"Go summon the three elders—Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura. Immediately."
A moment later, Hokage Office.
The three elders filed in one after another.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura looked as composed as ever, while Danzo wore his usual gloomy expression. No emotion could be read from that single eye of his.
His Root had already been disbanded, and ANBU accompanied him day and night. He had been very well-behaved lately, at least on the surface.
"Hiruzen, why did you summon us so urgently?" Utatane Koharu asked first.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer. He merely picked up the scroll on the desk and slammed it down in front of Danzo.
"Take a look at what you've done!"
Danzo frowned, picked up the scroll, and carefully unfolded it.
Three seconds later.
Five seconds later.
His complexion shifted from gloomy to livid, then from livid to flushed red.
"Bullshit!!!"
Danzo slammed the scroll onto the desk. His voice grew shrill with rage.
"Hiruzen, what do you mean by this?! What does the Third Kazekage's disappearance have to do with me?!"
"This—this is slander! Blatant slander!
"I've been in the Leaf Village this whole time, never even stepping outside. How many sets of eyes did you send to watch me? Don't you know that yourself?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to stare at him coldly, unmoved.
Danzo kept roaring.
"And Root was already disbanded by you! My men, my resources, my intelligence network—all of it is under your surveillance!
"How was I supposed to go to the Hidden Sand Village and assassinate the Kazekage? With my mouth?!"
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance but said nothing.
Danzo panted heavily, his chest heaving violently.
"And assassinating the Kazekage? Did you think that was so easy? He was the man known as the strongest Kazekage!