His rant only served to enrage people even more, but luckily Katsuro silenced the crowd once more and spoke, "But the Hokage has spoken for his friend, pleading for his service as an elder be recognised, so he shall not die today. But his crimes will not go unanswered."
However, Hiruzen quickly spoke up. Damn you, Danzo! Don't you realise your words are just making it worse for us? Shut up and let me handle this!
"Wait, Katsuro. I agree, Danzo must be punished for this. But let us discuss this in a more formal setting - we should handle this in a more proper way, don't you think?" Hiruzen tried to sound persuasive, but the desperation in his voice was clear, and anyone with half a brain could pick up on what he was trying to do.
"If I didn't know any better, Hokage, I'd say that you were trying to separate us from Danzo so that he can't dig himself any deeper into his hole," Katsuro said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Nevertheless, I'll humour you." He turned to the rest of the clans.
"My people will have custody of Danzo for the time being until a formal solution is agreed upon. Let's make this discussion slightly more formal."
—
Not long after, all the clan leaders and other respected Shinobi in the village were assembled in the ruins of the Root headquarters. Some clan leaders who hadn't been there during the confrontation itself were now here, and the whispers of the recent events grew louder and louder by the second.
Without a word, Katsuro used Earth Style to form chairs for each participant of the meeting, and they all quietened down. The Hokage opened his mouth to speak, but Katsuro interrupted him on purpose - an indirect but clear way of telling the Hokage that he was not in charge here.
"Now, let us begin. Because the Hokage asked, and for that reason alone, considering how much we all respect him, Danzo must not be killed."
Murmurs started around the room, and discreet stares at Hiruzen began, causing Hiruzen to grimace, while Katsuro barely managed to hide his smile. Good. Sarutobi, you made the wrong choice. By the end of this meeting, any support you have from the other clans will be dead and buried.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen seethed internally. Damn it, it's obvious what he's doing but I can't do anything about it! I have been Hokage for longer than you've been a Shinobi, boy, and I'll be Hokage long after you're not anymore! But right now…
"Ahem," Hiruzen began. I need to win back as much support as I can.
"I'm aware that we have made mistakes - no, I have made mistakes, especially in regards to Danzo. There is no excuse or justification for the treatment that your clan members were subject to," he continued, looking around with steel in his eyes.
"However, please know this - everyone here knows the cruel reality of this Shinobi world. Sometimes we are forced to choose the lesser of two evils. Although Danzo certainly chose wrong, in his eyes, what he did was the lesser of two evils, because he believed the alternative was the destruction of the Leaf."
Hiruzen smiled internally. Although no one was showing signs of support yet, some of the expressions of the clan leaders changed away from anger, and to something less. He continued further, hopeful.
"In fact, I can attest to the fact that the Root were actively going on missions outside of Konoha - ones that were deemed too dangerous for the rest of our Shinobi to do. They acted on missions that turned villages against each other, having an impact far too great to even quantify."
Hiruzen bowed his head.
"That is why I allowed Danzo and the Root to operate on their own. I truly believed that it was a force for the good of Konoha - a necessary evil."
Dramatically, he raised his head, his expression one of determination.
"I know I've lost a lot of your trust, but I swear - from this day forward, the Root will no longer be independent, and I will work 24/7 to ensure that however I can, that such a tragedy will not happen inside the village again. I ask that all of you consider Danzo's tenure as a Shinobi, and Elder. I admit that he has gone too far, however he has also done a lot for the Hidden Leaf. Like all of you he has put his life on the line for our village and I hope you all can remember that."
Katsuro looked around the room. After the Hokage's speech, it seemed as though some clans seemed to be slightly more forgiving of his actions - although it was obvious that none of them were providing any support, some appeared to be less angry at the Hokage, less cynical of him. Well, that won't do, will it?
However, before Katsuro could speak, someone else beat him to it.
"And what about the compensation for the losses already suffered, Lord Third? Do you mean to say that the lives, deaths, struggles and desecration of my clansmen and comrades can be swept under the rug? Do you mean to say they are worthless?! And what of Danzo? What of his punishment? If anyone else had done this, their head would be detached from their body right now, and their crimes told to the whole village - so why not Danzo? Why are you favouring him?!"
Fugaku spoke with barely contained anger. To say the man was angry would be an understatement, and rightfully so. His clansmen had been murdered, and for the very thing that made the Uchiha the Uchiha. Katsuro smiled internally. It seems that I don't have to call the old bastard trying to skimp out even now myself after all.
Hiruzen, meanwhile, spluttered a response momentarily, before quickly composing himself. Fugaku! Katsuro's return has made him far more bold! He looked around - the room, which had previously been far less angry at him after his speech, was now back to how it was before - no, it's worse! Somehow, they're even angrier!
Hiruzen had to hold back a seething retort, and internally placated himself instead, and spoke.
"I apologise, young Fugaku. I didn't mean to say that the lives of your clansmen are worthless - I only meant to try and offer any support, help or anything at all that I can do for you-" Hiruzen paused to look around the room imploringly. "For all of you. And the only reason Danzo still has his life is for the sake of everything else he's done for the village - but I swear on my honour as Hokage, he will be punished."
This time, before Fugaku (who seemed to be ready to bite back angrily) could respond, Katsuro jumped in.
"Very well, Hokage. In that case, let us discuss Danzo's punishment."
He turned to address the whole meeting.
"Let's not kid ourselves here. The investigation now is merely a way to measure the extent of the losses we've suffered - the way I see it, Danzo's already done enough to warrant death."
There were many murmurs of agreement, and seeing Hiruzen's face turn to panic, Katsuro smiled coldly and continued.
"However, the Hokage has made a request. Let us not forget all that the Hokage has done for us - he fought the Tsuchikage for us, did he not? Risking his own life?"
There were murmurs again, but this time it was uncertainty. Katsuro grinned internally, and Hiruzen seethed - they were both thinking the same thing.
The Hokage hadn't been the only person to fight the Tsuchikage - Katsuro had too, and perhaps even more successfully than the Hokage himself had. By asking that little, seemingly supportive question, Katsuro had told everyone at the meeting something - the Hokage wasn't someone they needed. Not while the likes of Senju Katsuro was around. But losing such a combat power when every great village was staring at them like pieces of meat was not a great idea either. But it would make the clan leaders wonder - what good has Sarutobi Hiruzen done during his time as Hokage?
Katsuro decided to add fuel to the fire.
"And don't forget - the Hokage managed to sign peace deals with both Suna and Iwa! Even though we were crushing both of them, the Hokage ensured that we got peace, so that the enemy villages - I mean, villages, couldn't attack us in the future!"
Katsuro wanted to laugh at the expression on the Hokage's face, as Hiruzen looked around and realised the resentment towards him was growing by the second. Before he could speak, however, Katsuro continued.
"If the rest of the clan leaders agree, I'm willing to honour the Hokage - who, by the way, as we all know, is the strongest Hokage of all time - and his request. On some conditions - may I proceed, Lord Third?"
The rest of the Shinobi present watched the Hokage in silence, measuring his reaction to the obvious provocation. Hiruzen barely managed to avoid gritting his teeth.
"Of course, Katsuro," he said, his words polite but his voice strained.
"Danzo is to be interrogated, we still do not truly know the true scope of his crimes. I propose we hand this over to the Yamanaka clan, and employ torture if necessary. But even if no other information turns up, if Danzo is to not be executed then, he should be imprisoned for the rest of his life."
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