S-Rank Missing-nin: Shimura Danzō

The Third Hokage was tensely pondering how to soothe the Konoha Ninja's emotions.

As long as he got through today, he could regain his familiar rhythm and stall with all sorts of excuses.

If he could delay for two days, Hiruzen Sarutobi had a hundred ways to save Shimura Danzō. He had done it countless times before and was thoroughly familiar with it.

Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi could not think of a single solution.

Shazo and Shisui Uchiha stood on high ground, loudly denouncing Shimura Danzō. Combined with Shisui's two bloody eye sockets, the effect was explosive.

The Konoha Ninja were utterly worked up, their emotions resonating with one another as their condemnation of Shimura Danzō rose wave after wave. Even a thick-headed brute like Danzo was cursed into shrinking back.

The situation was spiraling further out of control.

At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help regretting that he had sent his clansmen to inventory the Uchiha Clan's property. He should have summoned them here instead.

With the support of several thousand Sarutobi Clan ninja, how could he have ended up isolated by all the ninja in the village?

But Hiruzen Sarutobi vaguely felt that if the Sarutobi Clan's several thousand ninja really came to support him, it might lead to even more serious consequences.

He glanced at Shazo standing beside Shisui Uchiha, and an immense sense of loss suddenly welled up within him.

A mere Genin could stir people's hearts and force both him and Shimura Danzō into helplessness. That meant something had gone seriously wrong with him.

Although that Genin had received an enormous boost from Wood Release, that was not the main reason.

In the past, Hatake Sakumo, Minato Namikaze, and Orochimaru had all possessed prestige far beyond that unknown Genin's, yet none of them had ever been able to shake his rule.

The true problem was that Hiruzen Sarutobi's authority in the eyes of the Konoha Ninja had been shaken.

Now that he had lost control of the situation, Shimura Danzō was certain to bear the charge of being a missing-nin and might even face execution.

For Konoha, and for himself, the Third Hokage decided that he could only sacrifice Shimura Danzō and make him a missing-nin alongside Uchiha Itachi.

He thought, This is for Danzo's own good, too. If he stays in the village, he'll inevitably be imprisoned, perhaps even executed.

He should first become a missing-nin and preserve his life. Then I'll gradually arrange for him to clear his name. One day, he can still return to Konoha.

Look at Orochimaru. He's a missing-nin too, yet isn't he doing quite well outside the village?

I'm sorry, Shimura Danzō. You'll just have to endure this grievance.

The Third Hokage looked at Shisui Uchiha atop the towering wooden pillar and loudly announced, "Shimura Danzō mutilated Konoha Ninja Shisui Uchiha, colluded with the murderer of the Fourth Hokage and Uchiha Itachi, and committed unforgivable crimes against the Uchiha Clan."

"The evidence of Shimura Danzō's crimes is conclusive. His methods were exceptionally cruel, and the impact exceptionally vile!"

"I hereby strip Shimura Danzō of his positions as Hokage Advisor and head of the Anbu training department, and revoke his identity as a Konoha Ninja!"

"Konoha Ninja, Anbu ninja, seize the missing-nin Shimura Danzō!"

The entire scene suddenly fell silent. Everyone looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, unable to believe that the Third Hokage had declared Shimura Danzō a missing-nin. It was simply unbelievable.

Instead, Shazo smiled and took the lead, raising an arm as he shouted, "Long live the Third Hokage!"

As if waking from a dream, the Konoha Ninja followed with shouts of, "Long live the Third Hokage!"

Shazo raised his arm again and shouted, "Capture the missing-nin Shimura Danzō!"

"Capture the missing-nin Shimura Danzō!!"

Countless arms rose high into the air. The shouts surged like a tide, and blazing emotions erupted like a volcano as the Konoha Ninja charged toward Shimura Danzō.

Leading the charge were Kakashi Hatake, who had removed his mask, Hyuga Hiashi, Shibi Aburame, Shikaku Nara, and Uchiha Izumi.

Shazo grabbed Shisui Uchiha, who wanted to rush forward, and chuckled. "You should stay out of it."

Shisui Uchiha argued, "The Uchiha children have all rushed in. How can I..."

Shazo said, "You're a sixteen-year-old child yourself, and a blind one at that. Don't make trouble for everyone else."

Upon hearing that he would burden others, Shisui indeed stopped struggling.

Shazo smiled. "Besides, Shimura Danzō ran off long ago. The Konoha Ninja won't catch him today."

Shisui Uchiha was startled. "Shimura Danzō escaped?"

Shazo chuckled. "What's so strange about that? If Shimura Danzō hadn't escaped, would the Third Hokage have declared him a missing-nin?"

"If the Konoha Ninja really caught him, wouldn't the Third Hokage be terribly embarrassed?"

"He definitely couldn't bear to execute Danzo, but secretly letting him go would be impossible to justify. Wouldn't that make things difficult for Hiruzen Sarutobi?"

Shisui Uchiha did not respond. Instead, he tilted his head and listened to the sounds of battle, carefully trying to distinguish information about Shimura Danzō.

Shazo smiled faintly, then jumped down on his own and vanished into the forest.

His performance today had already ended. The title of missing-nin had been firmly pinned on Shimura Danzō. It was time to hunt down the two escaping Uchiha.

Shazo mockingly said to himself, "Saving the Uchiha Clan, hunting down Uchiha Itachi and Obito Uchiha... I'm really busy tonight."

"Oh, right. I still have to come back and intercept Shimura Danzō. So busy. I'm going to be worked to death."

After getting his bearings, he activated the Swift Style Kekkei Genkai and vanished like a wisp of smoke.

Half a minute later, shouts such as "Shimura Danzō escaped!" and "This is a fake Shimura Danzō!" began to ring out.

Very soon, the Third Hokage announced that Shimura Danzō had fled in fear of punishment and that a wanted notice was to be issued immediately.

Shimura Danzō, as well as Uchiha Itachi, who had left with the murderer of the Fourth Hokage, were both designated S-rank missing-nin.

Shisui Uchiha felt utterly drained. He slowly slumped down onto the wooden pillar and bitterly muttered, "Third Hokage... you really are... disappointing."

"If even the Hokage cannot be trusted, then who should I trust?"

Suddenly, Shisui Uchiha noticed the warm chakra inside his body. It was Yang Release chakra that Shazo had seemingly casually sent into him when he stopped him earlier.

At the time, it had merely made Shisui's body go limp and unable to exert strength. But now, it circulated along a wondrous path, repairing all kinds of injuries within Shisui's body.

Shisui Uchiha suddenly smiled. "I'm truly stupid. Lord Shazo saved the Uchiha Clan and saved my life. Of course he's someone I can trust."

Having found something to anchor his heart to, Shisui Uchiha's mind instantly settled, and his entire body relaxed.

Imitating Shazo, he sat atop the wooden pillar and revealed a gentle smile.

Lord Shazo will surely solve this problem, allowing the village and the clan to coexist peacefully and letting Konoha prosper.

As Shazo sped forward by following the Soul Beacon, he suddenly felt a chill run down his back. His head also abruptly felt heavy, as though something as massive as a mountain had landed atop it.

The feeling was especially like the 996 grind from his previous life, only far heavier, giving him the illusion that he could barely breathe.

"Damn, who is this? Who's cranking up the pressure on me?"

"Once I find you, I'll make you pay!"

Shazo soon cast aside the sudden feeling. The Soul Beacon was getting closer and closer.

Prepare to die, Uchiha Itachi!