Bang!
At the Anbu Root base, Danzo had just finished his tea when he slammed the cup to the floor, shattering it.
(Teacup: You're so amazing, so noble, huh? ToT)
After returning, the more Danzo thought about it, the angrier he got.
Ever since he had gained power in Konoha, he had weathered countless storms.
He had suffered the occasional failed ambush, but never before had he lost face so badly.
During the escape, there had been plenty of pollen blocking the view, and Danzo had worn a mask and a black cloak.
But he knew that had only made the cover-up more obvious.
Many of the Hokage's direct Anbu who had rushed over must have recognized him.
What made him angriest was that he hadn't even gotten to state the purpose of his visit before he was beaten, his men scattered and their gear lost, and forced to flee in disgrace. In the end, he hadn't even managed to get close to that brat.
The two guards were in an equally sorry state. They stood there with their mouths open, not knowing what to say.
How humiliating!
Their target was just a twelve-year-old rookie who had only just graduated!
It was only because the boy was young and hadn't built up enough strength yet. Otherwise, the three of them might not have made it back today.
Even if they got another chance to ambush Mo Chen, his strength would probably be even more terrifying by then.
"Wood Release must be in my hands. I will not yield on this!"
Danzo seemed to know what the two guards were thinking, and a vicious glint flashed in his eyes.
Mo Chen's Wood Release was nothing like "A's." This was something they absolutely couldn't leave out of their control.
Bam! Bam!
Just then, two figures came crashing down in front of Danzo. They were the guards he had stationed outside.
Danzo's eyes narrowed, and he was about to erupt.
But in the next instant...
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A crowd of figures arrived with the Body Flicker Technique, surrounding a short, elderly man wearing a Hokage hat and Hokage Robe.
He took a deep drag on the pipe clenched between his lips, raised his head, and stared coldly at Danzo. Then he slowly exhaled the smoke.
Danzo stiffened. Putting on a fierce front, he growled, "Hiruzen Sarutobi, what do you mean by this?!"
"Danzo, you've gone too far!" The Third Hokage spoke each word distinctly.
Danzo stubbornly retorted, "What have I done to go too far? Even if I've been stripped of my position as Hokage's advisor, I'm still a Konoha Ninja, a veteran who's served the village!"
"You've suddenly brought all these people to my doorstep and injured my men. Even if you are the Hokage, you owe me an explanation today!"
By the end, Danzo was growing more and more defiant. He straightened up and stared Hiruzen down, putting on a show of unyielding integrity in the face of authority.
Holy shit!
The two guards stared in dumbfounded amazement.
No wonder Danzo was the master and they were his lackeys. What they lacked was a face tougher than Mo Chen's Wood Style: Wood Golem Wall.
Hiruzen wasn't surprised in the least. He'd known Danzo for decades—how could he not know what his old friend was like?
"I didn't come here to trade barbs with you!" Hiruzen said, his expression unmoved. "I don't know how much you've learned about Mo Chen, but you'd better keep your hands off him. This is the first time, and it will be the last!"
Danzo's expression darkened again.
Just as Hiruzen understood him, he understood Hiruzen just as well.
From those words alone, he could tell that Hiruzen was serious this time.
Hiruzen had brought so many people with him. It was obvious that if Danzo refused to behave, they would use force.
"You should know what Wood Release means to the village!" Danzo had no intention of backing down.
"Precisely because of that, I don't want him tainted by even a trace of darkness!" Hiruzen stood his ground.
"You're too naive, Hiruzen!" Danzo leaped to his feet and slammed the table, shouting, "If you let him grow on his own without controlling him, how can you guarantee his loyalty?"
"A weapon is only a weapon when it's completely under your control. Otherwise, it's useless—and it could even turn against you! Just like your attitude toward the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. I've opposed it from the very beginning!"
"That's not the same thing!" Hiruzen's voice also grew heated. "And whether it's Naruto or Mo Chen, they're both heirs to the new generation of the Will of Fire, just as we were heirs to the previous generation!"
"They aren't weapons. They're Konoha Ninja!"
"As far as I'm concerned, there's no difference. Ninjas are tools too!" Danzo snorted and sat back down. His expression settled into calm as he said coolly, "You should understand that you won't convince me."
"That's why I brought a whole squad!" Hiruzen said gravely. "Danzo, in my capacity as the Third Hokage, I'm issuing you a formal order!"
"If you or your subordinates go after Mo Chen again, then no matter the outcome, I'll declare you a Konoha traitor and inform the Five Great Nations!"
Danzo's expression, which had just calmed down, darkened once more.
His gaze swept over the surrounding Anbu. They were all elite shinobi at Hiruzen's side, including "A," who had betrayed him and joined Hiruzen.
Root had long since been disbanded by Hiruzen, leaving only a few diehards still loyal to Danzo.
Even if Root had still been at full strength, Danzo couldn't have fought Hiruzen here.
And if they did fight, Root would be more likely to lose than win.
A moment ago, he'd been saying, "Wood Release must be in my hands. I will not yield." But now Hiruzen had dealt him a crushing blow.
Hiruzen's stern expression and harsh words made it clear that he wasn't just making an idle threat.
Danzo was seething with frustration, but in the end all he could do was grit his teeth and snarl, "Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
Hiruzen relaxed and gave a soft snort. "Danzo, don't forget—I'm the Hokage!"
"Hmph!" Danzo snorted heavily and turned to leave.
Wait! Where's the door?
Danzo suddenly realized, damn it, this was his own base, not the Hokage's Office!
As if he'd noticed Danzo's embarrassment, the corners of Hiruzen's mouth quirked up. He waved a hand and led the Anbu away.
After all, they'd been friends for many years. In the end, Hiruzen didn't do anything to Danzo, only issued him a stern warning.
Of course, the main reason was that he had no evidence and couldn't prove that Danzo had actually gone after Mo Chen.
Meanwhile, Mo Chen was lying in a hospital bed, suffering and enjoying every minute of it.
After he'd passively gained Anko as an older sister, the Chat Group chimed with a notification.
[ Ding! Congratulations to group member Mitaraishi Anko! Her group level has increased from LV1 to LV3, granting a 300% boost to all attributes! ]
The Chat Group went wild.
After Tenten, Ino, and the others pressed her for answers, Anko had no choice but to reveal Mo Chen's location.
Before long, Konoha's Four Flowers—including Sakura—had all gathered in the hospital room.
They had "coincidentally" come by, each with an excuse more flimsy than the last.
Ino had come to sell flowers; Tenten had just finished a mission and come to relieve her fatigue; Hinata had come for an eye exam; Sakura had an urgent need to pee and had come to use the restroom.
It was just that they'd all happened to arrive at the hospital at the same time—and then happened to spot Mo Chen in the room.
Of course, none of that mattered.
Anko had just joined the group and had gone up three levels in such a short time, which had given Konoha's Four Flowers a serious shock.
Now they were gathered around Mo Chen, fussing over him, massaging his shoulders and legs, and bringing him tea and water. The bold Ino even wanted to help him pee...
Before you continue