Chapter 107: "Tell That Old bit*h Danzō to Come Out!"
In his bed, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had only just fallen asleep, suddenly opened his eyes and turned his head slightly. "What is it?"
Outside the window, an Anbu ninja quickly reported, "Lord Hokage, it's an emergency concerning the Jinchuriki."
Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat. He immediately got up, left the bedroom still in his pajamas, and asked in a grave voice, "What happened?"
The Anbu ninja hurriedly recounted the events.
Hiruzen let out a silent sigh of relief. At least the Jinchuriki hadn't gone on a rampage. But then he couldn't help but sigh in weary frustration. His old friend Danzō was always pulling these kinds of petty, underhanded tricks.
And yet, Hiruzen was the one who had to clean up the mess.
Root was important, and Danzō was a very useful tool. This was especially true at this moment, with both the Cloud and Mist ninja having invaded the Land of Wind. Although the Cloud-nin's string of victories had turned into a string of defeats, it was foreseeable that the scale of the war would continue to expand, and Konoha would inevitably be dragged into it.
For Danzō to stir up this kind of internal trouble at such a critical juncture was utterly foolish!
However, Hiruzen could see through Danzō's goals and ambitions. And while he felt a sense of resignation, deep down, he was at ease. A Danzō like this posed no real threat to him. That was why he could confidently allow Danzō to gradually turn Root into his own private army. He had already set the limits on Root's purpose.
The Hokage's direct Anbu was the dark side of Konoha's ordinary ninja.
Root was the dark side of the entire village, hidden even deeper.
He turned to go back and change, preparing to head to Minato Namikaze's house to smooth things over, but he stopped. Another Anbu had arrived with a report.
Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Ina had gone to Tsunade's house.
Hiruzen's headache intensified. Kushina was easy to fool—no, easy to coax—but Tsunade was a different story. When Tsunade threw a fit, she wouldn't even give him, the Hokage, any respect.
And so, Hiruzen had no choice but to change his destination to Tsunade's house.
At Tsunade's home, upon hearing how Danzō had threatened Uzumaki Ina, Tsunade flew into a similar rage. The floorboards beneath her feet were the first victims, sinking and then exploding outward.
Uzumaki Ina jumped in fright and quickly said, "Lady Tsunade, Genichi said you shouldn't be too impulsive!"
"Hmm?" Tsunade's anger paused. "What? He's back?"
Ina shook her head.
Tsunade understood immediately. "He predicted Danzō would threaten you?"
Ina nodded.
Tsunade instantly thought of the Wood Style experiment and realized Danzō must have found out. She calmed herself down and snorted. "He certainly thinks things through. To cause trouble even when he knows what will happen."
After a moment's thought, Tsunade said to Ina, "You can stay here. Send a shadow clone back to your place to let them know you're safe. Kushina, you should go home."
Kushina hesitated for a moment. "About Danzō..."
"Don't worry," Tsunade said calmly. "He won't dare to do anything."
Only then did Kushina nod. "Alright, I'll head back."
After watching Kushina and the Anbu leave, Tsunade looked at Ina. "What else did that guy say?"
Ina quickly shook her head. "Genichi just said that Lady Tsunade can be completely trusted. Nothing else."
Although Tsunade was pleased to hear this, she let out a cold laugh.
Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared with a squad of Anbu.
Ina quickly bowed. "Lord Hokage!"
Hiruzen looked Ina over and asked with gentle concern, "Ina, are you alright?"
Ina shook her head. "I'm fine."
Tsunade crossed her arms, tilted her chin up, and questioned him in a sharp tone, "What is Danzō trying to do? Is he planning a coup d'état? Old man, have you lost control of Root?"
Three consecutive questions. She didn't accuse Danzō of his actions directly, but it gave Hiruzen an even bigger headache. He would have actually preferred it if Tsunade had thrown a tantrum, even if she'd stormed Root's headquarters. That would have been ten times better than her current posture.
Hiruzen sensed that Tsunade had changed. While this change gave him a headache, deep down, he was also very gratified. This student of mine has grown up.
His feelings were a complicated mix. He turned to Ina and said, "Rest assured, I will restrain Danzō. A situation like this will absolutely not happen again. You can continue your training with Kushina and Tsunade in peace."
Ina nodded. "Genichi said that Lord Hokage can be completely trusted."
Hiruzen felt a sense of relief.
But Tsunade just sneered, adding fuel to the fire. "Heh. You know, Ina started by asking the Root ninja if they were acting on your orders. They replied that they only follow Lord Danzō's commands."
Hiruzen was mortified. This troublesome student! Couldn't she have waited until we were alone to say that?
Tsunade continued, "Furthermore, Danzō threatened the family of a jonin. The consequences of such an act could tear Konoha apart."
"I will immediately strip Danzō of his position as the head of Root," Hiruzen said at once.
Tsunade pursed her lips. Root had already become Danzō's private army. What good would stripping his title do? But she knew this was the limit, especially at this critical time. Still, she was furious, with no outlet for her anger. She added lightly, "Old man, you should think about how you're going to explain this to Genichi. He's out there right now, risking his life for the village."
Hiruzen nodded slightly. "I will handle this matter." He believed that the gentle and big-picture-oriented Kinoshita Genichi would surely not be as much of a headache as Tsunade.
Watching Hiruzen and his men leave, Tsunade's gaze held a mix of disappointment and mockery. She guessed what Hiruzen was thinking. Unfortunately, she felt her teacher had no idea what kind of face that little bastard Genichi hid beneath his gentle exterior.
Heh, there should be a nice surprise in store for him.
She retracted her gaze and waved a hand at Ina. "Come on, let's get to bed."
Like a good girl, Ina nodded. "Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Southern Border of the Land of Rivers.
Kinoshita Genichi's squad rendezvoused with Sarutobi Shinnosuke's team. They were here because the Mist-nin had declared war on the Sand-nin, attacking the southern Land of Wind from the sea, and their mission was to gather intelligence.
"Genichi, what's the situation up north?" Shinnosuke asked after removing his mask.
"Senpai, the Cloud-nin are about to lose," Genichi stated.
Shinnosuke raised an eyebrow. "As expected of Sunagakure, renowned for their elite forces. However, being attacked on two fronts will put them in a very bad position."
"From the current situation," Genichi said, "Sunagakure may not suffer small losses, but I doubt the Cloud and Mist ninja will gain much of an advantage either. I observed a Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai user in Sunagakure who can control Gold Dust. He's very strong."
"That would be Rasa," Shinnosuke said. "One of the most outstanding ninja of the younger generation in Suna. It looks like the Fourth Kazekage will likely be decided between him and the Scorch Release user, Pakura."
Genichi raised an eyebrow. "Scorch Release user Pakura?"
Shinnosuke nodded. "She's about the same age as Rasa and very powerful. She's currently leading the Sand-nin against the Mist invasion. Genichi, what do you think will happen with the war now?"
Everyone turned to look at Genichi.
"Kumo's supply lines are too long," Genichi explained. "Failing to take Suna in one fell swoop means defeat. But even if they repel the Cloud-nin, Sunagakure still has to face another enemy."
"Iwagakure?" Shinnosuke asked.
Genichi smiled and nodded. "Although we haven't gathered intel in the Land of Earth, under these circumstances, I don't believe Iwagakure can just sit still. Seeing Suna under siege and their strength being depleted, they'll probably move in as soon as the Cloud-nin retreat. Moreover, a retreating Kumo force will also face the threat of Iwa."
Genichi's lips curled into a cold smile. "The Cloud-nin may be obsessed with war, but they aren't stupid. They wouldn't fail to consider the threat from Iwagakure. Therefore, a war between Iwa and Suna, and Iwa and Kumo, is imminent."
Gekkō Ryūfū commented, "That's for the best. Then we can stay out of it."
A trace of worry flashed in Shinnosuke's eyes. Konoha staying out of it? Impossible. But he didn't say more, instead giving an order. "Rest for an hour, then we head back to the village."
They had been out for a month. It was time to return and submit their intelligence. An hour later, the group of eight set off, planning to cross the Land of Rivers to return to the Land of Fire.
By the time they reached Konoha, it was dusk the next day. It was now September 4th, Konoha Year 46.
Arriving home, Genichi learned from his parents that Uzumaki Ina was now living at Tsunade's place.
"I know, Dad, Mom. I'm going to head to Lady Tsunade's first," Genichi said with a smile, turning to leave.
However, he didn't go to Tsunade's house. He went to Minato Namikaze's. The moment the hidden Anbu saw Genichi, one of them immediately took off.
Kushina was overjoyed to see him. "Genichi, you're finally back!"
She pulled him into the house and immediately recounted everything that had happened a few nights ago from beginning to end.
Genichi nodded. "Thank you, Sister Kushina."
Kushina tapped him on the head. "What are you thanking me for? Ina is my family too. But what do you plan to do about this? I heard from Lady Tsunade that the Third Hokage has already stripped Danzō of his position as head of Root."
Genichi smiled serenely. "I trust the Third Hokage will handle this matter well. I'm going to see Lady Tsunade now."
Kushina didn't think much of it and smilingly saw him out the door.
Danzō, oh Danzō, you really didn't disappoint me.
The smile vanished from Genichi's face, replaced by an icy glare. He then vanished in a flicker.
But he still didn't go to Tsunade's house or the Konoha Hospital.
Hokage's Office.
The first thing Hiruzen Sarutobi asked upon seeing his son was, "Where's Genichi?"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke was taken aback for a moment before replying, "Genichi went home first."
A bad feeling crept over Hiruzen. "Take some men and find Genichi," he ordered immediately. "If he's not at home or the hospital, go to Root headquarters immediately."
Shinnosuke was completely bewildered but carried out the order without question.
However, by the time Shinnosuke arrived at Genichi's house, Genichi had already appeared at the entrance to the Root base.
At the same time, Hiruzen received a report that Genichi had gone to see Kushina. He understood instantly. Genichi hadn't gone to the hospital. He immediately took his Anbu guards and rushed towards the Root base.
Root Headquarters.
Genichi flickered through the entrance of the Root base, weaving between the crisscrossing support beams. When he landed on the bridge leading to one of the main entrances, figures appeared from all sides, surrounding him.
"This is Root headquarters. Please leave immediately!" a Root ninja said coldly.
Genichi looked up, his right eye revealing a three-tomoe Sharingan. The ninja who had spoken collapsed without a sound.
"The Sharingan!"
"Enemy attack!"
"Take him down!"
The Root ninja shouted, all of them attacking at once. Some drew swords, some formed hand seals, others threw shuriken.
"I am Kinoshita Genichi," his voice echoed throughout the base. "Tell that old bit*h Danzō to come out. I want to see just how he plans to make me have an 'accident' on a mission!"
And with that, he vanished from where he stood.
(End of Chapter)
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