Namikaze Minato's worries were about to come true, and with a vengeance.
He had no idea just how awful things were about to get.
Sarutobi Ryo always followed the true Will of Fire.
Senju Tobirama, on the other hand, was all about stirring things up, and his actions made him a real problem.
It wasn't just that Senju Tobirama caused trouble.
He was also a nasty piece of work, without shame.
If Senju Tobirama had never existed, the ninja world would have been a much better place.
If Senju Tobirama hadn't existed, Konoha would have grown into something truly great.
Namikaze Minato knew exactly what Senju Tobirama represented, yet he still brought him back.
The reason for this... was pretty obvious.
When Sarutobi Ryo found out about Senju Tobirama's return, his mind raced.
He knew what he had to do, and he knew it instantly.
Anyone who got in his way, anyone who stopped him from following the true Will of Fire and making Konoha a better place... was his enemy.
Even Namikaze Minato, by doing what he did, had become his enemy.
He was digging his own grave!
Namikaze Minato, having made a huge mistake, quickly left with Senju Tobirama.
Young Master Ryo then dove into Danzo's mind, finding out the truth.
With this crisis looming, he needed to get ready fast.
He didn't know that the crisis was closer than he thought.
---
Crack.
Yamanaka Hui pulled away from Danzo's mind.
After a long and painful mental search, Danzo's brain was a mess.
Yamanaka Hui had put in a lot of effort, but she had also gotten almost all the information she needed.
A person's life is long, filled with memories.
You can't read everything.
But important moments stick with you, leaving a mark on your brain.
Yamanaka Hui's job was to find those key moments, pulling them out one by one.
Shimura Danzo, the great Shimura Danzo, the Darkness of the Ninja World.
After this brutal mind-reading, his eyes were empty, and his brain was clearly damaged.
Now that Sarutobi Ryo knew about Senju Tobirama's return, he didn't care about Danzo anymore.
Senju Tobirama's return meant that Danzo was just a pawn, used and discarded.
"Hui, thank you for your hard work."
Sarutobi Ryo nodded, looking at his childhood friend, who was sweating from the effort.
This investigation had taken a lot out of her.
As for Danzo, he was useless now.
Danzo, as one of the old leaders, had done both good and bad things.
But good deeds don't erase the bad ones.
Danzo's plan to hurt his own people was something Sarutobi Ryo couldn't forgive.
So...
"Give him a dignified death."
Sarutobi Ryo decided to take care of Danzo himself.
Sarutobi Ryo, having seen political games in his past life, knew tricks that others didn't.
He knew exactly how to make Danzo's death look respectable.
After Yamanaka Hui and Uchiha Shisui left, Sarutobi Ryo looked at the Darkness of the Ninja World, whose eyes were dull.
His life of sin was about to end.
Even Danzo probably didn't think that Sarutobi Ryo would act so quickly, ignoring his position.
Sarutobi Ryo wasn't as indecisive as his father, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Ryo never hesitated when he knew what had to be done.
"Danzo, it's time to go."
Sarutobi Ryo said calmly, his eyes cold.
---
The next morning, before the sun came up.
An Anbu member brought news from the prison.
Danzo had killed himself, hanging himself out of fear of punishment.
Danzo was dead in his cell, hanging from a strip of cloth made from his own clothes.
The body swayed gently, a sad end to his life.
By the time the Anbu members found him, Danzo had been dead for a while.
Of course, not everyone believed this story.
Especially Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
They were shocked and knew immediately that this was a political hit.
They were used to doing this to others, and now they were being targeted by someone younger.
As the sun rose, the New Root Leader Orochimaru walked into the meeting room.
Today was the day he would be officially appointed.
Orochimaru, dressed in new clothes, had hair that looked like it was straight out of a shampoo commercial.
He was smiling, full of confidence.
He glanced at Sarutobi Ryo, thinking about Danzo's death.
Sarutobi Ryo was sitting calmly, not showing any emotion.
Danzo, a longtime member of Konoha, had hurt his own people, the truth had come out, he had thought about it all night, and felt so ashamed... so he killed himself. Perfectly normal. Right?
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, sitting in the meeting room, were shaking slightly.
They were angry, and also a little scared.
No matter how they had talked with Senju Tobirama late into the night.
They couldn't stop it, and they didn't expect Sarutobi Ryo to be so ruthless and decisive.
He beat up Danzo mentally one moment, and then killed him the next.
Such ruthlessness was rare.
"Is that so..."
Hatake Sakumo and Sarutobi Hiruzen talked quietly about Danzo's death.
The two generations of Hokage wondered if they should go and see for themselves.
But they decided to deal with Orochimaru's appointment first.
They would go later, in the morning.
After all, Danzo was dead.
While the news was shocking, the living were more important.
Namikaze Minato, when he arrived, looked very serious.
He didn't expect Sarutobi Ryo to act so fast.
This was Lord Danzo, the Darkness of the Ninja World.
He killed him just like that.
The last person who was so quick to act was Uchiha Sasuke, back in his First Loop memories.
But.
Uchiha Sasuke had a personal reason to hate Danzo.
Young Master Ryo only had political disagreements with him.
Danzo's death was a warning sign for Namikaze Minato.
In this strange atmosphere...
Sarutobi Ryo waited for everyone to arrive.
"Now that everyone is here, let's start the appointment meeting."
Sarutobi Ryo looked at everyone.
Tenzō (Yamato) was also there.
He would be Orochimaru's right-hand man, helping Orochimaru with Root's work.
Knowing Orochimaru, he would throw himself into Root completely.
After all, he had no reason to betray Konoha.
Controlling Root would only bring him more power.
Sarutobi Ryo really needed someone to do certain things.
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[T/N:
Latest Chapter translated on Patreon - Chapter 304 (Vol 2 Ch 245) (+91 Chapters Ahead!)
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Today's Chapter releases includes the +2 bonus chapter(s)!
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]