For More Lives, Abandon Danzo

Hiruzen Sarutobi listened quietly as Danzo Shimura finished his account. It was the first time since becoming Hokage that he had done so.

Yet this conversation alone made Hiruzen Sarutobi realize that Danzo had completely become a different person.

"Danzo, what is the world after death like?"

Danzo Shimura had originally thought Hiruzen Sarutobi would ask about his next plan, and he had prepared himself for a reprimand.

But... he was asking about the world after death?

Only then, as Danzo Shimura looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged appearance, did he finally realize that this was no longer their era.

"I don't know. Perhaps it is an eternal slumber, or perhaps Impure World Reincarnation simply cannot carry memories from beyond death."

"None of that matters. What matters most now is that the Uchiha Clan cannot be allowed to continue like this."

"Reforming a purge squad? Do they think this is still the Warring States period?"

"And accepting missions without authorization—that is practically betrayal of the village!"

"Hiruzen, you are too weak."

Danzo Shimura's face was filled with coldness. Combined with the distinctive eyes of an Impure World Reincarnation body, he looked utterly terrifying.

Faced with Danzo Shimura's accusations, Hiruzen Sarutobi merely took an unhurried puff of his pipe and slowly exhaled a ring of smoke.

"Danzo, give it up!"

"Though I do not know exactly how Uchiha Yansheng did it, his current power is no weaker than the Nine-Tails."

"No, perhaps he is not even weaker than the First Hokage of old."

"Moreover, he has resolved the Uchiha Clan's rebellion problem for us quite well."

"For the village, stability is what matters most."

At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have lost all his drive. He no longer looked like a Hokage, but rather a kindly old man.

If Uchiha Yansheng had been here, he would have seen Hiruzen Sarutobi's current state at a glance.

As everyone knew, Hiruzen Sarutobi was tough internally and weak toward outsiders.

But now, the Uchiha Clan had been classified as "outsiders." At that level, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally could not be firm. He might even have been somewhat grateful that Uchiha Yansheng had not destroyed Konoha.

Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Danzo Shimura completely descended into madness.

"Enough, Hiruzen... you are too weak!"

"I must... I must remove those hidden dangers for Konoha..."

Understanding the meaning behind those words, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to realize something and hurriedly said, "Stop, Danzo. Do not bring disaster upon Konoha Village..."

But clearly, Danzo Shimura had never approved of Hiruzen Sarutobi's actions. Why would he obey now?

"Shut up. Since you chose the light, then stand there obediently. I will deal with the evil lurking in the shadows."

Only then did Hiruzen Sarutobi truly panic. He hurried forward to stop Danzo Shimura, who was preparing to leave.

"Enough, Danzo. I am the Hokage!"

"You are already dead. Leave this world to the living."

Faced with Hiruzen Sarutobi's obstruction, Danzo Shimura formed hand seals without hesitation and unleashed a barrage of Wind Style: Vacuum Bullets.

While Hiruzen Sarutobi was dodging, Danzo Shimura used the Body Flicker Technique to leave, leaving behind only one sentence.

"Hiruzen, I told you—you will regret this!"

An unknown enemy's assault on the Hokage's residence naturally drew the attention of the patrolling ANBU.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi did not want Danzo's existence exposed, so he found an excuse to dismiss the ANBU who had come to assist.

However, he could not hide it from his wife, Biwako Sarutobi.

With the situation urgent, Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned the two Hokage advisors overnight to discuss Danzo Shimura.

After receiving the ANBU's message, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane hurried to Hiruzen Sarutobi's residence.

As soon as they met, Hiruzen Sarutobi told them about Danzo Shimura's current condition.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were both deeply moved to learn that their former companion had become an Impure World Reincarnation body, but what to do next became a matter requiring discussion.

If the leader of the Root lurking in the shadows went out of control, he would pose far too great a threat to Konoha Village.

Though none of the three believed Danzo Shimura would betray Konoha, they did not dare gamble now—especially not by touching the Uchiha Clan, that powder keg.

In the end, after discussion, the three decided to secretly arrest Danzo Shimura. If they could undo the Impure World Reincarnation, that would be best; if not, they would seal him away.

In the past, for Konoha, with their tacit approval and under Danzo's direction, they had abandoned many lives.

And now, for the sake of even more lives, they would abandon Danzo.

But before they acted, Homura Mitokado suddenly asked Hiruzen Sarutobi a question.

"If we act according to Danzo's plan, what are the chances of restoring peace to Konoha Village?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's answer was:

"Not even a ten percent chance. The other members of the Uchiha Clan are already troublesome enough."

"And Uchiha Yansheng... The only thing I can foresee is this: I do not know whether he would die if pushed too far, but Konoha Village would certainly vanish."

At that point, no one had any further doubts about their choice.

Next, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado began mobilizing resources to locate Danzo Shimura.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly came to Kushina Uzumaki's door and entrusted her with the task of sealing Danzo Shimura.

As the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, she should have been Konoha Village's trump card, only to be used at the final moment.

But at a time like this, Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer knew whom he could ask to deal with Danzo.

If only Shisui had not disappeared, or if the other three Sannin had not left Konoha Village.

After hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Kushina Uzumaki agreed without hesitation.

Over the years, though she had not gained much experience in missions, ever since the Nine-Tails' Attack, she had spent every day besides caring for Minato studying all kinds of Medical Ninjutsu.

The fully formed Yin Seal was enough to prove her efforts.

As for Naruto Uzumaki, Mikoto Uchiha's family would help look after him.

The next day, as Uchiha Yansheng was preparing to study sealing techniques, he suddenly spotted Naruto Uzumaki wandering around the Uchiha Clan compound.

At first glance, Uchiha Yansheng thought he was seeing things.

Only after confirming Naruto Uzumaki's figure did Uchiha Yansheng realize that Kushina Uzumaki was still alive in this moment, so Naruto Uzumaki naturally would not be the pitiful child he had been in the original story.

"Naruto, did you come to compete with Sasuke in ninjutsu today?"

Uchiha Yansheng greeted him casually.

But immediately afterward, he learned an important piece of news from Naruto Uzumaki.

"No, Brother Yansheng. Mom went out on a mission. She is going to capture a bad guy who came back from the dead, someone named Danzo."