The discussion between the three took hardly more than ten minutes before everything was settled.
Immediately after—
their forces began to move like a vast machine roaring to life.
Root and the Utatane clan began their covert surveillance.
Homura Mitokado went to contact Sarutobi Arashi.
Everything progressed smoothly.
Which was only natural.
After all, the three of them were village elders. Even if their practical power was limited, their administrative authority was second only to Sarutobi Hiruzen's.
Unless Hiruzen personally crushed them, with their standing in the village it was child's play to arrange all of this.
Before long, all preparations were complete.
Even Sarutobi Arashi didn't hesitate—he immediately chose to join the alliance.
His reason was simple.
This might be the one and only chance in his life to rise.
If he missed it…
then according to Hiruzen's plans, he would spend his entire life as Shinnosuke's dog.
If Shinnosuke had been truly strong, he might have stomached it.
But the problem was—
compared to him, Shinnosuke was far too weak!
Just because of who his father was, he trampled Arashi underfoot.
Of course Arashi couldn't accept that.
Before, with no way to break the game, he had kept his head down, waiting patiently.
But now, the opportunity has arrived.
If he didn't seize it, surely Heaven itself would curse him!
And since the three elders had already committed, he had no fear of being betrayed.
Their decision alone proved they and Hiruzen were no longer on the same side.
With that thought, he acted at once.
Using the Sarutobi clan's secret method of communication, he secretly contacted Shinnosuke, who was buried in Anbu duties through the night.
Yes.
Anbu was swamped these days—watching both the Cloud and Sand fronts, guarding against the Uchiha, and now even covering Minato Namikaze.
Shinnosuke couldn't understand it.
But he didn't care.
Unlike his rebellious and idealistic younger brother Asuma, Shinnosuke was pragmatic and traditional.
Right and wrong didn't matter.
Only benefit.
If it benefited the Sarutobi clan, then no matter how dark or disgusting the deed, he would hesitate not at all.
That night—
as he sat in his office signing one order after another, a secret message from Arashi arrived.
Just one line:
"One hour from now, meet me atop the Hokage Monument."
Seeing this, Shinnosuke blinked in surprise.
What was going on?
This kind of emergency signal was never to be used unless something truly serious had happened.
Still, he didn't think too hard about it.
After all, he and his cousin were on good terms.
He truly regarded Arashi as a confidant—
even imagining that when he became clan head, Arashi would be his strongest right hand.
So, after quickly leaving instructions for Anbu, he secretly made his way to the Monument.
But, unfortunately—
there was no Arashi waiting for him there.
Instead, he found himself facing Danzo…
and an army of Root operatives.
Shinnosuke frowned in confusion.
Even then, he failed to grasp the danger.
Instead, he spoke calmly:
"Lord Danzo!"
"I have no interest in interfering with Root business. But have you seen my cousin, Sarutobi Arashi?"
"He just contacted me in secret, asking me to meet him here."
"If there's some misunderstanding between him and Root, I hope you can show him mercy!"
His tone was slow, steady.
Yes—
even now, staring at Danzo and Root, he instinctively assumed…
Perhaps his cousin had stumbled onto something he shouldn't have seen, and Danzo had seized him.
He knew something of Danzo's nature.
Hiruzen had told him about this man—
The Sarutobi clan's "black glove."
The one who took on the dirty work, the scapegoat.
Which was exactly why Hiruzen tolerated his excesses, even quietly aided them.
The filthier Danzo's name became, the brighter and nobler the Sarutobi clan appeared.
So even now, facing Danzo, Shinnosuke felt no fear.
He was only thinking about how to get his cousin released—
and whether he needed to inform his father.
Meanwhile, Danzo suddenly burst into harsh laughter.
"Hahaha! How amusing!"
"So you truly don't know how much Arashi hates you?"
"You're just like your father—forever arrogant, forever assuming victory is yours."
"But you never understand—hearts change."
"You and your father may think that because you showed Arashi kindness, he should remain loyal for life."
"But you don't see that men are greedy by nature."
"Your very existence, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, is what Arashi despises most."
"Only by eliminating you can he advance."
"And why in the world do you think that a genius greater than you would ever choose to remain beneath you forever?"
"But, enough."
"Like your father—take your arrogance with you to the grave."
"Everyone—attack!"
Danzo's face was full of contempt.
Yes.
The boy before him was far too much like Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He couldn't resist mocking him—because those were his true thoughts.
Did Shinnosuke really not understand why Hiruzen tolerated his rampages all these years?
Hiruzen used him.
But Danzo also used Hiruzen.
Otherwise, how had a mere Anbu training unit grown step by step into the vast power of Root today?
So after venting a little, he wasted no more words.
His hand waved coldly.
A storm of kunai filled the air, each bound with an explosive tag, shrieking down on Shinnosuke like a plague of locusts.
Shinnosuke: "…"
He froze, dumbstruck.
Yes.
From the moment Danzo began his little speech, he had sensed mortal danger.
He knew then—
he had been betrayed.
By the one he trusted most.
By his own cousin, Sarutobi Arashi.
Fury surged within him—
but above all, he frantically searched for a way out.
He knew his own limits.
At best, he was an elite Jounin.
Breaking through Root under Danzo's command?
Impossible.
The next second—
with a thunderous boom, the explosions lit the Monument.
When the smoke cleared, all that remained was a shattered log.
Danzo sneered.
"Substitution jutsu… not bad."
"But today, you must die."
"All units—full power."
"End this quickly!"
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