Almost instantly,
Root operatives on the perimeter activated sealing techniques to conceal the area.
Inside, the assembled Jounin stood with blank, lifeless eyes. Even though their target was the Hokage's son, there was not a flicker of emotion in their pupils.
Clearly—
After years of Root indoctrination, coupled with the Tongue Curse Seal, these men no longer had wills of their own.
For them, Danzo's word was absolute law.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke's eyes showed despair.
He knew.
Today, there was almost no way he could escape.
After all, his opponent was Danzo—
the most ruthless, poisonous man in the entire village.
Bitter thoughts welled up inside him.
"Father… Have you ever thought of this day?"
"Betrayed by the very dog you raised with your own hand. No… you probably never imagined it."
"True loyalty can only be met with true loyalty. Benefits can trade for benefits. But schemes… can only bring more schemes."
"You schemed your whole life, thinking you had outplayed everyone."
"But perhaps you never imagined… that one day you too would be the one outplayed."
"You were wrong, Father."
He murmured to himself, voice heavy with bitterness.
Yes—
At first, when he realized his cousin had betrayed him, he felt nothing but grief and resentment.
But after listening to Danzo's words, and standing now on the edge of death, sudden clarity struck him.
Danzo had been right.
Arashi, in ability, temperament, and strength, surpassed him in every way.
If not for the accident of birth, Shinnosuke might never have been qualified to stand before him.
And yet…
Arashi had always been forced to stand behind, relegated to playing the obedient steward under his father's design.
In truth—
The entire Sarutobi clan was nothing but their father's dogs.
How could Arashi possibly be content with that?
When there had been no opportunity, humility was the only option.
But given the slightest chance, like tonight, he hadn't even needed to think before selling Shinnosuke out.
Yes.
The schemer is always schemed against in turn.
Realizing this, the light faded from his eyes, replaced only with a bitter smile.
The next instant, Danzo's form flickered to his side.
A kunai slashed across his throat.
Blood spattered.
Shinnosuke collapsed, dead.
Danzo gazed upon the scene with a flat expression. His eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke.
"Take him back."
"Dispose of him with the other useless test subjects."
"No one is to find out."
With that, he turned and left.
For him, this had been nothing more than a routine task.
For Root, such killings were second nature.
In truth…
were it not for Shinnosuke's special status, he would never have bothered to appear personally.
Now that the deed was done, he wasted no time and departed.
The Root operatives, wordless as always, hoisted the body and set about erasing every trace.
Moments later, the site was pristine again—
not even a scratch of ninjutsu damage remained.
Under the ink-black night, Konoha slumbered in peace.
No one would ever imagine that Sarutobi Shinnosuke—Anbu commander, son of the Hokage—had just lost his life so simply.
Half an hour later.
Danzo had barely returned to Root headquarters when a subordinate entered, bowed, and reported coldly:
"Lord Danzo! Anbu brings word: the Hokage requires you immediately at the Sarutobi compound. It is urgent."
Danzo's eyes narrowed.
He had only just killed Hiruzen's son. Could it have been discovered so quickly?
Impossible.
Root operations were flawless. Even if someone had noticed, not this soon.
Koharu and Homura, and even Arashi—none of them would betray him.
Then what happened tonight?
He sighed.
"What a troublesome season."
"This is no concern of yours. Leave me."
The Root agent bowed and withdrew.
Danzo rose at once, gathering four trusted aides, and set off for the Sarutobi compound.
About twenty minutes later, upon arrival, Sarutobi Arashi stepped forward to greet him.
"Lord Danzo," Arashi said smoothly, "Elders Koharu and Homura are already in the reception hall. We were only waiting on you."
His tone was calm, but his eyes flickered with subtle meaning.
Yes.
Though he hadn't witnessed Danzo act, he knew full well. From tonight onward, they were bound together.
If Shinnosuke's death ever came to light, none of them could escape.
So his words were greeting, but also a reminder—
an assurance that this urgent summons had nothing to do with Shinnosuke.
"Oh? I see."
"Much obliged. Lead the way."
Danzo smiled.
He had heard the deeper meaning. But the time was not right to say more.
Arashi bowed slightly, guided him into the reception room, then quietly shut the door.
Only then did he exhale a long breath.
His face remained composed.
But if one looked closely—
deep in his eyes was a suppressed joy, his whole body trembling faintly.
Yes.
He was ecstatic.
Because from tonight forward, the crushing mountain on his chest had finally been lifted.
"Shinnosuke… Don't blame me."
"I know you were a good man. You treated me kindly in the clan."
"But there was no helping it."
"By birth and station, we were never on the same path."
"If I didn't remove you from my way, I would have been crushed under you for life."
"I am human too. I have my own aspirations."
"I won't live caged like the Hyuga's cursed branch. I yearn for freedom."
"So—forgive me."
Standing by an artificial lake, outside a pavilion, Arashi gazed up at the pitch-black night sky, whispering to himself.
Yes.
He truly mourned Shinnosuke's death.
For in the Sarutobi clan, Shinnosuke had been one of the few he could call a friend.
But alas—
their stations doomed them never to remain so.
After a brief moment of grief, a surge of heroic spirit rose within him.
Because Shinnosuke was dead.
And as for Hiruzen's other son, Asuma?
That wastrel, lost in unrealistic ideals, dreaming of a world with a single ruler and even hoping his father would hand power to the daimyo?
A joke.
Why should a mere daimyo, a powerless man, ever make the Hokage bow?
If not for the commoners' blind reverence—almost deification—of the daimyo, the shinobi would have wiped him out long ago.
Otherwise, the so-called daimyo would already be dead!
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