š HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! šāØ
š„ Let the drums of destiny roar as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurerā¦ āļø Buddyschlym! āļø šā”ļø Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!
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Then, in a sudden and shocking turn, the ANBU movedānot toward the intruder but toward Hiruzen himself. Before the aged Hokage could react, strong hands grabbed his arms, forcing him to his knees. His pipe clattered to the ground as he struggled, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Whatā¦ what are you doing?!" Hiruzen shouted, his voice trembling with a mix of fury and confusion. "Have you all gone mad?!"
The masked ANBU said nothing, their grips firm and unyielding.
The man in the chair chuckled softly, the sound carrying a sinister edge. "Oh, Hiruzen, still clinging to that arrogance of yours. You thought your loyal ANBU would save you? That they would be your sword and shield against any threat?"
Hiruzen's mind raced, trying to comprehend the betrayal unfolding before him. "Whyā¦ why have you turned against me?"
The figure finally stood, his presence towering and menacing despite his relaxed demeanor. He took a few slow steps forward, each one deliberate, as he spoke.
"They haven't turned against you," He said, his tone almost playful. "They're still your loyal ANBU. Well, at least they wereābefore I turned them into mine."
Hiruzen's heart sank, his stomach churning with dread. "What are you talking about?"
The man stopped a few feet away, tilting his head slightly as though amused by the Hokage's confusion. "It's simple, really. I didn't need to fight you to win. I've already been in control of your precious ANBU for years. They don't serve you anymoreāthey serve me."
Hiruzen's eyes widened in horror. "That's impossible. My ANBU would never betray me."
"Betrayal?" The man laughed, the sound cold and mocking. "Oh, no. This isn't betrayal. This is obedience. Complete and total submission, brought about by the simplest tool in my arsenal."
The realization struck Hiruzen like a thunderbolt. "Youā¦ you used Genjutsu them."
The man nodded, as though congratulating a particularly slow student. "Bingo! And a strong one too... A single glance, and they are already under my control. They won't even realize they've been manipulated."
Hiruzen's breathing quickened, his mind struggling to process the full extent of the revelation. "How longā¦ how long have you been doing this?"
The man's eyes glinted beneath his hood. "Two, maybe three years? It's hard to keep track. But I've been patient, watching, listening, and waiting for the perfect moment to reveal myself."
Hiruzen's voice rose, tinged with desperation. "Youā¦ you've been using my own ANBU to spy on me? To undermine my authority?!"
"Exactly," The man replied smoothly. "Every secret meeting, every whispered plan, every time you thought you were a step aheadāI already knew. Your ANBU reported it all to me, without even realizing they were doing it."
Hiruzen's knees trembled, but the ANBU holding him kept him firmly in place. His mind reeled with the implications. Every decision, every strategy, every confidential discussionācompromised.
The man crouched slightly, bringing his face closer to Hiruzen's. Though the mask obscured his facial features, the Hokage could feel the weight of his piercing gaze.
"This is the world you built, Hiruzen," The man said, his voice low and menacing. "A world of lies, deceit, and sacrifice. You thought you were untouchable, that your secrets would remain buried. But now, it's all unraveling."
Hiruzen gritted his teeth, his pride refusing to break despite the overwhelming situation. "You may have controlled my ANBU, but you'll never control Konoha. The Will of Fire burns stronger than you realize."
The man straightened, a faint smirk visible beneath his hood. "Ah, yes. The Will of Fire. The idealistic dream you sold to generations of shinobi while you pulled the strings from the shadows. But tell me, Hiruzenā¦ how brightly does that fire burn in the hearts of those you've betrayed?"
The room fell into a suffocating silence, the weight of the man's words crushing any retort Hiruzen might have mustered.
Finally, the man turned his back on the kneeling Hokage, his voice echoing in the dimly lit office.
"This is just the beginning, old man. Your reign is over. And soon, the village you built on lies will see the truth. The question isā¦ will you still be standing when it does?"
The silence in the Hokage's office was oppressive, broken only by Hiruzen's labored breaths as he knelt on the floor, surrounded by ANBU operatives who were no longer his own. The mysterious figure, his face still obscured by the hood, stood calmly before him, an air of complete control radiating from his posture.
Hiruzen glared up at him, his voice trembling with suppressed rage. "If you think this will go unnoticed, you're mistaken. Konoha will not fall to the likes of you."
The man chuckled softly, the sound dripping with amusement. "Fall to me? Oh, Hiruzen, you misunderstand my intentions. I have no desire to destroy Konoha. Quite the opposite, actuallyāI want to make it better. And for that, I need you."
Hiruzen gritted his teeth. "You won't get anything from me, you fiend. I am the Third Hokage of this village. I will never bow to the likes of you."
The man tilted his head, his Sharingan glinting faintly beneath his hood. "Never say never, old man. I've already turned your ANBU into loyal servants. Why not you?"
Hiruzen's breath hitched as the man stepped closer, his shadow looming ominously over the defeated Hokage.
The stranger knelt slightly, bringing his face closer to Hiruzen's.
"You should be grateful. I'm sparing your lifeāat least for now. I need you for a little while longer."
"What do you mean?" Hiruzen demanded, his voice sharp.
The man straightened, his tone turning almost casual. "You're still useful to me, you see. You're the Hokage, the most respected figure in the village. But more importantly, you're the perfect tool for what I have in mind."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You won't use me. No matter what you try, my will is unbreakable."
The man smirked, an unsettling confidence radiating from him. "We'll see about that."
Without another word, the figure reached out, placing his hand firmly on Hiruzen's head. The Hokage's eyes widened as an otherworldly energy surged through him, a dark, pulsating force that felt both foreign and inescapable.
"Whatā¦ what are you doing?!" Hiruzen shouted, his voice laced with panic.
The man replied calmly. "A little trick of mine. It's not as subtle as Kotoamatsukami, but it's much more effective for someone as stubborn as you."
Hiruzen thrashed against the ANBU's grip, his body trembling as the magic took hold. His mind resisted fiercely, his willpower battling against the invasive force. But the man's magic was relentless, overwhelming his defenses with terrifying ease.
"Stop this!" Hiruzen roared, his voice growing weaker as the spell dug deeper into his soul.
The man leaned closer, his voice a mocking whisper. "You should be flattered, Hiruzen. I'm going to turn you into something you've never truly beenāa force for good."
Hiruzen's struggles slowed, his movements growing sluggish as the spell completed its work. His once-sharp eyes dulled, his expression shifting from defiance to blank obedience.
The man straightened, admiring his work with a satisfied grin. "There we go. Much better."
He stepped back, gesturing for the ANBU to release their hold on the former Hokage. Hiruzen remained on his knees, his head bowed slightly as he awaited his master's command.
"How do you feel, Hiruzen?" the man asked, his tone almost teasing.
"Iā¦ I live to serve you," Hiruzen replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
The man clapped his hands together, laughing heartily. "Fantastic! Oh, this is going to be fun."
He crouched in front of Hiruzen, lifting the old man's chin so their eyes met. "You and I are going to do great things together. We'll clean up this village, undo the damage you and your little friends caused, and build something better. And the best part? Everyone will think it's all your idea."
Hiruzen's lips twitched into a small, vacant smile. "Yesā¦ a better village."
The man leaned down one last time, whispering in Hiruzen's ear. "Don't worry, old man. You're not dying today. You'll live just long enough to see the world changeā¦ my way."
With a final laugh, the man vanished into the shadows, leaving Hiruzen kneeling in his office, his body a shell of its former self.
The ANBU stood silently, their loyalty no longer to the Hokage but to the one who had claimed their souls.
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
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