Shimura Danzō was heading toward the Root Base.
Suddenly, an eagle's cry echoed through the sky.
Yamanaka Fu, who was following behind Shimura Danzō, immediately stepped forward and raised his arm for the eagle to land on.
He removed the small paper tube from the eagle's talon and tipped out a rolled-up note.
After reading it quickly, he hurried to Shimura Danzō's side and said, "Lord Danzō, we just received word from a Root operative on the outskirts. Wood Release traces have been found in the Forest of Death."
At those words, Shimura Danzō immediately called out, "Everyone, pick up the pace! Target: Forest of Death!"
Then he led the way toward the Forest of Death, and the Root members behind him silently followed. The group was utterly quiet.
The outskirts of the Forest of Death were already packed with people.
Whether they were villagers eager to watch the commotion or members of the Police Force maintaining order, everyone had gathered there.
After receiving the Anbu's message, Minato Namikaze had left them with just one order: "All Anbu, head to the Forest of Death immediately and secure the scene."
Then he vanished with a Flying Thunder God technique.
The Anbu who arrived afterward had no choice but to grit their teeth and secure the scene.
When Shimura Danzō arrived with the Root personnel and saw the situation, he knew this matter wouldn't be easy to settle.
He had just been about to tell the Root members to drive away the onlookers when Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura arrived with the Anbu.
Seeing them, Shimura Danzō furrowed his brow and said, "The Root can handle this."
Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, his eyes fixed on Shimura Danzō. He said nothing, simply staring at him.
Seeing the situation, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura began to suspect something.
They watched the two men in silence.
In the end, Shimura Danzō couldn't stand their stares. Though he felt a little uneasy, he couldn't afford to show weakness.
Besides, they couldn't keep dragging this out. Who knew when the other ninja clans who had received the news would arrive?
To avoid further complications, he could only force himself to speak. "Hiruzen, why are you looking at me like that?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't bother replying. He raised a hand and cast a soundproof barrier, enveloping his two former classmates as well.
"Danzō, tell me the truth. Did the Wood Release experiment succeed or fail?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, fixing Shimura Danzō with a hostile stare.
Shimura Danzō couldn't just admit it, of course.
He had reported to Sarutobi Hiruzen that the Wood Release experiment had failed.
If he admitted now that there had been a successful Wood Release test subject, wouldn't Sarutobi Hiruzen explode?
There'd be no good outcome for him afterward.
Since Minato Namikaze had cut the Root down to size a while back, the organization was already scraping by.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen squeezed him again, the Root would be reduced to just a handful of people.
So he forced himself to say, "It really did fail back then. Homura and Koharu were both there watching. How could I have deceived you?"
"Then how do you explain what's happening now?" Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his hand and pointed straight at the [Wood Release: Four Pillar Prison] in the distance.
Only the few people present knew that Hashirama Cells had been taken out for experimentation.
The other researchers conducting the Wood Release experiments were all trusted members of their respective clans.
Moreover, after every failed experiment, the Hashirama Cells samples were destroyed on the spot.
The researchers were also kept in isolation for several days before being released, all to prevent the Hashirama Cells from being stolen.
Given how rigorous the experimental procedures were, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't believe any Hashirama Cells could have leaked out.
So there was only one truth: it was Danzō.
He was the only one bold enough to do it.
It had to be him.
The experiment might even have succeeded back then. Danzō would absolutely have been capable of deceiving me to keep Wood Release for himself.
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze grow more hostile by the moment, Shimura Danzō knew he couldn't hide it anymore and had no choice but to explain what had happened.
"So, the Root operative named Kinoe has gone missing?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said expressionlessly.
Shimura Danzō could only sit there in silence.
Seeing this, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura tried to smooth things over, hoping to preserve the goodwill between old friends. "Hiruzen, the urgent thing now is finding him."
"We can deal with Danzō's actions later."
Seeing his two old friends plead on Danzō's behalf, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and let it out. "Let's go in and take a look together."
"Once this is over, we'll talk." The last sentence was directed at Shimura Danzō.
As soon as they went inside, they saw someone examining the traces of the Wood Release technique. A closer look revealed it was Minato Namikaze.
Seeing him there, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew they might have to pay dearly today. He turned and shot Shimura Danzō a furious glare.
Shimura Danzō knew the problem had come from his side, so even after being glared at, he didn't dare look back at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Seeing that Danzō at least knew to keep his head down, Sarutobi Hiruzen gave up on taking his frustration out on him and gathered his scattered thoughts.
He looked toward Minato Namikaze and said, "Minato, have you found anything?"
"The Lord Third and the two elders have more experience than I do. Is there anything you can tell me?"
Minato Namikaze didn't answer Hiruzen's question. Instead, he turned it around on him.
He had deliberately left Shimura Danzō out, since Danzō was no longer an elder.
His words also carried another meaning: the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai had appeared in the Hidden Leaf Village once again.
Yet I, the Hokage, hadn't received any warning. I only learned about it from the Anbu's report.
So, Sarutobi Hiruzen, what else are you and the two elders hiding from me?
Hearing Minato Namikaze say that, Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a bitter smile. "Would you believe me if I said I'd only just found out myself?"
Minato Namikaze smiled warmly. "Of course I believe you, Lord Third."
What he meant was that he believed Hiruzen, but the other elders were another matter.
"Come on. Let's go talk in the Hokage Office." Understanding what Minato Namikaze was getting at, Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to lay everything out.
He was a victim in all this, too. It was all that despicable Danzō's fault.
Once again, Danzō had nearly ruined his reputation in his old age.
He was a walking disaster.
Everything had been fine before. Why had he kept causing trouble for me the moment I stepped down?
Did he think I was having too easy a time?
Was he trying to make things harder for me?
Forget it. He was the one who had caused all this, so why should I stick my neck out and take the blame?
At that thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt refreshed, and even his steps grew lighter.
Following behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō still didn't know he was about to be made the scapegoat again. He was already preparing his defense.
The other two had understood each other without a word.
This had been Danzō's fault from the start. It had nothing to do with them.
They'd help him out with a few words later, out of respect for an old friend. That would be the least they could do.
After exchanging glances, they followed along in silence.
Hokage Building
Inside the Hokage Office.
"So, that's what happened?" Minato Namikaze said, wearing an expression that asked, 'Do you really think I believe that?'