Chapter 256: Dealing With Danzo? What If We Actually Find Something?
The first rays of dawn pierced through, dispelling the gunpowder smoke over Konohagakure, yet unable to dispel the bloody and charred scent permeating the air.
The first golden sunlight sprinkled onto the Hokage Rock, illuminating a weary and aged face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wore the Hokage miko robe, holding his pipe, standing motionless for a long time among the statues of past Hokage.
He overlooked the village below, his gaze finally settling on the distant Uchiha Compound that had become ruins and scorched earth.
Amid the rubble and broken walls, Konoha Ninja could faintly be seen carefully cleaning the scene.
The losses from this night, mainly on the village outskirts, did not exceed those of the Nine-Tails Attack, and the casualties were primarily concentrated among the Anbu, Root, and supporting Ninja in the subsequent battles.
Footsteps sounded from behind, breaking the morning tranquility.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not turn around, merely taking a deep drag of smoke, letting the acrid fumes circulate in his lungs, as if to suppress the bitterness in his heart.
“Hokage-sama.” Itachi Uchiha knelt on one knee, his voice low and hoarse, carrying undisguisable fatigue.
His pale face, the deep crimson veins hidden in his eyes, and the bloodstains on his Anbu attire all indicated the suffering he had endured last night.
“The mission failed… Father and Mother… have taken their own lives…”
“The situation ultimately spiraled out of control to this point; this subordinate bears undeniable blame. Please punish me, Hokage-sama.” He lowered his head, perfectly playing the role of a mission-failed executor filled with guilt.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly turned around, looking at this young genius he had once placed great hopes on.
Those eyes that were always clear and calm were now threaded with bloodshot veins, filled with exhaustion, but something deeper seemed to have changed completely.
He sighed, smoke drifting away languidly.
“The one who should apologize is me, Itachi.” Hiruzen Sarutobi’s voice was filled with heavy helplessness: “It was I who failed to detect Danzō’s actions, failed to stop all this in time… and I never imagined he would secretly do so many… things that crossed the bottom line.”
His gaze swept toward the direction of Root in the distance, a flash of heartache and anger in his eyes.
Itachi maintained his kneeling posture, silent.
At this moment, any words seemed superfluous.
Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, his tone carrying a hint of reassurance: “I have formally revoked Shimura Danzō’s position as Elder Advisor and relieved him of leadership over ‘Root’. The specific handling of him afterward… will require consulting the opinions of the major Ninja Clans.”
This was both an explanation and a probe; he wanted to see Itachi’s reaction.
Itachi’s head drooped even lower, seemingly unconcerned with Danzō’s fate, and urgently asked: “Hokage-sama, what about Sasuke… afterward…”
“That child Sasuke, I will take good care of him.” Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately responded, his tone firm and resolute, trying to convey an unquestionable promise: “He will live well in Konoha, receive the best education and protection, and become an outstanding Konoha Ninja. The Uchiha bloodline will continue to thrive in Konoha.”
If it were before, hearing this assurance, Itachi might have felt a trace of relief.
But now, listening to these familiar words, recalling Shura’s cold mockery last night, Shisui’s accusations, and that mysterious masked man claiming to be “Uchiha Madara,” his heart was left only with icy doubt and confusion.
Could Konoha’s promises still be trusted?
Could Sasuke’s future really be as bright as the Third Hokage promised?
He must leave a backup plan, must find another possible path for himself and Sasuke.
Thus, he raised his head, appropriately revealing a hint of gravity and concern in his eyes: “Hokage-sama, regarding last night’s operation, there is one matter I must report to you.”
“Oh?” Hiruzen Sarutobi’s gaze sharpened.
“During the operation, a mysterious person approached me on his own, providing… assistance.” Itachi chose his words carefully, selectively reporting: “He wore a swirl-patterned orange single-eye mask and called himself… ‘Uchiha Madara’.”
“Uchiha Madara?!” Hiruzen Sarutobi exclaimed in shock, nearly dropping his pipe.
The impact of this name was immense.
“Yes. He possesses the Mangekyo Sharingan, with extremely bizarre abilities. The one who attacked the Konoha Military Police Force last night, causing massive casualties, was precisely this person.” Itachi continued, his tone heavy.
“Moreover, he was not alone. He revealed that behind him is a mysterious organization called ‘Akatsuki’. I suspect… the Nine-Tails Attack back then may be connected to them.”
He tossed out intelligence on “Uchiha Madara” and the “Akatsuki” organization, especially linking them to the Nine-Tails Attack, successfully diverting Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attention from Uchiha internal issues to external threats.
As expected, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s face instantly became extremely grave, his wrinkles deepening: “‘Akatsuki’ organization? Are you certain?”
“It was his own words. I believe the credibility is high.” Itachi affirmed, then proposed his own plan.
“This person and his organization are extremely dangerous and harbor malice toward Konoha. Next, I will infiltrate this ‘Akatsuki’ organization, continuing to investigate their purposes, members, and… their possible connection to the Nine-Tails Attack back then. To eliminate this potential massive threat for Konoha.”
He shaped himself into a loyal Ninja willing to bear the name of rogue ninja and delve into the tiger’s den for the village’s safety.
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into a long silence, smoke shrouding his indistinct face.
Uchiha Madara was still alive?
A mysterious organization with Mangekyo Sharingan possessors?
Possibly even connected to the Nine-Tails Attack?
This was all too shocking.
But he had always trusted Itachi’s intelligence and judgment.
If such an organization truly existed, then Konoha’s threats would extend beyond just the hostile forces from the Land of Stars!
Moreover, Shura had already come into the open, while this ‘Akatsuki’ lurked in the shadows!
After a long time, he slowly spoke, his voice dry: “…I understand. Afterward, I will announce you as a Konoha rogue ninja. Prioritize your own safety, Itachi.”
“Yes. For Konoha.” Itachi lowered his head, concealing the complex emotions in his eyes.
…
That afternoon, the atmosphere in the Hokage Building conference room was oppressively heavy, almost suffocating.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the main seat, flanked by the grim-faced Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
Shimura Danzō also sat to the side, expressionless, his single eye downcast, as if everything had nothing to do with him.
Below, clan heads such as Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, Hiashi Hyuga, Tsume Inuzuka, and Yuruma Aburame from Konoha’s major Ninja Clans were all present, each face shrouded in frost.
Shikaku Nara, as Jonin Squad Leader, stood first, reporting the cold numbers expressionlessly: “Preliminary statistics: from last night’s turmoil, our side’s participating Anbu, Root, and supporting Ninja totaled sixty-nine deaths, including five Jonin and seven Special Jonin; over a hundred seriously wounded, countless lightly wounded. Hyuga Clan Main Family’s three Elders: one killed in the attack, one still in emergency treatment; Branch Family defectors and abducted personnel total fifty-seven. Civilian casualties were only single digits, mainly because the battlefield was in the Uchiha Compound, far from Konoha’s building complex…”
“Additionally, the Root Base was raided by Star Ninja, with a large amount of secret documents stolen…”
“As for the Uchiha Clan’s casualties, since the corpses and survivors were all taken by Star Ninja, statistics are unavailable.”
With each number uttered, the temperature in the conference room seemed to drop a degree.
The clan heads’ faces grew increasingly ugly, especially upon hearing their own clan’s Ninja casualty figures.
After the report, Shikaku Nara silently sat down.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly stood, his aged figure somewhat hunched.
He faced the crowd and deeply bowed.
“Last night’s events spiraled out of control to this extent, causing such heavy losses. As Hokage, I bear undeniable blame. Here, I express my deepest apologies to all of you, to all the fallen Ninja and civilians.” His voice was heavy and hoarse, carrying sincere remorse.
Straightening up, he continued: “Given Shimura Danzō’s leadership of Root before and during this incident involved serious negligence and overreach, it has been resolved to formally relieve him of his Elder Advisor position and Root leadership. Root will temporarily be taken over by Yuruma Aburame for reorganization and aftermath handling.”
After this decision was announced, the conference room fell into dead silence.
The clan heads exchanged glances, feeling not satisfaction but even stronger dissatisfaction on their faces.
Shisui’s accusations from last night still rang in their ears; what might be hidden under Danzō’s right eye and arm was like a poisonous thorn in everyone’s heart.
Every major family had their own secret techniques and bloodline limits; no one wanted to be the next target of “Root.”
Such a light handling, merely relieving him of duties?
This could not quell the crowd’s anger.
Even the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, who usually advanced and retreated with the Sarutobi Clan, remained silent now; Shikaku Nara even slightly closed his eyes, clearly unwilling to voice support.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled bitterly inwardly; how could he not know this wouldn’t satisfy them?
But punishing Danzō severely now would confirm those shocking accusations, fully exposing the Konoha High Council’s darkness to the light, leading to even harder-to-control turmoil.
And what if something was really found upon investigation.
So, to maintain Konoha’s surface stability, he could only raise high and strike lightly.
At that moment, Shimura Danzō stood up himself.
His single eye swept over those present, his voice low and tinged with indignant grievance: “Hiruzen, fellow clan heads. I, Shimura Danzō, have devoted my life to Konoha; perhaps my methods are radical, but I have no second thoughts! As for Uchiha Shisui’s slander…”
He abruptly raised his hand, and under the crowd’s stunned gazes, yanked off his right eye’s eyepatch, revealing that scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan!
“This eye was not stolen! It was entrusted to me by my old friend Uchiha Kagami before his death, hoping I could see Konoha’s future in his stead! I have never used its power all these years, only because it is a comrade’s relic, worthy of respect! Yet it has become an excuse for a traitor to attack me!” His voice rose passionately, as if suffering immense injustice.
“Shisui colluded with Star Ninja; his conspiracy was detected by Root Ninja. I considered him Kagami’s grandson and tried to persuade him to turn back, only for him to bite me instead!”
“You all saw last night how he stood with Shura, trying to sow chaos in Konoha! Do you gentlemen intend to believe a traitor’s ravings and doubt an elder who has given his life to Konoha?”
Danzō’s performance was extremely convincing; that grieved expression, that touching story of “comrade’s entrustment,” temporarily swayed part of those present.
At least, on the surface, he had only revealed one Sharingan, not involving other clans’ secret techniques.
In contrast, the Uchiha Clan had genuinely defected.
The scales of suspicion seemed to tilt slightly once more.
Koharu Utatane spoke at the right moment, shifting the topic: “Regarding the Uchiha Clan’s orphan, Sasuke Uchiha, how should he be handled?”
The crowd then remembered that seven-year-old child who had lost everything overnight.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and stated his prepared remarks: “Upon investigation, Uchiha Fugaku and his wife took their own lives last night. As for Itachi Uchiha…”
He paused, his tone pained: “He colluded with a mysterious organization called ‘Akatsuki’, and to seize the so-called ultimate power of the Uchiha, brutally slaughtered the entire clan—a heinous crime! His younger brother Sasuke Uchiha is young and unaware, and is a victim of this tragedy. I have decided that the village will raise him.”
But to the assembled Ninja Clan heads, this was no different from patching up for Danzō; as long as Itachi Uchiha and the Uchiha Clan were labeled the problem, Danzō’s issues could be downplayed.
Subsequently, Hiruzen Sarutobi announced the formal command: “All defectors are now officially listed as Konoha rogue ninja. Itachi Uchiha, Hizashi Hyuga, Inabi Uchiha, and other former Konoha Jonin are designated S-rank rogue ninja, with wanted posters issued!”
“Furthermore, all assets of the Uchiha Clan within Konoha and the Land of Fire are confiscated to compensate the Ninja from various clans wounded or killed in this incident.”
Hearing Hizashi Hyuga’s name on the rogue ninja list, Hiashi Hyuga’s fist on his knee clenched fiercely, knuckles whitening, his face grim enough to drip water.
The meeting ended in an atmosphere of extreme oppression and distrust.
The division of Uchiha heritage led the clan heads to rise silently and depart.
But this silence itself was the greatest discontent with the leadership.
This Third Hokage had gradually lost the people’s hearts.
Once everyone had left and only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō remained in the conference room, the grief on Danzō’s face vanished instantly, replaced by icy coldness.
“Hiruzen,” he spoke, voice devoid of emotion: “Hand Sasuke Uchiha over to my Root for training.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi whirled around, looking at him in disbelief, fury finally igniting in his eyes: “Danzō! Have you still not repented?! You are now just an ordinary Konoha Ninja! You have no authority to command anyone! Sasuke is even less likely to be handed to you!”
Danzō’s single eye stared straight at Hiruzen, unyielding: “Shura took away so many Uchiha survivors! Those are all unstable factors! If Sasuke is not subjected to deeper ‘guidance’ to instill an absolutely unshakable sense of belonging to Konoha, sooner or later he will be swayed by those traitors and walk the path of betraying the village!”
“This is the rebellious nature deeply embedded in the Uchiha Clan’s bloodline, as Teacher Tobirama said back then! Just like Uchiha Madara in the past! You must nip it in the bud!”
“That’s all the more reason I won’t hand him to your ‘Root’!” Hiruzen Sarutobi sharply interrupted: “I will personally teach him, make him a true Konoha Ninja inheriting the Will of Fire! Not turn him into an emotionless tool!”
“Your weakness and indecisiveness will sooner or later bring greater disaster to Konoha!” Danzō stepped forward, fanatic light flickering in his single eye.
“Hiruzen! You will regret this!”
“Danzō! I am the Hokage!” Hiruzen Sarutobi met his gaze fearlessly, stating word by word.
This sentence completely shut down all of Danzō’s schemes.
Danzō glared deadly at Hiruzen, his chest heaving violently a few times, then finally snorted coldly, turned sharply, and stormed out, slamming the door.
The door: Bang!
The heavy sound of the door closing echoed long in the empty conference room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood alone in place, wearily closing his eyes.
After leaving the Hokage Building, Yuruma Aburame appeared beside Danzō, still respectful: “Lord Danzō, Sasuke has awakened.”
“Go, to Konoha Hospital!” Hearing that the comatose Sasuke had woken, Danzō cast a cold glance at the Hokage Building: “If it’s Sasuke’s own choice, what will you do?”
“Hiruzen.”
【PS: Taking a break, stockpiling manuscripts, aiming to post ten thousand first thing Monday morning, or directly twenty thousand】
