You Think You Can Fight?

When he intercepted Uchiha Kei and his group, Danzo was anxious, but he still had confidence in his position.

A battle between three or four hundred shinobi was already enough to wipe out a small country in the Shinobi World.

Just look at places like the Land of Waves and the Land of Birds. Could they muster three hundred shinobi from their entire populations?

If a battle on that scale broke out right on Konoha's doorstep—and between its own people, no less—then Sarutobi would have to step down as Hokage. He'd have no choice but to atone with his life.

So even though he knew his forces were weaker than Uchiha Kei's, Danzo still felt confident when he saw him.

For the first time, the masked members of Root stood openly in the sunlight, facing the encirclement by the Uchiha clan without fear.

Konoha stood behind them. They were righteous by nature.

Everything for Konoha!

In Danzo's mind, Uchiha Kei was just an immature child who didn't know where to draw the line. And this child, despite wielding formidable power, had no idea what he was doing.

Once someone explained what he was up to, the boy would probably be so terrified he'd wet himself.

Attacking the seat of power—what audacity!

The first step was to slap a terrifying accusation on him.

Danzo clasped his hands behind his back and declared righteously, "Uchiha Kei, are you trying to rebel?"

What was openly surrounding Konoha's seat of power if not rebellion?

Danzo was certain that Uchiha Kei had learned of his plan to assassinate him. This full-scale outing was meant to start a war with him.

How the information had leaked wasn't something he needed to consider right now.

With his forces at a disadvantage, he needed to intimidate the other side, make them understand the stakes, and convince them to back down.

Once he got through this, he could use the incident as a pretext to join forces with Sarutobi and exterminate the Uchiha for mobilizing a private army.

Then Sarutobi shouldn't be able to find an excuse to avoid it!

For now, Danzo believed Uchiha Kei wouldn't dare accept the label of rebel.

Even the Uchiha, with Madara among them, hadn't dared to accept that label. When Madara had tried to rebel, they had immediately distanced themselves from their clan leader.

Danzo couldn't imagine how Kei could be better than Madara. Even if Kei was hopelessly ignorant of the world, would his followers really dare to defy everyone and go along with him?

As long as Kei's followers lost faith in him, Danzo would win.

When Danzo said those words, he was brimming with confidence, already imagining Kei's panic.

This was just a hotheaded squabble between children. They had no idea what their actions meant.

But when he finished speaking, Danzo didn't see the panic he'd expected from Kei.

Danzo's confidence wavered!

Were kids these days really this ignorant?

What kind of upbringing had this guy had?

Once this was over, I'm going to demand an explanation from the Uchiha clan leader.

Uchiha Kei was speechless too. I'm just moving house. I wanted to make it a done deal before anyone could react, so Konoha and the Uchiha wouldn't have as much time to nag me and try to talk me out of it.

How did I run into Danzo halfway there? This bastard's no good at pinning accusations on people!

I can't afford to accept a charge of rebellion. I don't want "defeated and driven off by Danzo before his rebellion could succeed" on my record.

Since you've already made such a big declaration, Danzo, don't blame me for showing no mercy.

Looking at Danzo's righteous expression, Uchiha Kei smiled scornfully.

"Shimura Danzo, are those your last words?"

Danzo froze. This wasn't how it was supposed to go! Why wasn't Kei following the script?

What had he done to make Uchiha Kei so determined to kill him?

It was true he'd planned to assassinate Kei, but he hadn't actually done it yet!

Was Kei really willing to risk everything, even take on the label of rebel, just to kill him?

What would that accomplish? Killing him might let Kei vent his anger, but what else?

It would only give Sarutobi ammunition and a good enough excuse to unite all of Konoha against the Uchiha.

They were fighting near the very heart of Konoha.

Had Kei really not thought about the consequences?

Danzo wasn't so sure anymore.

"Uchiha Kei, do you even know what you're doing?"

Uchiha Kei was speechless. You came here all fired up, so you should know exactly what I'm doing. You provoked me like that because you were prepared for this, weren't you?

What's the point of asking that now, when we've already come this far?

"Shimura Danzo, you dare come looking for death in front of me with just a few men. You think you can fight?"

In Kei's mind, Danzo was deliberately stirring up trouble, hoping to trade his own life for a moral advantage for Konoha.

Otherwise, why would the strength of the men Danzo brought be so perfectly calibrated?

They were strong enough to let Kei win a decisive battle of annihilation, but also strong enough to hold him up until Konoha joined the fray.

Of course, that all depended on a conventional shinobi battle.

Seeing Danzo act without restraint, Kei realized he'd been too careless and had given Konoha an opening.

Kei figured that if they started fighting and Danzo and his men suffered heavy casualties, the elite Anbu and Root forces would immediately join the battle and wipe out the Uchiha clan.

He had thought Konoha wouldn't react so quickly to his sudden move.

Who knew Konoha had been watching him so closely? The moment he left Uchiha territory, they'd made their move.

It seemed killing him had become Konoha's consensus.

Kei regretted it, but there was no time for regrets now.

He had to stand firm. He couldn't actually give Danzo a pretext.

If Danzo wanted to slap a big accusation on him, then Kei would scare him first and see what the hell he was really after.

Was he actually ready to die for Konoha?

To be sure, Uchiha Kei believed Danzo would do anything for Konoha and sacrifice anyone for it.

But "anyone" didn't include Danzo himself.

In that respect, Danzo and Kei were alike.

Kei was even better at it.

He had to stall until the Uchiha clan reacted, until Konoha responded.

He'd see what was really going on today.

At worst, it would turn into a full-scale battle. He'd drag the Uchiha into it too.

If Konoha was truly determined to fight him to the death, bringing the Uchiha into the fray was the only way he might survive.

Seeing Kei's contempt, Danzo dropped his righteous airs.

Who could stop a young warrior from marching to his death? They wouldn't hear him. Once a fighter's sword was drawn, they'd hear only the defeated side's cries.

Young people couldn't stand being wronged. It seemed his assassination plan really had enraged Uchiha Kei. The boy was genuinely ready to risk his life against him.

I knew it. I should never have let young people like this—led by passion, always looking for a master to serve—rise to high positions.

They don't understand the rules of the adult world.

It's not that I, Danzo, am backing down. I'm just trying to prevent more bloodshed for Konoha. I hope Sarutobi understands my good intentions and sends help soon.

I have to stall until Konoha finds out, then wipe out this dangerous seed before it can take root.

Everything for Konoha!