The images from the heavenly screen flashed through his mind—that arm covered in densely packed Sharingan, and that despicable act of trying to steal Shisui's eyes!
An uncontrollable killing intent surged in Jiraiya's chest like lava, nearly breaking the shackles of his reason.
But remembering Tsunade's instructions, Jiraiya forcibly suppressed his killing intent. His voice was as cold as a polar wind as he spoke without leaving any room for negotiation:
"By order of the Fifth Hokage—"
"Arrest Danzo Shimura!"
"Any resistance will be deemed a betrayal of the Village! Kill on sight!"
Boom!
These words exploded like a thunderclap in the ears of Danzo and his cohorts!
"Arrest?!"
"Betraying the Village?!"
Danzo's face instantly turned pale, his single eye filled with disbelief and fury.
All his schemes, all his plans to lay low, became a ridiculous joke in the face of Tsunade's unreasonable, table-flipping violent action!
He had originally thought about how to use public opinion and high-level connections to trip up Tsunade, making it impossible for her to move and eventually forcing her to step down in disgrace... He didn't expect that she wouldn't even deign to play those power games, directly using the most fundamental power: the authority of the Hokage and absolute force!
Looking at Jiraiya's blatant killing intent and the powerful figures watching him like hawks, Danzo knew that any explanation or delay would be futile at this moment.
Tsunade was determined to make an example of him!
"I am the Hokage's Assistant! I have served Konoha!"
Danzo Shimura roared with bluster, trying to grasp at the last straw.
"Tsunade has just taken office; she has no qualification, let alone the power to arrest me! You are the ones committing rebellion!"
Danzo tried to use his status and the rules to stall for time, looking for a chance to escape.
However, Jiraiya wasn't buying it at all.
He didn't bother with a pointless war of words, merely looking at Danzo as if he were a buffoon, coldly asking back:
"So... are you going to resist the Hokage's orders?"
These words were like a final sentence.
*Clang!*
Behind him, almost all Anbu members gripped their weapons simultaneously, Chakra glowing faintly as they locked onto their respective targets.
Although the Ninjas from various clans were excited to finally excise this tumor, their hand-seal movements were steady and experienced. They only waited for Jiraiya's command to unleash a thunderous strike!
Danzo Shimura's heart sank to the bottom.
He hadn't expected Jiraiya to be so ruthless and direct!
He didn't even follow the superficial procedures, moving directly to use force for suppression!
"Lord Danzo!" a Root Member of the Aburame Clan whispered urgently. "The situation is bad! My Kikaichu sense more Chakra signatures closing in from outside. We... will soon be completely surrounded!"
These words were like a final death knell, making Danzo's face turn extremely ashen.
Tsunade had cast a dragnet, determined to keep him here!
"I can't let it end like this..." Madness and resentment flickered in Danzo's single eye. "I haven't led Konoha to its true peak yet! I haven't... become the Hokage!"
Extreme egoism and a desire for power made him reach a decision instantly.
"Protect me! Retreat!" Danzo roared to his most loyal core subordinates.
"Heh!" Jiraiya's contempt was almost palpable. "Talking about doing it for Konoha, how high-sounding! In the end, you're just a selfish coward who's afraid of death!"
"You..." Danzo's sore spot was hit, his face contorted. He was about to say something harsh to save some face when— "Move!"
Jiraiya gave him no chance. With a command, his body shot forward like a cannonball! His hands formed seals as fast as lightning.
"Ninjutsu: Wild Lion's Mane Technique!"
His long white hair grew wildly as if alive, turning into countless tough tentacles that swept toward Danzo and his guards like a tidal wave!
"Kill!"
Simultaneously, the Anbu and clan Ninjas behind him charged out like tigers released from their cages, boldly pouncing on the Root Members trying to block them!
The light of Ninjutsu, the sound of explosions, the clanging of metal, and screams suddenly erupted!
Facing Jiraiya, Danzo could no longer care about poise or threats. Under the defense desperately constructed by several trusted Root subordinates with their bodies and Ninjutsu, he fled toward the secret passage in the rear in a wretched state.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Jiraiya's eyes were cold, his offensive like a violent storm. He performed various Ninjutsu with ease, quickly clearing out the Root Ninjas who dared to stand in his way as if he were chopping vegetables.
He locked onto Danzo's fleeing figure and pursued relentlessly!
The battle ended faster than expected.
Under the crushing weight of absolute strength and numbers, the Root Members who fought to the end were either killed on the spot or captured with Chakra-sealing shackles.
This underground base, built over many years and filled with the scent of conspiracy and blood, was completely destroyed and brought under control in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Jiraiya stood on a large tree five miles outside of Konoha, watching Danzo Shimura finally disappear into the horizon as a small black dot, a cold sneer appearing on his face.
He didn't choose to continue the pursuit; in fact, he hadn't even used his full strength from beginning to end.
"Clear the battlefield, seize all scrolls and experimental data, and seal all evidence! Treat the wounded and count the prisoners!" Back at the Root base, Jiraiya calmly issued orders, his gaze sweeping over the disarmed Root remnants who looked desperate or resentful. "Escort them back to the Village and keep them under strict guard!"
Meanwhile, in a remote mountain forest far from Konoha.
Danzo Shimura stopped with a stumble, panting heavily.
He looked back; only two trusted subordinates, covered in wounds and with dim eyes, remained by his side.
A massive sense of sorrow and humiliation instantly overwhelmed him.
He had "dedicated" his life to Konoha, calculating everything and even staining himself with countless filth, only to end up like this!
Expelled and hunted like a dog by the very Village he protected!
His single eye stared fixedly in the direction of Konoha, where the position of Hokage he had craved his whole life and the foundation he had built for decades resided, all of which had now turned into bubbles.
Endless resentment and unwillingness finally turned into a distorted roar that echoed through the mountain forest:
"Konoha!! Tsunade!! Jiraiya!!"
"I, Danzo Shimura... will definitely be back!!"
This voice was full of the wailing of a defeated dog and powerless curses; besides venting his final anger, it could no longer change any facts.
The news of the "Root" being wiped out and Danzo Shimura's wretched flight, though not yet officially announced, spread like wildfire through Konoha's highest power circles.
When Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu learned of this, they were first shocked by the decisiveness and ruthlessness of Tsunade's actions, and then they simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.