True Letting Go

In short, after that seemingly reasonable and well-founded argument, it sounded as though Sasuke only needed to let Danzo go for both sides to shake hands and make peace.

Fugaku narrowed his eyes at the Third Hokage and muttered inwardly, Old fox.

That argument was obviously fake.

It might fool an idiot, but no one else!

He certainly did not think this fake Sasuke was an idiot.

Fugaku immediately watched Hiruzen Sarutobi's performance with a cold sneer, ready to enjoy the show.

And that was indeed the case. Hiruzen Sarutobi said those things only to safely rescue Danzo.

After all, Danzo was not only useful for handling dirty work, but could also be pushed out to take the blame when it mattered—a perfect scapegoat!

He did not want to lose such a perfect "talent."

Besides, they had been old friends for many years and had known each other since childhood. There was still some affection between them, and he truly did not want Danzo to come to harm.

As for Sasuke actually releasing Danzo? Heh, then he could go die!

He had dared cause trouble in Konoha, slaughtered most of Root's ninjas, and disrupted tonight's Uchiha Clan Extermination Plan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi would never let off this troublemaker who had appeared out of nowhere.

As for whether the scheme would work, they would only know after trying.

Seeing Sasuke's well-developed muscles and his brutish appearance of someone who relied purely on brute force in battle, the Third Hokage felt there was a high chance his plan would succeed.

"Really? As long as I let go, you won't make things difficult for me? You'll let me leave here safely?"

Sasuke asked with delight written all over his face.

"I was only acting at someone else's request. I never intended to become Konoha's complete enemy."

"If letting go can resolve the grudge between our two sides, then I'll let go immediately."

Sasuke looked at the Third Hokage with anticipation.

That answer made Hiruzen Sarutobi pause, before delight filled his heart.

The plan had really worked!

Wonderful!

He had not expected the other side to believe his lies so easily, actually thinking that releasing Danzo would let him leave Konoha safely. What an idiot.

He believed such a simple argument? Sure enough, muscle-bound fools had simple minds.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Sasuke as if he were looking at an idiot. He sneered inwardly, but said aloud:

"Of course. As long as you let go, this old man guarantees on the Hokage's honor that you will leave Konoha safely. No one will lay a hand on you."

"Fine, I accept your terms. I'll let go right now!"

Sasuke nodded heavily, then reached out with his free hand and grabbed Danzo's left arm before twisting and pulling hard!

Riiip!!

Accompanied by a scream, Danzo's left arm was forcibly torn off, and blood immediately gushed from the severed stump.

Thud!!

A bloody severed arm was tossed before the Third Hokage.

True letting go!

"Here! I let go. Can I leave Konoha safely now?"

Sasuke looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a smile, then said to Danzo:

"Don't blame me for being cruel. The Third Hokage was the one who told me to let go."

"Ah... you! Damn it!"

Danzo glared furiously at Sasuke with his one eye.

Over there.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the severed arm on the ground in stunned silence for a full half minute. Then, rage exploded from him, veins bulging across his forehead.

"Bastard! You are toying with this old man!"

The Third Hokage was beside himself with fury. Was this what he had meant by letting go?

"What, letting go of one hand isn't enough? Do you want me to let go of another one?"

Sasuke raised his brow in feigned confusion, then asked with a smile.

Then he reached for Danzo's intact right arm, as if he were about to twist that one off too.

"Ah!! Hiruzen, what are you doing!? Are you trying to get this old man killed on purpose?"

Danzo roared miserably.

"You... stop!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gritted his teeth in rage, his trembling finger pointing at Sasuke.

He had thought the other party was a fool who would be easy to trick, but in the end, he was the one who had been fooled.

The clown was actually me!

This... was impressive!

Truly impressive!

Fugaku, who was watching the spectacle from afar, looked utterly satisfied.

He knew this fake Sasuke was no harmless fellow. The Third Hokage had actually tried to fool him—what wishful thinking.

Now he was suffering for it, with that old bastard Danzo losing an arm outright.

Fugaku felt thoroughly pleased.

"Bastard! You dare toy with this old man like this? No matter who you are, no matter how strong you are, no matter what force you come from, Konoha will never rest until you are dead!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face had turned livid with fury as he shouted:

"Konoha's foundations are not something a mere brute like you can imagine. Pay the price for your arrogant actions! Today, this place will become your burial ground!"

His expression twisted viciously as he suddenly roared:

"Now, know your place and release Elder Danzo immediately! This old man may leave you an intact corpse. Otherwise, you will only end up shattered to pieces!"

Even now, Hiruzen Sarutobi still wanted to ensure Danzo's survival.

Perhaps these two were true love after all.

"Quick! Release Elder Danzo!"

"Your reckless arrogance will only send you to hell! Release him now!"

"Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

"..."

The Konoha ninjas surrounding them also began shouting in agreement.

Their cries surged like mountains and seas, immensely imposing!

They seemed to want to use that momentum to force Sasuke into releasing Danzo.

"I'll give you ten seconds. Release him now! Otherwise, this old man will make you regret ever being born!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi warned him again.

His voice was filled with killing intent!

"Ten, nine, eight..."

The Third Hokage began counting down. With every number, his aura grew stronger.

It seemed that once he finished counting, if Sasuke still did not let go, he would attack directly and no longer care whether Danzo lived or died.

Whoosh!!

At that moment, the sound of something tearing through the air rang out.

Sasuke vanished from where he stood, taking Danzo with him.

Then—

Slap!!!

A loud slap echoed through the night sky.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's countdown died in his throat. His entire body slid backward for over ten meters before he finally stopped after crashing into a wooden post sticking out from the ruins.

Sasuke appeared where he had been standing, speaking impatiently:

"Are you done nagging? If you want to fight, stop talking and come at me!"

At that moment.

The entire scene suddenly fell silent.

It was terrifyingly quiet—quiet enough to hear a needle drop!

Everyone stared blankly at Hiruzen Sarutobi, at the distinct handprint on his face.

Every heart was rocked by towering waves, unable to calm for a long while.

He had been slapped in the face!

He had actually slapped the Hokage in front of so many people.

That was the Hokage! The leader of a village! Konoha's supreme ruler, the Third Hokage they respected most.

If they had not seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed that the Hokage could be publicly slapped in the face!

This... how could this guy dare!?

Was he tired of living?

This was Konoha! Slapping their leader was the same as slapping all of them in the face!

This was a naked provocation against every Konoha ninja!

Fugaku was dumbfounded too!

Holy shit!

He actually dared?

Beating Danzo earlier was one thing. After all, plenty of people hated that guy, so beating him was no big deal!

But now, he had actually dared to publicly slap Hiruzen Sarutobi. This was the Third Hokage, a man admired by countless ninjas.

Honestly, he had done something Fugaku had always wanted to do!

He was impressed!

Completely impressed!

If Fugaku possessed this fake Sasuke's strength, he still absolutely would not dare do something like that.

After all, that was the leader of a village!

Still, satisfying as it was, he would likely face the combined assault of every Konoha ninja afterward.

No matter how strong this fake Sasuke was, he could not possibly fight an entire great ninja village alone.

Should he bring his clansmen to help?

Fugaku looked at the many clan members whose eyes were practically shining, then at Sasuke, whose entire body radiated dominance, and fell into deep conflict.