I Want You Dismembered!

"Hiruzen, the way the Daimyo acted today was truly overbearing!"

After the Daimyo had departed, Danzo complained as was his custom.

Over so many years, he had long since developed this habit, unable to step out of the shadow of his former status.

There was a faint trace of resentment in his tone.

Just like always, he was complaining about the Third Hokage's weakness.

"BANG!!!"

The office desk was slammed heavily, and the Third Hokage roared in anger: "Danzo, shut your mouth!"

The abrupt roar startled both Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, who were standing to the side.

Danzo was also stunned into silence.

It had been a long time since the Third Hokage had been this enraged; they had even forgotten when the last time he had lost his temper like this was.

"Danzo! Today's disaster was entirely caused by you! How dare you have the nerve to blame me? Why don't you tell me, with the Daimyo pressing us like that just now, what was I supposed to do?"

After a brief moment of shock, Danzo's face fell, and he said with displeasure: "Hiruzen, don't forget, you were aware of that operation back then! If not for your nod, how could I have moved against Ye Ning?"

"That doesn't mean I told you to be stupid enough to attempt an assassination!"

The Third Hokage laughed in exasperation: "I trusted you all this time, but it turns out this is how you do things!"

???

So, the matter of moving against Ye Ning was true?

And the Third Hokage had personally given his consent?

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged glances, completely dumbfounded.

In the past, any decisions made by the upper echelons were reached after the four of them had deliberated. But this time, the Third Hokage and Danzo had made the decision directly.

This made Utatane Koharu very dissatisfied:

"Why wasn't such a major matter discussed together?"

If this matter had been discussed with them, how could it have developed to this point?

"There were reasons for what happened that day; there was no time to call you all in for a discussion!"

"That still doesn't justify bypassing me and Homura to decide this between the two of you!" Utatane Koharu's old, sharp-tongued spirit flared up again. "Furthermore, the execution was so improper! The ninja sent actually confessed to the act directly! Do you realize that this has left us completely on the defensive?"

Mitokado Homura's expression was equally displeased: "It was one thing for you two to make a private decision, but you actually botched it!"

Seeing his own people nearly arguing and pointing all their fingers at him, Danzo gasped for air, nearly choking on his own breath.

So, it was all his fault, then?

Everything he did, wasn't it for the sake of Konoha?

Could it be that he should have just let that brat do as he pleased in Konoha, eating away at the village step by step?

Such a menace had to be eliminated early!

Despite the frustration building in his chest, Danzo had to explain: "The order I gave was to invite Ye Ning over, not to assassinate him."

"Go tell that to the Daimyo. Do you think he will believe you?"

The Third Hokage smiled bitterly. "I only blame you for being so accustomed to acting tyrannically that you gave others a handle to use against you. Now that the matter has been defined, it is too late to say anything."

"Danzo, why did your subordinate jump out to identify you?" Utatane Koharu suddenly spotted a blind spot.

The loyalty of Danzo's subordinates was well-known; such a thing should not have happened.

But regarding this, Danzo had no clue either.

You ask me, how would I know?

The ninja of Root were elite shinobi cultivated through layers of selection.

How would I know such a thing would happen?

For a moment, the Hokage's office fell into silence.

After a long silence, Mitokado Homura furrowed his brows and asked a question that seemed like a waste of breath: "So now, what should we do?"

What to do?

You're asking me what to do?

The Third Hokage glared, his entire body going numb.

The pants are already down, the deed is done, there's no toilet paper, and you're asking me what to do?

You reap what you sow!

Seeing the Third Hokage's grim expression, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura didn't know what else to say.

The matter had clearly been defined; the Daimyo was convinced that Danzo had attempted an assassination, and he had even spoken of contacting hostile ninja villages.

They dared not treat that as a mere threat.

If the Daimyo were pushed into a corner, he might actually do it!

Danzo let his arms hang limply, his voice calm as if resigning himself to fate: "So, this old man is being sacrificed. All my positions will be stripped, and Root will be disbanded?"

"The disbandment is only temporary."

After all, they were old friends of many years; the Third Hokage's temper flared quickly and faded just as fast.

He even ended up comforting Danzo in return:

"Right now, the most important thing is to appease the Daimyo. It is far better than being thrown directly into Konoha Prison. Once the Daimyo is settled and gradually forgets this matter, there will eventually be a chance for a comeback in the future. But Danzo, I am warning you: do not target Ye Ning again!"

The Third Hokage felt compelled to add a few more words of caution.

With the war now over and Konoha finally stabilizing, the primary task was to secure the Daimyo's favor and obtain the funding needed for development.

If they provoked Ye Ning again and caused another disaster that infuriated the Daimyo, it would truly be impossible to clean up the mess.

Furthermore, he, the Third Hokage, had personally vouched for Danzo.

If Danzo were to resort to any underhanded tactics in the shadows, he, the Third Hokage, would have to step down!

"This old man understands."

Danzo accepted the Third Hokage's arrangements with a calm expression.

This uncharacteristic behavior made the Third Hokage take a few involuntary, closer looks at him, and he couldn't help but offer a bit more consolation:

"Although you cannot keep your position as advisor or the Root, the Anbu ninjas will not place any restrictions on you. As long as you don't do anything foolish, the Anbu will simply turn a blind eye. Furthermore, I will allow you to keep two trusted subordinates to accompany you home for self-reflection."

Danzo nodded silently and turned to leave without another word.

Upon returning to that gloomy underground headquarters, Danzo could no longer maintain his calm facade, and his expression turned thoroughly dark.

The teacup in his hand had been crushed into powder without him even realizing it, and the veins on his body were bulging.

"Ye Ning... you detestable brat!"

Danzo let out two roars of frustration.

Root—the organization he had painstakingly cultivated for years until it was nearly on par with the Anbu—was just gone like that!

And he had lost his position as the Hokage's advisor!

Now, let alone the Hokage title he had dreamed of, even his personal freedom was subject to certain restrictions.

All of this was thanks to Ye Ning!

"Ye Ning... I will tear you to pieces and ensure you die a miserable death!"

The chilling words were squeezed through Danzo's teeth, sounding like a vengeful spirit and making one's heart tremble.

After sitting alone in the darkness for a long while, Danzo slowly stood up.

"Come here!"

As his voice fell, two figures instantly appeared before him.

"One of you, go tell Orochimaru to accelerate his human experimentation. I will provide all the test subjects he needs! I want to see the results of the Hashirama Cells experiments as soon as possible!"

"The other, come with me out of the village!"

In the shadows, a cold, sinister smile curled at the corner of Danzo's mouth.

Just because he could no longer strike at Ye Ning himself didn't mean others couldn't!

There were so many rogue ninjas in this world; there were always some who cared only for money and nothing else!

Moreover, besides those bounty hunters, there was another person who also didn't care about such things!

In the Land of Rain, there was Hanzo!

Danzo believed that for Hanzo, who had just been defeated and lost everything, there was nothing he wouldn't do if the price was right!