Inside, the tension was palpable. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat at his desk, his presence commanding the room. On his right stood Inoichi, Inoiki, Shikaku, and Choza, their expressions a mix of worry and resolve. On his left, Danzo stood alone, as calm and composed as ever, his cold demeanor filling the space.

Once everyone was settled, Hiruzen broke the silence, his gaze shifting to Shikaku. His voice, though measured, carried a note of disapproval. "Shikaku, Choza, I didn't summon you. Why have you come?"

Shikaku stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Forgive us, Hokage-sama," he said, his tone careful yet resolute. "When we heard that Inoiki had been injured, we couldn't stand by. We've known him since he was a child, and we care for him like family. We are his uncles, after all. We seek justice for him."

Hiruzen's stern expression softened slightly as he nodded, understanding their concern. Shikaku stepped back, returning to his place, the room quiet once more.

Turning his attention to Danzo, Hiruzen's face grew more serious, his voice laced with authority. "Danzo, where is the ninja named Fu, the one I asked you to bring with you?"

Danzo remained unfazed, his calm demeanour unshaken by the Hokage's question. "There is only one ninja named Fu in ROOT," he replied, his voice steady. "I recruited him from the Yamanaka clan three years ago. However, he is currently on a mission I assigned him three days ago. He won't be back for another week. If it is urgent, I can have him cancel the mission and return immediately."

The room fell into a heavy silence as Hiruzen considered Danzo's words, the weight of the situation hanging over everyone.

The tense silence shattered as Inoichi's voice boomed across the room. "Nonsense!" he shouted, his anger barely restrained. "Then who did my son fight with? You didn't bring Fu because he's the one who attacked Inoiki, and he's too injured to face us! You're hiding him so the truth won't come out!"

Danzo stepped forward, his face impassive, and gave a dismissive grunt. "Humph. Believe whatever you want," he said coldly. "It makes no difference to me. Here's the mission scroll detailing Fu's assignment." He handed the scroll to Hiruzen without a trace of emotion.

Hiruzen unfurled the scroll, his eyes scanning its contents carefully. After a few moments, he looked up, meeting Inoichi's eyes with a reluctant expression. His silence spoke volumes. There was no loophole, no obvious fault in Danzo's explanation. It was clear that, for now, Hiruzen could do nothing to disprove Danzo's claims.

Inoichi and his friends exchanged frustrated glances, the sense of helplessness thickening the air in the Hokage's office.

Danzo, sensing his advantage, allowed a thin smile to play on his lips. He shifted his gaze toward Inoiki, his words dripping with disdain. "And who's to say you were even attacked at all?" he said, his voice cool and mocking. "Perhaps this is just a clever story—a way to make yourself famous overnight."

The accusation hung in the air like a sharp blade, the room falling into a suffocating silence as all eyes turned to Inoiki, waiting for his response.

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