Danzo returned to the surface, the front of his clothes soaked in blood as his face gradually grew pale.
Clutching the wound on his chest, Danzo deliberately headed toward the street not far ahead. He intended to condemn Hiruzen Sarutobi for the crime of conspiring to assassinate the Hokage in full view of the public.
Danzo put on a show of weakness, stumbling forward on unsteady legs. He soon neared the street and spotted people ahead.
Among them, two Military Police Force ninja wearing clothes emblazoned with the Uchiha Clan Crest appeared in Danzo's field of vision.
Danzo was delighted. An instant later, he came up with a plan to kill two birds with one stone, then quickened his pace.
"Lord Hokage!" A ninja who had just stepped out of a shop was the first to spot Danzo.
At the shout, the nearby villagers and ninja also noticed the Third Hokage clutching his chest and looking gravely wounded.
"Make way!" The two Uchiha ninja from the Military Police Force shoved aside the crowd blocking their path and rushed to Danzo's side, reaching out to support him.
"Lord Hokage, what happened?" The older Uchiha ninja immediately activated his Sharingan. After confirming the Hokage before him wasn't a disguised impostor, he asked with concern.
A look of sorrow crossed Danzo's face. He let out a heavy sigh before speaking in a weak voice. "Danzo plotted to assassinate the Hokage. One of you, return to the Military Police Force headquarters at once and notify Fugaku. Have him gather the Uchiha ninja still in the village at the Hokage Building."
The two Uchiha ninja were both astonished by Danzo's words. After his initial surprise, a glimmer of delight appeared in the older one's eyes. He immediately gave an order. "Tekka, hurry and inform the clan head. I'll take Lord Hokage to the hospital."
"Yes!" replied the young ninja named Uchiha Tekka, turning and hurrying away.
The villagers and ninja gathered around had also heard Danzo's words, and the crowd erupted into an uproar.
Elder Danzo had actually tried to assassinate Lord Hokage—and during wartime, no less! This was a disaster for the village!
The ninja in the crowd stepped forward, taking it upon themselves to guard Danzo.
A Konoha Hospital medic who happened to be nearby hurried to Danzo's side to treat Lord Hokage's injuries.
At the Underground Base of Root, Hiruzen Sarutobi had just received a report from one of his subordinates: the two guards posted at the passage entrance had apparently been killed by the Third Hokage.
As Hiruzen analyzed Danzo's intentions, another subordinate arrived with a report—and told him something that left him both furious and shocked.
Danzo, that bastard! What a vicious move! He'd actually slandered Hiruzen, accusing him of treason and attempting to assassinate the Hokage!
Hiruzen's expression turned grim. He knew there was little time left for him to respond.
Only two choices lay before him: stay and expose Danzo's scheme in person, or escape through the secret passage and hide for now, then plan his next move.
With Danzo having struck first, the first option offered him almost no chance of success.
The village ninja Danzo had deceived wouldn't believe anything Hiruzen said, especially with Hiruzen wearing Danzo's face.
So, in truth, only one path remained.
Either he stayed, fought Danzo and the Root ninja inside the village, and was surrounded and killed, leaving the village severely weakened—
Or he left now and dealt with the rest later.
After a brief moment of thought, Hiruzen chose to leave. He hurried out of the room, looked at the Root ninja gathered in the passage outside, and spoke.
"Stay here. If you encounter the village's ninja, don't resist. Surrender immediately."
With that, Hiruzen walked through the crowd, turned into the passage on the right with a calm expression, and vanished into the darkness.
Danzo, this game isn't over yet!
In the open space before the Hokage Building, Danzo had received treatment, but ignored the medic's protests. Wearing the Hokage's robes, he appeared before the assembled Konoha Military Police Force and Anbu Ninja.
"Shimura Danzo, the Hokage's aide, plotted treason and attempted to assassinate the Hokage. All his positions are revoked, effective immediately. Apprehend him at once. Dead or alive."
"Yes!" the hundred or so ninja gathered below replied in unison.
Many of the Uchiha among them, especially the senior officers of the Military Police Force, had delighted looks in their eyes.
Of all the people in the village, Danzo was the one the Uchiha ninja hated most.
In the past, Danzo had always secretly undermined and harassed the Uchiha Clan at every opportunity.
And now, Danzo had dared to assassinate the Hokage—and failed.
Wasn't this a perfect chance for the Uchiha to get revenge, handed to them by fate?
More importantly, the Third Hokage had chosen to send the Military Police Force after Danzo. Wasn't that the Third Hokage reaching out to the Uchiha in a show of goodwill?
Standing at the head of the formation, Uchiha Fugaku wore a stern expression, but inside he was thrilled.
Danzo stood on the steps, watching the Uchiha and Anbu Ninja march off in formation. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
Hiruzen, you forced me into this! Once you're dead, I'll send the Uchiha Clan after you to keep you company!
"Hiruzen, is there some misunderstanding between you and Danzo? He couldn't possibly have done something like this," said Utatane Koharu, who had arrived late. She came to Danzo's side and spoke in a low voice.
Danzo turned to look at Koharu, his expression dark and imposing.
"Could I have faked the wound on my chest?"
Koharu glanced at Danzo's chest and fell silent for a moment. But their friendship of decades compelled her to keep trying. "Whatever happened, spare Danzo's life for now. Lock him up and question him properly. I don't think Danzo would—"
"Enough!" Danzo cut her off sharply. "I'll decide what to do about Danzo!"
Koharu was stunned by Danzo's furious presence. As she looked at him, she couldn't understand why she had the strange impression that the "Hiruzen" before her carried something of Danzo's air about him.
Danzo lowered his voice and composed himself. "Koharu, I understand how you feel. Danzo and I have been comrades for decades, and he contributed greatly to bringing Konoha this far."
"But none of that excuses his treason and attempted assassination. Danzo went too far this time. Even I can't let him off!"
Seeing how resolute Danzo was, Koharu decided not to press the matter. She sighed and turned toward the road ahead, lamenting, "After all these decades together, how did it come to this? What was Danzo trying to accomplish?"
Danzo sighed as well, putting on a heartbroken expression. "Koharu, the village is unstable right now. You take charge of restoring order. I'll deal with Danzo."
"I understand," Koharu said quietly, then turned and entered the Hokage Building.
Danzo walked toward the steps. Bathed in the golden sunlight, he strode forward with firm steps.
Hiruzen, I won this round!
Before you continue