A Full-Blown Tear-Down Show

In the Hokage Office, after listening to Sarutobi Kazuhara's report, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned grave. He could not help taking two deep pulls from his pipe. "What the hell is Danzo doing?!"

Fuck, this is so hard!

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt like he was cleaning up other people's messes every single day!

"Third Hokage, considering that Uzumaki Gengetsu has Dragon Vein Energy sealed inside him, I don't think he is suited to carry out missions outside the village anymore. And with his talents, he would be better suited for the Medical Department and ANBU!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara offered the reminder tactfully. In truth, he hoped Gengetsu would join ANBU—ANBU directly under the Hokage—but as a subordinate, even as a member of the Sarutobi Clan, he could only make a suggestion.

"Mm... Then let Gengetsu join the Medical Department first. We'll have him enter ANBU after some time."

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a plume of smoke, then asked, "Then your squad will need another member."

"Uh... I don't think that will be necessary for now. Uchiha Shinsui already has the strength of a Special Jonin, while Kanzuki Chiba has a talent for sensory perception. She is currently studying Sensory Techniques under Uzumaki Gengetsu."

Sarutobi Kazuhara explained.

"Oh? Is that so..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his brows, rather surprised, before saying, "Then let things remain as they are for now. They are all Konoha's future. I hope you can guide them well!"

"Yes!"

Sarutobi Kazuhara lowered his head, then withdrew from the Hokage Office.

Smoke curled through the room. After pondering for a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally sighed and summoned two ANBU members. "Bring Danzo, Uzumaki Gengetsu, and Minato here. Wait—bring Kushina as well!"

"Yes!"

The two ANBU immediately vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.

Seated before his desk, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help but get a headache whenever he thought of Kushina. Still, he knew that if he did not invite her, she would probably show up uninvited anyway!

"Hiruzen, why did you summon me?"

Danzo arrived quickly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around, pipe in hand, and lowered his gaze slightly as he stared at Danzo. "You were behind the attack on the Gengetsu Squad, weren't you?"

Danzo's expression did not change. He had already received word that the mission had failed, so he was prepared and immediately denied it. "No, this has nothing to do with me!"

"But Kazuhara's squad has already captured a Root member!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said sternly.

"What?"

Danzo's expression changed, and cold sweat seeped from his brow. I was careless...

He had thought his arrangements were foolproof. The mission's failure had already shocked him enough; he had never expected that the crucial Root member would be captured alive.

"With that level of strength, he not only failed the mission but was even captured? Has that brat completely mastered the Dragon Vein's power?"

Although all Root members had been branded with Cursed Seals and could not possibly leak information, if he denied it now, would he not be treating Hiruzen Sarutobi like an idiot?

"And the human experimentation absolutely cannot be exposed, or else..."

The more Danzo thought about it, the more cold sweat he broke out in. He hurriedly said, "Hiruzen, I did this for the village! Uzumaki Gengetsu has already been targeted by other villages and is not suited to carry out missions outside. But since you insist on going your own way, as Konoha's Root, I naturally have an obligation to eliminate potential threats!"

"As Konoha's protectors, we should believe in our children. Whether it is Gengetsu or Kazuhara, we should trust that they have enough ability to deal with the dangers outside!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke quickly, his eyes fixed on Danzo and placing enormous pressure on him.

"Given the current situation, I will not pursue this matter any further. But there will not be a next time. And you need to give Kushina and Minato a reasonable explanation!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's final words made Danzo secretly breathe a sigh of relief, but he could not help feeling indignant. Such indecision will destroy Konoha sooner or later. Only I can save Konoha. I am Konoha's most suitable leader!

Bang!

The door was suddenly kicked open. Kushina strode in angrily, her red hair flying behind her, and stomped hard enough to crack the floor. "Danzo, why did you attack Gengetsu again?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo both broke out in cold sweat at the sight of the enraged Kushina. If they provoked the Jinchuriki into going berserk, the entire Hokage building might be torn down!

At that moment, Minato entered with Gengetsu, wearing an awkward expression.

"Ahem, Kushina, this is a misunderstanding!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to persuade her.

"Third Hokage, this is no misunderstanding. Danzo has tried to seize Gengetsu several times. He probably wants Gengetsu to become the next Jinchuriki, then control him and seize the position of Hokage!"

Kushina looked as though she were doing this for his own good, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi at a loss for words.

"Third Hokage, Sister Kushina is right. I also suspect that Elder Danzo has ulterior motives. That Root Ninja may already be dead, but I heard that all Root members have been branded with Cursed Seals. It would have been impossible for him to become a rogue ninja."

Gengetsu gave Danzo no chance to defend himself, nor Hiruzen Sarutobi any chance to make excuses for Danzo. He rattled on rapidly, "Those Rain Ninja Defectors knew our squad's intelligence very well. One Rain Ninja Defector has now escaped, which means he took a great deal of information with him. That already constitutes betraying the village!"

Kushina immediately added, "Third Hokage, for your safety and the village's safety, I think Danzo is no longer fit to lead Root. The best choice would be for you to take command personally."

Minato forced an awkward smile and said through gritted teeth, "Third Hokage, I also agree with Kushina's suggestion!"

Gengetsu and Kushina's chaotic barrage left both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo reeling. Hiruzen Sarutobi in particular could no longer find an excuse to shield Danzo. After all, this whole family was thinking of him and thinking of the village.

However, as shrewd as Hiruzen Sarutobi was, he also saw that Kushina did not truly intend to pursue the matter to the end.

Looks like I still have Minato to thank this time...

Hiruzen Sarutobi understood Kushina's temperament very well. She would never have considered matters so thoroughly on her own. Clearly, Minato had played a major role in this.

As for Gengetsu, although he was clever, he was only nine years old and was directly overlooked!

"Then from this moment on, Danzo is relieved of his position as Root's leader. Root will be under my personal command!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi announced solemnly. Danzo's face darkened as he sighed inwardly. It seems I can only lie low for a while...

"Third Hokage, you are wise. However..."

Kushina praised Hiruzen Sarutobi, then turned to Danzo. "Lord Danzo, because of your mistake, Gengetsu can no longer leave the village to carry out missions. But he still has to live in the future, research ninjutsu, get married, and have children..."

After rattling off a long list, Kushina turned back to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Third Hokage, given such losses, a compensation of Ten Million Ryo is not excessive, right?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi broke out in a cold sweat. He finally understood why Minato looked so awkward.

"Uh... That does not seem excessive!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought, Ten Million Ryo is not much to Danzo anyway.

Danzo was already burning with rage. He was actually being extorted. He was the leader of Root and Konoha's Advisory Elder. But just as he was about to speak, Gengetsu said, "My current bounty is exactly Ten Million Ryo!"

He was not making it up. His head really was worth Ten Million Ryo on the Black Market now. Kirigakure had probably put up the bounty.

"I will have someone deliver the money!"

Danzo snorted coldly and directly left with the Body Flicker Technique.

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