"According to the investigation, Elder Danzo gathered his former Root members during Pain's invasion, forbidding them from engaging the enemy. He deliberately held back combat power, never appeared until the battle ended, and even refused to join post-battle relief. He is suspected of trying to seize power amid the crisis!"
As Shikamaru read this out, everyone fixed Danzo with looks of doubt and condemnation.
Homura and Koharu both stiffened, a prickle of dread running through their hearts.
Danzo sprang up in fury. "Slander! I assembled my men to counter hidden enemies! I did it for the village!"
A chorus of cold snorts. That kind of lie wouldn't even fool a child.
The Akatsuki stormed the village head-on and nearly wiped Konoha out—what "hidden enemies" would still be lurking then? And if there were, name them. How many did you subdue? You didn't lift a finger, and worse, you corralled your forces so the village lacked fighting strength. Now you're the first to blame Tsunade for handling things poorly? Your face is really thick.
Tsunade let out a dry chuckle and motioned for Shikamaru to continue.
Shikamaru's tone turned crisp. "Our investigation confirms Elder Danzo colluded with Orochimaru, abducting civilians and shinobi for human experimentation. He secretly researched Hashirama's cells and the kekkei genkai of major clans—heinous in the extreme. In building Root, he coerced each clan to hand over their prodigies, subjected them to inhumane training, and even branded them with a Tongue-Curse Seal to control them, raising them as killers. The crimes are countless."
By now even Shikamaru's voice had gone cold.
The clan heads stared at Danzo with killing intent, itching to tear him apart.
Back when the Third Hokage sat in power, he shielded and indulged Danzo's misdeeds. The clans could only swallow their rage. Countless young talents were ruined, stunting the clans' growth for years.
Now the Third was gone. No more umbrella. Tsunade-sama was settling the accounts.
Today, you die, no matter what.
Danzo roared, trembling with rage. "Slander—nothing but slander! I did nothing wrong! Everything was for the village! I am Konoha's root, Konoha's darkness. Without roots, a tree cannot thrive! Hiruzen understood this. Why don't you? I've bled for the village and rendered great service, and now you put me on trial! I refuse! No one in this world can judge me! No one!"
He ranted like a madman. Everyone watched with icy eyes.
Even Homura and Koharu held their tongues.
The list of crimes Tsunade-sama announced was enough to execute him several times over. Anyone who spoke up now would be counted as an accomplice and purged along with him.
And who would defend a man like this? He'd harmed too many. It was time he went to hell. Today was the perfect day to erase Danzo.
Sasuke rose without waiting another moment. "Danzo. Your sins are beyond number. Today, you die."
"Wretched Uchiha brat! You dare point fingers at me?"
Danzo tore away the bandage over his right eye, revealing a Mangekyō Sharingan (Kaleidoscope Copy Wheel Eye). He angled the gaze as if to unleash a technique—
—but the rumble of his chakra drifted toward Natsuki's side.
After all, Natsuki was the strongest present. If his will could be twisted, he would become the greatest weapon. Kill a chicken to scare the monkeys—once Natsuki fell in line, who would still dare resist Danzo?
What Danzo didn't know: forget Kotoamatsukami (Distinguished Heavenly Gods), even the genjutsu of the Sage of Six Paths would not work on Natsuki.
At that instant, Sasuke suddenly opened his mouth—an eruption of black feathers. A crow flew out, Mangekyō Sharingan burning in its eyes. Kotoamatsukami (Distinguished Heavenly Gods) fired—negating Danzo's Kotoamatsukami.
Danzo's face drained. "How does Shisui's other eye end up with you?!"
Sasuke recalled the crow, drew the Kusanagi (Grass-Cutting Sword), and spoke in a voice rimed with killing frost. "Danzo. I said it. You die today. Prepare yourself."
Danzo whirled, smashed through the council room window, and fled.
Two figures flashed from the shadows to cover his retreat. Yamanaka Inoichi and Shino recognized them at a glance—Fū of the Yamanaka, and Torune of the Aburame, both drafted into Root.
Sasuke gave chase at once. Natsuki followed right on his heels.
Shino and Inoichi couldn't spare another thought; they sprinted after them as well.
Tsunade-sama snapped out an order. "Yamato! Move now. Lock down all former Root operatives—no actions, no exceptions. Announce Danzo as a rogue of the village and begin the manhunt!"
"Understood!"
Yamato accepted the order and left without hesitation.
A strange tension hung in the chamber. Many of the clan representatives looked openly relieved; only two elders sat sour-faced.
Homura couldn't help himself. "Tsunade, isn't this… excessive?"
Koharu added, "There are gentler ways. Danzo did render services to the village. You cannot treat a meritorious man like this."
"Heh. So, being a 'meritorious man' gives him license to do anything?"
Tsunade-sama's smile turned razor-thin. "Shikamaru—keep reading. We're not done."
The two elders' hearts lurched. Bad—very bad.
Shikamaru inclined his head and continued, "Verified: Homura and Koharu, as advisory elders, colluded with Danzo, knowingly concealed his crimes, and repeatedly shielded him—an egregious abuse. By order of the Fifth Hokage Tsunade, Homura and Koharu are found to have abused authority and abetted Danzo's wrongdoing. Effective immediately, all positions and powers are revoked. In light of their past contributions and their role as accessories rather than principals, they will not be imprisoned. They are permitted to retire quietly at home."
"You! Tsunade! You dare!"
The elders exploded with rage. They never imagined Tsunade-sama would clear them out along with Danzo.
They clung to high office for one thing only: power. Stripping them was no different from taking their lives.
Tsunade-sama's voice went glacial. "I suggest you sit down and behave. During your tenure you gorged yourselves on privilege and profit. I'm already giving that old man Hiruzen face by not digging deeper. Don't make me wipe out your clans."
Homura and Koharu opened their mouths—no sound came out. At last they collapsed back into their seats, defeated.
(End of Chapter)
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