Compensation Terms

"Danzo?"

Seeing Danzo spit blood, Sarutobi Hiruzen was startled. He immediately ordered the Anbu to take Danzo to Konoha Hospital.

As long as Danzo could leave this place, his life would be spared.

After all, Danzo had once been Sarutobi Hiruzen's teammate. If he could save his life, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't mind giving up a little more.

Uchiha Fugaku naturally understood what he was thinking. He then sent several shuriken flying, embedding them in the ground at the feet of the Anbu member who was about to take Danzo away, stopping him from escorting Shimura Danzō out.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, we haven't finished discussing things yet. How can the main culprit leave?"

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku speak, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately demanded in anger, "Clan Head Fugaku, do you really have to take things this far?"

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Uchiha Fugaku smiled.

"Take things this far?"

"He wanted to wipe out the Uchiha Clan."

"I haven't even wiped out the Shimura Clan. How is that taking things too far?"

"I'll make this clear now: if anyone 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 continued trying to negotiate.

"What if I give the Senju Clan Compound to the Uchiha Clan? Would you let Danzo go then?"

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Uchiha Fugaku smiled and replied, "That already belongs to the Uchiha Clan. How can you offer it as a bargaining chip?"

"And if you want to know why I don't want to let him go, take a good look at his Root."

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

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only put aside his attempt to rescue Danzo for the time being. With a complicated expression, he gestured for the Anbu member to withdraw.

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

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uchiha Fugaku was taken aback. He hadn't expected him to actually agree.

If Senju Tobirama found out about this, he'd probably burst out of the Pure Land and beat you, you unfilial student.

But did Sarutobi Hiruzen really think the Senju Clan Compound was what he wanted?

He had promised the Uchiha Clan's old compound.

Still, since things had come this far, the Senju Clan Compound would do.

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

????

Hearing what Uchiha Fugaku said next, Sarutobi Hiruzen was dumbfounded.

"Isn't the Senju Clan Compound the village's compensation to you?"

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

"No, no. That's compensation for the village wrongfully accusing the Uchiha Clan for three years."

"After all, I'm sure you recognized the masked man I just injured, Lord Hokage."

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

"Now that the culprit has been found, what's wrong with our Uchiha Clan returning to our former compound after being falsely accused?"

"The Senju Clan Compound is merely compensation because our old compound has already been taken."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent.

If looks could kill, Uchiha Fugaku would probably have been killed hundreds of times by now by Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Unfortunately, the glares of Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't kill anyone.

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

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

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Uchiha Fugaku smiled.

"Lord Hokage, our Uchiha Clan are the victims here."

"Please don't act as if I'm the one forcing you."

Hearing Fugaku's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his anger starting to rise again.

But when he thought of the village, Sarutobi Hiruzen ultimately suppressed his anger and changed his tone.

"What would it take for you to forgive me for this mistake?"

Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku stated his final terms.

"Lord Danzo risked his life to defend the village against the masked man, the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Incident, and ultimately paid with his life to drive him off?"

"The battle damaged the Uchiha Clan Compound. How about the village provides one hundred million ryō to cover the repairs?"

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's terms, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately objected.

"Impossible."

"First of all, the Uchiha Clan's losses weren't that great. They weren't worth one hundred million ryō."

"And Danzo holds the position of Hokage's advisor. How could he die here while fighting the masked man?"

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

"Are you bargaining with me, Lord Hokage?"

Seeing Uchiha Fugaku's attitude, Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart gave a sudden lurch.

But for the sake of Shimura Danzo and the village, Sarutobi Hiruzen held his ground.

"Clan Head Fugaku, your terms are too high. The village can't agree to them."

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Uchiha Fugaku asked, "Then what do you think would be fair?"

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's question, Sarutobi Hiruzen answered directly.

"Thirty million ryō."

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Uchiha Fugaku smiled.

"Impossible. Danzo must die."

"He hasn't just killed members of the Uchiha Clan. He's also killed plenty of people from other villages."

"Just look at what he and Orochimaru—"

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly cut him off before he could continue.

"Clan Head Fugaku, I accept your terms."

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't know the specifics of what Danzo had done.

But Sarutobi Hiruzen knew about some of the things Danzo had done.

And if those things came to light, the consequences would be far more troublesome than this.