They say politicians are the people with the lowest moral baseline in the world.
Danzo's little performance just now was solid proof of that.
He couldn't carry the blame for this mess, nor could he afford to, so his only option was to dump it onto an outsider.
As it happened, Konoha and the Rain Village had always been at odds, so Danzo naturally decided to pin everything on the Rain Ninja.
Seeing the other three looking at him with such incredulous stares, even Danzo—with skin as thick as a fortress wall—felt a bit overwhelmed.
After thinking for a moment, Danzo doubled down. "I was deceived by false intelligence. Shiraishi Gisei said he only went to that laboratory because he received intel from someone else."
The Third's mouth twitched. "So?"
Homura sighed. "So, Danzo was definitely set up. The Rain Ninja are getting too presumptuous. Hiruzen, I think we need to conduct a thorough investigation within the village."
Black lines practically appeared on Koharu's forehead. After thinking it over carefully, she felt this was the only way to save face.
"That's right. The Rain Ninja have absolutely no regard for Konoha. We should immediately issue a diplomatic statement strongly condemning their despicable actions."
Seeing that the three of them had unified their stance, Hiruzen looked grim. "The Rain Ninja won't admit to such a thing. Moreover, what does Gisei have to say about this? He's not exactly an easy person to talk to."
Seeing Hiruzen's tone soften, a faint smile appeared on Danzo's face. "Rest assured, I will find a way to shut his mouth."
The Third pointed a finger at him. "That better be the case. Now tell us, how exactly were you beaten into this state by him?"
The smile froze on Danzo's face.
"Gisei's abilities are very strange. He was controlling a clone to fight me the entire time. I suspect he is a ninja proficient in all five nature transformations, just like you."
The Third frowned. "You couldn't even distinguish between a clone and the real body?"
"That guy's clone is extremely bizarre," Danzo insisted. "Not only can it use most of his main body's abilities, but it is also anatomically identical to a normal human. I suspect it is a clone made from a living person."
"A clone made from a living person?" Hearing this, Homura looked solemn. "Are you sure?"
Danzo nodded. "I am certain, though I didn't secure any evidence."
Koharu jumped in. "So you were beaten into this state by a clone? Danzo, don't forget that you also lost over a hundred subordinates!"
"With so many people plus yourself, you couldn't do anything against a single clone? Is that even possible?"
Hearing this, Danzo's face instantly turned dark. "I underestimated him. It wouldn't matter if he was just strong, but the key is that his intellect is terrifying."
"At first, he pretended to break out toward Konoha. After being intercepted by Ryoma, he feigned being forced to flee outward. I was careless, which is why I was led into his trap."
The Third narrowed his eyes. "The Instant Thunder Array?"
Danzo nodded. "That guy's Lightning Body Flicker is simply unstoppable within that array. Even Sensei's Flying Thunder God might not be faster than him."
The office fell into silence.
After a long pause, the Third spoke. "Danzo, don't interfere in village matters anymore. Root will only be responsible for external intelligence gathering from now on. Also, Gisei has completely matured. Don't think about using methods like assassination anymore; it will only make us a laughingstock for nothing."
Danzo's mouth twitched. "Hiruzen, the matters within the village..."
"Danzo!" The Third interrupted him sharply. "Everyone in Konoha is a comrade. Your methods are not suitable for handling internal affairs!"
Homura and Koharu also agreed with the Third's view and began to persuade Danzo to back down.
Facing the combined offensive of the three, Danzo couldn't argue and could only nod sullenly.
He understood that his power was being clipped.
After discussing for a while longer, the group dispersed.
Danzo returned to his Root headquarters with a gloomy face.
Ryoma Aburame appeared in front of him.
"Ryoma, how is your body? Didn't I tell you to recuperate in the hospital?"
"Danzo-sama, Gisei's medical ninjutsu is very potent. I feel my body is better than ever before, and even my chakra reserves have increased quite a bit."
Danzo looked down at Ryoma's right arm. The arm that had been blown to bits was now restored to its original state.
"His medical ninjutsu is indeed superb... it's just that the price is somewhat expensive."
Danzo looked around the empty Root base and remained silent for a long time before saying, "Ryoma, go contact Gisei. I want to meet him."
A bitter smile appeared on the face under Ryoma's mask. Just after fighting to the death, we're going to bury the hatchet?
What did the Root members who died in this mission count for?
Though he thought this, he said nothing.
He would not question Danzo's orders because Danzo was the root supporting Konoha.
What is a "root"?
No name, and no feelings.
No past, and no future.
With only the mission in heart, silently supporting the great tree of Konoha from the shadows—that is the will of Root.
Ryoma believed in this without a doubt.
...
After finishing the discussion with the clan heads, Gisei sat on a recliner in his courtyard, closing his eyes to rest.
Anna Takemoto gently rocked the chair from behind him.
"Do you feel very tired?"
"A little. These guys are two-faced, insisting that I reconcile with Danzo. It's mentally exhausting."
"Do you feel that you've changed a lot?"
"Changed where?"
"When your uncle died, you were bent on leaving Konoha. Do you still have that thought now?"
Gisei was silent for a while, then smiled bitterly. "Sakumo Hatake was right; a person cannot survive alone. The old me was like an outlier in Konoha. The current me has just slowly become human, that's all."
"How does it feel to be human?"
"Tiring. Troublesome."
Anna laughed softly. "So this is life."
Gisei sighed, staring blankly at the dazzling starry sky.
In the past, he drifted along, but now he was conscientious and dutiful. In the end, he still couldn't escape the limitations of being human.
This second life didn't seem as good as he had imagined.
Thinking of this, Gisei's expression suddenly changed, and he gave Anna a signal with his eyes.
Anna sensed it too and left silently.
"Come out."
A swarm of parasitic insects flew in from outside the courtyard, and Ryoma appeared in front of Gisei.
He knelt on one knee, holding a scroll in his hands and raising it up. "Gisei-sama, this is something Danzo-sama sent you."
Gisei was stunned and didn't take the scroll immediately.
"You call me 'sama'? What wind is Danzo blowing?"
"This is Danzo-sama's intention."
"...Alright."
The people in Root are brain-dead; why waste breath arguing with Ryoma?
Taking the scroll and opening it, he saw four words: 八卦の封印式 (Eight Trigrams Sealing Style).
Gisei frowned. "He's just giving me a high-level sealing jutsu like this?"
"Danzo-sama wants to meet with you."
Ryoma left after delivering the time and location.
Gisei stared blankly at the scroll in his hand. After a long time, he revealed a meaningful smile.
Sure enough, some people just need a beating. If they don't get beaten and suffer a bit, they can't recognize reality.