Given the dire situation and Shinji's unexpectedly overwhelming strength, the advisor elders nodded in agreement with Tsunade's decision.
At this critical juncture, as long as Shinji didn't defect from the village, they could turn a blind eye to almost anything.
Having settled Shinji's matter, the leadership turned their discussion to Danzo.
Danzo's attack on Sasuke was clearly driven by personal motives. At a time like this, for him to prioritize his own interests over the village's was the real reason Tsunade and the advisor elders unanimously agreed to strip him of his position.
With Shinji's matter resolved, they couldn't afford to be lenient with Danzo.
"I'll interrogate him personally later!" After a pause, Tsunade glanced at the Third, "Sensei, will you sit in?"
"Alright!"
The Third pondered for a moment before nodding.
Homura Mitokado cautioned, "Tsunade, Danzo has served as an advisor elder for many years. His dignity must still be upheld."
Koharu Utatane chimed in, "Indeed!"
If not for the current circumstances, they would have opposed Tsunade's decision to strip Danzo of his title and imprison him.
Because if Danzo could be stripped of his position, so could they, so they weren't protecting Danzo but their own authority.
Tsunade, fully aware of this, gave a vague acknowledgment, clearly impatient.
In the secret prison.
Kakashi appeared outside Sasuke's cell again, "Yo, you seem calmer now!"
Sasuke scoffed, "How did I see Danzo being locked up here too? Kakashi, what happened outside?"
"You'll find out when you get out!"
Smiling, Kakashi signaled the guards to open the cell door.
Sasuke perked up, "I can leave?"
"Mm!"
Earlier, Tsunade's decision not to intervene immediately was based on the intelligence division's strategy to use Danzo to test Sasuke.
The result was that even after Sasuke was defeated and captured, no Akatsuki members emerged, and after he was placed in the secret prison, Akatsuki didn't attempt a rescue. Sasuke had passed this test.
Opening the cell door and releasing the seals on Sasuke, Kakashi led him out.
On the way, Sasuke suddenly asked, "Was it Shinji?"
Kakashi nodded, "Mm, after you were taken away, Shinji immediately led his team to attack Danzo!"
"What!?"
Sasuke was shocked.
He had guessed that the turn of events was likely due to Shinji, but he never imagined Shinji would act so decisively, launching an assault on Danzo, an advisor elder, the moment he got the news.
Kakashi continued, "Even the Hokage didn't react in time. Shinji's squad took down Danzo's guard team, and Shinji himself completely suppressed Danzo, nearly killing him."
"What?"
Still shocked, this time Sasuke was stunned that Shinji could dominate Danzo throughout the fight.
Having clashed with Danzo himself, he knew how strong the elder was. Even with his Mangekyo Sharingan, the battle wouldn't have been easy.
So he pressed, "What exactly happened?"
Kakashi didn't hold back, recounting the battle in detail to Sasuke.
After hearing Kakashi's account, Sasuke fell silent.
"So he's already become this strong?"
Sasuke's emotions were a tangled mix.
He had always thought he was stronger than Shinji, attributing his poor performance to his condition. But this incident showed him just how far ahead Shinji was.
What stung even more was that when Shinji moved against Danzo, not only did his Anbu squad fully support him, but even foreign shinobi like Ringo Ameyuri, Darui, Ryuzetsu, and Chino, who were on the same hospital floor, were willing to lend a hand.
In contrast, when Danzo attacked him, the crowd watching was layers deep, yet not a single person stepped in to help.
Before, he hadn't cared much, only blaming his own lack of strength. But after hearing Kakashi's description, the stark contrast left him deeply dejected, fostering a sense that he was inferior to Shinji in every way.
Exiting the prison, Kakashi patted Sasuke's shoulder, "Don't overthink it. The village will give you an explanation for this."
"I don't need any explanations!" Shaking his head, Sasuke said firmly, "I need the surgery, now!"
Kakashi advised, "Think it over carefully. So far, only Yakumo has fully succeeded in the village. Almost everyone else who underwent the surgery died on the operating table, and even the few who survived didn't achieve results anywhere near Yakumo's."
Sasuke declared, "Stop trying to persuade me. I've made up my mind! If Yakumo can do it, so can I!"
Kakashi sighed.
Shortly after Kakashi and Sasuke left, Tsunade and the Third arrived at the secret prison.
At Danzo's cell, Tsunade wasted no time, "Did you collude with Orochimaru or not?"
Having prepared his response, Danzo confessed, "I did have private contact with him, but it's not the collusion you're implying."
The Third asked, "What kind of contact?"
Danzo feigned hesitation before saying, "He coveted Uchiha Sasuke's Mangekyo Sharingan and asked me to provide some information about him."
Tsunade was instantly furious, "So you're saying you provided him with information for the shinobi academy exam in the Land of Hot Water and this Chunin Exam?"
Danzo denied vehemently, "The Land of Hot Water, yes, but not this Chunin Exam. You know I've been in seclusion recently and had no means to provide him with any information!"
He could admit to earlier incidents, but he had to deny involvement in this one, as the Third nearly died this time. If he were linked to it, no one could save him.
The Third said calmly, "Danzo, you know Orochimaru has been captured. Meaningless lies serve no purpose!"
Danzo didn't back down, "You can interrogate Orochimaru."
After studying Danzo for a moment, the Third said, "I'll interrogate him personally. If his testimony doesn't match your explanation, you might spend the rest of your life here!"
Hmph!
Danzo snorted coldly.
Leaving Danzo's cell, Tsunade and the Third walked side by side toward the deepest part of the prison.
On the way, Tsunade said, "Sensei, since Danzo has been cooperating with Orochimaru, it'll likely be hard to get any useful information from him."
The Third sighed, "Danzo has probably already guessed our intentions!"