Danzo's Furious Rage

The Third Hokage suddenly lost his temper, causing everyone present to tremble with fear. Even Danzō was extremely surprised.

Konoha hadn't suffered significant losses. He originally thought the Third Hokage wouldn't care about such a matter, especially since many more egregious things had happened before.

Unexpectedly, the Third Hokage was now furious, and he looked like he was about to take action.

"Third Hokage, you only need to give me any reason regarding the Root ninja, I'm not trying to make trouble for you with this matter."

Danzo thought the Third Hokage was angry because he asked about Root, and quickly explained his intentions.

"Danzo, I am asking you now why you were absent when Sunagakure and Otogakure invaded Konoha. Don't talk to me about your damned Root, I don't want to hear it!"

The Third Hokage's expression was as dark as water, and he stared directly at Danzō.

Danzo's mouth twitched. For a moment, he couldn't figure out what the Third Hokage was up to, and why he was fixated on this issue.

The other Konoha high-ranking officials remained silent. Since Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage, this was the first time they had seen him so angry.

Each of them feared being caught in the crossfire, as those who reached their positions were not entirely clean.

At this moment, they could only wait quietly for the matter to pass.

"What? Are you mute? Or do you simply not respect me, the Third Hokage of Konohagakure, and don't want to answer my question!"

Seeing Danzō's continued silence, the Third Hokage questioned him again.

"No, you are the highest leader of our Konohagakure, how could I not respect you."

Being repeatedly reprimanded, Danzō felt a surge of anger, but he suppressed it deep down in front of so many people.

"Then tell me, why didn't you take action during this incident?"

"Don't tell me you were out on another mission and not in the village."

"I'm telling you, my subordinate saw with their own eyes that you were in the village at the time!"

Upon hearing this, Danzō's mind raced, trying to come up with a perfect excuse to get out of this.

At this point, he understood that if he couldn't provide a reason today, he would likely face severe consequences.

"Since you don't want to answer, I'll answer for you." The Third Hokage's gaze turned cold.

"You were thinking that since I'm old and useless, I would definitely be killed by Orochimaru. Once I'm dead, you could conveniently become the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure!"

"No, no, no... How could that be possible? I, Danzō, would never have such thoughts!"

Stripped bare, Danzō became flustered for a moment.

He hadn't expected the Third Hokage to say such things in front of so many Konoha high-ranking officials.

"Danzo, I have always been aware of your intentions, I just didn't want to bother with you."

"The position of Hokage is not something I want to cling to forever. I also want to enjoy some family time sooner."

"I also want to pass the Hokage position to you, but the problem is, you are not suitable!"

"I believe you yourself are very clear about this. Even when the Second Hokage was still alive, he tested you!"

The Third Hokage's words were like sharp blades stabbing into Danzō's heart.

Especially the sentence about the Second Hokage having tested him, it almost made him break down completely.

The matter of the Second Hokage choosing his successor was Danzō's eternal pain, and he still dreamt about it to this day.

Danzo often hated himself for being too weak and cowardly back then.

If his personality had been a bit stronger and his actions more decisive at that time, he wouldn't be in this situation now.

The Third Hokage slowly walked to Danzō's side and addressed everyone:

"Today, I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in the name of the Third Hokage, declare that Danzō shall never hold the position of Hokage of Konohagakure."

"After this, I will notify the entire village of this matter in writing."

The Third Hokage's voice was unusually calm, but to Danzō, it was like a thunderclap, a bolt from the blue, making his head buzz.

Sitting in his chair, Danzō's face was filled with despair. The Third Hokage's decision had completely cut off his future path.

The moment the document was issued, it meant that no matter how hard he tried, he would never be able to become the Hokage of Konohagakure.

The matter wasn't over yet. The Third Hokage continued:

"I announce that starting today, you are stripped of your position as leader of Root and demoted to a regular Jonin."

"From now on, you are not allowed to participate in or interfere with the decision-making of Konoha's high-ranking officials in any way!"

At this announcement, the entire hall erupted in an uproar. Disbelief was written on everyone's faces.

They couldn't believe their ears. They couldn't believe the Third Hokage would make such a decision!

Nara Shikaku and Mitokado Homura's faces changed drastically. They understood the severe consequences if the Third Hokage acted this way.

Root, under Danzō's command, had many skilled individuals. Such an action could very well lead to a coup!

Danzo held significant power, and although he had always been a thorn in their side, it was undeniable that he couldn't be removed with just a single statement!

Danzo's influence in Konoha runs too deep. The only way to achieve his objectives is to dismantle it slowly. Any forceful approach would inevitably provoke a backlash.

"Lord Third Hokage, this absolutely cannot be done! Shimura Danzō has made immense contributions to Konoha; we cannot dismiss him from his position over such a trivial matter!"

Mitokado Homura, a senior advisor to Konohagakure, quickly spoke up.

Utatane Koharu, Nara Shikaku, the Land of Fire Representative, and everyone else present also pleaded for the Third Hokage to retract his decision.

Their faces were etched with worry, as they all understood the severe consequences of such an action.

Upon hearing the Third Hokage's decision, Danzō didn't get angry; instead, he chuckled. He reclined in his chair, staring directly at the Third Hokage, his gaze unwavering.

The order that he would never be able to hold the position of Hokage was already unacceptable to him.

If his position were to be stripped away as well, even he didn't know what kind of actions he might take.

"Lord Third Hokage, Shimura Danzō has diligently worked for Konoha's peace all these years. You truly shouldn't punish him so severely!"

"Moreover, he has led Root for so long. Even if his position is revoked, we won't be able to find anyone else suitable!"

The Konoha higher-ups continued to plead.

"A trivial matter? You all consider it a trivial matter that he refused to help when Konoha was facing external threats, all for his own selfish desires?"

The Third Hokage swept his gaze across the room and said without hesitation, "My decision is final. Effective immediately, Shimura Danzō is stripped of his position as leader of Root!"

Everyone present was shocked and their faces changed color.

"Good, good, good! Very good! Hiruzen Sarutobi, you've done very well!"

Danzō slowly stood up, glanced at the Third Hokage, and said coldly:

"All these years, how much have I done for you? Since you say so, I don't care about this leadership position anymore!"

"Exactly! I'm worried you won't be able to handle the position of Hokage in the future!"

A naked threat echoed through the Hokage's office.

Danzō smashed the table in front of him with a palm strike and strode out of the Hokage's office.

"Danzō, over the years, you have indeed done much for Konoha and shared many of my burdens."

"However, you have also led me to make many wrong decisions!"

"If you dare to do anything detrimental to Konoha, I will personally kill you!"

"Hmph!" Danzō snorted and left the Hokage's office on his own accord.

Just then, a somewhat childish voice rang out from the Hokage's office.

"You've already come, why rush off? Wait a moment, I have something to ask you."

A figure jumped from the roof to the windowsill. It was Ye Fan!