Mito Uzumaki's voice trembled—not with weakness, but fury.
"For the village?"
She stared at Danzo.
"Or for your own ambition?"
Her chakra flickered dangerously.
"Tell me clearly—where has Kazuki harmed Konoha's interests?"
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane fell silent.
They had no immediate answer.
Koharu tried weakly, "Lady Mito… this may simply be a misunderstanding."
"Yes," Homura added quickly. "Danzo only wished to question Kazuki. He resisted excessively—"
"Enough."
The word cut like a blade.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward.
The Adamantine Staff extended in his hand.
Without warning—
He swung.
CRACK.
Danzo's body lifted off the ground as the staff smashed across his face.
Blood sprayed.
Several teeth flew through the air.
Danzo spun once, twice—
Then crashed into the ground like a discarded sack.
Silence.
"Danzo is completely at fault," Hiruzen said coldly.
"There are no laws in Konoha that permit Root to arrest citizens in the street without authorization."
"No procedure."
"No approval."
"Nothing."
He bowed slightly toward Mito.
"This is my failure."
"I will give you, give Kazuki, and give Konoha a clear explanation."
Homura and Koharu felt a chill.
Hiruzen was truly angry.
That strike had not been symbolic.
It was punishment.
Mito's Nine-Tails chakra slowly receded.
She understood something clearly—
Hiruzen's blow had saved Danzo's life.
The Discovery
Homura suddenly crouched beside one of the bound Root operatives.
His hand pressed against the man's neck.
His face darkened.
"…Dead."
Koharu rushed over.
The second.
The third.
All of them.
No pulse.
No breath.
All ten Root elites—
Dead.
Hiruzen closed his eyes briefly.
Kazuki had not merely subdued them.
He had eliminated them.
Complete.
Efficient.
Ruthless.
Shock
"These are elite jōnin!" Koharu shouted, trembling.
"You killed them inside Konoha?!"
Kazuki's expression did not change.
"Oh?"
"I didn't notice."
"Sorry."
The calmness in his voice made it worse.
"You're lawless!" Koharu snapped. "You dare—"
"I was attacked in broad daylight," Kazuki replied evenly.
"They attempted abduction."
"I defended myself."
He paused slightly.
"…It was an accident. A misunderstanding."
The words hit like a slap.
Koharu's face went pale.
He had just used those exact words minutes ago.
Now they were thrown back at him.
Escalation
"You dare—!" Koharu pointed at him.
"Arrest him!"
Before anyone could react—
A thick wooden root burst from the ground.
It slammed into Koharu.
She flew through the air and crashed directly into Danzo's unconscious body.
Danzo wheezed weakly before blacking out again.
The scene froze.
"Is this the dignity of Konoha's senior advisors?" Kazuki asked calmly.
"What exactly does that title mean?"
Homura's anger rose—
Then faltered.
Kazuki's eyes held no hesitation.
No fear.
He did not care about rank.
Did not care about seniority.
He would strike.
And he would not warn.
Hiruzen rubbed his forehead.
"Kazuki… that was excessive."
Mito stepped forward immediately.
"He has just awakened Wood Release."
"He was attacked."
"He used too much force."
"Losing control and killing attackers is entirely understandable."
Her tone was final.
This time—
She stood openly on Kazuki's side.
Danzo had gone too far.
Koharu had gone too far.
Even Hiruzen felt it.
The political line had been crossed.
The Realization
The surrounding clans were watching from beyond the cordon.
Uchiha.
Hyūga.
Aburame.
Yamanaka.
They would talk.
They would think.
And one message was now clear:
The last pure-blooded Senju
Was powerful.
And protected by Mito Uzumaki herself.
This was no longer a small internal matter.
This was power realignment inside Konoha.
Hiruzen finally spoke firmly.
"This matter ends here."
"Danzo will be confined."
"Root activities are suspended pending investigation."
His voice carried authority again.
Koharu stared in disbelief.
Homura's face darkened.
Mito said nothing.
She simply stood beside Kazuki.
And that stance alone—
Changed the balance of the village.
Kazuki looked at the fallen bodies.
Then at the political elders.
Then at Mito.
A faint smile appeared.
The first battle had not been physical.
It had been positional.
And he had just claimed his place.