Naruto Returns to the Village, First Break Root's Nerve

Evening in Hidden Leaf, the air still carried the lingering smell of blood and earth.

On the steps in front of the Hokage Building, dozens of Root ninjas wearing animal masks stood in a row, holding gleaming short swords in reverse, completely blocking the entrance to the building.

"Da, da."

The dull sound of a cane striking the floor tiles rang out. Shimura Danzō pushed through the crowd and slowly Earth Flow the front. His single, exposed eye was fixed on Tsunade, who stood on the high ground.

"Tsunade, the village is in ruins, more than half dead and wounded." Danzo's voice was hoarse, carrying a condescending tone of judgment. "This is due to your incompetence in governance. As Hokage, you are undeniably responsible. Hand over the Hokage's hat and let Root take full control of the defense. This is the only way to preserve the last vestige of Hidden Leaf's vitality."

Tsunade wore a half-ripped green coat, and the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead was dull and lifeless. She had just finished a large-scale treatment for the entire village, and her lips were pale. She even needed Shizune's support to stand up.

But when she heard this, she just sneered, pushed Shizune away, and straightened her back.

"Old man, while Pain was unleashing Chibaku Tensei from the sky, you were hiding in the basement with this broken leg, eating dust." Tsunade spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. "Now that the enemy is gone, you're running out to steal the credit? Do you really think I'm crippled and can't even raise my fist?"

Danzo's eyes darkened, and he raised his left hand, which was not holding a cane.

The Root ninja below drew their short swords in unison, the tips pointing directly at Tsunade.

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures." Danzo's tone was chilling. "For the sake of Hidden Leaf's roots, even if it means bearing the stigma of usurpation, I will..."

"Boom--!"

Before Danzo could finish his harsh words, half of the blue stone pillar in front of the Hokage Building suddenly exploded into dust.

A blinding golden light descended from the sky, crashing heavily into the open space between Danzo and Tsunade like a meteorite. The violent shockwave swept across the ground, sending the seven or eight Root ninjas in the front row flying without uttering a sound, crashing into the broken earthen wall.

Before the smoke and dust had cleared, a foot clad in a black ninja boot stomped heavily on the pile of rubble.

"Who do you think you are? You're just rotten mud feeding on carrion in the sewers."

A loud, unruly voice boomed through the room.

Golden Pure Yang Chakra flames rose up, illuminating the surrounding dim light as if it were daytime. Naruto Uzumaki stretched his neck, his knuckles cracking twice. He didn't even glance at the Root ninjas who were on high alert, his gaze fixed directly on Danzo's wrinkled old face.

Danzo contracted sharply, and his fingers gripping his cane tightened abruptly, his knuckles bulging.

"Naruto Uzumaki..." Danzo forcibly suppressed the fear in his voice, "Instead of redeeming yourself on the front lines, you ran back to interfere with the Anbu's operations? Who gave you the guts!"

"Who gave me the guts?"

Naruto grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. He pulled a scroll stained with dried blood from his ninja tool pouch and hurled it at the attacker.

"Smack!"

The scroll moved with incredible speed, Danzo didn't have time to react before it struck his shoulder, causing him to stagger back half a step. The scroll fell to the ground and scattered, revealing the distinctive emblem of Amegakure (Amegakure) and a bright red handprint left by Nagato.

"Pain is dead, Nagato has surrendered, and the Amegakure ceasefire agreement is right beneath your feet." Naruto took a step forward, each step causing the stone slabs on the ground to crack. "The enemy has retreated, the alert is off. You're now leading this bunch of masked guys around the Hokage Building —what is that if not rebellion?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the previously tense Root ninja formation visibly trembled. Several ninjas exchanged quick glances, their grips on their swords unconsciously loosening slightly.

"Impossible! How could the leader of Akatsuki surrender so easily!" Danzo's eyes twitched violently as he argued, "This is fabricated information! You, a Genin, are clearly being mind-controlled by the Nine-Tails, attempting to kidnap the Hokage!"

"This is such a hassle."

A lazy yet confident sigh came from behind the street.

Shikamaru Nara, with his hands in his pockets, led Choji and Ino out from behind the broken wall. As he appeared, dozens of figures flashed out from the rooftops and behind the ruins all around.

Hyuga Hiashi, along with the branch family elites who had broken the Caged Bird Seal, all activated their Byakugan, veins throbbing on their foreheads. A cloud of the Aburame Clan insects swirled in the air, emitting a chilling buzzing sound.

"Excuse me, Danzo." Shikamaru stopped, his gaze sweeping over the Root members surrounded in the Root. "The communications tower and archives are now under our control. Sai and Haku have probably dealt with most of your underground backup plans by now."

The situation reversed instantly.

The Root that once surrounded the Hokage is now like a dead fish caught in a net.

Naruto stopped less than two meters in front of Danzo, looking down at this greatest schemer of Hidden Leaf.

"Did you see that clearly, you old dog?" Naruto's tone was devoid of any emotion, only pure mockery. "In this village, nobody listens to your stupid orders anymore. That Hokage position you've been so obsessed with, even if you smash it to pieces and feed it to the dogs today, it's not yours."

Danzo's breathing became heavy, his chest heaving violently. He knew that all was lost; Tsunade was not dead, Naruto had made a powerful comeback, and even the major clans were on the opposite side.

"You simply don't understand..." Danzo gritted his teeth, a manic glint flashing in his single eye. "Peace isn't something children can achieve through playing house! Without me secretly bearing the burden of sin, Hidden Leaf would have been swallowed up by other villages long ago! You bunch of naive fools have no idea how deep the waters of the Shinobi World!"

Tsunade gripped the railing and stepped forward. Her voice wasn't loud, but it struck a chord deep within everyone. "The backbone of Hidden Leaf was forged on the battlefield, not by you hiding behind the scenes, betraying your comrades, and plotting assassinations. Danzo, your era is completely over today. Hand over your weapons and go to the interrogation room."

"Finish?"

Danzo suddenly burst into laughter. The laughter was like two rusty pieces of iron rubbing together, extremely grating.

He abruptly threw away his cane and grabbed the thick white bandage wrapped around his right arm with his left hand.

"Sizzle--"

The sound of the tattered cloth was particularly loud on the deathly silent street.

As the bandages slipped off, a pale, deformed arm covered in bulging veins was revealed to everyone. On the shoulder of that arm was a face with its eyes closed—the face of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

Down the arm, nestled among the pale muscle lines, were more than a dozen scarlet eyes. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan pattern slowly rotated in their sockets, emanating a cold, viscous aura of Chakra.

The entire hall fell silent.

Hinata gasped, instinctively covering her mouth. Hyuga Hiashi's face instantly turned ashen.

"This is..." Tsunade stared intently at the First's face, her lips trembling, "You actually dared to desecrate my grandfather's grave..."

"This is the power I had to master for the sake of Hidden Leaf." Danzo slowly raised his deformed right arm, his dozen Sharingan swirling as he focused his gaze on Naruto. "Any means are justified as long as it protects this great tree. Naruto Uzumaki, since you don't know what's good for you, I'll personally eliminate this threat to the village right here!"

Naruto stared at the repulsive arm without taking a single step back. The golden Chakra around his body surged a full ten feet, and the stone bricks beneath his feet turned to dust.

"You dare to show off this rubbish pieced together with the eyes of other people's clansmen?" Naruto's eyes flashed with a cold killing intent. "Do you really think no one will come to collect this mess?"

"Clang--!"

A crisp sword cry pierced the sky.

Sasuke Uchiha had somehow found himself standing atop the wall on the left. He held the Kusanagi Sword in his hand, purple-blue lightning crackling along its blade.

Sasuke his head down, and no one could see his expression. But the murderous aura that filled the air sent chills down the spines of everyone present.

He slowly raised his head, his eyes now transformed into a crimson Mangekyo Sharingan pattern. Two streams of bloody tears flowed down his cheeks and dripped onto his chin.

"Danzo." Sasuke's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper being rubbed against his skin, filled with deep-seated hatred. "My brother's debt, and the eyes of my clan... Today, I will make you pay for it all, slice by slice."

Danzo coldly, and the Sharingan red.

Naruto crossed his arms and took a half-step back, making room for Sasuke.

"Go, Sasuke." Naruto looked at Danzo as if he were a cold corpse. "Leave him alive, don't let him die too easily."