Challenging Danzō!

Konoha.

Senju Clan Compound.

Upon hearing Qianye's words,

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression looked worse than if he had swallowed a handful of kunai.

The age spots on his face trembled violently.

The Will of Fire he usually kept on his lips could not even force out half a word now.

Too arrogant.

This was not the tone of negotiation.

It was a condescending interrogation!

The clan heads of the major families around them all fell silent.

A suffocating pressure filled the air.

These leaders of prestigious clans, who usually held their heads high, had all turned mute.

Because they had heard a terrifying attitude in Qianye's casual retort.

This young man bearing the Senju name simply did not regard Konoha High Command as worthy of notice!

Shikaku Nara stood at the back of the crowd.

His exceptionally sharp mind was racing madly.

Cold sweat slid down his temples and dripped into the dirt.

Shikaku Nara understood clearly.

The power Qianye had just displayed was enough to destroy the entire village.

But even more terrifying than his strength were Qianye's actions.

He had reshaped the Senju Compound without the slightest restraint.

He had even mocked the Hokage without mercy.

This was not merely a display of strength.

It was clearly a declaration of a king's return!

Shikaku Nara glanced at Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza beside him.

The bag of chips Akimichi Choza never usually let leave his hand had long since fallen to the ground.

Yamanaka Inoichi's face was even paler, his eyes fixed firmly on those magnificent wooden structures.

The three Ino-Shika-Cho clans had always been staunch supporters of the Hokage Faction.

But now,

Shikaku Nara wavered.

The rightful heir of the Senju Clan had returned.

He carried a terrifying majesty that perhaps not even the First Hokage had possessed.

Konoha's power structure was about to face a devastating upheaval.

Which side should Ino-Shika-Cho choose?

One wrong choice would mean true, irredeemable ruin!

Elsewhere,

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared fixedly at Qianye.

He desperately suppressed the fear and fury in his heart.

He could not beat him.

Absolutely could not beat him.

That several-hundred-meter-tall Wood Golem alone could crush everyone present into pulp!

He had to stabilize the situation.

As the Hokage, he could not lose his authority before the major clans.

"Hehehe..."

"Qian Ye."

"Since you carry the bloodline of the Senju Clan,"

"this place was your home to begin with."

"Returning home to renovate your residence naturally does not count as trespassing into a forbidden area."

Soon,

Sarutobi Hiruzen forced out a smile uglier than a grimace.

His voice was incomparably dry, like two rusted sheets of iron grinding fiercely together.

"What happened just now was only a misunderstanding."

"The village bears you no ill will."

Sarutobi Hiruzen yielded.

This Ninja Hero, who had ruled Konoha for decades, had lowered his head in public for the first time.

He had no choice.

The strength Qianye had displayed far surpassed even his wildest estimates.

Right now, Sarutobi Hiruzen had only one thought in his mind.

Leave this place.

Leave immediately!

He needed to return to the Hokage Office and reassess Qianye's threat level.

Danzo, standing behind and to Sarutobi Hiruzen's side, likewise said nothing.

His one remaining eye was fixed on the ground. He did not even dare look at Qianye.

Resentment.

Humiliation.

And profound greed.

The emotions in Danzo's heart churned like venomous snakes.

Qian Ye's Wood Style!

That was truly perfect Wood Style!

If he could capture Qianye and bring him into Root, drain his blood, and dissect his body,

then he would certainly obtain power surpassing even the First Hokage's!

But Danzo was not a fool.

He understood the current situation better than anyone.

Against that monster who could summon a hundred-meter Wood Golem at will, the Root he took such pride in was not worth shit.

He could only endure.

He would wait for Qianye to reveal an opening, then deliver a fatal strike!

"Hiruzen is right."

"It was all a misunderstanding."

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura hurriedly chimed in from the side.

These two lofty Advisors were so frightened that their calves were cramping.

They feared death more than anyone.

They only wanted to flee this dangerous place as quickly as possible.

"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up,"

"we will not disturb your rest any longer."

"Another day, I will formally welcome you at the Hokage Building."

Sarutobi Hiruzen seized the chance to back down and prepared to turn away.

Seeing this, the heads of the major clans secretly breathed sighs of relief as well.

It was good that conflict had not erupted.

They also urgently needed to return to their clans and convene emergency meetings to discuss a response.

"Did I say you could leave?"

Just then,

a calm voice carrying absolute dominance rang out beside everyone's ears.

Everyone stopped short.

Cold sweat sprang out across Sarutobi Hiruzen's back with a whoosh.

He turned his head stiffly.

His gaze met Qianye's tranquil, unreadable eyes.

"The Hokage may leave."

"The clan heads may leave as well."

Qian Ye stood on the steps, looking down at this group of Konoha's rulers.

He slowly raised his right hand, pointing past Sarutobi Hiruzen at the sinister old dog whose arm was wrapped in bandages.

"But him."

"He must stay."

The entire scene fell deathly silent.

Everyone's eyes instantly focused on Shimura Danzō.

Danzō's lone eye widened sharply, his pupil contracting violently.

Being singled out in public as though someone were pointing at a dog.

Such unbearable humiliation instantly ignited the savagery in Danzō's heart.

"Impudence!"

"I am an elder of Konoha High Command!"

"I am the leader of Root!"

"You are merely a junior, yet you dare speak to me with such an attitude!"

"Senju Qianye, do you intend to betray the village?"

Danzō roared.

He suddenly stepped forward.

His lone eye, bloodshot, glared fixedly at Qianye.

The moment he opened his mouth, he slapped a huge accusation onto Qianye.

In this village, no one had ever dared challenge his authority in public!

At this,

Sarutobi Hiruzen cursed furiously in his heart.

That fool Danzō!

Could he not even see the situation clearly?

Did he want to provoke Qianye and drag everyone down to their deaths?

"Danzō! Shut up!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen rebuked him sharply.

Then he put on a kindly expression and looked toward Qianye.

"Qian Ye."

"Danzō has always had this sort of temper."

"He is only doing it for the good of the village."

"For my sake, let today's matter go."

Sarutobi Hiruzen attempted to smooth things over again.

However,

Qianye ignored Sarutobi Hiruzen completely.

His gaze remained fixed on Danzō's bandage-wrapped right arm.

The ninjas from the surrounding major clans silently retreated several steps, forcibly clearing out a circle.

Fugaku Uchiha stood among the crowd, watching Danzō coldly.

He wished Qianye would kill that old bastard outright.

More than half the grievances the Uchiha Clan had suffered over the years were thanks to Root.

Aburame Shibi adjusted his sunglasses.

The Kikaichū beneath his loose coat emitted excited buzzing.

Inuzuka Tsume soothed her agitated ninja hound, a mocking curve appearing at the corner of her mouth.

No one cared whether Danzō lived or died.

Many even secretly hoped that Qianye would thoroughly teach that rat hiding in the gutter a lesson.

Qian Ye slowly walked down the steps.

One step.

Then another.

Every footfall seemed to land on everyone's hearts.

Thump.

Thump.

A heavy pressure bore down like something tangible.

Danzō subconsciously retreated half a step.

It was this half-step that made him feel unprecedented humiliation.

He was actually afraid of some snot-nosed brat!

"What do you want?"

Danzo barked, putting on a fierce front despite his inner weakness.

Several Root ninja lurking in the shadows instantly appeared in front of Danzo.

They all drew their short blades and aimed them at Chiba as if facing a formidable enemy.