Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi pressed his hands to his temples, feeling a terrible headache.
A figure rushed in.
"Sun Slash".
Danzo's face was full of anger.
"I told you long ago that I would handle the Uchiha matter, but you just wouldn't listen. Now look at what has happened!"
"The Uchiha have rebelled!"
"The number of casualties among my Shimura clan has reached several hundred."
"Your Sarutobi clan has also suffered considerable casualties."
"There are also many ordinary ninjas."
"This is just the current loss. Think carefully about what Iwagakure and Kumogakure will do. Perhaps Kirigakure and Sunagakure will also attack Konoha."
"Tobirama-sensei passed the Hokage position to you, not so that you would govern the village like this."
Danzo seized the opportunity and began to reprimand Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Firstly, Danzo was indeed extremely angry this time.
The Shimura family suffered a great loss.
Secondly, such opportunities are rare.
"Leave the task of hunting down the Uchiha to me. I will make sure to kill them all, one by one."
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent.
Two more figures entered.
It was Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
"Hiruzen, have you compiled a list of what's going on in the village?"
"Hiruzen, what should we do next?"
The two, one in front and one behind, questioned Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Just then, an ANBU ninja walked in.
"Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi is the one who truly rises to the occasion.
"How is the situation?"
"Reporting to the Hokage, it has been compiled. This is the list of casualties. The list of property losses will have to wait a while longer."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took it, and upon seeing the numbers on it, his already unpleasant expression turned even more grim.
This internal strife has caused immense damage to Konoha.
Moreover, as Danzo said, this is only the beginning, and the subsequent losses will be even greater.
What should we do next in the war with Iwagakure?
Will the Hidden Cloud Village attack Konoha again?
Will Kirigakure take this opportunity to launch a surprise attack?
Just thinking about these problems gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a headache.
The ANBU ninja produced another report.
"Lord Hokage, the details of the Uchiha civil war have also been investigated."
Immediately, the four members of Hiruzen Sarutobi all turned their gazes in that direction.
An ANBU ninja said, "According to our investigation, after the appearance of the Cloud Village ninja's will, there was indeed a great deal of dissatisfaction with the village within the Uchiha clan."
"However, Uchiha Sangoku managed to control it."
"Most Uchiha are willing to believe that Uchiha Yamagata will investigate the matter thoroughly, but only a very small number of Uchiha remain resentful, just like Uchiha Tong."
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned.
"If that's the case, why did the Uchiha clan rebel?"
"I did not punish Uchiha Tong for his actions in front of the Hokage Building. I simply had Uchiha Yamagata take him back to the Uchiha compound."
The ANBU ninja glanced at Danzo.
"Lord Hokage, the problem lies with this Uchiha Tong."
"After Uchiha was brought back to the Uchiha camp, he was killed that very night. The entire house was set on fire, and thick flames rose up, almost burning it to ashes."
"The nearby Uchiha heard the commotion and, after extinguishing the flames, saw Uchiha Tong's corpse."
"Under Uchiha Tong's corpse, there were four bloody characters written."
"Save the Uchiha."
"And what killed Uchiha Tong was the Wind Release: Vacuum Wave ninjutsu, and it must have been used by a ninja who had a very good grasp of Wind Release."
As soon as the ANBU ninja finished speaking, the gazes of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two turned to Danzo.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at Danzo.
Now, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally understood.
Why did things still change even though I handled it very well and Uchiha Yamagata was very cooperative?
Hiruzen Sarutobi understood why the Uchiha clan was still using the slogan of killing Danzo Shimura.
They also intend to attack the Shimura clan.
"Smack!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and slammed his hand hard on the table.
"Danzo, so it was you who did all this!"
Danzo panicked.
"It wasn't me!"
"If it's not you, then who else could it be?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned him sharply.
"If it wasn't you, who else could use the Wind Release: Vacuum Wave Technique so skillfully? If it wasn't you, who else could have infiltrated the Uchiha compound so silently and killed the Uchiha clan?"
"If it wasn't you, who else would do such a thing?"
"Who else would dare to do such a thing?"
"It's only you!"
"Danzo, I'm so disappointed in you!"
Danzo was so angry that he was trembling all over.
"I told you, it wasn't me."
However, Danzo knew that his rebuttal was extremely weak.
No one present believed him.
Even that ANBU ninja.
Danzo knew he had been framed, but the problem was that all the clues and all the evidence pointed to him, and there was no other suspect besides himself.
The blame was unfairly placed on his own head.
No matter how I explain, it's no use.
Because this is indeed my own way of doing things, and something I'm capable of doing.
But I wouldn't do it so carelessly, and I wouldn't leave so much evidence.
Danzo racked his brains, trying to figure out who could have framed him.
Finally, Danzo thought of a possibility.
"Hiruzen, this is a ruse by the Uchiha. They want to rebel, so they used this opportunity to persuade other members of the Uchiha clan by killing Hiruzen."
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.
"At this point, Danzo is still shirking responsibility."
"Do you know how many people the Uchiha clan lost this time? Do you know what kind of situation the Uchiha will face after this rebellion?"
Do you think they're all fools?
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned serious.
"Danzo, I believe that in your current state, you are no longer suitable to continue leading Root. From today onwards, Root will be taken over by the Anbu. You should not get involved in village affairs for now."
"The Shimura clan needs you more now."
Danzo's face darkened.
"Hiruzen, you can't do this to me."
"Danzo, I have made up my mind."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "What you did caused such great losses to the village. I haven't even formally held you accountable yet, so don't push me. This time I'm serious."
Xiaochun, who was switching dorms, offered a word of advice from the side.
"Danzo, the Shimura clan really needs you right now."
Mitokado also said.
"Danzo, listen to Hiruzen, take a break for a while."
Danzo lowered his head and stopped arguing.
"Lord Hokage, I understand. I will hand over Root."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
Just then, a voice rang out at the door.
"Lord Hokage, Fugaku Uchiha requests an audience."
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