Chess Pieces
"What?!"
The Aburame clan member looked stunned, as if he'd misheard.
He actually said he was going to take over Root?
And not long ago, he'd just killed Danzo-sama.
Right in front of all the Root operatives!
Incomprehensible. Unacceptable.
But Xu Fan didn't care what the Aburame ninja thought. Though he wasn't someone well-versed in political schemes—just an ordinary man before arriving in this world—he now held power, and more importantly, insight.
Because he knew certain truths.
He knew the Uchiha clan was planning a coup.
He knew Uchiha Fugaku was torn between loyalty to the village and duty to his clan.
He knew Danzo wanted to eradicate the Uchiha entirely.
So Xu Fan only had to act according to the facts.
Even if none of what he said was true, it would still all sound true.
He killed Danzo because the man had targeted him relentlessly and had even planned to use Kotoamatsukami—Shisui's legendary genjutsu—to manipulate him.
But the coup was real. Danzo's intentions were real.
Xu Fan suspected Danzo had even gathered so many Root operatives for the purpose of attacking the Uchiha, intending to use the Sharingan he'd stolen from them.
Truth wrapped in lies, and lies wrapped in truth—even Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't be able to discern it all.
Even if Uchiha Itachi questioned him upon returning, Xu Fan had no fear.
From the moment Itachi agreed to cooperate in eliminating Danzo, he had chosen Xu Fan's side. He believed Xu Fan could resolve the Uchiha-Village conflict.
It didn't matter what Itachi thought of him—only that Itachi needed him.
And anyone who needed him would inevitably have to carry the consequences.
Just like Xu Fan said earlier: "Light and darkness are inseparable."
During Hashirama's time, he was the light; Tobirama, the shadow.
During Hiruzen's era, Sarutobi was the light; Danzo, the shadow.
Tsunade shone brightly, but even Jiraiya walked in darker paths.
Even Naruto and Sasuke had a similar balance.
Someone always had to do the dirty work. And now, he would be the light.
And Itachi Uchiha... would be the shadow.
---
"Take over Root."
Sarutobi Hiruzen finally recovered from the shock. Though Danzo's death had shaken him, he was still the Hokage.
Moreover, he had a peace summit with the Raikage in the Land of Iron. He couldn't abandon it now.
"You'll return first," Hiruzen instructed the Aburame, "Inform Koharu and Homura that I'm aware of the situation. Tell them not to act until I return."
He then turned to Xu Fan. "Since you've handled Danzo... then the Uchiha clan must also be—"
"Itachi did it," Xu Fan interrupted casually.
It was exactly as he'd arranged. Itachi had promised to act accordingly.
Aburame Torune looked at Xu Fan, still visibly displeased, but he couldn't defy a direct order from the Hokage.
"Understood, Hokage-sama," he muttered before turning to leave.
Once the man was gone, Sarutobi gave Xu Fan a sharp look.
"This was all part of your plan, wasn't it?"
"Huh?" Xu Fan met his gaze blankly, as though confused.
"There was no need to go this far," Hiruzen continued. "Even if Danzo hadn't died, I intended to dissolve Root myself and—"
"Forget it," he said, stopping himself mid-sentence. There was no point in bringing up a future that could never be. Danzo was gone.
Still, he hadn't expected Xu Fan to openly claim Root.
"If Danzo hadn't died, dissolving Root would have been useless," Xu Fan said plainly. "You know that better than I do. Even if Root was merged into your ANBU, the operatives would still follow Danzo."
He paused, then added, "And he crossed a line."
"A line?" Hiruzen's brow furrowed.
"He injected himself with Lord Hashirama's cells. And more than that—he implanted multiple Sharingan on his right arm. The eye hidden under his bandages... was Shisui Uchiha's Kotoamatsukami."
Sarutobi's face darkened.
Xu Fan remembered the events well. Shisui had originally planned to use Kotoamatsukami to stop the Uchiha coup peacefully and had reported this to Hiruzen.
But right after his conversation with the Hokage, Shisui had been ambushed—by Danzo.
So who had leaked the information?
Maybe Kotoamatsukami could have stopped the coup... but who wouldn't fear such overwhelming genjutsu?
"And what of Shisui's eye?" Sarutobi asked.
"Destroyed. Danzo activated the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing before dying. The Sharingan, the Hashirama cells—none of it remains."
Xu Fan fell silent.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression became more complex.
Danzo was gone, and personal feelings couldn't dictate his next steps. But if Xu Fan truly took over Root, it would mark his entry into Konoha's power structure.
He bore the Senju name. His strength was real.
His strategies resembled Tobirama's.
Hashirama's power, Tobirama's mind.
If Xu Fan was allowed to grow…
Hiruzen studied him.
He had advantages others didn't: youth, potential, talent.
Only thirteen years old—and still not at his physical prime.
Yes. He was someone worthy of watching, and perhaps even of inheriting great responsibilities.
Danzo's death didn't matter anymore.
"Xu Fan," Sarutobi said at last, "until a more suitable candidate is found, you'll serve as the interim head of Root."
His tone was calm, but it carried the weight of command. This wasn't a gift—it was a test.
Of course, Hiruzen had no intention of letting him join the council or become a Hokage advisor—not yet.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Xu Fan smiled.
Just like that, Danzo's operatives were now his pieces.
Sarutobi's ANBU would follow in time.
"Alright," Xu Fan said, turning away, "let's continue to the Land of Iron. I'm looking forward to what I'll gain from this mission."