Compensation Terms

"Danzō?"

Seeing Danzō cough up blood, Sarutobi Hiruzen was startled and immediately signaled the Anbu to rush him to Konoha Hospital.

If Danzō could leave this place, his life would be saved.

After all, Danzō was Sarutobi Hiruzen's former teammate; if he could preserve his life, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't mind paying a little extra.

Uchiha Fugaku naturally understood his intentions, and he promptly fired several shuriken that embedded themselves at the feet of the Anbu member attempting to carry Danzō away, stopping him in his tracks.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, we haven't finished our discussion yet. How can the primary culprit be allowed to leave?"

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku speak, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately demanded angrily, "Clan Head Fugaku, must you be so ruthless?"

Uchiha Fugaku laughed upon hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words.

"Ruthless?"

"He wanted to exterminate my Uchiha Clan."

"I haven't even wiped out his Shimura Clan yet. Is this really considered ruthless?"

"I'll state this clearly now: whoever dares to take him away, I don't mind fighting a few more battles today."

"That includes you, Sarutobi Hiruzen."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen tried to negotiate further.

"What if I grant the Senju Clan Compound to the Uchiha Clan? Can you let Danzō go?"

Uchiha Fugaku laughed again at Sarutobi Hiruzen's offer and replied, "That belongs to our Uchiha Clan to begin with, so how can you use it as a bargaining chip?"

"Besides, if you want to know why I refuse to let him go, you should take a good look at his Root."

"Take a good look at the Konoha under your rule."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no choice but to temporarily abandon the idea of rescuing Danzō, signaling the Anbu to step back with a complex expression.

"Clan Head Fugaku, I agree to grant the Senju Clan Compound to the Uchiha Clan."

Uchiha Fugaku was stunned; he hadn't expected him to actually give it up.

If Senju Tobirama knew about this, he would probably be so angry he'd jump out of the Pure Land just to beat up this unfilial disciple.

But surely Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't think his goal was just the Senju Clan Compound, right?

He had only promised the old Uchiha clan grounds.

Still, since things had reached this point, the Senju Clan Compound would have to do.

Uchiha Fugaku cleared his throat and continued, "Hokage-sama, shouldn't we discuss the compensation now?"

????

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's follow-up, Sarutobi Hiruzen was dumbfounded.

"Isn't the Senju Clan Compound the compensation the village is giving you?"

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Uchiha Fugaku immediately denied it.

"No, no, that's not it. That is compensation for the village wrongly accusing my Uchiha Clan for three years."

"After all, you must have recognized the masked man I just wounded, Hokage-sama."

"He was the culprit behind the Nine-Tails Incident three years ago."

"Now that the perpetrator has been identified, what is wrong with our Uchiha Clan moving back to our original clan grounds after suffering such grievances?"

"The Senju Clan Compound is merely compensation for the fact that our original grounds are currently occupied."

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell into silence upon hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words.

If looks could kill, Uchiha Fugaku would have been sliced to pieces thousands of times over by the glares of Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Unfortunately, the glares of Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen could not kill anyone.

"What exactly do you want, Clan Head Fugaku?"

After a moment of silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen, in his capacity as Hokage, finally spoke again.

Uchiha Fugaku laughed upon hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words.

"Hokage-sama, it is our Uchiha Clan that has been victimized this time."

"Please don't make it sound as if I am the one forcing you."

Hearing Fugaku's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen's temper flared up again.

But thinking of the village, Sarutobi Hiruzen ultimately suppressed his anger and changed his tone.

"I wonder what it would take for Clan Head Fugaku to forgive my transgression this time?"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku laid out his final terms directly.

"What if Danzo-sama died defending the village against the masked man behind the Nine-Tails Incident, sacrificing his life to drive him back?"

"The battle ravaged the Uchiha compound, causing severe damage. How about the village allocates one hundred million ryo for repairs?"

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's conditions, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately retorted.

"Impossible."

"Setting aside the fact that the Uchiha Clan's losses aren't nearly that great and certainly not worth one hundred million ryo."

"Furthermore, Danzo holds the position of Hokage Advisor; how could he possibly die here defending against the masked man?"

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Uchiha Fugaku's expression darkened instantly.

"Is the Hokage trying to negotiate with me?"

Watching Uchiha Fugaku's attitude, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat.

Yet, for the sake of Danzo and the village, Sarutobi Hiruzen persisted.

"Clan Head Fugaku, your demands are too high; the village cannot agree to them."

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's response, Uchiha Fugaku countered.

"Then what conditions do you deem appropriate?"

Upon hearing Uchiha Fugaku's inquiry, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke directly.

"Compensation of thirty million ryo."

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's offer, Uchiha Fugaku laughed.

"Impossible. Danzo must die."

"This isn't just about him killing members of my Uchiha Clan; he has also killed plenty of people from other villages."

"Just looking at him and Orochimaru..."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart sank, and he hurriedly interrupted what Uchiha Fugaku was about to say next.

"Clan Head Fugaku, I agree to your terms."

Although he did not know the specific details of everything Danzo had done.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was aware of at least some of the things Danzo had been involved in.

And the consequences of those things being exposed would be far more troublesome than the current situation.