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Chapter 109: Shimura Danzo
"Wait!" Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stood up and called out, "Lord George, please wait." As he stood, Shimura Danzo, who had been sitting beside him, also rose, positioning himself directly in front of the two Guardian Ninjas. The atmosphere grew tense with their actions.
"What? Is the Third Hokage preparing to attack me?" George asked, a lazy expression on his face.
"Of course not," Hiruzen Sarutobi replied. "It's just that this matter is, after all, an internal affair of Konoha, and it's better for Konoha to handle it themselves."
"If it were just your internal matter, that would be one thing. But now, the funds I allocated to Konoha are being mismanaged. So, Third Hokage, please step aside!"
At this moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi's indecisiveness became evident. Although he was hailed as the "God of Shinobi," he struggled to take decisive action. He valued his reputation highly and was reluctant to openly confront George or jeopardize the financial support from the Daimyo. Had it been Tobirama Senju, he likely would have acted decisively by now.
Everyone in the room knew, crossing George meant not just losing Daimyo's support but becoming a political orphan in the Land of Fire.
As tensions escalated, it was clear that this situation was no longer just personal. If mishandled, it could lead to serious issues between Konoha and the Land of Fire. Yet, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained hesitant.
George, however, was not going to be lenient. With a wave of his hand, the two Guardian Ninjas stepped forward again. Shimura Danzo, standing in front of them, noticed Hiruzen Sarutobi's silence and called out, "Hiruzen!"
Danzo's mind raced. This wasn't just about Orochimaru. It was about secrets buried so deep they could dismantle half the village if exposed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi understood what Shimura Danzo was implying: whether or not to take action. But ultimately, he held back; he knew his position was weak, especially with so many Konoha Jonin present. When George revealed the mission amounts, he could sense the tensions rising among the Jonin.
Not a word of support. Even the clans he'd nurtured for decades stood silent. That silence hurt more than George's accusations.
Every Jonin in the room understood the situation. They knew why clan ninjas were taking so many missions and how many S-Rank missions a ninja village could handle. Normally, completing an S-Rank mission would enable a ninja to apply for an S-Rank Ninjutsu.
Yet, how many Konoha ninja had mastered such techniques? If there were no foul play involved, they wouldn't believe it.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi attempted to stand, not a single person, including the major clans aligned with him, came to his defense. If there was a reward to be had, those clans weren't included, so why would they protect the Third Hokage now?
A few Jonin exchanged glances. It was no longer just about corruption. This felt like a reckoning.
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched with a pale face as Koharu Utatane was led out of the conference room, feeling increasingly helpless and harboring growing murderous intent towards George.
George, on the other hand, sensed Hiruzen Sarutobi's intense malice but remained unfazed. He turned to Shimura Danzo, who was positioned on the other side, and said, "You must be Advisor Shimura Danzo, correct?"
"Yes, George-sama! I am Shimura Danzo," he replied.
"Hehe, don't be nervous; sit down and let's talk slowly."
At George's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo sat back down.
"I've heard of Advisor Shimura Danzo's reputation, even in the capital. I understand your injuries were sustained during a great war. With Konoha's advanced medical standards, why weren't they treated properly?" George inquired, feigning concern.
He spoke like a noble, but moved like a predator, calm, graceful, but utterly dangerous.
Shimura Danzo, who had just settled back into his seat, was puzzled by George's mention of his injuries. Was the Daimyo attempting to ease the tension with Konoha through him after dealing with Koharu Utatane?
Hmph, the Daimyo must still be fearful! Hiruzen Sarutobi had the same thought.
Both men relaxed slightly. Shimura Danzo answered, "My injuries are merely burns from flames, nothing serious. They are wrapped in bandages for appearance's sake. There's no need for Lord George to worry."
"All right, then allow me to introduce the new Dean of the Research Institute in the capital," George said, pointing to a man in a straw hat sitting to his right.
As George's words resonated in the hall, everyone turned their gaze towards the man in the straw hat. He reached for his hat and removed it, revealing his face. A gasp of surprise swept through the room.
"It's him!" "Orochimaru!" "Orochimaru!"
The most intense reactions came from Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo. The Third Hokage couldn't believe that Orochimaru, a Konoha rogue ninja, was openly brought here by the Daimyo.
Even more shocked than Hiruzen Sarutobi was Shimura Danzo, as unspeakable secrets lingered between him and Orochimaru, ties that linked him to Orochimaru's defection. If Orochimaru chose to reveal those secrets now, the consequences could be disastrous.
"Orochimaru? Here? But… he vanished after the war!" one Jonin whispered.
A Hyuga elder's voice trembled, "He was never exiled for crimes; he vanished because we never dared confront him."
Realizing the man in the straw hat was indeed Orochimaru, Shimura Danzo shouted, "Orochimaru, surrender! Everyone, listen to my command, capture Orochimaru!"
After making his announcement, he prepared to attack first, but Lord George stood in front of him. In response to Shimura Danzo's words, the Root members hidden in the shadows emerged and launched an attack on Orochimaru.
However, it was only for a fleeting moment. Before anyone, including Shimura Danzo and the Root members, could react, they were all struck down and fell to the ground.
It became clear that just as these individuals drew their weapons and prepared to charge, George unleashed his attack first, using his super speed to subdue everyone involved in the fight.
Shimura Danzo, who was given special attention, found his chakra sealed by George through a Sealing Technique. For extra measure, George also cast a "Petrification Spell" on him.
The Sealing Technique had been taught to George by Orochimaru over the past year, along with the Edo Tensei (Impure World Reincarnation) technique. However, George did not learn much of Orochimaru's other Ninjutsu.
When everyone finally reacted, they saw George standing there while the perimeter of the hall was littered with masked Root ninjas.
"Lord George, what is the meaning of this?" Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but shout, seeing the situation unfold.
"Hehe, Third Hokage, why are you asking me this? Shouldn't you be the one explaining?" George waved his hand, signaling for two Guardian Ninjas outside to bring two individuals dressed as servants from the Daimyo's mansion to his side.
"Then please take a look at my two servants," he said, motioning for the Konoha people to examine them. The Jonin from the investigation team, authorized by Hiruzen Sarutobi, stepped forward and began their examination.
However, when they checked the servants' mouths, they abruptly stopped, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi with troubled expressions.
From the perspective of the Third Hokage and the other Konoha Jonin, they had already guessed what had occurred once the examination reached the mouth.
"What, are you finished with the examination? Don't worry; you can compare them to those masked ninjas around to see if I have wronged anyone," George said, directing his gaze at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Third Hokage, why were your Konoha Root members lurking in the Daimyo's mansion? Were the missing people from my hometown captured by your people?"
"Impossible, this is slander!" Hiruzen Sarutobi vehemently denied it.
"Let's set that aside for now. It's undeniable that Shimura Danzo just attacked me, isn't it?"
"He was merely trying to apprehend the Konoha rogue ninja, Orochimaru."
"Hehe, that's completely missing the mark. Besides, aren't you the ones in Konoha who decide who is a rogue ninja?
Orochimaru was labeled a rogue just for researching corpses on the battlefield. What about those who strengthen themselves with the Kekkei Genkai of their own villagers? What do you call them?"
"Impossible, there could not possibly be such people in Konoha!" Hiruzen Sarutobi insisted once more.
At this moment, the Jonin present were also in shock at the rapid turn of events. Anyone with clear judgment could see that Shimura Danzo's attack had been misguided. Combined with the Root members captured from the Daimyo's mansion, Konoha was increasingly in the wrong.
"Third Hokage, what else can you say besides 'impossible'? I will make you give up entirely on this matter!"
"Stop!" someone started to yell, but the fire had already ignited the air.
Sarutobi's hand twitched toward a jutsu seal… and stopped.
After George finished speaking, he unleashed a burst of fire toward Shimura Danzo. The onlookers gasped in surprise at the dramatic scene that unfolded.
"Ah!"
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Have a good Monday. Why do we havee Monday's?
Goal: 550 – Remaining: 14 = 2 Bonus Chapter