Danzo's reaction caught Uchiha Hikaru off guard.
But considering it was Danzo, this was both unexpected and unsurprising.
After all, that man wouldn't back down until the bitter end. If Hikaru hadn't laid the groundwork and prepared for every possible outcome, he might not have been able to take Danzo down cleanly.
That's why he had to let Danzo make the first move before executing his plan.
Despite having reached a consensus and formed an alliance with the major clans, if something unexpected happened—like losing this battle—everything would fall apart.
Those clans, for the sake of their own interests, would waver and likely side with the Third Hokage without hesitation.
That's why Hikaru didn't dare let them participate in the battle directly.
Politics is a filthy power game, and trust is a luxury. You don't show your back to allies before victory is in hand.
As for Jiraiya, Hikaru knew Naruto might go berserk. And with Naruto being both Jiraiya's student and the son of his late teammate, the old man might hesitate to go all out.
So it was safest to handle Naruto himself.
Danzo's counterattack didn't sway the clan heads—it only drew their suspicion.
Hikaru walked calmly to the front, standing alongside the gathered clan leaders.
"Assistant Hokage," Hikaru said coolly, "aren't you mistaken? Shouldn't you be the one explaining why you attacked the Uchiha, under someone's manipulation?"
"It seems our Hokage's intentions aren't aligned with yours."
"Why don't you take a good look at the current situation, Hokage-sama… and your dear assistant?"
He turned slightly, raising his right hand.
One by one, the clan leaders stepped forward, their expressions grim and furious as they turned on Danzo.
Hiashi Hyuga was the first to speak, pointing directly at Danzo.
"Deputy Clan Leader Hikaru. Lord Hokage. Danzo has been plotting this for a long time—his loyalty to Konoha is questionable."
"Not long ago, Hyuga Neji—my nephew, Hizashi's son—was kidnapped by Root!"
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio—Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Choza Akimichi—followed, stepping up beside Hiashi.
"Children from my Nara clan's branch families were taken by Root too!"
"My Akimichi clan lost three young ones—they were snatched away!"
"The same with the Yamanaka!"
More clan heads joined them—Shiranui, Gekko, and others—one after another.
"It's not just them! Our clans are already dwindling in number—and Danzo wants to take away the next generation?!"
"Do you want us extinct?!"
Just then, a man in a fine khaki long coat and hat emerged from the crowd and walked silently up to Hikaru.
"Don't overlook me."
"He took one of our own too—Aburame Shiguro's surviving son."
Even Aburame Shibi, usually silent and detached, had stepped forward. That surprised even Hiruzen.
Faced with this mass defection, the Hokage felt shaken. But decades of relationships made him hesitate, clinging to one last shred of hope.
He faced the angry crowd.
"I understand your pain. I will see to it that Danzo returns the children he took."
Danzo glared coldly at Hikaru, full of resentment.
That's when Fugaku stepped forward.
"What about the twelve Uchiha who were intercepted during my mission? Will you return them too?"
His fists clenched as he stared Danzo down, rage boiling beneath the surface.
Hiruzen's face turned grim. He knew what Fugaku said was true, and that Danzo's actions had gone far beyond what a ninja should tolerate.
But still, he tried to defend Danzo.
"We already explained that to Deputy Hikaru and Clan Leader Fugaku—it was Ryoma's betrayal, an unauthorized action."
When Hiruzen tried again to shield Danzo, Hikaru raised his hand.
In an instant, the chakra chain known as Weapon—formerly sealed on Naruto—snapped out again.
Jiraiya noticed the Nine-Tails' chakra leaking from Naruto once more. Without hesitation, he forced his left hand—now pulsing with chakra of all five elements—onto Naruto's stomach, patching the seal.
Hikaru, eyes locked on Danzo, hurled Weapon's chain like a serpent. It coiled around Danzo's right arm with blinding speed.
The seals etched into the chain flared, empowered by Hikaru's Mangekyo Sharingan. Danzo couldn't resist.
He struggled, trying to break free. But the seal locked down all chakra in his right arm—physical strength alone was useless. His flailing was pathetic.
With a sharp pull, Hikaru ripped Danzo's right arm clean off, lifted it, and handed it to Yamanaka Inoichi.
"Chief Yamanaka, as a sensory ninja, please examine the secrets hidden in this arm."
"Let's see what our honorable Assistant Hokage was hiding all this time."
His voice brimmed with fury and cold menace.
Inoichi hesitated. He touched the severed arm and began to probe its chakra with a grim face.
Hikaru's voice cut through.
"Don't worry. All the major clans are here. We'll stand with you. Speak the truth."
Still torn, Inoichi hesitated—until two broad hands rested on his shoulders.
He turned to see Shikaku and Choza silently standing behind him. Their presence gave him strength.
Inoichi straightened his back and spoke.
"There are seven eyes embedded in this arm. Uchiha eyes—Sharingan. But they've degraded, turned pale."
"More than that—the arm is still alive. The chakra inside is extremely active."
He paused, then said heavily:
"I've sensed this chakra before—it's Wood Release. The same as ANBU Captain Yamato's."
"The entire arm is filled with First Hokage's chakra!"
Shock rippled through the clan leaders.
Seven Sharingan was already a horrifying revelation—but Wood Release, too?
Everyone knew Wood Release was exclusive to Hashirama. Even his descendants hadn't inherited it.
That could mean only one thing—
Danzo had used the First Hokage's remains for forbidden experiments.
Hiruzen's face twisted in regret and rage.
Even the Ino-Shika-Cho, his oldest allies, had turned on him.
I've failed… as Hokage.
Jiraiya approached, still cradling Naruto, and looked directly at Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama… this is enough to prove Danzo's crimes. But it's still not enough."
"He abducted Naruto. Tried to break the seal. Tried to exploit the Nine-Tails' power."
"This cannot be forgiven."
"You know who Naruto is…"
"He's the son of Minato and Kushina!"
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