Hiruzen Sarutobi's Discomfort

The top floor of the Konoha Hospital had been cleared, with only Anbu ninjas guarding the corridors.

In the sickroom at the end of the corridor, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had already received treatment, lay unconscious on the hospital bed.

In the room, Minato Namikaze stood to the right of the bed, facing two Hokage advisors on the other side.

Directly in front of the bed, an elite medical ninja from Konoha Hospital was reporting on the Third Hokage's condition.

"According to our examination, the Third Hokage only sustained some external injuries, and we have provided proper treatment and bandaging."

Mitokado Homura, a Hokage advisor, turned to the medical ninja, "Then why hasn't the Third Hokage woken up yet?"

"This... Normally, the Hokage should have woken up by now, but... but in this situation, we are also unsure of the reason." The medical ninja was also confused.

Seeing this, Mitokado Homura withdrew his gaze and looked at Utatane Koharu beside him.

Before Tsunade's debut, this elite ninja from the Second Hokage's guard was the best in Konoha's medical ninjutsu.

"They are right, Hiruzen's body only sustained some external injuries, nothing else is wrong." Utatane Koharu had also examined Hiruzen Sarutobi's body.

"But Hiruzen..." Mitokado Homura's face showed worry.

Given the village's current situation, it was crucial that Hiruzen, as Hokage, did not have any problems. Otherwise, it was highly possible that the Hidden Stone would make even more excessive demands during the peace talks.

"You may go now!" Mitokado Homura dismissed the medical ninja and then looked at Minato.

"Minato, tell us again what happened last night."

After sending the Third Hokage to the hospital, Minato had notified the two advisors and, while concealing Shiraishi's existence, truthfully recounted the events of the night.

When they first heard about the incident, the two advisors had only complained about Danzo's lack of discretion in causing trouble at such a time.

They were also fortunate that Minato was there to prevent a tragedy.

However, after a night of treatment, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had only sustained external injuries, still hadn't woken up and showed no reaction to external stimuli.

This made the two advisors increasingly anxious.

Facing their questions, Minato recounted the events of the previous night in detail once more.

"How could it have escalated to this?" Utatane Koharu was anxious and worried, yet she had to remain calm.

"Koharu, what is Danzo's current condition?" Mitokado Homura asked Utatane Koharu after a few seconds of thought.

"You mean? You suspect Danzo had a hand in this." Utatane Koharu tried to maintain her composure.

"It's hard to say, but Danzo has gone too far this time!" Thinking of the disadvantage Konoha would face if the Third Hokage fell into a coma, Mitokado Homura's hatred for Danzo's actions grew!

Utatane Koharu nodded in agreement beside him, she also felt that Danzo had gone too far this time, and to put it bluntly, it was practically rebellion.

Just as the two finished speaking, footsteps sounded outside the room, and a figure appeared at the door.

"Lord Homura, Lady Koharu, Elder Danzo has come to visit the Hokage," the Anbu ninja outside reported.

Upon hearing this, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances for a few seconds, a look of solemnity flashing in their eyes.

It was indeed Danzo's doing!

The same thought arose in both their minds.

"Let him in," Minato ordered.

"Yes!" The Anbu ninja outside responded and left.

A moment later, footsteps sounded again, and the door to the sickroom was pushed open. Hiruzen Sarutobi, inhabiting Danzo's body, walked into the room.

Shiraishi, as his escort, naturally followed Hiruzen Sarutobi into the sickroom. His gaze swept around the room before settling on Minato.

Minato also looked at Shiraishi, their eyes meeting, and he quickly recognized Shiraishi behind the mask.

Shiraishi winked at Minato, then walked towards the wall in Minato's direction, ready to watch the show.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu's attention was fixed on "Danzo," and they knew "Danzo's" personality; this escort wouldn't have entered if he hadn't been ordered to.

"Danzo, what exactly do you want? What did you do to Hiruzen?" Mitokado Homura's gaze was sharp as he questioned.

"Danzo" stepped forward, walked to the bedside, and looked at his own body lying unconscious on the bed, filled with confusion.

What exactly happened last night? Why did his consciousness awaken in Danzo's body?

"How... how is Hiruzen doing?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, feeling extremely awkward.

"Hiruzen is in a coma, isn't that your scheme?" Mitokado Homura questioned sternly.

"I..." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the two advisors. He had a thousand words he wanted to tell them, but his experience was too bizarre, and he was certain that his explanation would only be dismissed as ravings.

"Danzo, don't you want to explain anything?" Mitokado Homura walked directly in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi, his eyes fixed on "Danzo."

Facing the questioning of an old friend of many years, Hiruzen Sarutobi found it difficult to speak. He carefully recalled the events of the previous night and began to recount them.

Mitokado Homura had already listened to Minato's account twice. Now, hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's version, and comparing the two, the only thing he could suspect was the sudden appearance of the unknown black mist.

"Was that sudden black mist your doing?" Mitokado Homura asked.

"No," Hiruzen Sarutobi denied. "After the black mist appeared, I also fell unconscious."

Mitokado Homura looked at Minato.

Minato nodded, indicating there was no issue. "When I entered the black mist last night, I also fell unconscious. When I woke up, I found that both the Hokage and Elder Danzo were still unconscious. After I brought them out of the secret passage, Elder Danzo was taken away by Root ninjas."

"It was I who took Lord Danzo away last night," Shiraishi, who had been watching the show, spoke up of his own accord.

Shiraishi's sudden interjection drew every gaze in the room toward him.

"Did Danzo entrust you with any matters last night?" Mitokado Homura looked at Shiraishi, his presence naturally imposing, radiating the pressure of someone in a position of authority.

Shiraishi did not answer, instead looking toward "Danzo."

"Tell them," Hiruzen Sarutobi commanded.

"When Lord Danzo headed for the secret passage, he ordered me to hide outside. If he did not emerge within an hour, he told me to... to..." Shiraishi paused deliberately.

Mitokado Homura urged him on: "To do what?"

Shiraishi gritted his teeth and replied: "To enter the passage and collect his corpse."

As these words fell, the entire room plunged into a deathly silence; Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Minato Namikaze all turned to look at "Danzo."

Mitokado Homura asked, his heart heavy with grief: "Danzo, I know you and Hiruzen have conflicting philosophies, but has your discord truly reached the point of life and death?"

"Have you forgotten the final instructions of Master Tobirama?"

"Have you forgotten the ideals we once shared?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched his pained friend and opened his mouth, his own heart equally shocked; he had not expected that Danzo had harbored a death wish even before seeing him.

Danzo! Could you not have communicated properly? Can you not understand my difficult position?

"Danzo! Could you not have communicated properly? Can you not understand Hiruzen's difficult position?" Mitokado Homura questioned indignantly.

"I..." Hiruzen Sarutobi was left speechless.