Challenge Danzo!

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 always spoke of could not force out even half a word now.

Too arrogant.

This was not the tone of a negotiation.

It was a condescending interrogation!

The clan heads of the Major Clans around them fell silent, each one too terrified to speak.

A suffocating pressure filled the air.

These leaders of prestigious clans, usually so high and mighty, had all become mute.

Because Qianye's casual retort revealed a terrifying attitude.

This young man bearing the Senju name simply did not take Konoha High Command seriously!

Shikaku Nara stood at the back of the crowd.

His exceptionally clever mind was racing madly.

Cold sweat slid down from his temples and dripped into the soil.

Shikaku Nara understood clearly.

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

But even more terrifying than that power was Qianye's conduct.

He had rebuilt the Senju Compound without the slightest restraint.

He had even mocked the Hokage without mercy.

This was not merely a show of strength.

This 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 let out of his hands had long since fallen to the ground.

Yamanaka Inoichi's face was even paler, his eyes fixed rigidly 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 legitimate heir of the Senju Clan had returned.

Bringing with him a terrifying might that perhaps even the First had never possessed.

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

How should Ino-Shika-Cho choose its side?

One wrong choice would mean utter, irreversible ruin!

Elsewhere,

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared fixedly at Qianye.

He desperately suppressed the fear and fury in his heart.

He could not beat him.

There was absolutely no way he could beat him.

That several-hundred-meter-tall Wood Golem alone was enough to crush everyone present into pulp!

He had to stabilize the situation.

As Hokage, he could not lose his authority before the Major Clans.

"Hehehe..."

"Qianye."

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

"This place was originally your home."

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

Very quickly,

Sarutobi Hiruzen forced out a smile even uglier than a grimace.

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

"What happened just now was merely a misunderstanding."

"The village bears you no ill will."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had backed down.

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

He had no choice.

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

Right now, Sarutobi Hiruzen had only one thought.

Leave this place.

Leave immediately!

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

Danzo, standing diagonally behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, remained equally silent.

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

Resentment.

Humiliation.

And deep, profound greed.

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

Qianye's Wood Style!

It was true, perfect Wood Style!

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

Then he would definitely gain power surpassing that of the First!

But Danzo was no fool.

He understood the situation better than anyone.

Against that monster who could casually summon a hundred-meter Wood Golem, the Root he was so proud of was not worth a damn.

He could only endure.

He would wait for Qianye to reveal a weakness, then deliver a fatal blow!

"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 troublesome place as quickly as possible.

"Since the misunderstanding has been cleared up,"

"Then we will not disturb your rest any longer."

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

Sarutobi Hiruzen took the opportunity to back down and prepared to turn around.

Seeing this, the heads of the Major Clans also secretly breathed sighs of relief.

It was good that the conflict had not erupted.

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

"Did I say you could leave?"

At that moment,

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

Everyone abruptly stopped.

Cold sweat burst out across Sarutobi Hiruzen's back.

He turned his head stiffly.

And met Qianye's utterly placid eyes.

"The Hokage may leave."

"The clan heads may leave as well."

Qianye stood atop the steps, looking down at Konoha's rulers.

He slowly raised his right hand, his finger passing Sarutobi Hiruzen to point at the sinister old dog whose arm was wrapped in bandages.

"But him."

"He must stay."

The entire scene fell deathly silent.

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Shimura Danzō.

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

He had been singled out in public, pointed at like a dog.

That ultimate humiliation instantly ignited the brutality in Danzo's heart.

"Insolence!"

"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?"

Danzo roared.

He suddenly stepped forward.

His lone, bloodshot eye stared fiercely at Qianye.

The moment he opened his mouth, he pinned a massive accusation onto Qianye.

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

At those words,

Sarutobi Hiruzen cursed furiously in his heart.

That idiot Danzo!

Could he not even read the situation?

Was provoking Qianye now meant to drag everyone down to their deaths with him?

"Danzo! Shut up!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen rebuked him harshly.

Then he turned a kind expression toward Qianye.

"Qianye."

"Danzo has always had that kind of temper."

"He is doing it for the village's sake as well."

"Please give me some face and let today's matter end here."

Sarutobi Hiruzen tried to smooth things over again.

However,

Qianye did not pay Sarutobi Hiruzen any attention at all.

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

The ninjas from the Major Clans around them silently retreated several steps, forcibly clearing out a circle.

Fugaku Uchiha stood among the crowd, watching Danzo 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 pushed up his sunglasses.

Beneath his oversized coat, the Kikaichū let out excited buzzing sounds.

Inuzuka Tsume soothed her restless ninja hound, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

No one cared whether Danzo lived or died.

Many even secretly hoped that Qianye would teach that old rat lurking in the gutter a brutal lesson.

Qianye slowly walked down the steps.

One step.

Then another.

Each footfall seemed to stomp directly on everyone's hearts.

Thud.

Thud.

A heavy pressure bore down on them as though it were tangible.

Danzo instinctively took half a step back.

It was this half-step that made him feel humiliation like never before.

He was actually afraid of some green kid!

"What do you want?"

Danzo barked, fierce on the outside but weak within.

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

They drew their short blades, facing Chiba as though confronting a formidable enemy.