"No, I won't admit it! Everyone approved back then, so why should I be the only one to bear responsibility?" Danzo snapped, his chin lifted defiantly.
"You can't twist it like that," Homura Mitokado shot back. "Our suggestions were all within the rules. Yours was the only one outside of them."
"We thought it was inappropriate from the start," he added, "but out of long years of friendship, we gave you face."
Danzo let out a harsh laugh. "Heh… If you thought it was so wrong, why didn't you speak up then? Don't try to push this all on me. I know exactly what's happening, I'm not a fool."
"Didn't Homura just say it?" Koharu retorted coldly. "We gave you face. That doesn't mean we'll cover for you now."
"If you won't take responsibility, then fine... suspend yourself. Indefinite suspension. And from now on, Root will no longer operate independently. It'll be completely folded into Anbu."
Sarutobi's voice cut like a blade, striking directly at Danzo's core.
Under the combined pressure of his three old comrades, Danzo faltered.
For a moment he was at a loss, but he quickly countered,
"If you want me to take the fall, fine. But you'll give me another sum of money."
Sarutobi's brow furrowed, irritation showing. "Are you obsessed with money? We just gave you funds two days ago. Do you think the Administrative Department can print it out of thin air?"
Konoha had no authority to mint currency, the village's coffers relied entirely on the Daimyo's stipends and mission revenue. Ninja worked their lives away for ryo; there was no endless supply.
Danzo, of course, couldn't admit that Root's last stash had been stolen. Stiff-necked, he barked, "Just answer, are you giving it or not?"
The three exchanged glances. Finally, Sarutobi spoke. "Yes. But only half the sum we approved two days ago."
"No bargaining," he added sharply. "If you refuse, then it's indefinite suspension. Choose."
Danzo ran the numbers in his head. Half the appropriation would buy him time, enough to patch Root's bleeding finances and look for outside sources.
"…Fine. But don't transfer it yet. That brat will probably make outrageous demands. Wait until this matter is settled first."
"And I'll only hand over two people. No more."
Sarutobi gave a small nod. "Understood."
"Good. Then it's settled." Danzo grunted. "I'll bring the ledger and list. Notify Uchiha Gen."
Half an hour later, Gen arrived at the Hokage Building. Four elders against one Uchiha but Gen entered calm, unhurried, not the least bit intimidated.
In the chamber, Danzo sat rigid, his face ashen. He looked welded to the chair, refusing to move.
To him, no matter how powerful Uchiha Gen had become, the boy was still younger, lower in rank, lower in status. For someone like Danzo, bowing his head to such a person was humiliation beyond measure.
It is always harder for the one above to apologize to the one below. A father to a son, a master to a servant, an emperor in a self-condemning edict; it all felt the same to him, unbearable.
Danzo sat stubbornly, while Gen leaned back, unbothered. He picked up his teacup and sipped slowly, as though he had all the time in the world.
That relaxed, almost smug posture made Danzo's anger boil. His chest burned with hatred. This arrogant brat… how dare he!
But Sarutobi and the other two elders were growing restless.
To them, this dragged-out standoff was intolerable, they still had a pile of duties waiting. Delay any longer, and they'd be in the office all night.
"Danzo," Sarutobi finally urged, his tone firm. Koharu and Homura joined in, pressing him to end it.
Unable to resist their combined pressure, Danzo rose stiffly. His jaw clenched, his face dark red as he forced the words out,
"I'm… sorry. What I did was excessive. Please forgive me."
His pride screamed, but the apology was done.
Gen calmly set down his teacup. His gaze sharpened. "I'll forgive you this time. But there won't be a next."
"And remember, those in power must respect the rules even more than others, because they're the greatest beneficiaries of them. If ninja are free to ignore rules and act recklessly… I don't need to spell out the consequences, do I?"
The words landed like a stone in still water. Sarutobi, Koharu, and Homura exchanged quiet glances. They couldn't deny the truth of it.
No wonder this boy is such a headache, they thought. He's sharp, and he's not wrong.
Danzo swallowed his rage. "I… know."
Damn it, he thought bitterly. Me, Danzo Shimura lectured by a brat not even half my age?
"Alright. Next matter," Gen said.
Danzo pulled a thick ledger from his sleeve and dropped it onto the table.
Gen narrowed his eyes. "There's an old saying, if you make a mistake, admit it. If you take a hit, stand tall. But right now, Elder Danzo, you look like you're seething inside, plotting retaliation instead of showing sincerity."
"Danzo!" Sarutobi's voice cracked like a whip.
Grinding his teeth, Danzo picked up the ledger again and handed it over with both hands.
Gen flipped through, went straight to the balance, then set it down. "Root needs operating funds, of course. I'll leave one-fifth. I'm taking four-fifths."
Danzo's chest tightened. Four-fifths! Just as I thought, he's bleeding me dry. I just scraped together this sum and it's already gone…
"…Take it," Danzo said at last, his voice hoarse, face dark as ash.
"Good." Gen's tone was final. "Now..the recruits. I'll take two."
"Fine." Danzo pulled out the reserve list and offered it politely this time, hiding his fury.
Gen flipped through.
Two names caught his eye, both familiar. But not Kinoe, of course not. Yamato was Root's crown jewel; Danzo would never list him, not when Wood Release was involved.
Still, these two were good. Valuable, both now and later.
"I'll take these." Gen circled the names with a pen.
Danzo glanced down. His lips twitched violently, his heart aching. Of all names, Gen had chosen the two most promising ones.
"Elder Danzo, is there a problem?" Gen asked smoothly.
"…No problem. Just two average trainees," Danzo lied flatly, forcing a mask of calm.
"Then we're done." Gen's smile was thin. "Make sure they're untouched when they arrive. No tricks."
Danzo snorted. "Do you take me for a fool? They're Konoha shinobi. Of course I won't touch them."
His words were sharp, but his chest felt hollow, like he'd punched cotton.
Gen simply gave him a faint smile, not rising to the bait. The very act of lashing back only betrayed Danzo's reluctance and pain.
"This matter is concluded," Gen said, standing. "Thank you, Hokage-sama, for presiding. The Police Force has work waiting, so I'll take my leave."
Sarutobi inclined his head. "Go."