Konoha, inside the Sarutobi Clan compound, at the residence of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. It was packed with people.
In the courtyard, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Ketsuzo had each brought elders from their clans to pay Hiruzen Sarutobi a visit.
"Hiruzen, you're finally willing to see us," Utatane Koharu said, gazing at him with a wounded look.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the middle of the courtyard. He didn't respond, instead gesturing for Asuma Sarutobi, standing beside him, to refill his teacup.
Mitokado Homura couldn't stand it any longer. He stepped forward and demanded, "Hiruzen, you didn't want to see us before, and we didn't press you. But you suddenly summoned us all here today. You must have something to say, don't you?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's refusal to see them over the past year had filled his two old companions with anger.
After hearing their complaints, Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his teacup, took a puff from his pipe, and looked up at Utatane Koharu and the others.
Though Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was as still as an ancient well, it made the three clan heads before him feel uneasy.
"You shouldn't have betrayed the village." Hiruzen Sarutobi's simple words set off an uproar in the courtyard.
"Hiruzen, what are you talking about?" The guilty Shimura Ketsuzo was the most flustered. He'd addressed Hiruzen Sarutobi without even using his Hokage title. Even an old tiger was still a tiger; not just anyone could tug on its whiskers.
Unlike his older brother Shimura Danzo, Shimura Ketsuzo wasn't Hiruzen Sarutobi's old comrade-in-arms, and thus had no privilege to call him by name. Even Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, standing nearby, looked at Shimura Ketsuzo in surprise.
"What did you just call me?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi fixed his gaze on Shimura Ketsuzo. His eyes were calm