oneshots

a shadow's balance : bound by oaths

fandom : naruto
character : shimura danzo/oc
summary : that one time danzo tried to sabotage hatake sakumo's mission ft kenshi

kenshi could feel the tension in the air the moment he entered danzō's quarters. the candles flickered in the dim light, casting long shadows on the walls, and danzō was standing by the window, his posture stiff, his expression more guarded than usual.

“danzō,” kenshi said, his voice steady but laced with the kind of weariness that only comes from knowing someone too well. “what have you done?”

danzō’s back remained turned, his hands clasped tightly behind him. for a long moment, the silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken truths. kenshi could sense the conflict within his friend—danzō’s ambition gnawing at him, pushing him to a place kenshi had always feared.

“the hatake mission,” kenshi pressed, stepping closer. “you tried to sabotage it.”

danzō’s silence confirmed everything.

kenshi’s anger flared, a rare and potent thing. he grabbed danzō by the arm, spinning him around to face him. “do you have any idea what you’ve done? sabotaging hatake sakumo? do you even realize the consequences?”

danzō’s expression was hard, but not defiant. he looked as though he was ready for kenshi’s wrath, and perhaps, a small part of him even welcomed it. “hatake sakumo is one of the top candidates for the hokage seat. if he succeeds in his mission, it only strengthens his claim. konoha needs stronger leadership, and i—"

“you’re thinking about yourself!” kenshi’s voice was sharp now, his frustration spilling out. “this isn’t about the village, danzō. this is about your obsession with the hokage’s seat! you tried to sabotage one of the most respected shinobi in this village just to get ahead.”

danzō’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t deny it. kenshi’s words struck at the heart of his ambition, the dark need that had festered within him for years.

“you know how dangerous this is, don’t you?” kenshi continued, his voice lowering to a harsh whisper. “sakumo’s team could die because of what you did. and for what? so you can edge closer to a title you think you deserve? this isn’t you, danzō. i won’t let this be you.”

danzō finally met kenshi’s gaze, his eyes filled with frustration and regret. “i—” he began, but the words faltered. danzō was a man who rarely apologized, even when he knew he was wrong.

kenshi didn’t have time for his apologies, though. not yet. “i’m going to fix this,” he said, already heading for the door. “and when i get back, we’re going to have a conversation about where your priorities lie.”

without waiting for a response, kenshi vanished from the room, his mind focused on one thing: hatake sakumo’s mission and the lives of the shinobi danzō had endangered.

---

the forest was dense, the air thick with the scent of rain-soaked earth and the faint rustle of leaves. kenshi moved swiftly, his senses sharp as he tracked the location of hatake sakumo’s team. the mission they were on was delicate—an infiltration into enemy territory to gather crucial intelligence. any disruption could have led to failure—or worse, death.

it didn’t take long for kenshi to spot the group. they were huddled near a cliffside, setting up camp for the night, but there was an unnatural tension among them. it was clear something had gone wrong. kenshi could see it in their posture, in the way sakumo scanned the area, his instincts on high alert.

kenshi silently approached, making sure not to startle them. as he entered the camp, sakumo’s hand went to his blade instinctively, but he relaxed slightly when he recognized kenshi’s face.