It's actually a bit strange that I'm writing a one-shot about a character like Danzo. The guy actually just disgusted me, especially with his mutilated arm o.O.
And in the manga, I didn't find his story with Sarutobi that moving either. Left me rather cold, I found him to be a superfluous character. But through the anime, I saw him from a whole new perspective. Someone who wants justice, even if he's quite radical. Someone who is only concerned about the welfare of their village. Someone who actually didn't deserve a death like that. I hope I can bring you a little closer to what I mean using the following one-shot.
One more small note: I used the manga as a template, i.e. the dialogues are true to the original, only I translated them on my own. When I thought of Danzo, I added a lot of myself.
Have fun while reading!


~~~


I mustn't die yet!

He let go of the red-haired woman and she sank lifeless to the floor. Danzo hadn't expected that Sasuke would drill his chakra beam through her to kill him. But how naive had he been? After all, he was dealing with an Uchiha here.
The Shimura gasped and blood ran from the corners of his mouth. Sasuke had hit his heart exactly. His blood loss was great. He didn't have much longer to live.
The Mangekyou Sharingan glared at him from the immediate distance. In contrast to him, Sasuke had hardly suffered any serious damage. He was still able to keep fighting. And to make matters worse, Madara was also sitting back there, who hadn't even interfered in the fight before. It looked really bad to him.
Out of sheer instinct, Danzo ran away. He didn't care a bit what kind of image he created. This was about his life and it couldn't end there. It wouldn't be an honorable death. No death for a shinobi.

I mustn't die yet! Not here and now!

As if out of nowhere, Madara appeared in front of him and Danzo stopped panting.
"Shisui's eye is mine now."
It was his end, Danzo became more and more aware of that. But his heart refused to accept this unworthy departure. Killed by two miserable, renegade Uchiha - that was not the ideal that had been anchored in his head for ages. A shinobi died honorably on the battlefield, as Nidaime-sama had taught him, and that is how his grandfather and father had shown him. This did not include a vile murder shortly before his dreams were fulfilled.

Why, Hiruzen?

"I will do it!"
Danzo froze.
"Sarutobi ..." - "Hiruzen, you ...?"
The voices sounded horrified, sad, but at the same time awesome. Danzo felt that he was no longer trembling.
"Hey, don't worry! I'm the best of us, I'm not going to die." He heard Sarutobi say and felt a sense of relief.Sorry how weak he was. Why had it taken so much effort to volunteer as bait for the team? Determined in thought and yet not strong-willed enough, Danzo tensed up. He was about to take the place as bait. So close to it ... But Sarutobi was one step ahead of him. Again.
He cursed inwardly when someone suddenly grabbed his shoulder.
"Take care of the others, Danzo. I know that you-"
"Neck mouth! I was just about to report! Don't pretend to be a hero! I'll be the bait!" Shouted the Shimura and harshly slapped Sarutobi's hand away.
"Danzo ..." he whispered, surprised at his friend's tantrum.
"My father and my grandfather died as ninja on the battlefield. Self-sacrifice is the duty of a ninja ...!" Danzo continued furiously and clenched his fists.
"I will be the bait ... you since the rising flames that have to protect the village.", The Hokage took over the word after he had watched the scene between his two students.
"You mustn't do that! You are the Hokage! There is no one better than you in the village!" Danzo shouted in horror at the decision of his sensei.
"Danzo, you and Saru have always been enemies in many ways. But what we need now is cohesion. Leave your personal skirmishes aside."
Embarrassed, the addressee bowed his head.
"It's true that I made my decision too slowly," the Nidaime continued. "First of all, you should look inside yourself and know yourself without losing your calm. Now you would only be putting your friends in danger."
Danzo and Sarutobi, but also the rest of the team, listened.
"Anyway ... Danzo ... Saru ... You don't have to be hasty at your age. One day your time will come. Just stay alive until then."
The Hokage stood up before saying his last words:
"Saru ... You have to protect those who trust you and love the village. And you have to train those who you can trust the next generation ... From tomorrow you will be Hokage!"
Danzo and Sarutobi opened their eyes in surprise.
The Shimura sat petrified and only managed to slowly turn his head to Sarutobi, still doubting the words of the Hokage.
"Yes, Nidaime-sama!", Sarutobi bowed undeterred and did not notice the venomous looks from Danzo who tried to kill him. Angry, he lowered his head and dug his fingers into the dry earth.

You are always one step ahead of me!

His situation was hopeless. And yet Danzo was not satisfied with it. The blood poured out of his mouth and his gaping wound caused him inconceivable pain. His breath left his lungs only irregularly. Despite all of this, he had made up his mind.He wasn't going to let Akatsuki get him down, not even in the face of death. He was a shinobi from Konohagakure and the will of the fire was still blazing within him. He would make up for the missed chance, correct past mistakes - that was his wish.
Determined, he tore his shirt open and some strange black lines appeared on his chest.
"For the world of Shinobi, for Konoha ... I can't let you live!"
"This is the Ura Shishou Fuuin Jutsu!", Madara stated with a start and took a few steps back. As if on cue, a black liquid from the seal began to splash onto Danzo's chest.
"Sasuke, get away from Danzo!"
Madara was able to warn the Uchiha in time, before the few splashes piled up and slowly formed a veritable inferno. Danzo only managed to stay on his feet with great difficulty. His last strength, his last energy, his last spark of life flowed into this jutsu. If he had to die against his will, then he would drag those apostates with him to death. Trying to save what he once ruined: his honor.
But he knew it was useless. He would still never be able to catch up with Hiruzen like this.

Hiruzen, it looks like my turn will be next ...
But I never became a Hokage ...
No matter how far I went, I could never reach you.

A tremendous pressure was created on the bridge and smashed the structure. Madara and Sasuke had now taken enough distance.

[i]You are the leaf that bathes in the sun.
I am the root that grows in the dark.

For the last time an image appeared before Danzo's inner eye.
Laughter, scramble. Two carefree boys far above Konoha. Hiruzen and Danzo.

[i]What do you think of me?
Hey Hiruzen ...
What do I mean to you...?

Why couldn't I be one step ahead of you at least for once ... and die in your place?