Hokage-sama, Elder Danzo Has Defected from the Village

Naruto's visit to Yushu's home after school had not only drawn Danzo's attention.

As the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi was informed of nearly every slightest disturbance in Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not know whether Yushu had orchestrated Naruto's visit to the Uchiha Clan compound, but he had to consider what he should do if the Uchiha Clan intended to use Naruto.

The moment the barrier rose, an Anbu ninja immediately reported it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally knew it was Danzo's handiwork. Before he could determine the Uchiha Clan's true intentions and Uchiha Yushu's actual strength,

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who placed Konoha above all else, would not engage in any direct conflict with the Uchiha Clan. Danzo's actions had not been authorized by him, but he was happy to see them unfold.

Hiruzen Sarutobi saw through Danzo's little schemes completely. The outcome of Danzo's operation would determine his next move.

If Danzo succeeded, it would mean the Uchiha Clan was nothing to fear. He could simply let Danzo and the Uchiha Clan continue fighting each other, while all he needed to do was retrieve Naruto from Danzo.

As for Danzo being unwilling to hand Naruto over? That was certain. But he was confident he could make Danzo surrender Naruto in the end, simply because he was Konoha's Hokage!

And if Danzo failed, it would mean the Uchiha Clan's strength still could not be underestimated. Then, at the critical moment, he would have to protect Danzo. He could not allow a powerful Uchiha Clan to develop peacefully in Konoha without any restraint.

The reason the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, calculated so carefully was not only for the village's stability. More importantly, he was already sixty-three years old.

More than twenty years of declining strength had long stripped him of his youthful vigor. With no worthy successor, he could only do his utmost to maintain Konoha's stability, ensuring that Konoha would remain strong when the Fifth Hokage took office.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi himself did not know who Konoha's Fifth Hokage would be. Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade flashed through his mind.

In the end, Uchiha Yushu's figure appeared in his thoughts. Whoever it was, it absolutely would not be one of you Uchiha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had felt heartache and disappointment over his disciples' departures. The one thing he had never felt was regret. He did not regret anything he had done.

Everything was for Konoha, just as he was now watching the battle between Root and the Uchiha Clan from the sidelines.

He did not have to wait long before the Anbu delivered news. The Nine-Tails' jinchuriki was unharmed, the Anbu ninjas were either dead or injured, while Uchiha Yushu and Uchiha Shisui had not suffered a scratch.

Hiruzen Sarutobi removed his broad Hokage ceremonial robe, revealing his black combat uniform and layered armor.

"Let's go. Time to clean up the mess."

He then led the Anbu toward the Uchiha Clan.

After Yushu slaughtered the Root ninjas until only a few remained, the Root ninjas responsible for maintaining the barrier saw that the situation was hopeless and chose to retreat at once, showing no concern whatsoever for their comrades still fighting desperately.

The instant the barrier vanished, dozens of Konoha Military Police Force ninjas who had been waiting outside rushed over.

"Clan Head!"

"Chief!"

Different forms of address came from the ninjas' mouths.

As Konoha Military Police Force ninjas, they should have called Yushu Chief.

But it involved a matter of identity—whether they identified more strongly as members of the Uchiha Clan or as personnel of the Konoha Military Police Force.

Yushu paid no attention to the subordinates who had arrived. With the barrier gone, he no longer needed to use such an inefficient method of fighting.

Though in the eyes of the spectators, the unparalleled taijutsu battle was far more spectacular than Yushu's earlier style of simply acting as a ninjutsu artillery platform and blasting entire groups to death.

But close-quarters taijutsu combat was not only exhausting; it also carried greater risks.

Without hesitation, Yushu unleashed waves of high-temperature flames from both hands, mixed with Hellfire.

The enemies' bodies melted the instant they came into contact with the flames, while the Hellfire within burned their souls.

Yushu felt that high-temperature flames combined with Hellfire were true annihilation—nothing left behind, not even Edo Tensei could bring them back.

After the battle ended, Yushu had his subordinates gather the bodies. They were all evidence.

He himself walked over to Naruto. Naruto was staring blankly at Yushu, his eyes filled with admiration.

"Naruto, aren't you going to give me my clothes back?"

Naruto snapped back to his senses and hurriedly handed Yushu the clothes in his hands.

As Yushu got dressed, he looked at Naruto, who was still silent, and said with a smile, "The mission is over, Naruto. You can talk now."

The moment those words left his mouth, Naruto began chattering away.

"Big Brother Yushu, you're seriously, seriously amazing!"

"How did you make your whole body glow like that? It was so cool! Can I learn a technique that awesome someday?"

"And, and, Big Brother Yushu, were those wings made of fire? But how can fire turn into the shape of wings? Where can I learn that?"

"Big Brother Yushu, and that..."

Watching Naruto wave his arms around as he asked question after question, with not the slightest discomfort over the enemies' deaths,

Yushu remembered that Naruto had been so frightened during his first battle that he had frozen on the spot.

Perhaps he was still too young to understand the brutality and danger of ninja battles, seeing only their splendor and excitement.

"You'll be able to learn that glowing-body thing someday too, Naruto. Yours will be even cooler than mine."

"But as for those wings, that depends on your chakra nature."

"As for..."

With a smile on his face, Yushu answered Naruto's questions one by one.

"Chief, all the bodies have been collected." Ryusuke came to Yushu's side and reported.

"Naruto, I still have matters to handle. How about having Shisui take you home next?"

"Mhm, that's fine. Actually, I could go back by myself."

Having just witnessed that battle, Naruto was actually still thinking about going home alone. Yushu was speechless.

Is it Asura's chakra influencing him, or did he inherit the Fourth Hokage's natural airheadedness? Yushu could not find an answer.

"Then it's settled."

"Shisui, you're responsible for taking Naruto home."

"Ryusuke, have the Military Police Force brothers bring the attackers' bodies. We're going to the Hokage Building."

Yushu directly issued his orders to everyone, but just as his voice fell, another voice rang out.

"No need for the trouble, Clan Head Yushu. This old man is already here."

Yushu turned around and saw a group of more than twenty people approaching. At their head was none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Seeing that it was the Third Hokage, Yushu noted that he had shed his usual ceremonial robe and wore layered armor commonly seen during the Warring States era over a black fitted combat uniform.

He advanced step by step with his subordinates, his imposing presence fully on display, as if he had regained the bearing of the Shinobi Hero from the Second Shinobi World War.

Seeing this formation, the Konoha Military Police Force members tightened their grips on their weapons.

Hiruzen Sarutobi led his subordinates to a stop roughly ten paces from Yushu. The ninjas behind him were all elite Anbu, each radiating a powerful aura.

The atmosphere between the two camps was exceedingly tense. A breeze passed by, and the moon, concealed behind the clouds, revealed half of itself.

The soft moonlight draped the grass bent by the wind in the field with a silver cloak.

Neither side moved. The atmosphere had frozen solid.

At that moment, Yushu smiled soundlessly. Though both sides looked tense and solemn,

Yushu knew this fight would not happen. If Danzo had come, they would already be fighting to the death. Yushu had no intention of letting such a good opportunity slip away.

Unfortunately, things could not always go as one wished. The one who had come was the Third Hokage, and neither side had any reason to fight now.

Thus, after smiling, Yushu spoke in an incomparably grave tone.

"Hokage-sama, Elder Danzo has defected from the village!"