Naruto, Madara is my girl.

"What? Is it not enough for you?"

Akira's words came out flat but with that mocking edge that only made Danzo's expression tighten further.

"Just say it outright, some women are like teapots."

His low murmur wasn't loud enough to carry past them, but it was enough to set her jaw. Danzo's patience snapped before he finished speaking.

"If you say one word like that again-Lord Akira-I'll go straight to Lady Mito and tell her you've been teasing me."

It wasn't even subtle blackmail, and she didn't bother making it elegant.

"Is it really necessary to slander me? If you don't like what comes next, I'll change it," Akira offered with little interest. It wasn't an apology, it sounded transactional.

Danzo narrowed her eyes but didn't leave. In truth, she couldn't ignore the bait in his offer. Even if she hated the attitude, the plan he teased might just be her chance-and she could stomach provocation if the reward was high enough.

"So the first half stays," Akira continued, brushing past her threats. "And for the second half, you endure. Once Monkey abdicates… if there's war again, remember this: 'a man of mercy cannot command an army.' You-who understand Konoha's dark side-make the best candidate for Hokage."

He added without sympathy, "Obviously, if anything happens to Monkey before then, your opportunity will come sooner."

Danzo scoffed at the timeframe. "Soon? I'm in my twenties. I'll wait however long I have to. If I become Hokage after retirement-so what? So long as it happens."

Her tone wasn't sarcastic-it was dead-serious resolve.

Getting her hands bloody didn't faze her anymore-in fact, between assassination and dirty politics, she preferred the former. There was no competition doing that kind of work in Konoha anymore-and if she seized it first, she'd become the village's one and only queen of shadows.

Danzo smiled for the first time in front of Akira-not warm at the edges but tight and dangerous. Sharp rather than amused.

Akira caught the look and exhaled slowly.

'So even if Danzo becomes a woman,' he thought, 'she'll walk this road again.' The gender changed-sure-but the ambition stayed true and violent. A decent signal that events wouldn't drift so far from known history afterall.

For now, Hiruzen could deal with this upgraded version of Danzo himself.

Their eyes met-and held-and broke into small laughter that served no one but themselves.

"Hahaha…"

"Hahaha…"

As silence dropped again, Danzo licked her lips but didn't speak right away. She understood the broad structure of the plan-but she needed details. She needed steps-something actionable to leverage her way into Hiruzen's trust and power center.

She had her own ideas-but Hiruzen wanted to keep her ornamental, out of the field. She had to shift that if this strategy would ever matter.

"So, Lord Akira-what does that actually look like?"

Akira answered plainly. He wasn't interested in mystery here; she didn't deserve it.

"You want Monkey's attention? Show your worth. The Five Kage Summit is coming up-ask him for guard duty there. Make yourself known. Do this-do that-shake things up…"

"After that, ask him for what you actually want," he finished.

Danzo straightened with eagerness flickering across her face. "I see. Thank you, Lord Akira-for your guidance."

Akira didn't speak right away. She might be grateful now-but he already knew who sat across from him: someone cunning enough to use flattery as currency.

She'd take his instruction-but only because it served her cause right now.

"Haha-as long as you're satisfied."

He tried to keep it neutral-nonchalant-but Danzo caught the shift and moved quickly before he could close the door on any future advantage between them.

"Your conditions then, Lord Akira?"

Akira waved the question aside without hesitation.

"Forget the conditions, for now. Just remember: whatever happens out there, don't mention my name."

Danzo smiled again-amused this time as if she'd expected that answer three moves ago.

"As expected, you're just another fox in disguise… fixed damage if poor, percentage if rich."

Akira said nothing, though he heard it loud and clear.

"Oh come on, it's just Impure World Reincarnation," she chuckled softly. "Once I control the dark side of Konoha properly-I'll find the counter for even that sooner or later. Besides-you're Senju Akira-you'll step in when someone important falls anyway. One of your precious Senju,Uchiha or Uzumaki will make some mistake in the future… and then you'll have no choice."

She thought she had him pegged already, a protector hidden behind cynicism.

"I'll use that," she promised herself silently as she lowered into reverence again without shame or hesitation-

"Dogeza" on polished floor tile.

"Yes-thank you for your guidance, Lord Akira."

He gave only one nod and gestured lazily to the side-

"Go on then."

"Yes!"

...

Days later at the Five Kage Summit, everything moved just as Akira predicted. Danzo earned her place among Hiruzen's personal guard-by force of stubborn effort rather than charm-and traveled with him into diplomatic fireside politics.

Meanwhile-

Akira rifled through Konoha's restricted archive room with zero schedule or accountability to anyone. With Kinkaku and Ginkaku's bodies delayed en route, he had time to kill-and secrets to discover.

Scrolls dropped and rustled in his arms.

"Fucking hell-you've hoarded everything in here..."

One scroll tucked under his arm read [Eight Gates Formation]. Another - [Shiki Fuujin]. And buried at the back - [Spiritual Transformation Technique].

Akira snorted low under his breath as recognition set in-

"Tobirama-you bastard-you took even Kato's family techniques?"

Like Hashirama used to say: "Poor students carry extra stationery…"

Akira smiled thinly as he slid each scroll into his pack without hesitation. Tobirama hoarded information-Sarutobi copied that habit wholesale when he called himself "Professor."

They both made it easy for someone like Akira to rob them blind without guilt or struggle.

Besides-

He already had backup plans in every direction. Orochimaru-that creepy bastard-and even Kabuto Yakushi would gladly spill useful hints just from suspecting him of having better knowledge than they did. That ego trap always worked on types like them-they'd surrender secrets just to feel clever back at him later.

With everything stacked against them-

His reputation alone did half the work now.

"This 'God of War' title is pulling its fucking weight."

One last scroll unsealed beside him-

Creak…

From somewhere further back-

Soft footsteps echoed-

Too light to be random…

He wasn't alone anymore…

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