Danzō's body swayed slightly, his eyes flickering.
In this moment, his mind fell into chaos.
Because the item Jiraiya held… was undeniable evidence of Danzō's involvement in Orochimaru's infiltration of Konoha.
That scroll had been handed to Orochimaru by Danzō himself—and it was supposed to self-destruct after a single reading. Yet here it was, intact.
The chakra traces on it alone would confirm its authenticity. There was no escaping it—no room for excuses.
A single check by the Intelligence Division would expose everything.
Danzō forced out a cold snort.
"You're a missing-nin, Jiraiya. How credible can a traitor's words be?"
Jiraiya tossed the scroll directly to Tsunade.
"Yeah, I'm a missing-nin. So what? Evidence is still evidence—no matter who finds it."
Danzō looked from Tsunade to Jiraiya, bitterness twisting his expression.
He had thought forcing Jiraiya out of the village would leave Tsunade isolated. Instead, it had driven Jiraiya right into the hands of Orochimaru—allowing him to secure this damning proof.
Had he known… he would never have let Jiraiya leave.
But now, regret meant nothing.
"Danzō."
Tsunade's voice was like a blade.
"You sacrificed the Tailed Beast belonging to an allied village just to earn Kirigakure's support. You aided Orochimaru and became an accomplice to the Third Hokage's death. Are you fit to be Hokage?"
Up above, the daimyō sat bewildered. How had the proceedings reached this point so suddenly?
"Konoha will make you pay for what you've done!"
The surrounding Leaf shinobi erupted into shouts of outrage—their killing intent practically suffocating the air.
Before they could act, ANBU and Root shinobi materialized, blocking Tsunade and her supporters.
Danzō had controlled Konoha for too long to topple without resistance.
"Hmph."
"The words of a mere missing-nin hold no weight. And a scroll alone doesn't prove I killed Hiruzen."
He straightened, eyes sharp beneath the bandages.
"Do not forget—I am the Sixth Hokage. Officially appointed."
"If I am to be investigated, then it will be according to proper procedure. Until proven otherwise, I remain Hokage."
His lips twisted into a cold smile.
Authority meant privilege. And time—time to crush anyone who opposed him.
But—
Dark figures smashed through the walls in a blur of speed.
Twenty Kirigakure shinobi surged into the chamber, quickly encircling Danzō.
Danzō stiffened.
"What are you doing!?"
His glare shifted to Shigure.
"What is the Hidden Mist thinking?! Are you trying to provoke a war with Konoha?"
Shigure only smiled.
"We're not Konoha shinobi. They may hesitate to lay a hand on you…"
"But we won't."
Sasuke stepped forward, taking his place beside Shigure. Jūgo and Yūgi (Yuui) flanked him, blocking the Root operatives.
Disbelief flickered in Jūgo and Yūgi's eyes—they never expected to meet Shigure again… let alone stand as allies.
"You dare think—"
Danzō didn't finish.
Shigure seized him by the jaw in an instant, silencing him with overwhelming force.
Shigure hurled Danzo upward with overwhelming force—
BOOM!
The ceiling shattered as Danzo's body blasted through it.
Shigure and Sasuke vaulted up after him without hesitation. For a moment, the remaining shinobi froze—then the twenty Kirigakure shinobi accompanying Shigure immediately gave chase.
Hokage Building Rooftop
The Mist shinobi spread out in formation, weaving hand signs. A barrier expanded outward, enclosing the rooftop and sealing both ground access and air entry.
Moments later, groups of Leaf shinobi landed around the barrier, surrounding the building. Tsunade and Orochimaru appeared on the adjacent rooftop, their expressions tense.
Tsunade's gaze locked onto the scene.
As long as Danzo held the title of Hokage, any direct attack by Leaf shinobi would ignite civil war.
Shigure acting outside Konoha's authority… was the only feasible move.
It would burn Konoha's relationship with the Mist — but that bridge was already smoldering.
"Lady Tsunade, what should we do?"
A Leaf shinobi asked anxiously.
She exhaled sharply.
"Watch. With that barrier up, we can't break in—not without forcing a full confrontation."
The ninja hesitated, clearly wanting to argue:
Tsunade and Jiraiya together might break it…
But then what? Attack the acting Hokage?
Execute him in front of the daimyō?
Even righteous action would become treason.
Letting the Mist and a missing-nin handle it… avoided all consequences.
For now.
Sasuke's voice cut across the rooftop.
"The Uchiha massacre… you planned it, didn't you?"
Danzo turned slowly, eyes narrowing. His own Root operatives could only watch helplessly from outside the barrier.
Now, it was just the three of them trapped inside.
"The Uchiha deserved their fate," Danzo said coldly.
"They intended rebellion. They would have plunged Konoha into war. Their deaths were—inevitable."
That was enough.
Sasuke didn't care about politics.
Didn't care about intentions.
Only truth — and vengeance.
He activated his Sharingan.
Three tomoe spun, chakra flooding his limbs.
Lightning crackled to life—
Chidori!
The rooftop lit up with blinding blue sparks.
At the same time, another radiance flared beside him.
Shigure raised a hand.
Light Release — Light Bullet.
A cross-shaped gleam flickered at his fingertips, pulsing with lethal intent.
Leaf shinobi gasped. Sasuke's technique they recognized…
But Shigure's jutsu?
Light Release—an unknown, terrifying power.
A flash.
A beam pierced through the air—
It impaled Danzo's shoulder before he could react, halting even the idea of hand signs.
Fast… what kind of jutsu…?!
Before he could finish the thought—
Sasuke was already in front of him.
"Die."
CHIDORI!
A single, brutal strike—
The Chidori tore through Danzo's heart.
Blood sprayed across the rooftop.
Silence fell.
Had it… ended that easily?
The observing Leaf shinobi—ANBU and Root alike—stared in shock.
Lord Hokage… killed? Just like that?
Only Tsunade and Jiraiya remained grim.
They knew Danzō Shimura—
And Danzō never went down that easily.
...
TN:
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