[Kotoamatsukami!]
The strongest Genjutsu, which is said to require over a decade to cool down after each use, was activated!
However, when Danzo looked triumphantly at the genius before him, a trace of astonishment flashed in his eyes.
Whoosh!
A pink light flashed by. What Danzo's Kotoamatsukami had actually made eye contact with was not Sakura but a Root Ninja standing behind her.
"No-!"
A heart-wrenching cry echoed through the frost-covered forest, causing the Hiruzen and the Ninjas behind him to feel pity.
The Ocular Power of the Mangekyo pierced the Root Ninja's mind, twisting their will and turning them into Danzo's puppet.
The four-pointed shuriken pattern in Danzo's eye also degenerated and vanished, reverting to an ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan.
As the saying goes: Life is full of surprises.
Indeed, Shimura Danzo, who had just gained an absolutely loyal subordinate, was laughing joyfully.
The cold wind outside the village swept up the frost on the ground as Sakura pushed aside an ice sculpture and strolled forward.
Watching the 'overjoyed' Danzo, the girl clasped her hands behind her back and kicked at the ice crystals on the ground.
A knowing smile bloomed on her beautiful face:
"Congratulations, Hokage's Advisor-sama!"
At this moment, Danzo couldn't hear Sakura's sincere congratulations.
Since the Uchiha had not been exterminated, he only possessed two Sharingan. One of them, Shisui's Mangekyo, held Kotoamatsukami, and was also Danzo's ultimate trump card.
It was only because of a rare talent like Sakura that he had considered using it, unsealing it for this purpose.
But now... it was gone. Everything was gone!
Kotoamatsukami was lost, Sakura had escaped, the Root's base was destroyed, and the hateful Hiruzen had brought a crowd to witness his Sharingan.
-Ah, such is life!
However, others present had a different experience from the heartbroken Danzo.
After eight long years of silence, the Space-Time Ninjutsu that once shook the Ninja World had reignited from the ashes!
Hiruzen was stunned, while Inoichi, Shikaku, and Choza were frozen. Not just them… countless Anbu Ninjas were left speechless.
"Flying Thunder God Technique!?"
Faster than Hiruzen, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio behind him sprang into action.
Inoichi used Body Flicker Technique to appear instantly in front of Sakura, separating her from Danzo.
Shikaku and Choza stood like guardians at the gate, blocking the intense gazes of other Ninjas toward Sakura from two different angles.
"Sakura, are you okay?"
With his teammates covering them, Inoichi knelt to check on Sakura's condition.
"I'm fi-"
Sakura was about to reassure Inoichi, but when she saw his rapidly blinking eyes, she understood.
She stiffened slightly, and her Devil Fruit's Ability spread across her face, turning her complexion pale.
"It hurts so much, Uncle Inoichi... my whole body aches..."
The teary-eyed girl weakly collapsed, and Inoichi caught her, letting out a grief-stricken cry.
"Hokage-sama, this matter requires an explanation!"
Shikaku also stepped forward at the right moment, questioning Hiruzen in a respectful tone.
Though Ino-Shika-Cho were usually staunch supporters of the Hokage's Faction, the current situation prevented them from siding with Hiruzen.
Because Danzo had done something absolutely intolerable to Ninja Clans: meddling with another's Kekkei Genkai.
As the Jonin Commander and the head of a secret technique clan, Shikaku could rightfully question this matter on behalf of the clan-born Anbu behind Hiruzen.
While Ninja Clans fought desperately on the front lines to protect Konoha, Danzo was scheming against their clansmen behind the scenes.
Even using the Uchiha Clan as a pretext would be utterly unacceptable to the clans.
If Hiruzen enforced a gag order, it would only widen the rift between the village and the Ninja Clans.
It was better for Shikaku to address the issue directly to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Plus, it can also help Sakura vent her anger.
"Well, this..."
Hiruzen hesitated. He could never admit to this.
Otherwise, not only would his tenure as Hokage end, but he would also be nailed to the pillar of shame for decades to come.
'So, old friend Danzo, it's time for you to take the fall!'
"Danzo, you've gone too far this time!"
Hiruzen's dull voice rang out, his angry gaze fixed on Danzo.
"Hiruzen, you know I did this for Konoha!"
Hearing his old friend's implication that he should take the blame, Danzo understood. If this matter were pinned on Hiruzen, both of them would be ruined.
So, he shouldered the blame willingly and cast a pleading look at Hiruzen.
'Monkey, save me!'
Unfortunately, Danzo, who was full of hope, was destined to receive no response.
"This incident has caused severe repercussions. You are hereby relieved of your positions as Hokage's Advisor and Root's leader. You will be temporarily detained in the Anbu Prison, awaiting investigation by the other two Hokage's Advisors for further judgment!"
Hiruzen's tone was sharp, and he appeared righteous and imposing, yet none of his statements carried any concrete punitive measures.
"Please rest assured, the village will investigate this matter thoroughly and will not tolerate such actions!"
Seeing that he had spoken thus, the Ninja from the Ninja Clans could hardly voice further objections.
Could they really confront the Third Hokage publicly? Or did the village's suggestion box actually function as intended?
Thus, many clan-born Anbu Ninjas lowered their heads, silently expressing their dissatisfaction with Hiruzen's handling of the situation.
Witnessing this, Hiruzen wished he could drag Danzo back and berate him mercilessly.
But for now, the priority was to manage these Ninjas and suppress the public opinion before it escalated...
His mind racing, Hiruzen's gaze shifted to the 'wailing' Sakura nearby.
Look who it was… a wild Flying Thunder God User! And from the looks of it, she seemed eager to help divert everyone's attention!
"Cough, Inoichi, I believe the urgent matter is to get Sakura to the hospital. After all, she is a rare budding talent of Konoha."
A seemingly casual remark, yet it made many Ninjas temporarily set aside the earlier incident.
Flying Thunder God Technique! This is the user of Flying Thunder God Technique.
Konoha now had a new Space-Time Ninjutsu User. Even if they lacked the talent to master the complete Flying Thunder God Technique, they could still learn a simplified cooperative version, just like the Fourth Hokage's guard team!
For a moment, many Ninjas felt their throats itch, swallowing hard in unison.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Inoichi nodded, picked up Sakura, and dashed toward the village's hospital.
The eyes of the Anbu Ninjas flickered, following Inoichi's figure as he leaped through the forest.
Seeing this, Hiruzen lit his pipe, exhaling smoke that obscured his face.
"Go if you wish. You are dismissed!"
As soon as he spoke, the Anbu Ninjas vanished instantly.
Hiruzen himself turned his gaze to the Root and sighed.
The real work he had to handle was only just beginning.
…
Meanwhile, at Konoha Hospital.
Sakura was being bandaged by a Medical-Nin.
"Honestly, I've never seen a patient like her. Good thing you brought her in early."
After finishing the diagnostic report, the female Medical-Nin looked up at the adult accompanying Sakura.
"Is it serious?"
Inoichi's heart sank.
The Medical-Nin finished bandaging Sakura and shook her head.
"No, what I mean is, if you'd arrived any later, her injuries might have healed on their own."
Inoichi: "..."
The Medical-Nin swiftly signed the medical chart and urged the two to leave the hospital.
"Anyway, Uncle Inoichi, thank you very much for today!"
As they stepped out of the hospital, Sakura 'heard' Inoichi's guilty thoughts and clapped her hands in gratitude.
"Sakura, I..."
Inoichi's words were cut off by Sakura.
"If Uncle Inoichi feels bad about it, please do me a favor: keep what happened today a secret from my parents!"
Sakura clasped her hands in a pleading gesture, her soft, cute tone making it impossible for Inoichi to refuse.
Then, Sakura waved at Inoichi.
"It's getting late, I should head back now. Goodbye, Uncle Inoichi!"
Watching the girl vanish from the street, Inoichi suddenly realized, 'As a Flying Thunder God User, how could Sakura have been so easily subdued by Root?'
'So the entire night had been...'
His thoughts halted in time, and Inoichi lit a cigarette with a sigh.
"What an... incredible child!"