Death of Danzo

"If this old man wasn't mistaken, you're Uchiha Fugaku. And who is the other one? You were behind the Nine-Tails Rebellion, weren't you?!"

Danzo swept his gaze over "Heaven" and "Earth," barking the question sharply.

"Stop slandering people. Back then, didn't you know perfectly well whether any Uchiha had left the clan grounds? Meanwhile, your Root didn't go support the Fourth Hokage. Instead, it stopped the Uchiha's rescue efforts. Were you trying to get the Fourth Hokage killed?"

"I get it now! Once the Fourth Hokage died, you'd have had a chance to become Hokage, right? Too bad the Third Hokage didn't let you have your way. Hahahaha!"

"Heaven" mocked him without restraint.

"Shut up. Every Uchiha deserves to die."

Wood Release: Tree Binding Burial!

Thick branches tightly bound Susanoo, leaving it unable to move.

"Heaven" controlled Susanoo and hurled its longsword, pinning the panting Danzo firmly to the wall.

Wood Release dispelled!

A Three-Tomoe Sharingan closed, and Danzo vanished once more.

So many things had happened on the day his teacher died. The Uchiha clan head and his wife had been close to his teacher and his wife; there was no reason for him to have harmed his teacher. As for Itachi Uchiha, a five- or six-year-old child could not have done anything. Back then, who had really killed his teacher?

Kakashi thought silently, largely ruling out the two Uchihas before him.

"There's no time! The Hokage is already on his way here. He'll arrive in three minutes at most."

Doichi Hyuga descended and gave them a warning.

The Shadow Clone Technique he had left in the village had been monitoring the Hokage Tower and the Sarutobi Clan grounds.

During his time away, Doichi Hyuga had found Danzo's treasure vault and gathered quite a few valuable things. This trip had not been in vain; he had reaped a full harvest.

The three stopped watching and attacked Danzo together.

Kotoamatsukami!

Danzo seized an opening and fixed his gaze on "Earth's" eyes.

"Earth's" attack stalled, and he turned to attack "Yellow."

Doichi Hyuga stepped forward and smashed Danzo to death with a single punch.

The three worked together to subdue "Earth." Doichi Hyuga placed his hand over his head, activated the Byakugan, found that chakra, and swiftly extracted it.

Danzo tried to launch a sneak attack, only to be killed once again by "Heaven" and "Yellow" working together.

"I'm fine now!"

Itachi Uchiha recovered, inwardly relieved. Good thing the ocular technique in that eye only controlled me temporarily.

The four guarded the corpse through two more revivals before the final Three-Tomoe Sharingan on Danzo's arm closed.

The Wood Release on Danzo's arm went berserk and turned into a tree. By the time he tore off his arm, his chakra was already nearly depleted.

These four were a grave threat to Konoha. They had to be eliminated. Hiruzen, I'll be taking my leave before you.

With that thought, Danzo decisively tore open his clothes.

The Reverse Four Symbols Seal was revealed, and black liquid sprayed in every direction.

"Run!"

Doichi Hyuga shouted, and the four fled for their lives.

The black sphere rapidly expanded to dozens of meters in diameter before swiftly collapsing inward, leaving a massive spherical crater behind.

The four stood in the distance, staring at the crater in lingering fear. Damn, that nearly cost us our lives.

There was no time to waste. The four quickly headed for the exit.

The moment they reached the surface, Hiruzen Sarutobi landed a hundred meters ahead of them.

"Who are you? What did you do in Root?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi drew out the Adamantine Staff and stared at the four cloaked, masked figures before him. Seeing them emerge unharmed, a bad feeling rose in his heart.

"Lord Hokage!"

Eight ANBU descended and immediately took up combat positions.

"You go first. I'll cover the rear."

Doichi Hyuga stepped forward and motioned for the other three to leave quickly.

There was no helping it. The moment those three made a move, their identities would be exposed.

The three hesitated briefly before turning and fleeing.

Just as the ANBU were about to give chase, five figures appeared around them.

"If you are willing to surrender peacefully, I can guarantee that you will not be harmed."

The Third Hokage spoke in a deep voice.

Ninja Art: Four Violet Flames Formation!

The four Shadow Clones took their positions at the four corners and shouted in unison.

A square barrier rose up, trapping all nine of them inside.

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Hokage. Farewell."

Doichi Hyuga thanked him and turned to leave.

"Wait. What is your relationship with Orochimaru?"

Only the Barrier Team's elites knew this technique. Besides the Barrier Team, Hiruzen Sarutobi had taught it only to the traitorous Orochimaru.

"Lord Hokage, I'll be your opponent from here on."

The ANBU attacked first, while the Shadow Clones assumed Tai Chi stances in response.

One caught an attacker's strike, guided him into another, then followed up with two punches.

The instant they clashed, two ANBU fell to the ground, losing their ability to fight.

Hiruzen Sarutobi joined the battle with his staff, and the two sides rapidly exchanged blows.

After fighting for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi smashed one Shadow Clone in the head with his staff, causing it to explode and vanish.

He quickly rushed to the four corners of the barrier, destroyed the other four Shadow Clones, and dispelled the formation.

At the same time, two more ANBU squads arrived as reinforcements.

Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered three squads to pursue the enemy while he led several ANBU into the Root base.

A moment later!

Looking at the circular pit before him and the lingering chakra of the sealing technique, Hiruzen Sarutobi's old tears streamed down his face.

The Reverse Four Symbols Seal! Danzo, you actually left before this old man!

A moment later, several ANBU returned behind Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Lord Hokage! Nineteen people are confirmed dead. The others were all knocked unconscious. Also, Lord Danzo is missing."

"I understand. Elder Danzo has already fallen. There is no need to search for him any longer."

Danzo had actually met such an end. Not even his bones remained. Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi was overwhelmed with emotion, and his heart twisted in pain.

"Lord Hokage! We discovered a laboratory. It requires your personal handling."

An ANBU hurried over to report.

"Take me there!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart tightened as he spoke in a grave voice.

He entered the laboratory with several ANBU. More than a dozen people in white coats stood huddled in the corner, their faces filled with panic.

"Lord Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored them. His expression turned livid as he looked at the human bodies inside the cultivation tanks.

Danzo, you bastard. Even after dying, you still have to make me clean up your mess!

"Seal this base and abandon it! Everything seen here is to be classified as a village S-Rank secret, with the highest level of confidentiality!"

"Yes!" The ANBU silently groaned in misery.

"Eagle, Falcon, you two take people and assume control of the other two Root bases."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

The two dropped to one knee, accepted the order, and departed.

The enemy had not slaughtered the other Root members. They had merely knocked them unconscious before leaving. The attackers might have been from the village; the other ninja villages would not have left survivors.

The target should have been Danzo, perhaps for revenge. But Danzo had offended far too many people, leaving too many suspects. This was going to be difficult!

Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a long time before barely managing to sort out a few clues.

Deep within the forest.

Four figures suddenly emerged from the tranquil river.

Using chakra to dry their clothes, the four quickly split up and left.

Doichi Hyuga returned home, dealt with the spoils, dispelled his Shadow Clone, and went straight to sleep.

At five in the morning, Doichi Hyuga opened his eyes. Although he had slept for less than two hours, his daily training could not be interrupted.

He entered the washroom. An emerald-green branch sprouted from his fingertip, slowly growing into the shape of a toothbrush. He squeezed toothpaste onto it and began brushing his teeth and washing up.

Two years ago, Doichi Hyuga had developed [Wood Release: Toothbrush Technique]!

From then on, he no longer had to worry about choosing a toothbrush, saving him "a huge sum" of money.