Koharu Utatane sighed softly.
"It's not that I want to put it this way… but these are the facts."
"Grave robbing. Stealing corpses. Even using orphanage children as living sacrifices for human experimentation…"
"Once these matters are exposed, not only will Danzō be finished—Konoha itself will become a pariah, hated wherever it goes. Hiruzen, even you won't be able to wash your hands clean of this."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sneered.
"In the end, what shinobi village is truly clean?!"
"Kirigakure has the Blood Mist. Sunagakure developed the human-puppet forbidden arts. Ōnoki of Iwagakure stirs conflict everywhere, secretly provoking wars. And Kumogakure—need I even mention them?"
"They once schemed to abduct Kushina, the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, and not long ago tried to kidnap Hyūga Hinata to steal the Byakugan! Aren't those all filthy crimes?!"
Homura Mitokado replied calmly,
"That may be true, Hiruzen, but you've always presented yourself as a benevolent and righteous Hokage."
"Orochimaru was once your most cherished disciple. Yet the moment his forbidden human experiments were exposed, didn't you still cut him off without hesitation and expel him from the village?"
"You've ruled Konoha for decades—wasn't it precisely because you maintained a surface image of justice and prestige?"
Hiruzen's heart jolted.
"You're saying… we should do the same to Danzō?"
Koharu's voice grew grave.
"Hiruzen, this isn't something Homura and I are forcing on you. You said it yourself."
"Don't forget—when you permitted Danzō to use any means necessary to deal with Uchiha Qianyu, you explicitly stated that if he were exposed, you would decisively place all responsibility on him."
"That was the most helpless—but also the most correct—choice."
Homura nodded.
"Koharu is right."
"Right now, Uchiha Qianyu holds the momentum of public outrage. The entire village is furious. On top of that, he has two living witnesses—Aburame Ryūma and Yakushi Nono."
"At any moment, he can announce everything to the world and expose Danzō and Root's atrocities."
"If you don't cut ties decisively… then when the time comes—"
"The one who becomes a street rat won't be just Danzō."
Hiruzen fell silent.
His relationship with Shimura Danzō had always been… complicated.
They competed constantly, yet depended on one another.
Hiruzen needed Danzō to handle all the dirty, unseen work.
And Danzō needed Hiruzen as a towering shield.
Love and hate. Open rivalry, hidden cooperation. Inseparable.
To treat Danzō the same way he treated Orochimaru…
Emotionally, Hiruzen felt a trace of reluctance.
But that was sentiment.
For someone like Hiruzen Sarutobi—a conspirator, a politician, a ruler—
Once such a decision was truly made, reason would allow no hesitation.
"…Where is Danzō now?"
Homura and Koharu shook their heads.
"You know him well enough. Root's bases are as numerous as a rabbit's burrows."
"Forget us—no one but Danzō himself knows all of his hiding places."
"From Orochimaru, he likely obtained more than just Edo Tensei. He must have acquired other forbidden techniques to enhance his own strength."
"These past days, he's probably hidden underground, cultivating in secrecy and accumulating power."
A cold, sinister glint flashed through Hiruzen's eyes.
"Then so be it…"
"I will publicly announce a full investigation into Danzō's crimes."
"Once the charges are confirmed, he will be treated the same as Orochimaru—declared an enemy of Konoha."
"An S-rank missing-nin."
"Of course," Hiruzen continued coldly,
"I'll pin all of this on Uchiha Qianyu. Danzō will hate him to the bone and will stop at nothing to kill that bastard."
"And that way…"
Koharu and Homura both understood perfectly.
Let the clam and the snipe fight—so the fisherman profits.
That was Hiruzen's calculation.
And they agreed.
No matter how close a comrade Danzō once was, at this point he had become a severed tail. If they didn't cut him off cleanly, Hiruzen himself would be dragged down—and the two of them would not escape responsibility either.
The consequences would be unimaginable.
"Hiruzen," Homura added quietly,
"This may be the best solution. But…"
"By then, the person Danzō hates most won't be only Uchiha Qianyu."
Hiruzen understood.
"Hmph. If he wants revenge on me, let him try."
"But first—"
"He'll have to survive against Uchiha Qianyu."
At the Hokage Council meeting—
Qianyu decisively announced the results of the Military Police's investigation, pointing the spearhead directly at Shimura Danzō and Root.
At the same time, he had involved the Intelligence Division and the Interrogation Division, ensuring the investigation's credibility beyond doubt.
The conclusion was clear—
Shimura Danzō and Root had been secretly conducting inhumane human experiments!
They had dug up graves, stolen corpses, and even used orphanage children as living sacrifices!
The moment those words were spoken, the entire council erupted!
Everyone qualified to attend the meeting was furious beyond restraint, their anger boiling over.
Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura had anticipated this outcome—
But even they hadn't imagined Danzō had sunk this far.
And how in the world had Uchiha Qianyu privately coordinated with the Intelligence and Interrogation divisions to stand behind him?
Hiruzen's gaze suddenly landed on Hatake Kakashi.
Something was wrong.
The laziness and indifference that once defined him were gone—replaced by a coldness identical to Uchiha Qianyu's.
Hiruzen suddenly realized something.
Could it be that Danzō—
Of course, Hiruzen knew what Danzō and Orochimaru had been plotting.
Edo Tensei.
The forbidden jutsu created by his teacher, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
Danzō clearly intended to use it against Uchiha Qianyu.
But even Edo Tensei was meaningless without powerful shinobi to summon.
Which meant—
"That bastard Danzō… targeted Kakashi's deceased father—Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo?!"
Hiruzen's heart shook violently.
If that was the case…
Then Hatake Kakashi had already—
Completely sided with Uchiha Qianyu.
The Interrogation Division.
The Intelligence Division.
They must have had his silent assistance.
Damn it!
At this moment, Hiruzen's hatred for Danzō reached its peak.
But that wasn't all—
Akidō Shitō, temporarily acting clan head, roared in fury:
"Danzō and Root secretly infiltrated the Akimichi clan cemetery and stole Senior Akimichi Torifu's remains!"
"This is insanity! Utter inhumanity!"
"The Akimichi clan will never let this go!"
Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura exchanged glances, stunned.
Akimichi Torifu—
Alongside the three of them, plus Danzō and Uchiha Kagami, he had once followed the Second Hokage.
His strength was unquestionable, and within the Akimichi clan he was a highly respected elder.
And yet—even his body had been stolen by Danzō.
If this wasn't handled properly, it wouldn't just be the Akimichi—
Even the entire Ino–Shika–Chō alliance might turn their backs on Konoha!
Who knew how many corpses Danzō had already taken?
According to reports Hiruzen had received—
Kato Dan.
Kimimaro?
Yūhi Shinku.
Along with Akimichi Torifu and Hatake Sakumo…
Perhaps even—
Uchiha Kagami.
Uchiha Shisui.
Or worse—
The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
That kind of force…
Was terrifying beyond words.
Enough to kill even Uchiha Qianyu.
But the backlash it would trigger—
Would be enough to swallow and annihilate the entire upper echelon of Konoha.
Facing the surging public outrage and boiling fury, sweat finally soaked Hiruzen's back.
Fortunately, he had already made his decision.
He rose and spoke with solemn authority:
"Everyone, rest assured!"
"Since Danzō and Root have committed such utterly inhuman crimes, I, as Hokage, will never shield him!"
"I hereby declare, in the name of the Hokage—"
"From this day forward, Shimura Danzō is officially designated an S-rank missing-nin of Konoha!"
"Anyone may kill him on sight!"
The crowd already hated Danzō with a burning passion—
Yet hearing Hiruzen's ruthless and decisive severance still left them stunned.
No matter what—
A pillar of Konoha's leadership, the commander of Root, Hiruzen's closest partner and comrade…
Had now fallen to the status of an S-rank missing-nin.
This time—
Konoha's high command had truly lost all face.
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