"Impudent! As the Hokage's aide, don't you know the meaning of respect, Orochimaru? And you, Uchiha Gen! This is Konoha's command center. You dare barge in without orders!
"I have every right to suspect you're trying to steal Konoha's tactical intelligence! Guards, seize him!"
Shimura Danzō sat at the head of the room, his expression dark as he shouted at Orochimaru. Then he turned and pointed at Uchiha Gen, raising his voice.
But then, blood spattered.
Shimura Danzō stared in disbelief at his severed finger.
He looked up and saw Uchiha Gen holding an ornate longsword, slowly sliding it back into its sheath.
"Uchiha Gen! Your clan really is plotting a rebellion! In my capacity as the Hokage's aide, I hereby declare Uchiha Gen a rogue ninja!
"Orochimaru, Tsunade! As Konoha ninjas, are you going to let him defect? Seize him at once!"
Shimura Danzō quickly drew back his hand to staunch the bleeding, his face twisted with rage as he shouted at Orochimaru and Tsunade.
"Rebellion? You ugly old geezer, you sure are good at coming up with excuses. The Uchiha Clan helped found Konoha. Why would we betray it? The one who betrayed Konoha is you. I'm just doing my duty as a member of the Military Police Force and purging a rogue ninja.
"According to Konoha regulations, anyone who abandons the battlefield and flees is to be treated as a rogue ninja. Shimura Danzō, as a disciple of the Second, you should remember those regulations well."
Uchiha Gen smiled and snapped his fingers.
The next moment, a flaming slash struck the chests of all the "Root Ninja" recruits rushing at him, engulfing them in flames.
The searing heat scorched their flesh, while razor-sharp blades of hot air tore through them. In an instant, every one of the