Shimura Danzō said, "You may be the Hokage, but you're a retired Hokage. Do you think the naturally evil Uchiha will show you any respect?"
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, stop being so naive. Show some authority!"
"You need to tell them loudly and clearly: they must move immediately, they must hand over the planned number of ninja, and they must go to the East Sea Battlefield to drive back the Kirigakure Ninja!"
Mitokado Homura frowned. "The Uchiha are still very powerful. Pressuring them like this will only cause bigger problems."
Shimura Danzō was secretly pleased, but kept his face cold as he said, "Fine. For the sake of Konoha, I'll endure this humiliation."
"If the naturally evil Uchiha refuse to do their part for Konoha, I'll gather the Root Ninja and wipe out the Uchiha Clan, even if it costs us our lives!"
Hearing Danzō go further and further overboard, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help frowning. "Danzō! You've gone too far!"
Danzō snorted. "Everything I do is for Konoha!"
With that, he slammed the door on his way out!
Bam!!
Door:...
When Shimura Danzō was present, he was the only one targeting the Uchiha. But when he wasn't in front of his three classmates, they turned against the Uchiha together.
Mitokado Homura said, "Danzō's attitude was out of line, but his wariness of the Uchiha is always justified. Teacher's judgment can't be wrong."
Utatane Koharu said, "Homura has a point. We can't let our guard down around the Uchiha, or they'll surely do something."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "You're both right. We can't let the Uchiha do whatever they want."
"We'll follow Danzō's suggestion and send the Uchiha ninja to the Eastern Front to deal with the Kirigakure Ninja."
"Their Fire Release is countered by Water Release. I think Uchiha Fugaku should send even more Uchiha ninja to the battlefield."
"I'll go visit Uchiha Fugaku in person right away as the Third Hokage. I'm sure he'll show me that much respect."
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura agreed in unison. "The Third Hokage is wise!"
History had proven that Hiruzen Sarutobi had Uchiha Fugaku completely under his thumb. Using the "Will of Fire" and the need to protect Konoha as reasons, he persuaded the Uchiha Clan to accept every condition.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't expected that after he'd settled everything with the Uchiha Clan, Shimura Danzō would make a huge blunder with the Yamanaka Clan and take a serious fall.
Danzō had left in such a hurry because he was certain the Third Hokage would personally persuade the Uchiha.
He planned to take advantage of Hiruzen Sarutobi gathering the Anbu and Konoha losing its ability to keep watch, and claim the Aburame Clan and the Yamanaka Clan he'd coveted for so long.
He would use Hiruzen Sarutobi's name to trick the two clans into handing over the gifted ninja he'd had his eye on for ages.
Shimura Danzō started with the Aburame Clan. He successfully won over the aloof Shibi Aburame and tricked them into handing over ten Aburame children, including Aburame Torune.
When he arrived at the Yamanaka Clan in high spirits, he continued to use orders from the Third Hokage as an excuse, demanding gifted ninja such as Yamanaka Fu, Yamanaka Chujiu, Yamanaka Sanya, and Yamanaka Genji by name.
"By order of the Third Hokage, the ninja on this list will come with me immediately. They'll become exclusive ninja of the Anbu Training Department and undergo secret training to become Anbu Ninja!"
Shimura Danzō added arrogantly, "Yamanaka Inoichi, as the clan head, you wouldn't defy the Hokage's orders, would you?"
Yamanaka Inoichi's expression was dark and grave. His clenched fists trembled uncontrollably, but he still ordered the clan members to gather.
Soon, a group of eight- and nine-year-old children arrived at the clan head's home. Their parents all looked grim, and several mothers had already begun to cry.
Yamanaka Chujiu was the last to arrive. Seeing Shimura Danzō standing there so arrogantly, he immediately felt a surge of indignation.
Why was this bastard so infuriating?
He really wanted to beat him to death!
Yamanaka Chujiu's strength had increased greatly, and he was now quite confident he could kill Danzō. He could no longer suppress his murderous intent toward him.
Especially now that Shimura Danzō had come straight to their door to conscript him into Root. Yamanaka Chujiu wanted to kill him even more.
He closed his eyes and told himself, I can't do it now. If I do, I'll bring trouble down on my big brother, sister-in-law, and Ino.
There's no need to rush. War is about to break out. Once I leave the village, I can kill Danzō however I want. No rush. I absolutely mustn't rush.
After finally managing to rein in his killing intent, Yamanaka Chujiu was still simmering with frustration.
He knew about Root's affairs and understood that Shimura Danzō was bluffing. He had no order from Hiruzen Sarutobi at all!
So Yamanaka Chujiu didn't hesitate any longer. He stepped forward with his head held high, shielding his younger siblings behind him. Pointing at Shimura Danzō, he demanded loudly:
"Special Jōnin Shimura Danzō, where is the Hokage's order?"
Shimura Danzō narrowed his eyes and shot back, "You're actually asking me for an order?"
"My word is the order!"
Yamanaka Chujiu bluntly asked again, "To conscript children from the Yamanaka Clan into Root, you need an official order from the Hokage, written in black and white and stamped with the Hokage's seal!"
"Special Jōnin Shimura Danzō, don't tell me you don't have an order?"
Shimura Danzō realized that his bluff had been exposed. The smug expression froze on his face, and the murderous glint in his one eye couldn't hide the panic in his gaze.
A moment later, he lashed out in a guilty rage. "You brat!"
"You're only a Special Jōnin, yet you dare question me, an elder!"
Yamanaka Chujiu wasn't intimidated. He shouted, "There's no such position as elder in Konoha!"
"There never has been!"
"You, Shimura Danzō, hold only one position: Konoha Jōnin!"
Shimura Danzō was used to throwing his weight around as an elder. Only after Yamanaka Chujiu called him out did he suddenly remember that Konoha really didn't have any such position as elder.
And as nothing more than a Konoha Jōnin, he couldn't use his status to pressure Yamanaka Inoichi.
So he said without thinking, "I—I'm the Hokage's advisor!"
Yamanaka Chujiu sneered and pressed him. "Which Hokage are you advising?"
Danzō answered without a moment's thought. "Of course, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen—"
Got you!
Yamanaka Chujiu cut him off and challenged him in an even louder voice. "You advise the Third Hokage?"
"Lord Third Hokage retired long ago. He isn't the Hokage anymore, so he obviously has no authority to appoint a Hokage's advisor!"
"Lord Fourth Hokage doesn't have an advisor either. So here's the question: where did your position as Hokage's advisor come from, and where did this Hokage's order you mentioned come from?"
"Show us an official order, and the Yamanaka Clan will obey."
"But if you can't produce an official order, then the only conclusion is that you, Shimura Danzō, are falsely claiming to speak for the Hokage!"
"A Konoha Jōnin falsely claiming to speak for the Hokage is either plotting treason or betraying Konoha!"
Yamanaka Chujiu raised his right arm and shouted, "Ninja of the Yamanaka Clan! Ninja of the Aburame Clan! This man's words and actions are highly suspicious!"
"Seize Shimura Danzō! Take him to Lord Third Hokage to face judgment!"
Before you continue