"I've grown cowardly?"
"I don't think I've grown cowardly. I think taking control of Root has made you forget who you are!"
"I'm honestly starting to regret it. I regret not disbanding Root outright after Danzo died!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Utatane Koharu before him, his words growing blunt. I've grown cowardly?
Clearly, you're the one who's gotten a little too bold, Utatane Koharu!
With the way things are going, even I, the Hokage, am being forced to resign. Yet you, a mere Hokage Advisor, not only hired people to assassinate Uchiha Chisen, but now you're standing here calling me cowardly!
Root, you've turned my friends from people into monsters!
"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
Utatane Koharu gave Sarutobi Hiruzen a long, hard look. She finally understood a little of how Shimura Danzō had felt.
You're about to lose your position as Hokage. Fine, you can sit back and do nothing, but I've been doing your dirty work for you, and now you tell me I've forgotten who I am?
"I don't know whether I'll regret it, but it's time you went back to prison!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't be bothered to argue with Utatane Koharu any further. He was stepping down anyway, and Koharu had to return to prison. If necessary, he might as well disband Root outright!
Utatane Koharu said nothing more and left the Hokage office building on her own.
Although she had accused Sarutobi Hiruzen of growing cowardly, she was actually a little afraid herself. After all, Uchiha Chisen had absolutely no regard for rank or seniority. If he learned that she had hired the Akatsuki Organization to kill him, he really would come after her!
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, he was sitting in his office, morosely smoking his pipe.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't the only one feeling