The elders of the Sarutobi clan walked in one after another, telling Hiruzen Sarutobi everything that had happened while he had been unconscious.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew uglier and uglier.
"Danzo became acting Hokage?"
"Tsunade and Jiraiya want to rebuild the Senju clan?"
"They have already attracted over a thousand shinobi?"
"Konoha betrayed the Land of Whirlpools?"
"The First Hokage betrayed Uchiha Madara?"
"What is all this?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed an expression of disbelief. He had never imagined that so many things would happen during the short period he had been unconscious.
"If Konoha's situation was indeed declining while I held office…"
"Then under Danzo as acting Hokage, Konoha has simply been plummeting!"
"Terrible. Truly terrible!"
"Konoha's current situation is worse than at any point in its history."
After that, Hiruzen Sarutobi heard about the attacks suffered by the major shinobi villages.
Iwagakure's jinchuriki, Han, had been captured.
Takigakure's jinchuriki had been captured.
Nearly half of Kumogakure had been destroyed, and both of its jinchuriki had been captured.
Sunagakure had been attacked as well, but Rasa's strength was powerful enough to stop the attacker, so it suffered no harm.
"What about Konoha?"
At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help but grow worried.
After all, Konoha's situation was not good. These attackers sounded terrifyingly strong. Even Kumogakure had been unable to stop them. Konoha might be even less capable of doing so.
What was Konoha's situation now?
And who had attacked Konoha?
"Konoha is fine."
The Sarutobi clan elder revealed an awkward expression.
"Konoha is fine?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat confused.
They had attacked Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Takigakure, and Kumogakure. It was impossible for them not to attack Konoha.
"Could it be that Danzo directly handed over the Nine-Tails jinchuriki?"
The elder opposite him shook his head.
"Hokage-sama, I do not know the true situation. Perhaps only you can ask Danzo-sama yourself."
"All we know is that Konoha truly did not suffer an attack."
"And the rumor currently spreading outside says that this series of attacks was jointly created by Konoha and the Akatsuki organization. It says that the one who attacked Sunagakure was Uchiha Fugaku."
"The Nine-Tails has already become Uchiha Fugaku's summoned beast."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened again.
"What?"
At that moment, the news of Hiruzen Sarutobi's awakening had already reached the ears of many village higher-ups.
They immediately wanted to come and see the situation.
After all, Konoha's current circumstances were truly terrible.
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for a while.
"I will go to the Hokage Building."
Before long, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the Hokage Building.
At this time, the Hokage's office was still occupied by Danzo.
Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi chose a conference room instead.
Some of the village's higher-ups entered.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the main seat.
Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a trace of unwillingness in his eyes, but at the same time, he also breathed a sigh of relief.
Konoha's current situation was too terrible. Danzo no longer knew how to handle it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's awakening was perfect. He could take this hot potato back.
As for the Hokage position…
Danzo was certainly reluctant to give it up, but he also knew that at this point, it was no longer a matter of whether he was willing or not.
"Danzo, was the Akatsuki organization cultivated by you?"
"Did Uchiha Fugaku truly awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan and control the Nine-Tails?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared fixedly at Danzo.
If things were truly as the rumors said, the situation might actually be somewhat better for Konoha.
Even if Konoha had to stand against the entire shinobi world, it would possess that strength.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that this was not very likely.
Konoha simply did not have that level of strength. He himself did not know much about that so-called Akatsuki organization.
And Danzo had no such strength either.
Otherwise, Hiruzen Sarutobi believed that Danzo would have stolen the Hokage position long ago.
He would never have merely obtained the title of acting Hokage, only to hand it back now.
"No."
Danzo shook his head.
"That is all slander from others."
"The Akatsuki organization has nothing to do with me."
"As for the Nine-Tails… the one controlling the Nine-Tails should not be Uchiha Fugaku either."
Danzo had sold the Nine-Tails to deal with Tsunade and Jiraiya.
In Danzo's view, he had sold it to the remnants of Hanzo's faction.
The appearance of an Uchiha during the attack on Sunagakure also puzzled Danzo.
Previously, Danzo had suspected Uchiha Fugaku and wanted to investigate, but Hiruzen Sarutobi had chosen to refuse.
Now, however, Danzo was clarifying the matter for Uchiha Fugaku, while Hiruzen Sarutobi had already concluded that Uchiha Fugaku was absolutely no good man. The person who had caused him to fall into a second coma was none other than Uchiha Fugaku.
"Not Uchiha Fugaku?"
"Whether it is him or not, we will know after testing him."
Konoha's current situation was terrible, and Hiruzen Sarutobi had become somewhat more decisive.
He immediately gave the order.
"Go to the Uchiha compound and attack Uchiha Fugaku. There is no need to hold back!"
Below him, the ANBU shinobi accepted the order.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Very soon, these ANBU shinobi appeared in the Uchiha clan's compound.
"Who's there?"
Uchiha Fugaku sensed movement and looked outside.
He saw ANBU shinobi rushing toward him at high speed.
"ANBU?"
"What is the matter?"
But before he could finish speaking, the ANBU shinobi had already attacked. The sharp blade in his hand stabbed straight toward Uchiha Fugaku.
Uchiha Fugaku's pupils constricted sharply.
"What are you doing?"
"I am a village official!"
"The Hokage-sama's trusted subordinate!"
"You dare attack me?"
"Are you trying to rebel?"
But after hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, the ANBU shinobi showed no intention of stopping. Instead, their attacks became even fiercer.
Uchiha Fugaku had no choice but to fight back.
The two sides exchanged blows.
Three tomoe spun in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes.
Those able to enter the ANBU all possessed certain outstanding qualities.
And the ANBU shinobi sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi this time were particularly capable.
Therefore, even though Uchiha Fugaku possessed the three-tomoe Sharingan, was the head of the Uchiha clan, and had mastered a large number of ninjutsu resources, the disparity in numbers was simply too great.
As time passed, Uchiha Fugaku gradually fell into a disadvantage.
No matter what Uchiha Fugaku said, these ANBU shinobi did not waver in the slightest.
They continued attacking with full force.
Puchi!
A wound appeared across Uchiha Fugaku's chest.
Uchiha Fugaku lowered his head and looked. His expression darkened.
"You insist on killing me?"
"Fine!"
"Since that is the case, let us see who can kill whom!"
Uchiha Fugaku looked at the ANBU shinobi across from him and drew a deep breath.
"Mangekyo Sharingan!"
In an instant, Uchiha Fugaku's aura changed.
Inside the Hokage Building's conference room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared fixedly at the crystal ball before him.
"Uchiha Fugaku, so it was you after all!"