The air in the Konoha high-level meeting room was as heavy as lead.
Twelve elder advisors sat around a large round table, the candles on the walls flickering with a faint light.
The shifting light cut each person’s expression into fragments of light and shadow.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood at the head of the table, an unlit pipe in his aged hand, his gaze like a blade sweeping across everyone present.
Danzō sat in the shadows of a corner, the stump of his right arm wrapped in fresh bandages, his left eye narrowed, like a viper coiled in the darkness.
“Let’s begin,” the Third Hokage’s voice was low and stern.
An ANBU ninja stepped forward silently and unrolled a sealed scroll on the table.
Inside the scroll lay Danzō’s grayish-white severed arm.
At the severed end, due to the activity of the Hashirama cells, it was still wriggling slightly, as if possessing a life of its own.
“This was recovered from Fugaku Uchiha.”
As the Third Hokage spoke, Danzō’s eyelids twitched.
His severed arm should have been in the blond brat’s hands.
How did it end up with Fugaku?
The Third Hokage keenly noticed Danzō’s anomaly but continued slowly.
“According to the medical team’s analysis, this arm contains the cells of the First Hokage, and…”
He paused and took another report from his pocket.
“…Furthermore, we discovered twelve Sharingan in a secret room deep within Root. According to analysis, these were all harvested while the individuals were still alive.”
The meeting room erupted in an uproar.
Koharu Utatane’s teacup smashed to the floor with a “crack.”
Hot water splashed onto her hem.
She stared intently at the arm, her lips trembling.
“This, this is impossible…”
Mitokado Homura’s forehead beaded with cold sweat.
He looked at Danzō, his voice tight.
“Danzō, explain yourself.”
Danzō slowly raised his head, a cold glint flashing in his single eye.
“For Konoha,” his voice was hoarse and calm.
“The Uchiha’s Sharingan is a dangerous weapon and must be controlled.”
“Control?” The Third Hokage sneered and slammed the table, standing up abruptly.
“You call this control?”
With a wave of his hand, the ANBU immediately brought forward three large metal boxes.
The moment the boxes were opened, the pungent smell of preservative filled the air.
Inside, twelve Sharingan, immersed in culture fluid, were neatly arranged, each labeled with a detailed number and date.
The most recent one was dated three days ago.
Danzō’s pupils contracted slightly.
“And this.”
The Third Hokage drew a yellowed scroll from his sleeve and slammed it onto the table.
“‘Nine-Tails Jinchūriki Control Plan.’ Using Sharingan to alter memories and induce rampage… Danzō, you won’t even let the Fourth Hokage’s orphan go?”
Danzō’s single eye slowly swept across everyone in the room, finally settling on the Third Hokage’s face.
A cold smile suddenly spread across his lips.
“Hiruzen, you’re getting old.”
He slowly stood up, his right eye under the bandage seeming to ache faintly. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“Weak, indecisive… Konoha will be ruined in your hands sooner or later.”
The Third Hokage’s gaze was like iron.
“So that’s your reason? To become Hokage?”
The meeting room was silent.
Danzō suddenly laughed, the sound like it came from the depths of hell.
“Hokage?”
He violently ripped off the bandage on his right eye, revealing the scarlet Sharingan.
“I want to thoroughly purge the rot from Konoha! The Uchiha’s Sharingan, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki… these unstable factors should have been eradicated long ago!”
Koharu Utatane stood up abruptly.
“You’re insane! These are our comrades!”
“Comrades?” Danzō’s three tomoe in his single eye slowly rotated.
“In the face of absolute power, there are only useful and useless tools.”
The Third Hokage slowly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, only determination remained in his eyes.
“Vote now. Dissolve Root and issue a full warrant for Danzō Shimura.”
His hand was the first to rise.
Koharu Utatane trembled, then slowly raised her arm.
One, two…
Danzō watched the hands gradually rising, the muscles in his face twisting for a moment before returning to calm.
“Very well,” he said softly, the killing intent in his single eye overflowing.
“Then don’t blame me.”
The moment Danzō’s words fell, he suddenly slammed his cane heavily onto the ground.
With a muffled thud, the walls of the meeting room suddenly burst open!
Dozens of Root ninjas wearing snake-patterned masks burst through the walls.
Each held a kunai flashing with cold light, and everyone present was instantly taken hostage.
Among them, a burly man at the forefront bowed respectfully to Danzō.
“Danzō-sama!”
Danzō stood up, looking coldly at everyone present.
“It’s time for Konoha to change its ruler.”
As Danzō gave the order, all the Root members immediately threw kunai and shuriken at those present.
Koharu Utatane screamed, and Homura Mitokado immediately formed hand seals.
“Earth Style: Earth Style Wall!”
An earthen wall rose from the ground, blocking the incoming kunai.
But more Root ninjas surged from all directions, and the entire meeting room instantly descended into chaos.
The Third Hokage’s eyes widened with rage.
“Danzō! How dare you—”
Danzō stood in the center of the chaos, madness flashing in his single eye.
“Konoha needs a cleansing, Hiruzen! Starting with you!”
He violently ripped open his robe, revealing his bandaged torso.
After Madara had disarmed him last time, Danzō had re-implanted Hashirama cells into himself and transplanted three Sharingan at the same time.
He knew that the monster calling himself Madara would definitely seek revenge, so he needed a means of self-preservation.
And this was his means of self-preservation!
Danzō formed a hand seal and activated the Sharingan on his chest, unleashing a terrifying surge of chakra.
His body began to twist and deform, Hashirama’s grayish-white cells growing wildly from the severed arm, forming a new arm in an instant.
At the same time, the arm that was supposed to be evidence had disappeared, as if it had never existed.
“See?”
Danzō laughed maniacally, his voice distorted.
“This is power! The power of the First Hokage! The power of the Uchiha!”
His skin began to crack, revealing the writhing Hashirama cells beneath.
His entire body swelled like a monster, the three Sharingan on his chest constantly scanning his surroundings, making people’s hair stand on end.
“He’s gone mad…” Koharu Utatane slumped onto her chair, her face ashen.
“You’ve completely lost it…”
Danzō ignored them, waving his hand violently.
“Take them down! Especially Hiruzen Sarutobi!”
Looking at the Root ninjas surging like a tide, the aged Hokage took a deep breath.
Then he calmly said, “Act!”
The same words came from the Third Hokage’s mouth.
Instantly, a massive jutsu circle appeared on the ground.
Almost in an instant, the Third Hokage and Danzō vanished from their positions.
“Wh-what happened?”
Those left behind were completely bewildered.
The ANBU ninjas, who had been hiding nearby, revealed themselves.
Itachi, leading the ANBU, gave the order.
“Root has begun to rebel. Eliminate them all without mercy!”
At the same time, on the desolate training ground in the east of Konoha, the figures of the Third Hokage and Danzō appeared.
The summoning jutsu circle beneath their feet was still glowing, completely isolating the area within a hundred-meter radius from the outside world.
“Do you think changing locations will change the outcome?”
Danzō’s right eye glowed scarlet in the darkness, the three tomoe on his chest rotating eerily.
“You’re just delaying the inevitable.”
The Third Hokage silently removed his Kage robes, revealing the battle armor of the Warring States period that he hadn’t worn in years.
The metal plates glinted coldly in the moonlight, the “Sarutobi” crest clearly visible on his back.
This action made Danzō’s pupils contract.
Wearing this armor meant the Third Hokage was finally getting serious.
“This is your last chance, Danzō.”
The Third Hokage formed hand seals, and Enma transformed into a Vajra Konai staff that fell into his palm.
“Lay down your weapons and accept judgment.”
Danzō suddenly burst into maniacal laughter, his laughter mixed with the roaring of chakra.
“Judgment? By you, an old geezer?”
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