Danzo

When Danzo pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the Hokage Office, the grave atmosphere inside nearly hit him in the face.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat upright in the seat of honor, an unlit pipe held between his fingers. His expression was calm, yet he radiated unquestionable authority.

The two advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, sat on either side, their brows tightly furrowed.

Tsunade stood with her arms crossed by the window, her face livid as her blazing gaze fixed on Danzo as he entered.

The fury and scrutiny in her eyes were undisguised.

Several scrolls lay on the desk in the center of the office.

"Hiruzen, why have you summoned me so urgently?" Danzo stopped, looking directly at the Third Hokage, his tone as usual.

"Danzo!" Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade as he went straight to the point.

"ANBU's Fourth Squad successfully completed its pursuit of the rogue ninja Hiruko in the Land of Fields.

But while withdrawing after the mission, they were attacked by an elite ninja squad of unknown identity.

The attackers used ruthless tactics, coordinated skillfully, and had made highly targeted preparations against the Fourth Squad's members.

Especially the abilities of the member codenamed Fox."

He paused and lightly tapped the fragments of evidence on the desk with his finger.

"The ninja tools left at the scene, the traces of battle, and the mission report submitted by Fox of the Fourth Squad, along with...

certain key pieces of evidence, all point to the attackers coming from within Leaf Village and having close ties to Root.

What explanation do you have?"

"An explanation?" Danzo's expression did not change as he slowly pulled a dark scroll from his robes.

"This is the explanation."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took the scroll and