Danzo Awakens

In the hallway on the top floor of Konoha Hospital, Minato, who had just stepped out of a patient's room, spotted a familiar figure appearing at the stairwell.

Minato reached out to stop the Anbu ninja who were preparing to intercept, and walked toward the stairwell himself.

"Shiraishi, why are you here again?" Minato blocked Shiraishi's path and asked in a low, curious voice.

Shiraishi wore a mask, a fox-like smile visible beneath it, and replied without bothering to lower his volume: "By order of Elder Danzo, I am here to monitor the condition of the Third Hokage."

Minato's eyes widened as he stared at Shiraishi in astonishment; he had not expected this guy to be so brazen as to say something so... so blunt.

The Anbu ninjas guarding the hallway cast sidelong glances at Shiraishi, with many of them showing flashes of anger in their eyes.

With the Hokage lying unconscious, they as Anbu ninjas bore an inescapable responsibility, and Shiraishi's provocation felt like an invisible slap to their faces.

"You..." Minato was speechless. He quickly turned his head toward the Anbu ninjas behind him, offering an apologetic look as he said, "This guy doesn't know how to speak properly. Don't be angry; I'll teach him a lesson."

With that, Minato grabbed Shiraishi and led him toward the rooftop.

Once on the roof, Minato closed the iron door and walked with Shiraishi toward the edge of the terrace.

"Shiraishi, don't be so direct next time," Minato advised with a bitter smile.

"If I didn't speak like that, would you have brought me away?" Shiraishi removed his mask and looked at Minato with a smile.

"You did that on purpose?" Minato looked at Shiraishi in surprise.

Shiraishi nodded with a smile and then said, "I came to see you today because I have intelligence to share that might concern the reason for the Third Hokage's coma."

"What?" Minato's expression turned to one of pleasant surprise.

"Before Elder Danzo went to his appointment last night, he took a mysterious banner out of the forbidden chamber in Root. The black mist you mentioned might be related to that banner," Shiraishi said.

"A banner? What kind of banner?" Minato pressed.

Shiraishi shook his head. "I don't know much about the banner itself, only that it was brought back from the battlefield by Root ninjas a year ago."

"Not long after Danzo obtained the banner, he specifically set up a secret room to store it and designated it a forbidden area, forbidding anyone from approaching without his orders."

"Over the past year, Elder Danzo has brought several ninjas and prisoners into that secret room, and none of them ever came out alive."

Hearing this, Minato's brow furrowed tightly: "They all died?"

"All of them. When their bodies were carried out, there wasn't a single external wound on them," Shiraishi replied.

"That banner is the problem!" Minato stated with certainty.

Shiraishi nodded. "I think so too."

"Is that banner still in Root?" Minato asked.

Shiraishi shook his head. "It disappeared after last night. It is not on Elder Danzo."

Having said this, Shiraishi looked at Minato.

Minato understood what Shiraishi meant. After carefully recalling the events, he said with absolute certainty, "It is not on the Hokage or me, either."

"It seems the reason for their coma last night lies with that banner," Shiraishi guided.

Minato nodded in agreement. "I will go tell the two advisors immediately."

"Don't," Shiraishi stopped him.

Minato looked at Shiraishi, confused: "Why?"

"The black mist from last night was bizarre and abnormal; even you and the Third Hokage were powerless to resist it. If that banner is still in Elder Danzo's possession and you report this to the two advisors, they will certainly go to Root to force an answer."

"If Elder Danzo decides to strike back then, what will happen? If you and the two advisors fall into a coma as well, the village will truly fall into chaos," Shiraishi warned.

After hearing Shiraishi's analysis, a look of horror appeared on Minato's face. "Elder Danzo wouldn't do that, would he?"

"Do you dare to gamble? Minato! The war is not yet over; the village cannot afford a single accident," Shiraishi said, his tone heavy and serious.

Minato nodded, then rubbed his head in distress. "Then what should we do now?"

Shiraishi laid out his plan: "We prepare for two possibilities. I will return to Root and observe Elder Danzo in secret to see if I can find any information regarding the banner."

"You protect the Third Hokage these next few days and see if there is any turn for the better."

"If the Third Hokage does not wake up within three days and I have found nothing, then you notify Jiraiya and call him back from the front lines."

Minato replied: "I understand."

"Do not tell anyone about this within these three days," Shiraishi cautioned.

Minato promised: "I won't tell a soul."

Shiraishi nodded and prepared to leave.

"Shiraishi." Minato watched Shiraishi's back and called out.

Shiraishi stopped and turned to look at Minato.

"Shiraishi, be careful. If you encounter danger, come to me at any time; I will ensure your safety," Minato said with concern. He knew how much risk Shiraishi was taking by returning to Root to gather intelligence under Danzo's nose.

"Everything is for Konoha." Shiraishi smiled, his face glowing brightly under the morning sun.

"Yes! Everything is for Konoha!" Minato watched Shiraishi intently, then followed with a gentle smile. In his eyes, Shiraishi was a true hero.

Shiraishi took one last look at Minato, turned around, and walked forward, stepping out of the sunlight and gradually into the shadows.

Minato stood where he was, watching Shiraishi depart, his golden hair growing even more dazzling under the sunlight.

At two in the morning on the third day, inside the hospital ward, "Hiruzen Sarutobi," who had been in a coma for nearly three days, opened his eyes, gazing at the pure white ceiling with eyes suppressing a sense of joy.

Danzo had awakened!

"You've finally woken up!" Shiraishi's voice rang out beside Danzo's ear.

During the nearly three days of deep slumber, Danzo had perfectly adapted to his current body; his condition was far better than when Hiruzen Sarutobi had first awakened, and he felt no discomfort at all, feeling exceptionally clear-headed instead.

"This is a hospital ward; the entire floor has been cleared out, and there are 15 Anbu ninjas guarding the outside," Shiraishi took the initiative to brief Danzo on the situation.

Danzo braced his hands against the bed and sat straight up, looking toward Shiraishi, who was leaning against the windowsill to his left.

"How did you get in?" Danzo asked.

Shiraishi raised his arm and pointed back toward the open window, the meaning self-evident.

Danzo frowned slightly; as the head of Root, he was well aware of the caliber of Anbu ninjas. For this guy to infiltrate the ward under the watch of 15 Anbu ninjas without alerting anyone, his strength and infiltration skills were far beyond the ordinary.

Shiraishi walked toward Danzo, stopping at the edge of the hospital bed, and leaned over to look him straight in the eyes. "So, how does the new body feel?"

Danzo was naturally very satisfied, but he still grumbled, "It's too ugly!"

"Hahaha!" Shiraishi straightened up, laughing, and reached out to pat Danzo on the shoulder. "In the three days you were unconscious, I did quite a few things for you; no need to thank me."

Upon hearing this, Danzo's expression shifted slightly, and he hurriedly asked, "What did you do?"

Shiraishi revealed a meaningful look, glancing sideways at Danzo. "That is a long story."

Danzo looked at Shiraishi with a hard-line attitude. "Tell me everything you did!"

Shiraishi smiled once more, then rested one hand on Danzo's shoulder and spoke. "Rest assured, I will tell you everything, down to the last detail."