As for working in the shadows, who hasn't been targeted? The Hokage's long-term policy has always been to suppress Ninja Clans and support civilian Ninja, so that the Hokage's power doesn't fall into others' hands.
The Hyuga Clan and the Hokage's faction both looked extremely displeased. If they didn't agree, these Ninja Clans would likely only go through the motions during the war.
The Hyuga Clan, on the other hand, would be jointly suppressed by the major Ninja Clans, and they would definitely have a hard time. If they did act, although they would be suppressed by the Hokage's faction, everyone would share the burden, and the Hokage's faction wouldn't go too far.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, being watched by everyone, naturally knew this was pressure from the major Ninja Clans. Danzo should have been executed, but now that he had saved Danzo's life, if he didn't make concessions, it would be difficult to resolve the situation.
"Hiashi, I'm troubling you all."
After saying this, Hiruzen Sarutobi became even more dejected, while Danzo was incredulous. He hadn't expected that his desire for Ling to join Root would lead to the current situation.
"Uchiha Ling! You damned evil brat, this was all your scheme, wasn't it!"
Danzo's predatory gaze seemed to want to tear Ling into a thousand pieces. He seemed to connect the dots, realizing Ling had leveraged the situation to push him into the dust.
"Huh? Old man Danzo? What are you talking about? How could I possibly have such abilities?"
Ling also hadn't expected to corner Danzo to this extent today. Her original plan was to ambush Danzo when he was being chased by the Gedo Statue, after he and Hanzo had annihilated the Akatsuki Organization.
She would have sneakily killed him when he was fleeing in disarray, making it seem like no one had interfered.
Unfortunately, such a brilliant plan probably wouldn't have a chance to be implemented. What a pity.
The dignified 5.5th Hokage, Konoha's scapegoat, the Fire Scar Sect, could now only rot as a massive Root.
"Hmph!" Danzo closed his eyes, appearing to be waiting for death, but in reality, he was using the Orochi Tongue Seal to signal his Root Ninja to come and rescue him quickly.
Although the Orochi Tongue Seal couldn't transmit information, it could cause a slight collective tremor once, bringing pain to those who had been subjected to the Jutsu. This was Danzo's secret signal.
Through a method similar to Morse code, he informed Root of his location and how many people to dispatch, which showed Danzo was a genius at espionage.
Root had originally suffered some attacks on its bases from Anbu, but that was because they hadn't retaliated. In terms of overall strength, Root was much stronger.
As soon as Danzo's order moved, they immediately began to ambush and kill the Anbu Ninja who were inventorying supplies, and then quickly rushed towards the Shimura Clan.
Excluding a small number of Anbu Ninja and Sarutobi Shinnosuke and his wife, at least six-tenths of the Anbu Ninja were ambushed and killed.
Anbu originally had only four squads, totaling less than three hundred people. After deducting those on missions, about eighty people died at once, directly cutting off the numbers of more than one squad.
It could be said to be a crippling blow. Sarutobi Shinnosuke had no choice but to rush to the Shimura Clan's location to inform the Third Hokage of Root's rebellion.
At this time, the Hyuga Clan was discussing who should cripple Danzo. This person needed to have a certain status and strength, capable of bearing the Hokage's wrath in the future, but without crippling the Hyuga Clan.
In reality, the outcome was already clear: no one was more suitable than Hyuga Hizashi. However, Hiashi was still arguing with the elders, wanting to protect his younger brother.
"Brother, Elders, there's no need to argue. I'll go. Isn't this what I, as a branch family member, should do?"
Hyuga Hizashi had long been fed up with living like a slave when facing the main family in the Hyuga Clan. If he could be retaliated against until he died, it would also be a good choice. Only death could bring freedom.
Hyuga Hizashi broke free from his brother's restraint and walked out firmly, coming before Danzo. His Byakugan activated, and the veins around his temples bulged.
He concentrated Chakra for Gentle Fist in his hand, preparing to begin the execution, but he didn't see the cold glint in Danzo's eyes.
"Hmph! This old man will not sit idly by and wait for death! This old man will return to assume the Hokage position when Konoha needs it! Hiruzen, what you've done today, you will surely regret in the future!"
Danzo activated the Self-Inflicted Curse Jutsu he had already prepared, instantly controlling Hyuga Hizashi, then grabbed his throat and held him in front as a hostage.
"Danzo! What are you doing! Are you trying to betray Konoha! And, I am the Hokage!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't expected Danzo to suddenly rebel. He immediately warned him not to act rashly, stating that if he surrendered, he could still save his life.
"Danzo! Let go of Hizashi! Damn it!" Hyuga Hiashi hadn't expected his younger brother Hizashi to be controlled in just a moment, and he couldn't stop it in time.
Ling and Uchiha Chiri, however, looked on as if watching a show. They were eager for Danzo to defect, and the fact that the other Ninja Clan heads didn't intervene showed that they thought the same.
"Heh heh! Hiruzen, you are Konoha's branches, and I am Konoha's Root. If the branches are hollowed out and rot in the future, Konoha's Root will give birth to new trunks. With me here, Konoha cannot fall into Uchiha's hands, nor will it be controlled by those ambitious Ninja Clans."
Danzo didn't believe he was defecting. This was merely a strategic transfer, starting anew. He would return in the future to set things right.
At this moment, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, who was rushing at full speed, finally arrived before Root and immediately reported Danzo's rebellion.
"Hokage-sama, Root has rebelled, ambushing and killing Anbu who were inventorying the Root bases. Anbu has suffered heavy losses, and Root is now rushing towards here."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke's report was like a heavy hammer striking Hiruzen Sarutobi's head. He hadn't expected Danzo to be so resolute; this was a true rebellion.
The heads of the major Ninja Clans and the surrounding Jonin were all somewhat incredulous at this moment. Danzo was actually so bold.
Ling also hadn't expected Danzo to be so ruthless. Fortunately, she was only joining Anbu tomorrow; otherwise, she would have been among those ambushed and killed at this moment.
"All Ninja, listen to my command! Annihilate the attacking Root Ninja! Capture Danzo! Do not let Danzo escape, or Konoha will become the laughingstock of all other Hidden Villages!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately gave the order. As Hokage, even Uchiha Chiri and the other Ninja Clans had to obey. Annihilating Root was also what they wanted.
"Who dares! Stop immediately, or this old man will kill Hyuga Hizashi! Aren't you supposed to value your comrades? Aren't you not allowed to be sacrificed? If you act, you will be sacrificing Hyuga Hizashi."
Danzo's mind was indeed quick at this moment. The many Ninja who were originally planning to intercept Root immediately stopped, looking at the Third Hokage, meaning, 'You decide.'
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was grim. He had just acknowledged that no one could be sacrificed, and now Danzo was using such tactics against them.
Danzo, holding Hyuga Hizashi hostage, quickly merged with the arriving Root. No one stopped them during this time, fearing that Danzo would kill Hyuga Hizashi and they would bear the reputation of having allowed someone to be sacrificed.
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