Observing the approaching Konoha elders and Jiraiya, Tsunade snorted coldly, "What am I doing? Are you blind? Can't you see that I'm digging a grave?"
Tsunade's blunt retort immediately infuriated Mitokado.
This Tsunade had been away from the village for over ten years, and she was becoming increasingly disrespectful!
Was this how she addressed her elders and village authorities?
However, due to Tsunade's prestigious identity, Mitokado ultimately restrained his outburst.
Utatane Koharu was equally furious and immediately responded with a cold expression, "You suddenly returned to the village without notifying us, and you ignored our official summons. You don't take us Konoha elders seriously at all!"
"You're absolutely right. I genuinely don't take you seriously, so leave and find somewhere else to be. I don't have time to waste on pointless arguments with people like you!"
Tsunade continued her sharp rebuke, then picked up her shovel and resumed digging with renewed determination.
Even Shizune, who stood nearby, didn't bother acknowledging these officials.
Neither master nor apprentice held any respect for these village elders whatsoever.
"Stop this instant! You're desecrating the dead!"
Shimura Danzo suddenly shouted with righteous indignation.
His expression appeared grave, though a barely perceptible hint of nervousness flickered in his eyes.
Danzo's words made Tsunade laugh bitterly.
"How dare you accuse me of desecrating the dead? Do you think I'm unaware of the filthy deeds you've committed over the years?"
As soon as these words left her lips, visible panic flashed across the faces of Konoha's elder council.
However, they quickly regained their composure.
"Everything we do serves Konoha's greater good!" Shimura Danzo declared with self-righteous conviction.
As expected from Konoha's most shameless individual, he possessed an exceptional talent for manipulating words and public perception.
With a single phrase about "serving Konoha," he attempted to absolve himself of all the atrocities he had committed over the years.
When it came to verbal manipulation, Tsunade was definitely no match for his practiced rhetoric.
And Tsunade had no intention of engaging in pointless debates with them.
All she wanted was to excavate her brother's body as quickly as possible and resurrect him.
But just as she prepared to continue digging, Victor gently grasped her arm.
Facing Tsunade's puzzled expression, Victor softly shook his head, "There's no need to dig any deeper."
"Why not?"
"Because there's nothing inside, it's an empty tomb."
The unnatural nervousness that had briefly flashed across Shimura Danzo's eyes moments ago might have escaped others' notice, but it couldn't evade Victor's keen observation.
Tsunade was merely attempting to exhume her brother's grave, why would Shimura Danzo display such anxiety?
Obviously, something was fundamentally wrong with this situation!
Most likely, Danzo had already stolen Tsunade's brother's corpse for his twisted research purposes.
Considering this possibility, Victor extended his spiritual consciousness into the burial site.
Just as he had suspected, there was absolutely nothing inside.
Not only were there no remains, but not even a single burial object remained for the deceased!
The coffin was completely empty, emptier than his own pockets had ever been!
Upon hearing this revelation, Tsunade's fury exploded as she whirled to confront Shimura Danzo, "Shimura Danzo! How dare you defile my brother's body!"
BOOM!
A tremendous surge of chakra erupted from Tsunade's body, and the ground around her rapidly cracked under the influence of this overwhelming power, forming patterns resembling a massive spider web.
Now she understood why Shimura Danzo had attempted to prevent her from digging the grave.
This despicable man wasn't acting out of kindness or concern for the deceased!
Upon reflection, it was obvious that this bastard had stolen her brother's body, which explained his desperate attempts to stop her excavation!
Feeling Tsunade's extraordinarily oppressive aura, Konoha's elder council was struck with terror.
Had Tsunade truly become this powerful?
Even Jiraiya appeared somewhat surprised.
Tsunade's strength seemed significantly greater than before!
"Shimura Danzo, if I don't tear your head off today, I swear I won't rest!"
The moment Tsunade finished speaking, she launched herself toward Shimura Danzo.
Her speed was so incredible that everyone except Victor and Krul couldn't react in time.
BANG!
Tsunade's fist connected with devastating force against Shimura Danzo's chest.
In an instant, Danzo's body exploded into a spray of blood mist that scattered in all directions.
Danzo hadn't even had time to activate Izanagi!
A generation of Konoha's shadow manipulator met his end in such a brutally simple manner.
Such a gruesome scene had no effect on Tsunade, who normally suffered from severe hemophobia.
This demonstrated that in the face of genuine hatred, so-called mental illness became utterly insignificant.
"Tsunade!"
"Tsunade, you, you actually killed Danzo?!"
Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were terrified beyond words.
Jiraiya also sighed softly and shook his head, "Tsunade, you acted too impulsively."
"Impulsive?" Tsunade clenched her fists and glared at Jiraiya, "That bastard desecrated my brother's grave, and you're telling me I acted impulsively?"
If it weren't for the fact that Jiraiya had once been her teammate, she would have punched him just for making such an insensitive comment!
"Shimura Danzo was certainly at fault, but Konoha can no longer withstand internal turmoil."
After all, Shimura Danzo possessed elite jonin or even Kage-level strength. With his death, Konoha's overall combat capability would decline significantly.
If other villages seized this opportunity to launch attacks, Konoha would suffer even greater losses!
Mitokado managed to calm his fear and nodded in agreement, "Jiraiya is correct. Even if Shimura Danzo committed wrongdoings, we should have handled the situation through proper channels. It violates all protocols for you to execute him directly!"
Handle it through proper channels?
Tsunade thought sarcastically. You'd probably just give him a slap on the wrist and call it even, no big deal at all.
Who didn't know that these people were all cut from the same corrupt cloth?
Tsunade wanted to voice her contempt, but Victor intervened.
"Don't waste time on these people. It's getting late, and I think we should focus on our primary objective."
Tsunade nodded upon hearing this.
Indeed, why squander precious time arguing with these corrupted officials?
"Let's go. We're heading to Root headquarters, my brother's body is most likely there."
She could only hope that bastard Shimura Danzo hadn't completely destroyed her brother's remains.
Tsunade discarded the shovel and began walking toward Root's secret facility with Victor and the others.
As for Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, they didn't dare attempt to stop them.
Shimura Danzo had been stronger than both of them combined.
Yet he had still been obliterated by Tsunade's single punch.
They feared they would be reduced to nothing but dust by her overwhelming power.
As for holding her accountable?
Only those with genuine strength could demand accountability, without real power, such attempts were tantamount to suicide!
Staying alive took precedence over everything else, and they wouldn't risk offending Tsunade for the sake of a dead man.
As for Jiraiya, there was even less to discuss.
After arriving at Root headquarters, they were predictably intercepted by Root operatives.
Tsunade showed no mercy toward these loyal followers who blindly obeyed Shimura Danzo's every command.
Anyone who dared obstruct her path was eliminated with a single devastating punch!
Jiraiya attempted to dissuade her from this violence, but neither Tsunade nor the Root ninjas paid any attention to his protests.
Ultimately, Jiraiya had no choice but to abandon his efforts.
Soon, they stepped over a pile of corpses and reached a hidden laboratory in Root's deepest chambers.
When they witnessed the rows of preservation tanks before them, even Jiraiya, Mitokado, and Utatane Koharu couldn't help but gasp in horror.
Stored within these containers were corpses and even living subjects that Danzo's organization had collected from throughout the village and kidnapped over the years.
What Mitokado and Utatane Koharu found most difficult to accept was discovering some of their own clan members floating in these preservation tanks!
Most of these relatives had been classified as missing persons!
"Damn you, Shimura Danzo!"
At this moment, even Mitokado and Utatane Koharu couldn't help but curse Shimura Danzo's name.