Chapter 6: Danzo Shimura's Defection
[Ding!]
[The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is considered the most controversial Hokage!]
[Some say he was the most cowardly Hokage in Konoha's history!]
[Others say he was the greatest leader!]
[Some say he was kind! Others say he was scheming!]
[But without a doubt, he was the most steadfast inheritor of the Will of Fire!]
[If Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't indulged Danzo, there's no doubt he would have been Konoha's greatest leader!]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi mastered all five chakra nature transformations, could use over a thousand jutsu with proficiency, and his summoning and sealing techniques were incredibly powerful!]
[In terms of education within Konoha, he was especially exceptional!]
> "Where the leaves dance, the fire will burn. The fire's light will shine on the village, and new leaves will bud."
"Where the leaves dance, the fire continues to thrive."
[These beliefs gave Konoha a new spiritual and cultural identity, completing its ideological framework and strengthening its foundation, which led to its eventual prosperity!]
[Third Tsuchikage: Hmph! Sounds nice, but wasn't it just a game of good cop, bad cop between him and Danzo?]
[Fourth Raikage: Exactly! White Fang's suicide! Orochimaru's defection! The Fourth Hokage's death! The Uchiha clan massacre! All of it ties back to you, Hiruzen!]
[Uchiha Madara: Massacre?]
[Uchiha Tajima: ?]
[Uchiha Izuna: White-hair? What do you mean?]
[Tobirama Senju: Monkey? Danzo! You two better explain yourselves!]
[Hashirama Senju: Who did it?]
[Uchiha Sasuke: It was Uchiha Itachi!]
[Uchiha Izuna: So you're telling me the Uchiha clan has only two members left now—and one of them is the killer?!]
[Uchiha Madara: Hashirama! I need an explanation!]
[Hashirama Senju: Madara! Don't worry, I'll definitely give you one!]
[Onoki: Lord Hashirama, you can't possibly not know—your Senju clan only has Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, left!]
[Onoki: The Uchiha still outnumber you. Actually, no—there's one and a half more. Don't forget Uchiha Kakashi!]
[Tobirama Senju: ?]
[Buddha Senju: ?]
[Hashirama Senju: ?]
[Kakashi Hatake: ?]
[Sakumo Hatake: ?]
[Tobirama Senju: Monkey! Danzo! What do you have to say?!]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: Sensei, after you passed away, the economic gap between nations widened. Under the banner of equality and fairness, countries launched wars to expand their territory through force!]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: And during the Third Great Ninja War, due to continuous battles, Konoha suffered too many casualties! The Senju clan had no choice but to go to the frontlines!]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: Not just the Senju! Even the Sarutobi clan fought on the frontlines. Now only two of us remain...]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: As for Danzo and his Root unit—I'm not sure about that!]
[Danzo Shimura: Sensei! Root's mission is to protect Konoha's civilians, not to fight on the battlefield!]
[Tobirama Senju: Danzo Shimura! Excellent! Truly impressive! I'll remember this!]
[Tobirama Senju: Tsunade! As the Second Hokage, I order you—effective immediately, Danzo Shimura is stripped of all positions in Konoha! Root will be temporarily overseen by Jiraiya!]
[Tsunade: Understood!]
[Jiraiya: Second Lord, I'm currently investigating something. I'm not suited to oversee Root. I recommend Kakashi Hatake!]
[Kakashi Hatake: Huh?!]
[Tobirama Senju: Good! That's settled then!]
[Danzo Shimura: Sensei! I don't accept this! It's not fair! You'll regret this!]
[Tobirama Senju: Enough! I am the Hokage!]
---
At the Root base:
"Lord Danzo, what should we do?"
A Root ninja asked with head bowed.
Danzo frowned:
"Spread the word. Pack up. We're leaving Konoha immediately."
The ninja panicked:
"Is this… defection?!"
Danzo replied coldly:
"Hmph! Execute the order!"
Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn—
Dozens of figures fled swiftly toward the outskirts of Konoha!
What they didn't know was… a shadow had been quietly tailing them from behind.
---
Inside the Hokage's office:
"Tsunade-sama! Danzo Shimura is missing!"
"A dozen Root ninjas are also gone!"
An ANBU reported, kneeling.
Tsunade's expression turned serious:
"Understood!"
[Tsunade: Grandpa Tobirama! Old man Hiruzen! Danzo Shimura led Root and defected!]
[Tobirama Senju: Leave him for now. Once the rankings are over, we'll discuss internally.]
[Kakuzu: Do we know Danzo Shimura's location?]
[Tsunade: What do you mean?]
[Kakuzu: His head is worth fifty million ryo.]
[Uchiha Itachi: Kakuzu, need a partner? I'll go for free.]
[Kakuzu: Looks like Itachi-san has a personal grudge.]
[Nagato: Deidara! You're going too!]
[Deidara: Who are you to order me around?!]
[Konan: He's our leader!]
[Jiraiya: Nagato! So you're the leader of the Akatsuki now?! What's going on?!]
[Nagato: Jiraiya-sensei, no comment.]
[Konan: Jiraiya-sensei! Yahiko's death is directly linked to Danzo Shimura!]
[Jiraiya: Where are you?!]
[Nagato: Jiraiya-sensei! I will never forget Yahiko's dream! This time, I'll realize peace in my own way!]
[Yahiko: Nagato! Protect Konan!]
[Nagato: I will! Unless I die first!]
---
[Ding!]
[Video of the 20th strongest in the Ninja World has ended!]
[Now entering Q&A phase.]
[Each character will face a question!]
[Each question will be answered by three people!]
[Correct answers earn rewards!]
[Wrong answers come with punishment!]
[Rewards include jutsu, kekkei genkai, kekkei tōta, kekkei mōra, chakra increases, even resurrection!]
[Punishments… are classified.]
[Uchiha Madara: Resurrection?!]
[Minato Namikaze: Resurrection!]
[Onoki: Resurrection!]
[Kakashi Hatake: Resurrection!]
[Everyone in the Ninja World: Resurrection!]