Chapter Text
Danzou was worried, nothing had happened that day to justify this feeling but he knew something bad was going to happen and he was never one to ignore his own instincts.
He was waiting in a room in the hokage tower, hiruzen had called him to a meeting and hadn't given any more information, this wasn't that unusual, as an advisor and leader of the root anbu he was expected to be involved in most of the village's matters but this it was very sudden.
Soon he was called to hiruzen's office, that was another thing, hiruzen never made him wait like that like it was an ordinary visit, usually he would just go straight in but this time he was taken to that ridiculous waiting room, what was sarutobi Thinking about treating him like that?
When he entered the office he saw Hiruzen sitting at his desk, with Fugaku Uchiha in front of him, that was the last red flag Danzou needed.
- thank you fugaku, let's resume our meeting tomorrow, okay? – hiruzen was more serious than normal, it was imperceptible to most, but danzou had known him for a long time, his normal smell of ash mixed with freshly made parchment was rotten with a bitterness and barely contained anger that was difficult to ignore, even in war it wasn't common to feel that way from him, usually just sadness.
As soon as the Uchiha left Danzou, he went ahead to confront his former teammate.
- so, what is your summoning about – he asked firmly, he could be the Hokage, but he was still an omega and never had much emotional strength to properly deal with the most serious issues in the village, that was why the root anbu was necessary, that was why danzou was necessary, without him hiruzen would have already succumbed to the pressure and the village would collapse.
All he needed was to be relentless from the beginning, not give any room for discussion, then Hiruzen would give up and let him do what needed to be done, it would be easier if they skipped the theater this time.
- the uchiha issue, we need to resolve this – hiruzen said, now danzou was confused, on the one hand he was very happy, it seemed that hiruzen had finally realized the danger that the uchihas represented and was willing to help him deal directly with the problem, on the other, the previous presence of fugaku and the harsh tone rarely used by the omega indicated a conflict.
- very well, I'm happy to see that you finally came to your senses, I already have some plans on how to resolve the uchiha issue and I would be very happy to share... - danzou was told in the middle of the sentence by a strong pressure on hiruzen's smell , he would never admit it but it was difficult for him to deal with the sarutobi aroma, ninjas receive training to deal with the pressure of smell that the enemy could use against them, but no matter how much they practice, it is always useless when it comes to this omega in private, damn bond.
- no, what we need to resolve this issue is to fix you - danzou tensed when he saw hiruzen's look, he had never seen the omega with that kind of wild look before, there was a time when he saw him so determined would fill him with fire, but now he only activated his fighting instincts, the threatening tone, as if danzou were a pest to be exterminated, did not help to calm his nerves – you will stop this madness danzou, I will not allow you to ruin the village because of unjustified fear and hatred!
- unjustified!? In what world do you live hiruzen? The Uchihas are a real threat and you know that as well as I do! – danzou was vibrating, what possessed that stupid old man to act like that now, did he forget everything they had been through? the war, the death of your senseis and friends?
- they are not! They have been nothing but loyal and trustworthy for decades on end, even though they have very good reasons not to be! – Hiruzen stood up, raising his voice too, he wouldn't give in, he couldn't this time.
- trustworthy? Have you forgotten what happened to the first Hokage? With the fourth Hokage? How can you say such nonsense?
- that was SIXTY years ago! And there is no proof that the Uchihas caused the Nine-Tails incident, you need to get over it now! – now they were both screaming, it was smart to put silence seals around the room.
- it doesn't change the fact that the uchihas are unstable, they just need a spark to explode and now they are planning a coup! – Danzou banged his fist on the table.
- of course they are, you pushed them to the limit! Don't you dare lie to me danzou, I know you've been harming the Uchihas for decades to have an excuse to carry out genocide!
- I just put the rod in the water, they took the bait, proving my point from the beginning!
-NO, I don't even know why I'm talking about this to you, I'm already negotiating with fugaku, I'm going to resolve this peacefully and you won't interfere!
- you can't do that! I'm the counselor and....
- exactly! You are just an advisor, I am the Hokage, Konoha is not a democracy, I give the orders and if you don't obey you will be arrested for treason.
Danzo couldn't believe what he was hearing, how things are falling apart so fast, why is hiruzen acting like this now? He was a weakling for fifty years only to now decide to be firm?
- I don't know what sensei had in mind choosing you as Hokage, you were always incompetent but now you're being completely irrational!
- I'm not the one suggesting a genocide danzou and it's good that sensei is no longer here, he would die again just from the heartbreak of seeing what you've become.
- what have I become? Do you think I had any choice? If it were up to you, the village would have ended years ago, I was the one who kept things steady from the shadows, I needed to do something to save sensei's legacy! – the two had already lost the line at this point, it was no longer the Hokage and the advisor discussing matters of state, they were just two suffering and spiteful men throwing their resentments at each other.
- was that you saving his legacy? Throw the village into more and more darkness just to feel like you have some control? Sensei's legacy was Hashirama's dream and his dream was that all clans could live in peace! Together, especially the Uchihas!
- And you saw how it ended! Hashirama trusted an uchiha only for him to go crazy, throw the village into a war, try to destroy everything with his own hands and die at the former's hands, only for himself to die a few years later out of grief!
- None of this would have happened if Tobirama hadn't stirred up his hatred in the same way you are doing! And Hashirama knew it would happen, they shared a bond, he accepted the price and died for the village.
-Do you think I don't know that? Do you think I wouldn't have fixed you myself if I hadn't known it would kill me too? - damn it! Danzou knew he had gone too far the moment he finished speaking.
This had always been a taboo between all of them, the cursed bond that he and Hiruzen shared since they met at the academy, at the time it wasn't a bad thing, it was wonderful, knowing that there was someone in the world who would always have open arms for you, in that world wounded by war, an olfactory bond could be the greatest of blessings, but that was a foolish child's dream, the more they grew, the more he realized how different they were, that wasn't a problem for him at first, after all Hiruzen was an omega, it was normal for them to be a little more emotional, they both fought almost daily but it was never anything serious, in the end hiruzen would still smile at him and call him to rest by the river as they always did, even if he was stronger, she had never been able to see him as a real rival since he introduced himself.
In the end they would mate and Hiruzen would retire, which was right for the time, but that wasn't what happened, all these dreams died the moment Hiruzen became Hokage, Danzou tried not to despair, they were at war, measures extremes had to be taken, he would be there to help and guide hiruzen, then the war would be over, he would choose a new Hokage and everything would be fine.
But the more time passed, the more it became clear that these were never Hiruzen's plans, this along with his increasingly questionable decisions and his insistence on ignoring everything he said made bitterness overcome hope, he preferred to listen even kagami before him! Soon the arguments turned into fights and then came silence, instead of responding Hiruzen just kept quiet and told him to leave, they still treated each other with some cordiality, but any ounce of affection had long since died.
the last nail was his marriage to biwako, a beta, that was the only time when danzou allowed himself to ignore his duties and drown in sake, but he overcame it, he made an effort to forget about sarutobi and focus on taking care of the village in the best way he could. Maybe, now, he felt nothing but anger and disgust towards sarutobi, but even with all that, the idea of seeing him dead still shook him, but it was just the bond talking, a useless biological addiction that only got in the way, he knew that it would be better if sarutobi died and he could finally put the village in order but he had never really expressed the idea.
Now he had declared a clear traitorous intention in front of the Hokage who was furious with him, even with the root he wouldn't have the strength to do anything if Hiruzen decided to arrest him.
When he looked at hiruzen, he didn't see the hatred or disgust he expected, there was only pain, a pain so palpable that he could taste it, he had to lean on the table for a moment, that didn't last long, from one moment to the next , the cold and restrained third Hokage was there, there was no longer even his scent in the air.
The great Hokage calmly sat at the table and lit his pipe and only after a long drag did he speak, with his usual calm and controlled voice.
- that's all, advisor, I just wanted to inform you of this strategic decision, you can leave now.
It took Danzou a few moments to move, still paralyzed by the mixture of mortal fear and the absurd pain that the bond was still causing, he walked towards the door slowly, it was only when he opened the door that he heard the Hokage speaking again.
- You know danzou, I really understand Hashirama's decision, sometimes, this kind of sacrifice is necessary to protect what we really love.
Danzou had been stabbed, he could clearly feel the blade piercing him with those words, despite there being no sword or blood, really, speaking makes everything more real.
He was shaking when he left the office, but soon fought to compose himself, he couldn't be seen showing weakness, despite the urge to vomit, damn that bond.
Alone in his room, hiruzen could finally allow himself to cry, that was difficult, he could feel the murderous intent in him for years but that was the first time it was put into words, but, it was only after hearing what part of the weight that was in hiruzen's heart left, his statement was not a bluff, he really understood Hashirama now, when he realizes that his bond is so lost to the point of wishing for his death, the pain of thinking the same disappears, he knew in his heart that was capable of this for the village, for itachi, for shisui, Sasuke, naruto, Kakashi, Iruka and all the other kind souls in Konoha, it is for them that Hiruzen fought, always.
But he still can't stop shedding tears, regret, knowing how everything could have been if he had been firmer with Danzou from the beginning, if his sensei hadn't died, if he had protected Danzou from the darkness itself, now all he had was an empty office and the pain of a lifetime of regret, a damned bond.