Danzo: This Is All the Uchiha's Fault

Inside the Hokage Building's Conference Room.

The long conference table was already filled with representatives from the major ninja clans. The atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating, and every face bore a grave expression.

At the head of the table sat Sarutobi Hiruzen. Wearing the Hokage Hat that symbolized Konoha's Hokage, he kept his head lowered as though deep in thought. On either side of him sat the two advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. Both were looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen; they had always followed his lead. Danzo's seat, meanwhile, was empty.

Further down sat the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio: Yamanaka Inoichi, Nara Shikaku, and Akimichi Choza. The three were exchanging glances as well. Their clans had always stood together, and when dealing with external matters, Nara Shikaku took the lead.

Only after them came the Uchiha Clan Head, Uchiha Fugaku, and the Hyuga Clan Head, Hyuga Hiashi. Neither showed any intention of speaking with the others, both keeping their heads lowered as they considered the matter.

Behind them sat representatives from smaller clans such as the Aburame, Inuzuka, and Kurama, as well as representatives among the civilian ninja.

In a sense, the seating arrangement reflected the current distribution of interests among Konoha's ninja clans. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were Sarutobi Hiruzen's classmates and close friends, as well as Hokage advisors, so their positions were naturally unquestioned.

The Ino-Shika-Cho Trio, meanwhile, had chosen their side back during the Fourth Hokage's time. They were firmly part of the Hokage faction. The Uchiha and Hyuga Clans were clearly more family-oriented. One side was exceedingly arrogant and notoriously ill-regarded in Konoha, while the other was firmly neutral, embodying the attitude that it made no difference who became Hokage—thus pleasing neither side.

As for the other small ninja clans, they were simply too small in scale and unable to unite as completely as the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio, as though they were one family.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had not expected things to turn out this way. Of course, he knew that Shimura Danzō had ambushed Uchiha Shisui. He had even personally created the opportunity for today's attack. But there had clearly been a third party involved. That explosion had illuminated all of Konoha in an instant.

Could it have been the Uchiha?

Sarutobi Hiruzen removed the Hokage Hat from his head and placed it on the table before him. The movement was small, but it made just enough noise to draw everyone's attention.

His face was grim as his gaze swept across those present, eventually stopping on Uchiha Fugaku. "Fugaku Clan Head, do you know where Shisui is now?"

"Shisui?" Uchiha Fugaku could not help frowning. Why ask about Shisui at a time like this? Could it be that the Third Hokage still intended to suppress the Uchiha?

Uchiha Fugaku forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart. "I have not seen Shisui within the clan today. If the Third Hokage wishes to summon him, I can have clan members look for him."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned as well, then nodded. "Go look for him. The time of the explosion was not far from when Shisui left the Hokage Building, and it happened along the route he would have taken back..."

The moment those words were spoken, everyone present revealed surprised expressions. Uchiha Fugaku's face darkened outright. The implication was clear: the explosion was connected to Uchiha Shisui.

"Yashiro!" Uchiha Fugaku suddenly called to a white-haired Uchiha seated in the back. "Arrange for people to search. See if you can find Shisui's whereabouts."

"Yes!"

Uchiha Yashiro immediately rose and left the Conference Room.

Besides their clan heads, the major ninja clans had brought quite a few elite members to the meeting, mainly so they could quickly make arrangements in case of emergencies.

"We'll discuss the rest after Elder Danzo arrives."

Once Sarutobi Hiruzen said that, the room fell silent again. The main reason was that none of those present understood what was happening. Even the other two advisors did not fully grasp the situation. Hiruzen and Danzo had probably done something major behind their backs again; they had too little information.

Nara Shikaku had vaguely guessed some of it. They had once been confidants of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, so they had some understanding of the ugliness among the village's higher-ups.

Shimura Danzō's target was likely Uchiha Shisui's eye. He had merely been attacked by an unknown person before he could act.

Though he had guessed part of the truth, he would not say it aloud. He was a smart man. Since he had accepted the benefits offered by Konoha's higher-ups, he had naturally learned to keep his mouth shut.

Shimura Danzō, who was undergoing treatment, had also awakened and was already making his way toward the Hokage Conference Room.

Though the injury from losing an arm was indeed somewhat serious, it was not a major injury for a ninja. What had truly caused him to faint was watching his chance to become Hokage vanish before his eyes. He had passed out only because his fury had overwhelmed him.

Now that he was awake, he had to quickly inform Sarutobi Hiruzen about the Cat-Faced Masked Man. Such a dangerous individual was hiding within Konoha Village. They had to conduct an immediate investigation.

Especially the Uchiha Clan. He had only just obtained Uchiha Shisui's eye when that man appeared. He had to be connected to the Uchiha Clan.

More importantly, he had already received intelligence that Uchiha Shisui and Yakushi Nonō had vanished. At the same time, a Root member had lost an eye. What that implied was already obvious. Only someone who had lost an eye would need one.

In Shimura Danzō's heart, he had already concluded that Uchiha Shisui was connected to the Cat-Faced Masked Man. Yet at the same time, that masked man was also coveting Uchiha Shisui's eye.

Bang!

Upon reaching the Conference Room door, Shimura Danzō did not knock. He simply kicked it open. After all, neither of his hands could be used right now, so kicking it was only natural.

Under Sarutobi Hiruzen's extremely displeased gaze, Shimura Danzō strode quickly to his seat in the Conference Room.

"Hiruzen, the situation is extremely urgent!"

"What?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's urge to curse was choked back by Shimura Danzō's words, and he instead let out a confused question.

Everyone else looked curiously at Shimura Danzō as well.

"The one who ambushed me was the Cat-faced Masked Man Uchiha Shisui encountered."

Shimura Danzō's expression was exceedingly serious as he added, "That man not only knows Wood Release, but also possesses a large-scale destructive ninjutsu."

"We absolutely cannot allow someone this dangerous to remain hidden in Konoha!"

Shimura Danzō spoke with spittle flying, his expression utterly earnest.

Konoha's major higher-ups also turned grave upon hearing this. They had not expected that the massive crater spanning a hundred meters had truly been created by a single ninjutsu. At least in terms of destructive power, it far surpassed ordinary Kage-level techniques.

"So that intruder has been staying in Konoha all along?"

"And he attacked the moment we lowered our guard."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu appropriately added two pointless remarks, already preparing to coast through the meeting.

"Advisor Danzo, do you know why that person attacked you?"

Nara Shikaku spoke up. If it was that intruder, his target should have been a bloodline limit. He should not have attacked Shimura Danzō. Unless it was because Shimura Danzō had already obtained Uchiha Shisui's eye at the time?

That was possible. The last time that person appeared, it had been for Uchiha Shisui's eye.

Before Shimura Danzō could speak, Nara Shikaku had already begun a mental storm of deductions.

Nara Shikaku's words made Shimura Danzō's expression stiffen for a moment. In that instant, Konoha's many higher-ups all turned to look at him, their gazes probing. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at him with dark eyes.

Shimura Danzō instantly understood the warning in his old friend's eyes and quickly came up with an excuse.

"I suspect that Uchiha Shisui was colluding with that intruder, so I had been secretly monitoring him. I merely did not expect that the moment the village's guard was lifted today, that man would be unable to restrain himself and attack. Now it seems this matter is indeed connected to Uchiha Shisui."

"I suggest that we thoroughly investigate the Uchiha Clan!"