Konoha: The Honored One

Hokage Building

"Gojo Satoru," Sarutobi Hiruzen began, taking a deep puff of his cigarette. The smoke curled around his head like a personal halo. "When you led the Seventh Squad and dealt with the ghosts in the Land of Waves, you came into possession of a ninja tool— the beheading sword, right?"

Gojo, lounging like a cat that just ate the canary, grinned, "Ah, the ol' beheading sword. Yeah, I used it to start a fire once." He pulled out a scroll, flicked it open, and a series of strange seals appeared, with a rather unassuming knife in the middle.

With a bang, white smoke erupted from the scroll, and the beheading sword materialized out of thin air, looking less like a legendary weapon and more like an antique you'd find gathering dust in an old man's shed.

Hiruzen sighed internally as he looked at the tattered weapon. "The beheading sword is a symbol of the Mist Village's might. To see it in such... poor condition."

Gojo, scratching his head as if he'd forgotten he even had it, just shrugged. "Eh, it was fun to use while grilling fish."

"The Mist Village has been after this sword," Hiruzen continued, exhaling another puff of smoke, "They want it back, seeing as it represents the pride of their village."

Gojo stretched lazily, looking bored. "So they want it back? Fine. But what's in it for me?" He flicked his finger, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. "What do you say, we make a deal? I'll return the sword, but only if Terumi Mei does a little... dance for me. A nice, private one."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face tightened in disapproval. "Gojo Satoru, behave yourself." His voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed the frustration of dealing with Gojo's antics.

"Hey, I'm just being honest," Gojo shot back, leaning back in his chair. "If they want their precious sword back, they gotta earn it."

The door creaked open, and in walked a man in a long blue coat, a black eyepatch covering one eye. His presence was stern, but his demeanor was professional.

"Ao," Hiruzen said, nodding. "What brings you here?"

"Lord Hokage," Ao said, bowing deeply. "I've come to request the return of the beheading sword. As the symbol of Kirigakure's power, it is only right that it should be in our hands."

Gojo raised a finger dramatically. "Hmm... Well, if you want it, tell Terumi Mei I'll return it, but only if she performs a... striptease for me."

Ao's eye twitched, his calm exterior cracking. "You insult the Fifth Mizukage like this?!" His voice dropped, barely containing his rage.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's patience was wearing thin. "Gojo, that's enough. We will return the beheading sword. No more jokes."

Gojo clicked his tongue. "Fine, fine. But honestly, you guys need to lighten up. How do you live with such... stiffness?"

Ao's hand clenched into a fist as his chakra flared dangerously, but he suppressed it, keeping his composure. "Please, let's change the conditions. The Mizukage demands respect."

Gojo smirked. "Respect? Nah, I'm more of a 'let's have some fun' kind of guy. Maybe a nice... white silk bare dance instead?" He said, barely holding back laughter. "It'll be a sight, I promise."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's head fell into his hands, utterly exhausted. "Gojo, please."

Ao, now visibly frustrated, took a deep breath, his temper barely held in check. "I'll let Terumi Mei know. But you haven't seen the last of this." He glared at Gojo one last time before turning to leave.

As the door slammed behind him, Gojo's expression shifted. The grin vanished, replaced by a more serious tone. "Old man, you've got some explaining to do." He turned to Hiruzen, who was still looking at him, exasperated.

"You're not wrong," Gojo said, his voice suddenly lower and colder. "But don't forget, you let Orochimaru slip right through your fingers. You're not the great protector you think you are."

Hiruzen winced at the mention of Orochimaru, but Gojo wasn't done. "This Chūnin exam, Orochimaru wants your life, and it's all because you allowed things to fester. If you keep on like this, you'll be digging your own grave, and it won't be pretty."

With a flick of his hand, Gojo stood up, a smile slowly creeping back onto his face. "Good luck, old man," he added, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I hope you live long enough to fix the mess you've made."

As Gojo disappeared in a flash, Hiruzen was left alone with his thoughts. "I'll have to keep an eye on this... Orochimaru situation," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "But Gojo is right, I do need to address these problems before it's too late."