While Byakuya was beating Danzo senseless, Konoha Ninja who had received the emergency summons began arriving from afar.
Seeing the battle, all the Konoha Ninja were utterly bewildered.
"What's going on?..."
"Who's the Uchiha Clan fighting?..."
"Uh... Is this really an attack?..."
"Why does it look like the Uchiha Clan has the upper hand?..."
"Who are those people? They're wearing masks. Are they Anbu?..."
"Anbu are attacking the Uchiha Clan?..."
"..."
The Konoha Ninja couldn't help but feel confused.
Root Organization's members always stayed hidden, even when they were carrying out missions.
As a result, few people in Konoha knew that Root existed.
"Konoha Ninja, I'm Shimura Danzo, an elder of Konoha!..."
"Attack the Uchiha Clan at once! They've betrayed Konoha!..."
Danzo was fleeing in a sorry state, with Byakuya hot on his heels. Seeing the Konoha Ninja around him, he hurriedly shouted.
"Hmph. You're the one who betrayed Konoha..."
"You dare attack the Security Force with your men? In the name of the Will of Fire, eliminate these traitors..."
Byakuya kept his Ninja Sword in hand and charged at Danzo.
Hearing Byakuya and Danzo, the Konoha Ninja around them were even more bewildered.
Now, they had no idea what was happening.
On one side was the Uchiha Clan, representing the Security Force.
On the other was Shimura Danzo, representing the Konoha High Command.
They didn't know whom they should listen to.
In the end, all the Konoha Ninja simply stopped where they were. Not one of them moved.
Neither the Uchiha Clan nor Shimura Danzo was someone they could afford to offend.
Some who wanted to join the fight were even held back by their comrades.
Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with the Anbu.
Seeing the fierce battle, Hiruzen was also extremely surprised.
What was Danzo up to?
Hadn't he brought people to rescue someone? Why was he fighting the Uchiha Clan?
And why was he in such a sorry state, being hunted down?
Regardless, he couldn't let the fighting continue.
"Everyone, stop!..."
At the sight of the Third Hokage's arrival, the Uchiha Clan's Ninja and Root Organization's Ninja all stopped fighting.
But Byakuya showed no sign of stopping.
Instead, he launched an even more ferocious attack on Shimura Danzo.
Before Danzo could react, Byakuya caught up to him and swung his Ninja Sword down hard.
"Shhk!... Aah!..."
With a ripping sound and a scream, Shimura Danzo's right arm was severed.
Then Byakuya kicked him hard.
The gravely wounded Shimura Danzo went flying and landed right in front of Hiruzen.
"Impudent! Uchiha Byakuya, what are you doing?..."
Seeing Byakuya ignore his order and grievously wound Danzo, Hiruzen roared in fury.
[ Ding! Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger detected: +500 Negative Energy. Obtained Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet... ]
As Hiruzen raged, the Anbu around him rushed forward, weapons in hand, and warily watched Byakuya.
"Hmph. Third Hokage, I should be asking you that..."
"I'm in the middle of executing a traitor, and Lord Hokage is trying to protect him..."
"Does Lord Hokage intend to betray Konoha? To betray the Will of Fire?..."
Byakuya looked at Hiruzen and demanded an answer.
Hearing Byakuya's words, Hiruzen nearly choked.
Betraying the village and betraying the Will of Fire—that was exactly what he'd been about to accuse Byakuya of!
You've stolen my words. What am I supposed to say now?
"Danzo isn't a traitor. He's an elder of Konoha!..."
"You dare attack an elder of Konoha!..."
Hiruzen continued.
"What elder of Konoha? Since when has Konoha had such a thing?..."
"Our Uchiha Clan doesn't know anything about Konoha elders. All I know is that this man brought people to attack the Uchiha Clan!..."
"Anyone who dares attack a Konoha clan is a traitor!..."
Byakuya flicked the blood from his Ninja Sword and continued walking toward Danzo.
"That's enough... Uchiha Byakuya!..."
"Do you know what you're doing?..."
Just then, the other two Konoha elders, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, arrived and immediately confronted Byakuya.
"We're Konoha elders. What does your Security Force amount to?..."
"You dare behave so arrogantly in front of us?..."
But faced with the two elders' domineering attitude, Byakuya didn't get angry. Instead, he burst out laughing.
"Heh. You're asking what the Security Force amounts to?..."
"I'll tell you right now..."
"Whom the Hokage dares not arrest, the Security Force arrests..."
"Whom the Hokage dares not kill, the Security Force kills..."
"In short, the Security Force handles what the Hokage can handle—and we'll handle what the Hokage won't..."
"In the name of the Will of Fire, we protect Konoha..."
"Anyone who dares endanger Konoha will die..."
"Even if it's the Hokage, if he dares defy the Will of Fire, the Security Force will arrest him..."
"This... is the Konoha Military Police Force..."
Byakuya's domineering voice rang out swiftly around them.
Arrogant—unbelievably arrogant.
He didn't even take the Hokage seriously.
Everyone present was shaken by Byakuya's words.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha Clan members felt their blood surge with excitement, their faces alight.
Look! Listen! What a domineering declaration!
This was the Uchiha Clan!
Only Lord Byakuya could lead the Uchiha Clan to rise again.
"Damn you, Uchiha Byakuya!..."
Unlike the excited Uchiha Clan, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzo, and the others looked utterly grim.
What was this supposed to mean? He was openly showing no regard for the Hokage or the Konoha High Command.
How could they not be furious?
[ Ding! Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger detected: +700 Negative Energy. Taijutsu +30... ] [ Ding! Shimura Danzo's anger detected: +800 Negative Energy. Genjutsu +32... ] [ Ding! Utatane Koharu's anger detected: +900 Negative Energy. Ninjutsu +35... ] [ Ding! Mitokado Homura's anger detected: +1000 Negative Energy. Chakra +40... ]
"Lord Hokage, are you satisfied with my answer?..."
Byakuya looked at the furious Hokage and the others and spoke.
Seeing Byakuya like this, Hiruzen and the others clenched their fists.
They wanted nothing more than to kill Byakuya on the spot.
But they knew perfectly well that they couldn't make a move right now.
For one thing, Byakuya was incredibly powerful. For another, many Uchiha Clan Ninja were watching them like hawks.
If they really fought, they would have nothing to gain.
That was why Byakuya dared to act so arrogantly.
Byakuya was certain Hiruzen wouldn't dare make a move, and wouldn't make one.
Since he knew Hiruzen wouldn't dare act, what did he have to fear?
Byakuya was practically slapping Hiruzen, the Hokage, in the face in front of everyone.
And this brazen provocation had earned Byakuya a huge amount of Negative Energy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, suppressing his anger and returning to his usual kindly demeanor.
"Uchiha Byakuya, you're absolutely right!..."
"With the Security Force here, I can rest easy knowing Konoha is safe..."
"However, Danzo is an elder of Konoha!..."
"He's made a mistake, and the Anbu will deal with him..."
"Would your Security Force be willing to hand Danzo over to the Anbu?..."
Hiruzen looked at Byakuya as he spoke.
"Does the Hokage want to deal with this traitor himself? No problem..."
"But our Uchiha Clan compound was attacked, and we suffered serious losses. What are you going to do about that?..."
Byakuya looked at Hiruzen and asked.
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