Undercurrents stirred, Shimura Danzō made his move

Two days later, at Root headquarters.

Dozens of fully armed Root members knelt on one knee before Shimura Danzō, their gazes cold.

Shimura Danzō gave a slight nod at the people before him, then rested his hand on his sword hilt and looked toward Konoha Cemetery.

"Uchiha, your good days are over."

"By the way, has Shisui Uchiha returned?"

"Not yet."

"Good. That makes my chances of winning even greater."

The next instant, Shimura Danzō abruptly drew the Longsword at his waist and barked in a low voice.

"Follow the plan. Move out!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

As his voice fell, the dozens of Root members vanished.

Before long, they appeared on streets throughout Konoha, eventually blending into the passing crowds.

Their mission was to coordinate with their comrades who had infiltrated the Anbu years ago, before Hiruzen Sarutobi gained custody of Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

And with the "civilians" who had killed villagers and taken their places on the night two days earlier.

They would strike at all of Hiruzen Sarutobi's subordinates near the cemetery.

Once all of Hiruzen Sarutobi's subordinates were dead, wouldn't custody of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki fall to him, Shimura Danzō?

At that thought, Shimura Danzō held his head high and led several trusted aides toward Konoha Cemetery.

"Hiruzen, here I come."

As Shimura Danzō set out, elsewhere, inside the Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked down at the streets outside the window, took a deep drag on his pipe, and blew out a smoke ring.

Over the past few days, they had reassured the people and rebuilt their homes, while the Uchiha Clan, which managed the Konoha Military Police Force, had patrolled day and night.

The hospital hadn't had a moment's rest either, with demand for doctors and nurses constantly outstripping their numbers.

Still, despite the heavy workload, conditions in Konoha had become much more stable.

"This is the power of the will of fire, supporting us as we rebuild our homes, supporting Konoha as it rises again amid war."

"With this strength, with all of you, Konoha's future will only grow brighter."

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Kakashi and the other Anbu members beside him lowered their heads in silent agreement.

"Kakashi, has Shisui still not returned?"

"According to the reports from the border, he should return within another day at most."

"A day, huh? It seems we can't wait for him."

Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his pipe, then looked toward the cemetery.

Although Shisui's absence was a slight departure from the plan, as long as he still had Kakashi and the others at his side, it wouldn't be much of a problem.

As for Shisui...

With Shisui's Body Flicker Technique, the fact that he still hadn't reached the village made it obvious that Danzo must have had a hand in this.

But holding Shisui back would also require diverting a large portion of Root's forces.

For his bid to gain custody of Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, tonight, that was definitely more beneficial than harmful!

"In that case, let's go. Follow the original plan. If anyone from Root makes any suspicious moves, you may act at your own discretion on the spot."

"Yes, Third Hokage!"

Kakashi answered respectfully, then turned and left with several Anbu members.

Looking at the few Anbu members remaining behind him, Hiruzen Sarutobi calmly opened the door to the Hokage Office.

"Danzo, I hope you don't make a foolish decision. Otherwise, you'll have to take all the blame."

As Shimura Danzō and Hiruzen Sarutobi set out, the heads of Konoha's major clans also departed one after another.

Now, apart from the ninja on duty in the village, every ninja in Konoha.

Jonin, Chunin, and Genin, along with civilians who had volunteered to come, were all gathering at the cemetery.

Because, as the news spread over the past two days, everyone in Konoha had learned.

Their Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had sacrificed his life!

His wife had died alongside him.

The only survivor was their newborn child.

The son of heroes, Naruto!

Grief permeated all of Konoha.

Everyone hated the Nine-Tails with a burning passion, and that emotion reached its peak that night!

Inside the cemetery.

After everyone arrived, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, approached Minato Namikaze's grave with Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the other elders.

His expression grief-stricken, he addressed the crowd in a solemn voice.

"Minato, Kushina, rest in peace. Konoha will see to it that your child grows up healthy and happy."

"Where leaves dance, fire burns eternal. Everyone, it is because we have heroes like the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, inheritors of the will of fire like him, and... that Konoha has endured to this day!"

"Now, everyone, mourn our heroes!"

When Hiruzen Sarutobi finished his address, everyone in the cemetery bowed their heads in silent mourning.

A little later, as everyone raised their heads again, Shimura Danzō, whose eyes had been fixed from the start on Naruto in Uchiha Fugaku's arms.

Finally made his move.

"As you all know, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and his wife sacrificed their lives to seal the Nine-Tails and protect the village."

"Without question, they were great people!"

As soon as Shimura Danzō finished speaking, many of the surrounding ninja and villagers were stirred.

"That's right! The Fourth Hokage was our hero! A hero..."

What was going on?

Seeing the crowd suddenly grow agitated, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in confusion.

According to the plan they had discussed on the way, wasn't Hiruzen supposed to make a proposal to Uchiha Fugaku first?

Why had Danzo already started?

Under Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura's questioning gazes, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head slightly, indicating that he knew nothing either.

Yet a strange glint flashed through his eyes.

At that, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were utterly baffled.

What exactly was going on now?

Danzo, just what are you trying to do!

"That's right! They were heroes. But perhaps you don't know that after the Nine-Tails was sealed, he wasn't actually destroyed."

"He's still here!"

As he said this, the corners of Shimura Danzō's mouth curled slightly upward.

Heh heh heh. Let chaos break loose.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, the Konoha ninja and villagers before him panicked.

Some ninja even drew their weapons, their faces filled with grief and fury.

"What? The Nine-Tails still hasn't been completely destroyed? Where is he? I'll kill him to avenge my parents!"

"What's the rush? If Lord Danzo says that, he must already know where the Nine-Tails is!"

"Lord Danzo, please tell us where that beast is! We want to avenge the Fourth Hokage and Lady Kushina!"

"Revenge! Revenge!"

Seeing that the mood he wanted had finally taken hold, Shimura Danzō ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi's increasingly grim expression.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, he raised his hand and pointed straight at Uchiha Fugaku.

"Right now, he's inside that child in the arms of the Uchiha Clan Head, Uchiha Fugaku!"