Cursing Danzo: An Old Man Who Should Have Died Long Ago!

"Kagami Uchiha of the Uchiha Clan was a direct disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. He died fighting for Konoha in the Second Shinobi World War. They couldn't even recover his whole body."

"My father, Uchiha Fugaku, led our clan's ninja on the front lines during the Nine-Tails' Attack. He had more scars than any ninja I've ever seen."

Sahiro's voice remained calm, as though he were recounting something that had nothing to do with him.

But everyone in the office held their breath.

What lay buried beneath that calm was more frightening than any roar.

"Elder Danzo." Sahiro raised his head and looked straight into Danzo's one eye. "You just said that Uchiha who hide their strength harbor ambitions to overthrow Konoha. Then let me ask you this!"

"What happens to Uchiha who don't hide their strength?"

The office was so quiet they could have heard dust settle.

Kakashi's hands had clenched without him realizing it, as if he were ready to strike at any moment.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura both looked away. The Third Hokage's pipe hung motionless in midair; he had even forgotten to exhale.

Sahiro's voice finally rose.

"My father never hid his strength. He was captain of the Konoha Military Police Force and served the village openly for more than a decade. And what happened to him?"

"The Uchiha Clan never hid its strength. They fought to the death during the Nine-Tails' Attack and protected countless civilians. And what happened to them?"

"Hundreds of my clansmen, from elders leaning on canes to babies still in swaddling clothes, were slaughtered in a single night. And what happened to them?!"

He spun toward Danzo and pointed at him, his voice finally edged with anger he could no longer suppress.

"Today, this esteemed elder stands here pointing at the last survivor of the Uchiha and saying: you hid your strength, so you have ambitions, so you must die!"

"By your logic," Sahiro said with a cold laugh, "would the Uchiha Clan only have been loyal to Konoha once every last one of us was dead?"

"How dare you!"

Danzo slammed his cane against the floor, cracking the marble.

"Sahiro Uchiha! Are you questioning the Konoha High Command's decision on how to deal with the Uchiha Clan? There was irrefutable evidence that the clan intended to stage a coup!"

"Whose evidence?"

Sahiro cut him off, his voice cold as ice.

"You say the Uchiha Clan was planning a coup. Who saw it? Who testified? Apart from you and those Root members who are now dead, who else can produce evidence?"

"If you try to kill me, I can fight back!"

"But I won't let you use a slander against my entire clan to crush me. I, Sahiro Uchiha, reject it."

A low growl rose in Danzo's throat. Murderous intent churned in his one eye, nearly spilling over.

He was Shimura Danzō. For decades, he had wielded power throughout Konoha; even the Third Hokage gave him leeway. When had some Genin brat ever cursed him to his face?

"Sahiro Uchiha!" Danzo's voice rose at last. "Do you realize that, for what you just said, I could execute you here and now for treason?"

"Then do it!"

Sahiro flung his arms wide. The anger pent up inside him for five years finally erupted.

"You didn't manage to kill me yourself five years ago. Do it here today, in front of the Third Hokage, the Two Advisors, and Kakashi! Go on!"

"Come on! Use that right arm of yours, the one packed with Sharingan, and kill me, Sahiro Uchiha, right here! Just like you did to the Uchiha Clan five years ago!"

"Sahiro!"

The Third Hokage's voice turned stern. He slammed a palm on his desk, making the teacup jump.

But Sahiro did not stop.

He stared at Danzo and spoke, word by word, the words he had held inside for five whole years.

"Danzo, you old cur."

"You claim to protect Konoha, but you kill your own people more readily than you kill the enemy."

"During the Nine-Tails' Attack, you kept the Uchiha Clan from going to the front lines and got the Fourth Hokage and his wife killed!"

"On the night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall, you forced my brother to slaughter our entire clan with his own hands. You made him bear the name of Rogue Ninja and flee far from home. I haven't even settled that score with you."

"And now you send Root ninja to assassinate me. I kill them in self-defense, and you come running to the Hokage to complain, accusing me of premeditated murder?"

Sahiro laughed, the sound heavy with bitter scorn.

"Danzo, I've got four words for you: too old to die!"

"You've lived long enough. Konoha has lost more talented ninja because of you than enemies you've killed."

"Hiruzen!!!"

Danzo wheeled toward the Third Hokage, his one eye blazing.

"Did you hear that? Those are the words of a Rogue Ninja! An open insult to the Konoha High Command! I—"

"Enough."

This time, there was no yielding in the Third Hokage's voice.

He stepped out from behind his desk and stood between Danzo and Sahiro. His aged figure looked like a dam on the verge of breaking, but it held.

"Danzo. Last night, you mobilized Root without authorization and sent them to kill a fellow Konoha ninja inside the village. I haven't called you to account for that yet."

"You came here today with a complaint, and I heard you out. Now Sahiro has told his side, and I've heard him out too."

"My conclusion is that Sahiro Uchiha acted in self-defense. He will face no charges."

"Hiruzen!!"

"That is my decision."

The Third Hokage turned to Danzo. For the first time, unmistakable resolve showed in his clouded eyes.

"If you object, you can call an Elders' Council Meeting. Until then, your Root is not to come anywhere near Team 7. That is the Hokage's Decree, not a suggestion."

Danzo stood where he was, his knuckles whitening around his cane. His whole presence was as dark as a storm cloud about to burst.

At last, he turned away. His cane struck the floor louder than ever.

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this one day!"

At that very moment, in a dark corner no one had noticed, a pallid figure clung silently to the rock wall, half his body melting into shadow.

White Zetsu watched everything unfold without blinking. Only after he was certain he had caught every detail did he slowly sink into the earth beneath his feet.