Inside the Hokage's office, Naruto arrived as promised.
Pushing open the door, he found that the target hadn't shown up yet.
But Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were already there, sitting quietly to the side.
These two were senior advisors of Konoha.
Naruto had deliberately asked Granny Tsunade to invite them, his aim being to put Danzō at ease.
With those two present, Danzō would surely think this was truly a meeting to discuss village affairs.
In the office, Tsunade sat in the Hokage's chair, with Shizune standing behind her. Jiraiya-sensei was there as well.
Looking at Tsunade, Naruto asked,
"Granny Tsunade, where's Lord Danzō?"
Her brows furrowed.
"Kakashi's already gone to fetch him."
Naruto nodded and fell silent.
Tsunade studied him and asked,
"Naruto, I'm curious. Why do you insist on Danzō being here before you'll reveal your so-called secret?"
Naruto only smiled.
"You'll understand soon enough, Granny."
Jiraiya kept watching Naruto. For some reason, unease gnawed at his heart, a vague sense of foreboding he couldn't put into words.
Mitokado Homura turned to Tsunade.
"Tsunade, what exactly are we here to discuss? And this… Nine-Tails—cough, cough… I mean, this secret Naruto claims to have—does it concern Konoha itself?"
Utatane Koharu added,
"That's right. If we've been summoned here, and even Danzō has been called, it must be a matter of grave importance."
Naruto nodded.
"Yes. It's about the Fourth Hokage's secret."
The two elders gasped softly in surprise, exchanging wary glances.
Meanwhile, over in Root headquarters, Danzō received his report. The Hokage had invited Homura and Koharu into her office, and even sent Kakashi personally to invite him.
What trick was Tsunade up to, calling all these old fossils together?
Though suspicion burned in his heart, the Hokage's summons under the name of official business left him no excuse to refuse.
Hmph.
Most likely, Jiraiya's strength has been crippled, and now when he can't handle a problem on his own, they remember us "old relics."
Smiling faintly, Danzō stood when Kakashi arrived to deliver the message. He set out without hesitation.
As for bodyguards—he brought none.
After all, this was Konoha. No one would dare lay a hand on him here. He still had that much confidence.
Besides, bringing Root shinobi into the Hokage's office would only raise suspicion from Tsunade's ANBU guards.
Naruto had predicted exactly this. That was why he'd asked Granny Tsunade to summon the three elders under the pretense of discussing the Fourth Hokage's secret.
In truth, the whole point was to lower Danzō's guard and lure him in defenseless.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Enter," Tsunade said.
Kakashi opened the door.
"Hokage-sama, Lord Danzō has arrived."
Stepping aside, Kakashi let the man in.
Leaning on his cane, Danzō walked inside.
At once, Homura and Koharu stood up. Koharu even scolded,
"Danzō, you're far too slow. We've been waiting ages!"
Danzō chuckled in reply.
"Who could have guessed the Hokage would summon this old relic? Age slows the steps, I'm afraid."
Tsunade frowned.
The barb in his words was clear.
Though aimed at her, it implied she had neglected all of them, instantly aligning himself with Homura and Koharu as a faction.
At that moment, Naruto, who had been standing with his back to Danzō, stirred.
In a flash, the shadow clone he'd left at home dispelled.
Orange pigment markings instantly appeared around his eyes.
Jiraiya was the first to notice.
In that office, only he and Naruto could use Sage Mode. Sensitive as he was to such natural energy, the moment he saw that familiar orange, he knew—
Something was about to happen!
But it was already too late.
In Sage Mode, perception, speed, and power all skyrocketed. In three words, his attacks became:
Fast. Precise. Ruthless.
Naruto spun around in one fluid motion.
Danzō still had a faint smile on his face, mouth just opening, eyes turned toward Homura and Koharu—
And in that instant, Naruto's hand was already reaching for his right eye!
"Your right eye—I'll be taking it."
Fearing the use of Kotoamatsukami, Naruto had activated Sage Mode for maximum reaction speed.
His movement was so fast, no one could respond.
"Arghhh!"
With a scream, Naruto gouged Danzō's right eye clean out!
Danzō stood frozen, dumbfounded—even after losing his eye, his mind couldn't catch up.
Kakashi's eyes widened. Lightning flared in his hand—Raikiri! He lunged at Naruto to strike him down.
"Tch." Naruto clicked his tongue. With no choice, he used the Flying Thunder God to retreat.
Buzz!
In a blink, he vanished—
Reappearing atop a nearby rooftop.
Tsunade shot to her feet in shock.
Homura and Koharu shrieked, rounding on her.
"Tsunade! What is the meaning of this!!"
They thought Naruto's actions had been at her command.
With a furious roar, Tsunade's fist smashed her desk to splinters.
"That damn brat—what does he think he's doing?!"
Jiraiya was shaken as well.
Why had the boy done this?
Danzō clutched his bleeding socket, teeth gritted, and glared at Tsunade.
"Tsunade… are you trying to move against me?!"
For a moment, Tsunade was speechless. After all, Naruto had been the one to ask her to summon everyone here.
A mocking voice rang out.
"C'mon, Danzō—if Granny Tsunade wanted to move against you, would she need to invite you here first?"
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Naruto stood on the rooftop, the freshly gouged eye dripping blood in his hand, staining his palm red.
Kakashi was the first to shatter the Hokage's window and leap outside. Jiraiya followed at once.
ANBU guards stationed around the building rushed in, surrounding Naruto in a tight formation.
Tsunade herself leapt down as well.
Homura and Koharu hurried to support Danzō.
Shizune approached, frowning.
"Lord Danzō, let me stop the bleeding."
But Danzō shoved her hand away, furious beyond reason.
That was Shisui Uchiha's eye!
And it had been ripped out, just like that!
Bleeding could wait. To hell with that!
He pulled his hand away from his face, pointing with his remaining eye at Naruto.
"Tsunade! Unless you give me an explanation right now—this will not end between us!"
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