Chapter 31: Shimura Danzo: It's Over!

Buzz—!

A massive swarm of Kikaichu took flight and lunged toward the Root ninja who were restraining the children of the Aburame Clan.

Aburame Shibi, whose presence was extremely faint but whose strength was formidable, was the first to make a move!

He was dissatisfied with Shimura Danzo forcibly conscripting the clan's children and had followed silently, but seeing his own children being treated roughly, the dissatisfaction in his heart was on the verge of exploding.

When Yamanaka Chujiu analyzed that Shimura Danzo was faking the Hokage's orders, Aburame Shibi could no longer hold back and launched an attack directly.

Aburame Shibi was one of the strongest Jonin in Konohagakure and one of the few ninjas who still maintained an undefeated record to this day.

Aburame Shibi was the first to launch an attack because he was certain that attacking the Root ninja now would not make the Third Hokage feel betrayed.

On the contrary, as long as he did not attack Shimura Danzo directly, no matter how many Root ninja he killed, the Third Hokage would not only not be angry, but would instead trust the Aburame Clan even more.

Because Shimura Danzo was inevitably faking the Hokage's orders, using Sarutobi Hiruzen's name to poach people and gain benefits for Root.

Well, the benefits all went to Shimura Danzo, while the blame was pinned on the Third Hokage.

No matter how good-tempered Sarutobi Hiruzen was, he could not endure this.

After Aburame Shibi resolutely launched his attack, Yamanaka Inoichi also reacted quickly, directing his clansmen to surround the Root ninja, protecting all the children behind them, while he himself stood directly in front of Shimura Danzo.

He asked with a serious expression: "Elder Danzo, please produce the Hokage's written order!"

Shimura Danzo narrowed his eyes: "Inoichi, you have no qualification to demand an order from me!"

"I do!" Yamanaka Inoichi said loudly: "I am the head of the Konohagakure Intelligence Department, and also an executive ninja of the Supervisory Department!"

"One of my duties is to verify the orders of the Hokage! And to supervise the execution of those orders!"

"Elder Shimura Danzo, please produce the Hokage's order! Or release all the children immediately, and then leave!"

"Otherwise, I will have no choice but to issue an emergency alert signal to the Anbu."

Shimura Danzo actually had no ability to adapt to changes; from the moment Yamanaka Chujiu jumped out to question him, his mind had been a blank.

Just like when he joined Hanzo to surround and kill the Akatsuki organization years ago, the sudden appearance of the Gedo Mazo was unexpected, and Shimura Danzo had absolutely no idea how to respond.

As a result, he subconsciously abandoned his subordinates and Hanzo, and slipped away back to Konohagakure.

From this, it can be seen that Shimura Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen are indeed worthy of being old classmates and inseparable confidants; they both have the personality of taking a step back when encountering trouble.

The situation before him was exactly an uncontrollable state, and Shimura Danzo instinctively wanted to retreat, saying huffily: "Yamanaka Inoichi, you are too rude!"

"I will tell Sarutobi Hiruzen that your Yamanaka Clan does not follow his orders and refuses to let your own clansmen fight for Konoha!"

Yamanaka Inoichi said calmly: "Elder Shimura Danzo, produce the Hokage's order before pinning such a crime on me."

"If you cannot produce it, then it is you who are faking the Hokage's orders, and you who are usurping the Hokage's authority!"

Shimura Danzo knew he could no longer intimidate Yamanaka Inoichi, so he made up his mind to retreat; as long as he wasn't caught red-handed by Sarutobi Hiruzen, he had plenty of ways to quibble.

So he feigned anger and flicked his sleeve: "Nonsense! I am the Hokage Assistant, I am a Konoha Elder, and everything I do is for Konohagakure!"

"It is not your place, a mere Intelligence Department head, to question me!"

"Yamanaka Inoichi, just wait for Sarutobi Hiruzen's accountability!"

"Root ninja, let's go!"

Shimura Danzo walked out seven or eight steps, only to suddenly discover that something was wrong; the Root ninja he had brought were not following him at all.

Looking closely, it turned out that the Root ninja had been controlled by different secret techniques.

The Nara Clan's Shadow Possession Jutsu, the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Transfer Jutsu, and the Aburame Clan's Kikaichu Jutsu had deprived the Root ninja of their ability to act through different means.

Shimura Danzo was furious: "You actually dare to attack Konoha ninja; are you trying to betray the village?"

As a puff of white smoke dissipated, Nara Shikaku, who had performed the Body Flicker Technique, appeared on the scene and said lazily: "Elder Shimura Danzo, your accusation is too severe."

"We are executing the Hokage's orders, the orders of the Third Hokage, Lord Sarutobi Hiruzen!"

Before the words had even faded, a tall and sturdy figure appeared; it was Akimichi Torifu, who had stood firm against the Nine-Tails ten days ago.

And standing beside Akimichi Torifu, wearing a conical hat with a gloomy expression, was the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Seeing the chaotic scene, with his core supporters—Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, and Aburame—confronting the Root ninja, and Shimura Danzo confronting the three clan heads.

Plus the twenty or so Yamanaka and Aburame children crying, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt as if his head were about to explode.

These are all my own people, for heaven's sake!

No matter who wins or loses, it is a loss for him, Sarutobi Hiruzen; are they trying to undermine him?

Thinking back to how he had humbled himself to beg Uchiha Fugaku for support, losing all his dignity, while Shimura Danzo was undermining his own foundation.

Sarutobi Hiruzen became even angrier!

Shimura Danzo saw his old classmate and understood that the situation was bad!

Especially since Sarutobi Hiruzen had been called over by Akimichi Torifu, the situation was even worse.

Shimura Danzo could neither argue forcefully, nor use his status to suppress others, nor even resort to sophistry when arguing with Akimichi Torifu.

Akimichi Torifu was their old classmate who had voluntarily faded from the center of power many years ago, staying quietly at home, only to stand out at critical moments.

Not long ago, in order to protect Konohagakure, he had fought hard against the Nine-Tails without taking a single step back.

Akimichi Torifu's lack of desire and his bravery were far more trusted by Sarutobi Hiruzen than Shimura Danzo.

Sarutobi Hiruzen suppressed his anger and asked seriously: "What exactly is going on?"

Shimura Danzo's eyes flashed; he intended to ignore Akimichi Torifu and suppress Yamanaka Inoichi first by accusing the victim first.

At this very instant, Yamanaka Chujiu precisely captured his thoughts.

A thin thread of evil intent silently coiled around him, instantly piercing his mental defenses and exerting a small influence on him.

【Let me see if Hiruzen will believe the words of the Ino-Shika-Cho!】

This was indeed Shimura Danzo's own thought, only it was usually suppressed deep in his heart by his reason.

Under Yamanaka Chujiu's influence, this ill-timed thought expanded, replacing the original intention to muddy the waters, and changed the judgment of the "Darkness of the Ninja."

The moment he finished controlling his mind, Yamanaka Chujiu did not wait for Nara Shikaku or Yamanaka Inoichi to speak, but took a step forward himself, attracting Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze.

His older brother Yamanaka Inoichi and Nara Shikaku were quite young, but he knew well that both of them bore the heavy burdens of their clans and inevitably had the flaw of being overly cautious and indecisive.

This is an excellent quality for a clan head, but at this critical moment, one cannot count on the two of them to react in time.

Thus, Yamanaka Chujiu jumped out and wailed, "Lord Third Hokage!"