The Third Hokage: This Was Danzo's Mess, and That Was His Burden

From now on, he would involve himself less in village affairs, give Shikashin more opportunities, and strive to elevate the Ino-Shika-Cho. He himself would stay home and enjoy his retirement.

"Hiruzen?"

Utatane Koharu called out tentatively, but the Third Hokage remained silent.

Oh boy!

Things seemed rather serious. The Third Hokage only acted like this when he was especially angry. He ignored everyone, speaking only once everyone had arrived and he felt like opening his mouth.

Just wait.

The three exchanged looks and settled into their seats.

"Lord Hokage."

At that moment, the Anbu ninja who had gone to notify Shimura Danzō returned.

"Where is Danzo?" the Third Hokage asked.

The Anbu ninja said awkwardly, "Lord Danzo said he was feeling unwell, so..."

Bang!!!

The words "feeling unwell" grated harshly on the Third Hokage's ears. Furious, he slammed his palm down on the table, leaving everyone in the office dumbfounded.

Was this really the Hiruzen Sarutobi they knew?

Surely this wasn't Tsunade in disguise?

You may leave first.

Utatane Koharu rose and dismissed the Anbu ninja.

After he left, she said to the Third Hokage,

"Hiruzen, what has Danzo done this time to make you this angry?"

"What has he done?"

The Third Hokage laughed in rage. "Do you know he's nearly turned the sky upside down?"

"He arranged the assassination of a fellow village ninja, traded village intelligence to Hanzō, and asked Hanzō to kill Jingyi Hyuga. Then Hanzō turned around and sold him out, exposing the whole matter at the border camp in front of dozens of ninjas!"

"Tell me, what exactly has he done?!"

"..."

Assassinating a fellow village ninja and leaking village intelligence were charges that could be either major or minor. If handled lightly, a vague explanation could brush them aside.

But once blown out of proportion, they would be enough to ruin someone completely.

Had these matters been exposed through some other channel, the Third Hokage might still have accepted it.

But Hanzō had come to their doorstep and revealed it before dozens of Konoha ninjas.

The ninjas rotating through the border already felt somewhat unwilling and resentful about having to remain stationed there for long periods. Once Shimura Danzō's affair came to light, many of them would be left bitterly disappointed.

We leave our families behind, can't even spend the New Year at home, brave snowstorms and freezing rain to guard this border camp, patrol and stand watch diligently every day—and we still have to watch out for our own people because they might assassinate us.

Who the hell could stand that?

Although they were not the targets of the assassination, everyone was stationed in the same camp. Putting themselves in the victim's place, anyone would feel chilled to the bone.

They were numb. Completely numb.

Torifu Akimichi helplessly covered his forehead, while Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura stared blankly, unable to believe what they had just heard.

Had Shimura Danzō gone insane?

He had hired an outsider to assassinate a ninja from his own village. If word got out, it would tear people apart.

It would have been one thing if the target were an ordinary person, but was Jingyi Hyuga ordinary?

They did not dare imagine how Tsunade and Mito Uzumaki would react upon learning this news.

"Hiruzen, we must take Danzo into custody. If possible, the border camp needs to sign a gag order."

Utatane Koharu was frantic.

The Third Hokage said with a headache, "Do you think it's possible to impose a gag order?"

Did she think Mito Uzumaki was merely decoration?

Tsunade would turn the Hokage Office Building upside down.

"Sigh. I never expected Danzo to commit something so utterly deranged. We must give the villagers an explanation for this matter."

At this crucial moment, the Third Hokage did not hesitate to abandon Shimura Danzō.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could not let this burden touch him. Not even a little.

It could only all be thrown onto Shimura Danzō.

Mitokado Homura nodded solemnly. "I think Hiruzen is right. From beginning to end, this was caused by Danzo alone. We must take him into custody and give the villagers an explanation."

Before the news spread, they had to apprehend Shimura Danzō as quickly as possible, lock him up, release an announcement, and make preparations in advance.

They could not wait with something like this. Once the news spread and ignited the villagers' anger, it would be hard to contain.

So they had to strike first, seize Shimura Danzō, and make the Hokage Office's stance clear.

"Danzo is yours to deal with. I will send someone to issue an announcement."

The Third Hokage had no desire whatsoever to see Shimura Danzō.

"And Danzo's punishment...?"

This matter could be treated as major or minor, but Hanzō had sold Shimura Danzō out too viciously. The Hokage Office had to step in and punish him severely.

Otherwise, it would break too many hearts.

As for Shimura Danzō's punishment, Utatane Koharu and the other two could not decide on the proper measure.

"Lock him up first. No matter what, Danzo has made many contributions to the village. Though he has made mistakes, he should not receive an excessively severe punishment."

They could not leave Shimura Danzō unpunished, or they would not be able to answer to the villagers. But the severity of his punishment also needed to be controlled.

After all, Shimura Danzō was still useful. The Third Hokage could not simply crush him outright.

After a brief discussion, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Torifu Akimichi brought Anbu personnel to confront Shimura Danzō.

Seeing his small residence surrounded by Anbu, Shimura Danzō realized something was wrong.

Had Mito Uzumaki made her move?

Or had Hanzō failed? Surely that foolish demigod had not failed to kill even a single medical ninja?

"Danzo, your crimes have been exposed. By order of the Hokage, you are to be arrested and detained. I hope you will cooperate."

Neither Utatane Koharu nor Mitokado Homura intended to speak. Left with no choice, Torifu Akimichi could only step forward and play the villain.

"Why?" Shimura Danzō asked calmly.

Torifu Akimichi rubbed his chubby face and cursed in frustration,

"You're still asking why? Monkey is practically dying of anger because of you! Over a minor conflict, you wanted Jingyi Hyuga assassinated? Don't forget that you were the one who went looking for trouble first."

"It would have been one thing if you had done it yourself, but you actually leaked village intelligence and made a deal with Hanzō."

If Shimura Danzō had acted personally, Torifu Akimichi might even have respected him.

But the bastard had not wanted to act himself or show his face, so he had used village intelligence as payment.

And then Hanzō had turned around and sold him out.

Had he failed?

No. Although there were many ninjas at the border camp, they definitely could not stop Hanzō.

Though Shimura Danzō looked down on Hanzō from the bottom of his heart, he had to admit that the man was truly strong—at least far stronger than himself.

Then how had this matter been exposed?

Surely it was not because that cripple Jingyi Hyuga had suddenly displayed divine might and captured Hanzō?

Shimura Danzō was certain that Hanzō would be at his mercy.