"Yo, well, well… look who it is."
Naruto sneered with undisguised contempt at the so-called two great advisors of Konoha.
"Isn't this our very own village elders—those who vanish the moment a battle breaks out, and then pop right back up the second it's over?"
Whenever war struck, these two ran faster than anyone. And the instant it ended, they were the first to reappear.
Naruto's earlier attack had engulfed the whole of Konoha, and yet somehow these two had come out completely unscathed. That alone made it clear just how deep they had burrowed to hide themselves.
And as for them having no ill intent toward him, unlike Jiraiya, Kakashi, or Guy—Naruto wouldn't believe that for a second. Not even if Sasuke were the one swearing it.
Compared to Danzō, these two weren't any better. During the Night of the Nine-Tails, the Konoha Crush, and Pain's Assault, they'd only appeared alongside the Third Hokage during the Nine-Tails incident. For the other two great battles? No one knew where they'd been hiding. But once the dust settled, they were always the very first to show their faces.
They schemed against Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, trying to steal her power. And even in Boruto's era, when Naruto became the Seventh Hokage, the same two were still up to their old tricks—plotting and obstructing.
If there was a title for the greatest troublemakers of the shinobi world, these two would deserve it.
Naruto Uzumaki, without hesitation, would crown them the strongest.
So what kind of people made up Konoha's so-called "leadership," anyway?
These useless cowards, yet praised as—
"men who put aside their egos, exclude emotion, make the wisest judgments, and serve as seasoned veterans"?
Naruto nearly laughed.
"Impudent!" Koharu narrowed her eyes and snapped in outrage. "What do you think you are, daring to speak to us in such a tone?"
When Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Guy made no move, Homura pressed coldly, "Restrain the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki immediately."
"The jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails is suspected of causing irreparable damage to Konoha."
"He must be handed over to the Konoha Interrogation Unit."
The two advisors hadn't realized it was Naruto who had destroyed the village—they simply thought his words alone were dangerous. To them, he was a threat. His ideology was dangerous, his resolve even more so. There was no telling what kind of harm he might bring to Konoha.
And as for him being the son of the Fourth Hokage—what of it?
Even at the peak of Minato's authority, he still had to listen to them.
The truth was simple: they never liked Naruto.
So the priority was to take him down.
But Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Guy clearly had no intention of moving against him. Naruto's words earlier had shaken them. They understood now—Konoha truly was sick.
Besides, whether the so-called "interrogation unit" even still existed was questionable.
"…I need to return to Mount Myōboku," Jiraiya finally said. His heart was clouded with doubt. He wanted to seek out the Great Toad Sage, to ask what path the future held.
The path lies beneath your feet. Walk it however you choose. If all you do is rely on prophecy, you might as well give up and lie down.
That would've been Naruto's answer, had Jiraiya asked. But he didn't—and so Naruto didn't say it.
With a puff of smoke, Jiraiya vanished, reverse-summoning himself back to Mount Myōboku.
"You would defy the orders of Konoha's elders as well?" Koharu glared at Kakashi and Guy, but they still did not move. Gritting their teeth, she and Homura repeated, "Seize Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki!"
Yet no one acted.
Naruto's words had stirred something in Kakashi and Guy. They could no longer stomach these so-called leaders.
Rebellion—! They've all turned rebellious!
But with so many clan heads watching, the elders couldn't afford to lose face. After all, the real battle for power was about to begin. These clans were shrewd; they would only follow whoever proved strongest.
Heh. Trust the Konoha advisors—to think not of rebuilding the village, but of seizing more power as their first priority.
"ANBU, hear our command!" The two elders barked to the few remaining ANBU at their side. "Take Naruto Uzumaki into custody!"
The ANBU readied themselves—
When suddenly—
"I'd like to see who dares!"
A booming voice thundered across the ruins of Konoha.
Thump, thump, thump…
The sound of a wooden cane striking the ground echoed, as Danzō Shimura strode forth, flanked by his Root operatives.
Unlike his usual withered, weary presence, Danzō was brimming with vigor. His single eye gleamed with confidence as he looked down on the two advisors. With the air of a victor, he declared:
"Homura. Koharu. Tell me—what exactly do you think you're going to do to my jinchūriki?"
(Narration: Homura's surname is Mitokado, not Mito. Koharu's surname truly is Utatane.)
Casting his gaze over the devastation around them, Danzō noted inwardly, So this is the power of Shukaku and Chōmei combined. The damage is immense… but no matter. Rebuilding won't take too long.
Like the advisors, he hadn't realized Naruto was the one who destroyed Konoha. He simply assumed it was the result of the battle against the Sand.
"Danzō!" The two elders' faces darkened at the sight of him. Koharu immediately snapped, "And where exactly were you during the invasion?"
The implication was clear: See, everyone? When the village was in danger, Danzō was nowhere to be found. Don't trust him.
It was a bid to sway the watching clan leaders. Usually they dismissed these clans without a second glance, but right now, they needed their support.
That was politics.
Even though they themselves had been the ones hiding.
"Where was I?" Danzō's voice was like ice. He snorted. "Since when does the likes of you require me to report my every move?"
The advisors nearly smiled. What a political fool. He's just dug his own grave.
But then a Root shinobi leaned close and whispered something into Danzō's ear. His expression darkened; his lone eye flickered coldly toward the advisors.
"Of course…" he quickly amended, "I was escorting the Feudal Lord to safety."
"And where, I ask you two, were you during the invasion?"
Escorting the Daimyō was a perfect excuse. Untouchable. Beyond question.
Those two old rats tried to set me up!
Damn them!
"…Enough about us," Homura cut in, covering for Koharu. "The immediate priority is to restrain the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. He is extremely dangerous!"
It was their old tactic—deflect, change the subject, and try to push the spotlight away from themselves.
But they hadn't accounted for one thing. Naruto was Danzō's trump card. There was no way he would discard it.
"Dangerous? And what exactly makes him dangerous?" Danzō scoffed. He turned toward Naruto. "Tell me, Naruto—are you dangerous?"
Those old fools want to seize control of my jinchūriki? Not a chance. Everyone here belongs to me.
Naruto played along, shrugging. "Of course not, Danzō-ojisan."
Then he added, with a smirk:
"No—future Fifth Hokage-ojisan."
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