Chapter 46: A Visitor and a Decision
Tenchi looked up at Danzo but said nothing. He just stared, his expression unreadable.
Seeing Tenchi's silent gaze, Danzo grew even more emboldened.
"Heheh. Uchiha Tenchi, I told you. I said that one day you'd fall into my hands, and I'd make you regret everything. And look at you now, delivered right to my doorstep." A smug, vicious smile spread across Danzo's face. This was, without a doubt, the happiest moment he'd had in years.
"You're probably still hoping Sarutobi will save you. Let me advise you to abandon that fantasy. The council of elders will never let you go. We *will* hand you over to the Land of Earth. Let them have their fun with you." Danzo continued his gloating monologue.
Listening to Danzo prattle on, Tenchi finally had enough. "Danzo, are you quite finished? Haven't you had your fill of taunting me? Don't push your luck."
"Hahaha! Uchiha Tenchi, you're a prisoner! What 'dignity' are you talking about? I'm not just here to laugh at you; I'm here to teach you a lesson! Guard! Open this cell!" Danzo commanded.
"My Lord Danzo, please... please don't make this difficult for us," the guard stammered, looking deeply uncomfortable. "We cannot open the cell without direct authorization from the Hokage."
"I am an Elder! You will open it when I tell you to! If you defy me, you know the consequences!" Danzo threatened, his face darkening. He hated anyone who invoked the Hokage's authority in front of him. His failure to become Hokage was his life's greatest wound, and he couldn't stand it being touched.
"This... alright. But just this once!" The guard finally relented, unlocking the cell door. He truly didn't want to cross the notoriously vindictive elder.
"Where's all that arrogance and pride now? Go on, sneer at me again! Look at you, a common prisoner. You disgust me. Pathetic!" Danzo stepped into the cell, his insults escalating.
*'Smack!'*
That was the final straw. Hearing the outright insult, Tenchi's anger erupted. He flexed his muscles, and the heavy chains binding him shattered like glass.
In the next instant, he was in front of Danzo. His hand swung out, catching the utterly unprepared elder across the face with a resounding slap.
The force of the blow sent Danzo spinning through the air. He crashed into the iron prison bars and slumped to the floor, unconscious.
The guard could only watch, frozen in place, as the scene unfolded.
"Pathetic? You're the one who's pathetic," Tenchi spat, directing his words at the unconscious Danzo. "Remember what I told you before? I said I'd hit you every time I saw you. Did you think I was joking?"
He then turned to the stunned guard. "This cell is broken. I'm moving to the one next door." He walked calmly into the adjacent cell and lay down on the cot.
"Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and lock the door. Unless you want me to escape," Tenchi said, looking at the paralyzed guard.
"Ah! Y-Yes! Right away!" The guard scrambled to lock the new cell door, then hurried in to carry the unconscious Danzo out for medical attention.
*'What kind of prisoner is this?'* the guard thought, utterly bewildered. *'I've been a guard for years, and I've never seen anyone like him. He breaks his chains, wrecks a cell, doesn't escape, and just moves himself to another cell to continue his sentence? He's a complete weirdo.'* Mumbling to himself, he carried Danzo toward the hospital.
***
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi was in a meeting with the Uchiha Clan's Great Elder.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen!" the elder said, his voice thick with anger. "For the sake of the village, Tenchi didn't even participate in the clan's planned coup! He led our strongest members away from the Uchiha compound to ease tensions! He has completed mission after mission for Konoha! Are you blind to everything he has done for us?!"
"I understand, Great Elder. I know the great contributions Tenchi and your clan have made to the village," Hiruzen replied, his voice weary. "But this time, he went too far. Keeping him imprisoned is the lightest punishment I can manage under the circumstances. Please, try to understand my position." He knew the elder was right. Tenchi had been nothing but loyal.
For years, Tenchi had undertaken missions without complaint and had moved away from his clan to demonstrate his commitment to the village's unity. His record was nearly flawless. But the formal complaint from the Tsuchikage was a political nightmare.
"Hmph! So Tenchi attacked Iwagakure? So what? Iwagakure is no friend of Konoha! Attacking them now serves as a deterrent! It shows them not to trouble us when they grow stronger! I say Tenchi did the right thing!" the Great Elder argued, still defending Tenchi. He knew the crime of attacking another Great Village was severe, but he was determined to protect the clan's most powerful asset.
"Great Elder, you can't say that," Hiruzen countered. "If Tenchi had done this during a war, he would be a hero, not a prisoner. But the problem is, we are in an era of peace. His actions were entirely—"
Before Hiruzen could finish, the door to his office was pushed open, and two figures entered.
"What is this all about, Monkey? Please, do explain. I'm very interested to hear the details." The speaker was Uzumaki Mito, and standing beside her was Tsunade.
Mito typically stayed out of village politics, but she couldn't resist Tsunade's desperate pleading. She could also see that Tsunade had developed feelings for Tenchi, and she felt compelled to fight for her granddaughter's happiness.
"Lady Mito! What brings you here? Please, have a seat." Hiruzen immediately stood and offered his chair, showing deep respect for the wife of the First Hokage and the current Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails.
"Monkey, what is this situation with Tenchi? Tsunade is very upset but doesn't know the full story. I don't quite understand it either. Please, enlighten us." Mito sat down, giving a slight, respectful nod to the Uchiha elder before getting straight to the point.
"It's like this..." Hiruzen explained the entire situation from beginning to end once more.
"In that case, it seems simple enough. Compensate the Land of Earth for their losses. Why make such a fuss?" Mito said, after hearing the full story.
"That was my thought as well," Hiruzen agreed. "But the council of elders is blocking the move. They insist on handing Tenchi over. I'm caught in the middle."
"Monkey, you must remember," Mito said, her voice firm and authoritative. "You are the Hokage. They are not. The elders are here to advise you, not to command you. They have no right to veto your decisions."
She slammed her hand on the desk, finalizing the matter. "It's decided. We will pay the reparations. If the elders have any complaints, they can bring them to me personally. I would like to see who they think is in charge here—you, or them."
Hiruzen felt a wave of relief. "If you are handling the elders, Lady Mito, then it will be much easier for me to manage." After all, the elders were his former teammates, and their opinions carried weight. But Uzumaki Mito was different. Her status was unimpeachable. No one could ignore the word of the First Hokage's wife and the Nine-Tails' container.
"And what of Tenchi's imprisonment?" Hiruzen asked, deftly passing the decision back to Mito. "Shall we release him?"
The Uchiha elder also looked at Mito, curious to see how the wife of Hashirama Senju would judge one of his descendants.
"That boy..." Mito mused. "His power has certainly grown. To dare attack the Land of Earth alone... but the trouble he caused is significant. Causing such a mess is not acceptable. Let him sit in prison for a while longer. Let him reflect on his actions before we release him."
"No, Grandma Mito! You have to let Tenchi go now!" Tsunade pleaded, grabbing Mito's arm and shaking it gently.