That afternoon, in the Hokage's office, smoke swirled like tangled thoughts.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat alone behind his desk, the cherry-red glow of his pipe flickering, illuminating his aged face. He was about to retire, and memories were rushing back like a tide, carrying the heavy weight of the past that nearly suffocated him.
Danzō.
The image of his old friend lingered in the smoke.
All the events of the past resurfaced in his mind, each one chipping away at the last vestiges of affection he held for their old "bond":
The forbidden experiments hidden deep underground, nourished by the flesh and blood of their own comrades; the tacit approval, even indirect funding, of Orochimaru's obsessive "research"; the mysterious disappearance of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, which could have changed everything; the ambiguous shadows of the night the Uchiha clan was wiped out, where Danzō's presence always seemed to be felt; and the recent Konoha Crush, which had a few suspicious details that just didn't add up.
And it wasn't just that. In the past, he had chosen to turn a blind eye, believing that he, as the light, needed a "Root" in the darkness. He had been lenient and compromising with Danzō, thinking that simply removing him from his position was a severe enough punishment and a way to protect the camaraderie of their shared past.
However, the reality of the past had slapped him hard in the face. This time, dissolving the Root was not just about eliminating a hidden danger; it was an act of reckoning for Hiruzen Sarutobi's own policies over the past several decades!
All the darkness that had festered because of his "leniency," all the blood debts paid because of his "compromise," and all the mysteries left behind because of his failure to supervise—this incident was the final period on all of it!
He was using this action to say goodbye to the past—a complete break with Danzō and a settling of accounts with his own past. From now on, Konoha no longer needed this rotten Root.
It was over.
Everything about Shimura Danzō, all the rises and falls, sins and grudges associated with him, had been concluded with this order.
He put down his pipe. From now on, there was no need to think about it, and no point in thinking about it!
"Knock, knock—"
A sudden knock on the door broke the silence.
"Lord Hokage! Ippē Tomita, a reporter from the Shinobi World Daily, says he has an urgent matter to discuss."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at the Anbu who had entered, giving a slight nod. Ippē Tomita. He had some impression of this gaunt, almost emaciated civilian reporter.
Konoha's overall cooperation with the Shinobi World Daily was decent. Although there had been a sensitive report about the Konoha Crush, the newspaper had been quite positive in its coverage of Naruto.
So what was this reporter here for now?
"Lord Hokage!" Ippē Tomita walked in, a professional smile on his face.
Hiruzen's face broke into a gentle smile. "Reporter Tomita, are you enjoying your time in Konoha?"
"Everyone in Konoha is so talented and friendly. I absolutely love it here!"
"Haha, that's good to hear." Hiruzen's smile didn't waver. "Konoha looks forward to more pleasant collaborations with your company in the future."
"Of course, my editor-in-chief feels the same way." Ippē Tomita pushed up his glasses. The look in his eyes was calm and unwavering.
He had no intention of beating around the bush. He looked directly into Hiruzen's eyes and got straight to the point: "With all due respect, Lord Hokage, we have received a set of very significant photos, sold to us by an anonymous informant."
He paused for a moment, carefully watching for any subtle change in Hiruzen's expression, his voice intentionally low. "Our initial assessment is that if this content were to be exposed, it could cause catastrophic damage to Konoha's reputation."
"Since this is a serious matter, I am informing you of this privately beforehand."
"Oh?" Hiruzen's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. The gentle smile on his face faded, replaced by the deep, bottomless scrutiny of the Hokage.
"Significant photos? I'd be interested to hear what would make a reporter from the Shinobi World Daily be so cautious as to inform me beforehand."
Ippē Tomita's expression was impassive. He swiftly took a few photos from his briefcase and respectfully placed them in front of the Hokage.
Hiruzen's fingertips touched the smooth photos with a hint of curiosity. But when his gaze truly landed on the images, that curiosity instantly froze, replaced by an unbelievable shock!
His normally steady aura was momentarily stunned, and a tidal wave of shock and fury erupted in his heart!
The photos were incredibly clear, and the focus was on Shimura Danzō.
Photo 1: Danzō's entire right arm was exposed, the bandages removed. On the pale, strange skin were ten crimson three-tomoe Sharingan, embedded one after another! They looked like a cluster of malicious, cursed jewels, staring at him with cold, silent eyes.
Photo 2: A close-up of his right eye socket! The spinning pattern in that eye was strange and complex, definitely not a normal three-tomoe. It was a Mangekyō Sharingan!
The shape... A chill instantly shot from Hiruzen's feet up his spine, right to the top of his head!
The shape of that Mangekyō seared itself into his memory like a red-hot brand!
Uchiha Shisui!
The brilliant young man who should have been a bridge to peace! The one who was supposed to have fallen into a river and disappeared... he was here all along!
The lingering doubts from that day finally had their answer, and it was so incredibly ugly!
Just a few minutes ago, he thought everything was settled, that the Root could be finally laid to rest!
He was too naive! How ridiculous!
He thought the rotten root had been completely removed, but he hadn't known it was deeply buried and had grown into such a deformed, terrifying, and shocking monstrosity!
His decades of passive approval and "political balance" that he'd achieved by turning a blind eye now felt like a thousand needles stabbing his old face!
His "control" over the Root was a complete illusion! A massive illusion woven by his old friend, and one that he had foolishly believed in!
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger and immense sense of political crisis boiling in his chest. The shock on his face was replaced by an extreme solemnity. His eyes, sharp as blades, cut into Ippē Tomita. "Reporter Tomita, these photos are very... 'special.'"
Seeing that the Hokage's composure was indeed impressive, Ippē Tomita set aside his amusement. He nodded, his voice as calm as ever. "Yes, Lord Hokage. Their shocking nature and destructive potential for Konoha—especially a Konoha that has just been through the Konoha Crush—are undeniable."
He delivered the most damning words in the most placid tone. "If tomorrow's headline were to be something like Konoha's Shadow—Shimura Danzō, the Man with 11 Sharingan, I believe the Shinobi World Daily's sales would hit a new record."
"These photos absolutely cannot be published!" Hiruzen's tone was resolute, carrying the unquestionable authority of the Hokage. "They would cause immeasurable damage to Konoha's reputation and to the trust of the shinobi world! They could even trigger new conflicts!"
The shinobi world? Ippē Tomita quietly pushed up his glasses, stifling a laugh. Trust the Hokage to use the big picture as a shield.
"Lord Hokage, I am merely a field reporter. I have no authority to interfere with the final decision of the editor-in-chief and the newspaper's senior management. They care more about the sensationalism of a story and the interests of the readers. Of course..."
He changed his tone. "The commercial world has its rules. If Konoha is willing to act as the 'informed party' and buy this scandal, turning it into private, internal information, then this news story won't appear. It's a business transaction."
Hiruzen's heart sank to the bottom. Buying a scandal? This was a blatant blackmail of him, the Hokage!
But... he knew the reporter was telling the truth. Business had its own rules.
"The price," he said, his voice dry.
"Based on a preliminary evaluation of its exclusivity and the 'opportunity cost' of the reputational risk to our newspaper..." Ippē Tomita's eyes flashed with a sharp glint as he stated a clear number: "Approximately fifty million ryō."
Fifty million ryō?! Hiruzen's knuckles instinctively tightened around his pipe. It was impossible to produce such a large sum of money without causing a huge public outcry!
Ippē Tomita observed the Hokage's reaction, taking in the instant solemnity, the white knuckles, and the flicker of anxiety in the depths of his eyes. He understood that this amount of money was beyond the Hokage's immediate ability to access.
This was perfect. What his "boss" wanted was for Shimura Danzō's reputation to be completely ruined and for his name to become notorious!
He returned to his professional demeanor. "My only duty is to convey information. I hope you will decide how to proceed, Lord Hokage. If there is nothing else, please excuse me. My office is waiting for my response."
He bowed slightly, his movements efficient, as if he had just dropped a regular meeting memo instead of a bombshell.
Watching Ippē Tomita's gaunt back disappear out the door, Hiruzen felt as if all his strength had been drained, and he leaned back against his chair. The office was deathly silent, with only the smoke still swirling silently, wrapping around his heavy, leaden thoughts.
What Danzō had done was even more insane than he had imagined! One thing was for sure: The Root had completely slipped out of his control!
As for the Sharingan, Hiruzen found himself not even feeling angry. It was as if he had already expected this the day he learned the Uchiha clan had been wiped out...
Oh, Shisui!
And this fifty million ryō... to be blackmailed by a newspaper over a scandal, and as Hokage, he couldn't even plug this hole immediately!
He thought of many things at once but found he had no effective counter against the Shinobi World Daily.
There was no way out!
The publication of the photos was practically a done deal. Konoha's reputation was about to suffer an unprecedented blow during his tenure.
This stain must be washed away!
With money? It wouldn't work.
By covering it up? It would only make things worse!
By... sacrifice?
Suddenly, a sharp glint appeared in Hiruzen's cloudy eyes! His exhaustion and remorse were instantly replaced by an unprecedented determination. What Danzō had done was no longer the act of an ordinary Konoha shinobi.
Arrest him!
They must! Immediately! Arrest him!