Chapter 87: Go Clean Up Your Mess First
Every single one of Konoha's high-ranking officials belonged to the night owl category. Even at this hour, none of them knew to go home and rest—all holed up in their offices, burning the midnight oil handling official business.
Therefore—
Upon receiving the order, Shimura Danzo quickly left the Root organization's base and came to the Hokage building.
When he pushed open the door and entered this smoke-filled Hokage office that resembled a fairyland, he heard Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice, coldly asking: "What exactly is going on at the eastern battlefield frontlines?"
"What?"
Shimura Danzo raised his eyebrows, his naturally fierce face revealing some confusion.
"You don't know?"
"Should I know?"
"Then first look at this record."
Sarutobi Hiruzen reached out and grabbed a document, roughly throwing it toward Shimura Danzo with movements that thoroughly expressed his angry emotions.
Shimura Danzo looked at the document on the ground, his facial muscles twitching. But he still slowly bent down to pick up the document and read it carefully before his eyes.
This was a record compiled after the Yamanaka clan thoroughly searched three Mist ninja heads, documenting the complete process of the attack on Team Kakashi.
"Nohara Rin became the Three-Tails Jinchuriki? Where is she now? We must immediately control her to ensure she won't lose control and cause destruction." After reading it, Danzo's first reaction was to urgently inquire.
"She's currently at Minato's house."
"Minato's house? How can that work? Two Jinchuriki together—if something unexpected happens, won't we have to face two out-of-control Tailed Beasts simultaneously? I believe Nohara Rin must be sent outside the village for separate settlement."
Shimura Danzo frowned tightly, his face full of worry. After speaking, he couldn't help proposing: "This matter can be entrusted to me. I'll restrain the Three-Tails Jinchuriki."
"Danzo, I didn't call you here to discuss how to arrange the Three-Tails Jinchuriki. Nohara Rin is Minato's student. She absolutely cannot be handed over to you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shouted sternly.
But Shimura Danzo disagreed. "Why not? Jinchuriki are ticking time bombs. Uzumaki Kushina at least possesses the Uzumaki clan bloodline and can forcibly control the Nine-Tails, but what does Nohara Rin have? She could lose control and go berserk at any time. Placing her in the village is completely irresponsible..."
"I said enough!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed the table and roared again.
Shimura Danzo's face darkened as he fell silent.
"Danzo, tell me—what exactly is going on at the frontlines? Wasn't Aburame Torune supposed to handle Hyuga Ritsu, this unstable element? Why was Team Kakashi's intelligence sold to the Mist ninja?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen no longer beat around the bush, directly questioning him pointedly.
Of course—
To prevent eavesdropping, the moment Danzo entered, he'd imperceptibly set up a barrier that could isolate sound leakage and block Byakugan surveillance, so they could speak freely with confidence.
"I'm not clear."
Shimura Danzo answered with a dark face.
"Really?"
"I have no reason whatsoever to target Team Kakashi."
"The matter of Hatake Sakumo..."
"If I wanted to act because of Hatake Sakumo, I would have acted years ago. Ultimately, Hatake Sakumo's own psychological fragility—his inability to withstand some gossip and choosing self-termination—what does that have to do with me? I have absolutely no need to target Hatake Kakashi because of something unrelated to me."
Hearing Shimura Danzo's explanation, Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at him carefully for a moment, judging that this old comrade wasn't deceiving him about this matter.
The pent-up anger in his heart lightened slightly, but the confusion wouldn't disappear because of this. He stared at Danzo, pressing: "If it wasn't you, then what exactly is going on?"
"Couldn't it really be the Mist ninja's doing?"
Shimura Danzo raised a possibility.
"How could that be..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's words stopped abruptly halfway through.
Indeed, this possibility couldn't be ruled out. It was just that because Danzo often mixed personal business when helping him work, after Minato said so, he'd subconsciously assumed it was Danzo's doing.
But if it truly wasn't Danzo, but rather a Mist ninja spy leaking information... this possibility wasn't non-existent. Though the Mist ninja were somewhat incompetent, they were still one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. Planting several spies was completely possible.
"It also can't be completely ruled out that Aburame Torune acted privately behind your back."
After thinking for a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen added: "According to Minato's statement, when Team Kakashi was attacked, Hyuga Ritsu, who was responsible for supporting them, was similarly ambushed by Mist ninja. Reportedly, the Mist ninja deployed multiple experts including Suikazan Fuguki, Biwa Juzo, and Ao..."
"Was Hyuga Ritsu eliminated?"
Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could finish, Shimura Danzo eagerly asked.
"The Mist ninja failed. Suikazan Fuguki was captured alive, Ao and others were killed. The Mist ninja suffered a crushing defeat. Their defeat is probably imminent."
"A bunch of worthless trash!"
Shimura Danzo cursed in disappointment.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of smoke, his mood complex. Honestly, he somewhat regretted his earlier decision. The Hyuga clan hadn't shown signs of losing control after overthrowing the Main and Branch family system—they still steadily served as Konoha's cornerstone. Hyuga Ritsu himself honestly ran and fought on the frontlines, never again showing fangs toward his own people.
Perhaps he shouldn't have so rashly decided to eliminate Ritsu back then.
He bit his pipe and couldn't help taking two hard puffs before finally saying: "Danzo, let's talk business first. Aburame Torune very likely made many moves behind your back. Perhaps out of the purpose of dealing with Ritsu, he cooperated with the Mist ninja and sold Team Kakashi's intelligence to them."
Shimura Danzo couldn't refute this.
Because he also didn't dare say Aburame Torune couldn't do such things. He himself knew best the style of the Root organization he'd personally cultivated. To achieve objectives, forget selling intelligence that didn't affect the overall situation—they could even eliminate some useless own people.
Sarutobi Hiruzen continued: "In any case, I estimate the war with the Mist ninja will end soon. You hurry and recall Aburame Torune, figure out exactly what's going on, then find a way to clean up your own mess. Find a suitable person to bear responsibility. This matter must have an explanation."
"I understand."
Shimura Danzo's expression was very ugly. After several seconds of silence, he couldn't help asking again: "Regarding the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, I think..."
"Shut up. She's Minato's student, not some random nobody who can be casually disposed of! This matter requires long-term planning. You should hurry and clean up your mess."
Sarutobi Hiruzen impatiently waved him away.
****
50+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces