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Danzo's hatred for Tsunade was beyond words.
During the previous meeting, Tsunade had already displayed a hostile attitude toward him, forcing him to be extra cautious around her. He had no choice but to deploy his "Root" operatives to monitor her movements.
This time, when Tsunade set out with Shizune, Danzo immediately sensed that something was amiss and hurried to the scene.
At first, he assumed Tsunade was planning to hand over the blackmail material she had gathered to Hiruzen Sarutobi. He wasn't the least bit afraid of her submitting evidence of "forced interrogations" or "murders" committed by Root.
After all, that was precisely Root's purpose.
Even if Tsunade had proof that Root had captured Shizune, he could easily pin the blame on a few rogue members of Root. At worst, he would only be guilty of "failing to properly discipline his subordinates."
But for that to work, he needed to be present—to refute Tsunade's accusations face-to-face.
On one hand, it would be far more satisfying to crush her arguments in person. On the other, he needed to act before his opponents could prepare. If they had time to plan, his chances of victory would diminish.
Striking when the enemy least expected it was the key.
However, Danzo never anticipated that Tsunade didn't actually have any solid evidence. Instead, she had lured him here with nothing but words—and then directly exposed his Sharingan.
This move caught Danzo completely off guard. Under the Hokage's pressure, he had no choice but to remove the bandages covering his eye.
This particular Sharingan was his most prized possession. Not only was it a Mangekyō Sharingan, but it also possessed an immensely powerful jutsu—the strongest genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami!
Truthfully, Danzo was reluctant to use Kotoamatsukami. But given his current predicament, he had little choice.
Before fully removing the bandages, while Hiruzen was still unprepared, Danzo activated Kotoamatsukami.
Of course, using Kotoamatsukami within Konoha was extremely risky. The Byakugan could detect its presence. But then again, as long as no one alerted the Hyūga clan, he doubted Hiashi Hyūga would dare to use his Byakugan on the Hokage.
That's right—once Tsunade was dead, no one would ever know the truth.
After that, if Hiruzen were to abdicate in his favor, Danzo would become the undisputed Hokage.
Once he thought it through, Danzo found this outcome acceptable.
When Tsunade saw the Sharingan, the first thing that flashed through her mind was something Midorima had once told her—Danzo possessed Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan and could unleash the overpowering genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami.
Could it be…?
Tsunade quickly turned her head and saw Hiruzen rising to his feet.
"Sensei, beware of his genjutsu!" she shouted in warning.
Without hesitation, Hiruzen formed hand signs and spat a fireball straight at Tsunade.
She barely managed to dodge, and the flames crashed into the wall, igniting countless documents.
"Tsunade has attacked the Hokage! Kill her!" Danzo pointed at her, and Root operatives immediately swarmed in, surrounding Tsunade and Shizune.
"Lady Tsunade, what do we do?!" Shizune cried out.
Tsunade glanced at the nearly deranged Danzo and the approaching Hiruzen, feeling a wave of despair.
This despair wasn't solely due to the overwhelming difference in strength—it also stemmed from her fear for Konoha's future.
Was this how Midorima felt back then?
But Danzo gave her no time to reflect. The Root operatives charged at her again.
The cramped office couldn't withstand such a large-scale assault. In an instant, the walls crumbled.
Tsunade shielded Shizune with her body, only for a blade to pierce through her chest. She retaliated with a single strike to the Root operative's torso, sending him flying. The operative collapsed and never got back up.
"You could have just run away," Danzo sneered, glancing behind Tsunade.
The wall had collapsed. If she turned around now, she could escape with Shizune.
But if she fled, she would automatically be branded a missing-nin. No matter how much she tried to explain, no one would listen.
"Run away?" Tsunade scoffed. "Never. I'd rather die than flee."
Midorima could escape Kirigakure because he was just a shinobi—he had the right to survive.
But she was different.
Her grandfather had been the First and Second Hokage. If she ran, the Senju clan would be forever shamed.
In other words, even if she died under false accusations, she would die in Konoha!
The only regret was that she wouldn't get to speak with Yōji again.
What truly frustrated her was knowing Danzo's crimes yet being unable to expose his darkness.
What a failure.
"Shizune… when you get the chance, run. I'll buy you time," Tsunade said, trying to ignore the blood on her chest. She didn't want to relive those painful memories.
"No, I won't—" Shizune shook her head.
"Listen to me. You must remember everything that happens here today. If you don't escape, my name will never be cleared," Tsunade insisted.
Now that things had reached a life-or-death struggle, Tsunade held nothing back. Dark markings spread across her face as her wounds healed at an incredible rate.
"Strength of a Hundred Seal!"
"Don't worry—neither of you is escaping. Because the Hokage is always on my side! Kill them!" Danzo didn't believe for a second that Tsunade or Shizune could get away.
Even if Root was defeated, he and the Hokage could still finish them off.
Besides, with all this commotion, the ANBU must have noticed by now. They would arrive soon.
Tsunade swiftly eliminated several Root operatives until only Danzo and the Hokage remained in the ruined office. As for Shizune, she had been seized by a Root operative after Tsunade pushed her aside.
"When the ANBU arrive, you'll know what to say, won't you?" Danzo smirked.
"You coward… using a child to threaten me?" Tsunade hadn't expected Root operatives to be lying in wait outside.
This was a complete defeat.
"No, this isn't a threat. It's a transaction. Understand?"
"Never!" Tsunade spat. "I won't allow a parasite like you to keep poisoning Konoha!"
Danzo's eyes widened. "How dare you?! Everything I've done has been for Konoha!"
"Spare me the lies! You put your own interests above the village and have the nerve to claim it's for Konoha?" Tsunade laughed bitterly.
"If you're going to be this stubborn, then Shizune dies first!" Danzo roared.
Tsunade paled, about to turn toward Shizune, when a sudden crackle of static filled the air.
"Attention, all units! This is an emergency! The Hokage has been attacked! All Military Police, patrol units, ANBU, and clan leaders are to assemble at the Hokage Building immediately to protect the Hokage and prevent the assailants from escaping! I repeat, the Hokage has been attacked—"
Huh?! Someone's using the village's broadcast system?!
Tsunade froze, her heart pounding. She had no idea what effect this announcement would have, but one thing was certain—everyone, including Military Police, would be rushing here.
Danzo was equally stunned.
If it were just the ANBU or other forces, he could handle it. But the Military Police was composed entirely of Uchiha clansmen.
What were they doing here?!
If they saw his Sharingan—especially Shisui's—wouldn't that be inviting Fugaku Uchiha to kill him on the spot?!
Danzo frantically searched for his bandages, only to remember they had been burned in the fire.
Seeing Danzo's panic, Tsunade snapped back to reality.
He's the one who should be afraid, not me.
Sure, Hiruzen was under Danzo's control, but if she could hold out until the Hyūga and Uchiha arrived, the truth would come to light.
But who had made that broadcast?
Tsunade frowned, but deep down, the image of a certain person began to take shape in her mind.