Another showdown with the Hokage, fighting for the Byakugan

"Who did the Hokage Building issue this Access Seal to?"

Sasuke raised a hand, stopping the ANBU from putting away the scroll.

Sweat beaded on the ANBU's forehead. "I need to take it back for verification."

Hiashi stepped forward. "The attackers in the Hyuga Clan Compound carried an Access Seal from the Hokage Building. Are you taking it back to verify it, or to destroy it?"

Kakashi took the scroll and expanded the image.

In the footage, Wood Release split the Root captain's bracer, revealing the complete serial number on the Hokage Building's Access Seal.

Shikaku arrived just in time to see it. Instead of entering the courtyard, he pressed his fingers to his brow. "This is serious trouble."

Sasuke looked at him. "Perfect timing, Nara Clan Head. Can we trace the number?"

Shikaku turned to the ANBU. "The Hokage Building's Access Seal registry is in the Internal Affairs Office. Under the regulations, the ANBU, the advisors, and the Hokage Secretariat all have copies."

The ANBU immediately lowered his head. "I'll fetch it."

Sasuke stopped him. "No need. Have the Internal Affairs Office bring the registry out in front of the Hokage Building. We'll check it in public."

Shikaku glanced at Sasuke. "You intend to force the Hokage to come out?"

"If he won't come out, the Hyuga and Uchiha will go in and invite him."

Hiashi did not object.

The procession through Konoha's streets was more intimidating than any of the previous ones.

The Uchiha escorted the surviving Root prisoners, the Hyuga carried the sealed Byakugan records, and the ANBU held the Recording Scroll. The Sound Ninja prisoners were dragged behind them, their chakra sealed. As civilians along the route saw the Snake Corpse, Root masks, and Hokage Building Access Seal, the murmurs grew louder and louder.

"Root again?"

"They attacked the Hyuga Clan this time?"

"Wasn't Orochimaru the Third Hokage's student?"

"What's with the Access Seal? Do foreign enemies need the Hokage Building's written approval to enter the village?"

A crowd had already gathered in front of the Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage stood on the steps without his hat, sunlight deepening the lines on his face.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stood behind him to either side. They wanted to retreat, but the crowd blocked their way.

The Third Hokage spoke. "Hiashi, Sasuke, Orochimaru betrayed the village years ago. His words cannot be treated as conclusive evidence. The Root remnants may also have stolen the Access Seal."

Sasuke raised his hand, and Kakashi projected the Recording Scroll onto the Hokage Building's outer wall.

Orochimaru's figure, the Root death squad member's incomplete Wood Release technique, the Sound Ninja Barrier, the Wind Character Iron Plaque, and the Hokage Building Access Seal appeared one after another.

The villagers' uproar drowned out the voices on the steps.

The Third Hokage raised his hand. "Silence! This matter requires an investigation."

Sasuke pointed at the wall. "Of course it does. Let's start with three questions. After Danzo was stripped of his position, why were Root death squad members still carrying Hokage Building Access Seals to attack the Hyuga? Why was Orochimaru able to coordinate with Root inside Konoha's barrier? And why did the Hokage Building seal Hizashi Hyuga's Byakugan files in the Root Vault?"

The Third Hokage's lips tightened. "These questions cannot be tried in the street."

Hiashi walked up the steps and activated his Byakugan. "My brother's eyes can sit soaking in a vault, but the truth can't be spoken in the street?"

The Hyuga people roared in unison, "Give us the truth!"

The Uchiha also stepped forward.

Mitokado Homura's expression changed. "Are you trying to rebel?"

Fugaku tapped his scabbard against the ground. "Lord Advisor, the rebels are in the footage. Don't be so eager to take the blame for Root."

Utatane Koharu pointed at Sasuke. "He's manipulating the Hyuga and Uchiha! Hiruzen, can't you see that yet?"

Sasuke looked at her. "Advisor Utatane, would you care to explain your approval signature for the Sharingan Preservation Solution in the Root Vault?"

Utatane Koharu immediately fell silent.

Shikaku approached the side of the steps with Inoichi and Choza.

The Third Hokage looked at them. "You intend to stand here too?"

Shikaku did not shy away. "Ino-Shika-Cho supports a public inspection of the Access Seal registry, the release of the Kumogakure incident files, and a public Wanted Poster for Danzo."

Anger simmered in the Third Hokage's eyes. "Danzo has already been removed from office."

"Removing him from office isn't enough." Sasuke produced a document he had prepared earlier. "Shimura Danzō is implicated in a plot to exterminate a clan, misappropriation of military funds, bloodline limit experiments, an attack on the Hyuga, and collusion with the missing-nin Orochimaru. Konoha must issue an S-rank wanted notice for him across the entire Shinobi World, dead or alive."

Someone in the crowd shouted, "Put a bounty on Danzo!"

"Stop protecting him!"

"Root attacked the Hyuga! What are you waiting for?"

The Third Hokage said gravely, "An S-rank wanted notice means Konoha is acknowledging an internal rebellion. It will affect the Daimyo's Residence's trust in the village."

Sasuke held up the Daimyō's Urgent Dispatch. "The Daimyo's Residence's delegation is already on its way. If you put a bounty on Danzo now, Konoha is purging a traitor. If you don't, the envoy will arrive and conclude that the Hokage is protecting one."

Shikaku drove the point home. "Lord Hokage, the longer you delay the Wanted Poster, the harder this will be to explain."

Mitokado Homura hurriedly interjected, "Danzo possesses a great deal of classified information. Putting a bounty on him will force him to defect to another village."

Sasuke looked at him. "He's already been dealing with Orochimaru. Lord Advisor, would you like to pay his travel expenses too?"

The crowd's curses drowned out Mitokado Homura.

The Third Hokage swept his gaze across every face.

The ANBU lowered their heads. The Konoha Military Police Force watched him. The Hyuga had their Byakugan active, the Uchiha's Sharingan spun, and Ino-Shika-Cho stood to one side. No one offered him a way out.

Sasuke handed him the document. "Sign it. State clearly that Shimura Danzō is an S-Rank Missing-nin, wanted throughout the entire Shinobi World. Anyone obstructing his pursuit is to be treated as an accomplice."

The Third Hokage took the pen, his wrist hovering in midair.

Sasuke suddenly spoke. "Lord Hokage, I'm willing to believe you were deceived."

Those words changed the expressions on Mitokado Homura's and Utatane Koharu's faces.

The Third Hokage also looked up at him.

Sasuke continued, "So don't let the entire village think you and Danzo are one and the same."

The crowd below fell silent for a moment. Then someone shouted, "Sign it!"

"Put a bounty on Danzo!"

"Hand over the Kumogakure files!"

The pen in the Third Hokage's hand descended.

When the Hokage's seal was stamped onto the document, the curses below the steps turned to cheers.

Hiashi remained unmoved by the cheering. He pushed another document in front of the Third Hokage. "The Hyuga demand the originals of every file on the Kumogakure incident for reexamination. The names of everyone involved in sealing the files and handing over the Byakugan must be made public."

The Third Hokage looked at him. "Hiashi, Kumogakure will exploit this."

Hiashi said, "Even that would be less grievous than Konoha gouging out my brother's eyes itself."

Shikaku quietly reminded him, "Lord Hokage, issue the access order first. We can establish a joint review to disclose the names."

Sasuke looked at Shikaku. "The joint review must include one representative each from the Hyuga, Uchiha, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, and ANBU. The Hokage Building cannot handle the files alone."

The Third Hokage worked his jaw, but ultimately stamped his seal.

Mitokado Homura could not hold back. "Hiruzen, the Elders' Council Meeting hasn't approved this yet!"

Sasuke turned toward the two advisors. "Then this is the perfect time to discuss the Elders' Council Meeting. Both of you are implicated and must recuse yourselves from the investigation. Remaining in your advisory seats is already a violation of procedure. Next, we'll restructure the Council of Elders and purge every corrupt official connected to Root's finances, bloodline limit experiments, and sealed files."

Utatane Koharu shrieked, "You want to turn Konoha into a Uchiha dictatorship!"

"I want embezzlers in prison, eye thieves to pay with their lives, and anyone blocking the way to get out." Sasuke raised the Wanted Poster in his hand. "If that's a dictatorship, you're the ones who paved the road to it for me."

Hiashi stood beside Sasuke. "The Hyuga support restructuring."

Shikaku sighed. "The Nara support initiating the procedure."

Inoichi looked at the Third Hokage. "The Yamanaka support reading memories to investigate the case."

Choza clenched his fists. "The Akimichi support recovering the misappropriated survivor benefits."

The two advisors' expressions changed completely.

The Third Hokage held the Wanted Poster as though it were a piece of red-hot iron.

Just then, a messenger ninja squeezed through the crowd, holding a Messenger Hawk that was still panting.

"Lord Hokage, the Daimyo's Residence Envoy has accelerated his approach. He's already at the South Gate."

The Third Hokage was about to take the message when the Messenger Hawk broke free of the ninja's arm and dove straight toward Sasuke's feet. The bamboo tube tied to its leg split open, spilling out a bloodstained slip of paper.

A single line was written on it.

"There are Root operatives in the envoy convoy."