Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall.
Uchiha Fugaku approached again, flanked by the Uchiha guards. When he saw Danzo and Koharu lying on the ground, their faces barely recognizable, his eyes widened in shock.
Are those really Elder Danzo and Advisor Koharu?!
Who could've beaten them up this badly?
Fugaku looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in disbelief. "Lord Hokage, did you call us over?"
Hiruzen was speechless. Had Koharu been in a position of power for so long that her brain had gone soft?
Calling the Uchiha guards over just to let them see her humiliated like this?
"There's nothing more to handle, Fugaku. You and your men can return to keeping order around the area."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Fugaku's expression was complicated as he signaled his guards to withdraw.
But just before he left, he gave Takayama Haru a long, hard look.
The yellow hair on Minato Namikaze's head swayed in the wind as he stood there, utterly confused.
Takayama Haru actually dared to strike high-ranking advisors?
These two were the most powerful people after the Hokage himself!
And that mysterious elder Danzo was actually defeated by Lord Minato?
Good heavens, he'd never seen anything this insane in his life.
Kushina Uzumaki was extremely tense as well, gripping Haru's arm tightly.
Haru's muscles tensed in response, suddenly aware that his arm was wrapped in something soft.
Kushina's figure was… very well-developed.
"Monkey Sarutobi!"
Mito Menyan turned to Sarutobi again, unwilling to give up. "In any case, Takayama Haru's actions are filled with suspicion. He killed so many of our elite Konoha shinobi today. He must return with us for investigation. This was already agreed upon between the Administrative Department and the Root Division. We just hadn't made it public yet."
This was now a battle of face and authority.
If Haru didn't go back with them for questioning, people would mock them throughout the village.
They couldn't even arrest the guy—and instead, he'd beat up two top officials. What would everyone think of them?
But Haru wasn't about to play along and give them the respect they wanted.
"You, Advisor," Haru said coldly. "Let's be honest. These people showed up in the heart of Konoha, didn't show a single credential, and attacked me and Kushina without provocation."
"Now you're suspecting me of targeting fellow Konoha citizens? What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Have you been receiving any kind of benefit from the Hidden Cloud Village? Did you betray Konoha and become a spy for them?"
"Is it because I disrupted your little deal with the Hidden Cloud, so now you've decided to take revenge and try to take me out in broad daylight?"
As soon as Haru said this, everyone's expression changed.
"Takayama Haru!"
"Haru, stop talking nonsense!" Menyan snapped.
Suddenly, the Nine-Tails chakra around Mito Uzumaki began to flare.
"The more I think about this, the more wrong it feels," Mito said, staring at Menyan. "Menyan, I've always respected you as a senior advisor."
"And I'm just an old woman who's been retired for years. I didn't want to interfere in Konoha's internal affairs—this should be your responsibility."
"But if you really have done something to betray Konoha, then I will destroy you myself. No hesitation."
Mito Menyan broke out into a cold sweat, as if he were facing the Nine-Tails directly. He quickly replied, "Ma'am, you're overthinking it! Everything I've done has always been for the village!"
Mito ignored him and turned to Sarutobi. "Hiruzen, I'm serious. You need to investigate this properly."
"Ma'am, I promise I'll get to the bottom of this. No favoritism."
Mito nodded. "Good. I still trust you."
Then she looked at Haru and Kushina. "Haru, Kushina, come with me."
Sarutobi nodded silently, glancing at Menyan with a warning: Don't say another word.
The faces of Konoha's upper ranks were already ashen. This whole mess had started because Danzo and his people had made the first move.
And now, not only had they failed, they'd ended up beaten down.
Takayama Haru and Kushina followed Mito as they left the area.
As they reached a corner, Haru suddenly stopped and turned back.
"By the way, Third Lord, there was someone inside—part of the Uchiha clan—and he had activated the Sharingan."
"I thought Uchiha members were only supposed to serve as guards. So what was one doing at Danzo's Root base?"
Sarutobi's face changed drastically.
Haru hadn't aimed this comment at him—it was aimed at the Uchiha clan outside.
This guy really just wants to watch the world burn.
Anyone who could activate the Sharingan was a Uchiha prodigy. Why would such a person join Root?
And why had Danzo recruited Uchiha members into Root in the first place? What was he planning?
Sarutobi immediately had the surrounding corpses checked.
Sure enough, among them was one with a chakra-filled eye—the Sharingan.
His expression turned cold.
Standing nearby, Mito Menyan remained expressionless, though inwardly he was burning with hatred.
This bastard Haru… just as he's leaving, he drops a bomb on us!
You just wait. If I ever find your weakness, I swear I'll destroy you.
As Menyan fumed, Sarutobi suddenly spoke up.
"Menyan, Koharu—you two have worked hard for many years and contributed greatly to the village. But it's taken a toll."
"I'm giving you both a one-month break. Use the time to rest and hand your current duties over to the younger generation."
"And as for Danzo—stop playing dead. This incident is far too serious. Root is under full investigation, and it may be disbanded at any moment…"