Head-on Confrontation
Chi Yu directly confronted Danzo in front of everyone, demanding that Hiruzen Sarutobi revoke Danzo's position as Hokage's Assistant and disband Root.
Hiruzen Sarutobi flatly refused, saying,
"That's impossible. Danzo was merely making an inquiry. Furthermore, I was fully aware of what Danzo was doing during the Nine-Tailed Fox's attack—it was done with my approval."
Chi Yu, now like a powder keg, confronted anyone he disliked and showed no one any respect.
Currently in Konoha, whether in terms of strength or prestige, Chi Yu was not inferior to anyone, not even Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi, though still holding sway as a senior elder, was no longer Hokage. The actual authority was Minato Namikaze. To most ninja and villagers, Hiruzen was nothing more than a retired old man.
The establishment of the Konoha Defense Force had helped Chi Yu earn recognition. It was his efforts that made the villagers feel safer and less fearful of the Uchiha Clan—an accomplishment they credited to him alone.
When Chi Yu stepped down as captain of the Defense Force and Shinsuke Nara succeeded him, many villagers were dissatisfied, believing Chi Yu should have remained in command.
After all, they had suffered under the Uchiha's heavy-handedness for years. Just when they thought they could finally hold their heads high, the one person who had enforced fairness—Chi Yu—was replaced.
Under Shinsuke's leadership, the villagers felt things softened. He was too gentle toward the Uchiha.
When Chi Yu was in charge, if an Uchiha argued with a villager, the Defense Force immediately stepped in and took control. During that period, even the slightest dispute would send the Uchiha retreating, wary of Chi Yu's swift justice.
But after Shinsuke took over, disputes ended with nothing more than a lecture on both sides.
Even Kakashi, Chi Yu's disciple, had performed better when he briefly took command.
The villagers began to miss Chi Yu's rule.
As for strength, there was little to debate: Chi Yu had no equal in Konoha, and even in the wider shinobi world, few could match him.
With such power, there was no longer any need to endure. Endurance was for the weak. Now that he had strength, why should he keep silent?
So Chi Yu turned his sights directly on Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Oh? The Third Hokage says he knew? Then please, tell us—what exactly were Danzo and Root doing during the Nine-Tails' attack? Because I now suspect the Third Hokage is shielding Danzo."
Hiruzen and Danzo's expressions soured as though they had swallowed poison. What had Root been doing? Everyone knew the truth: Root was monitoring the Uchiha Clan instead of defending the village. But such a fact could not be said aloud here.
The Nine-Tails' attack had been Konoha's greatest crisis. The Uchiha Clan, despite mistrust, had mobilized to guard the villagers—but they had not been mobilized by Minato, the Hokage. Instead, Hiruzen, already retired, had issued the order. That itself was irregular.
Chi Yu clearly meant to corner Danzo.
Danzo had singled out Chi Yu earlier, and Hiruzen had allowed it, forcing Chi Yu to "explain." But now, with Chi Yu pressing the issue and Orochimaru himself speaking on Chi Yu's behalf, Hiruzen could no longer shield Danzo outright.
Chi Yu tapped the table with his finger.
"Furthermore… the Third Hokage has already retired. To my knowledge, he holds no official position. So, I would like to ask—in what capacity did he approve Root's actions?"
Utatane Koharu shot back, "Then in what capacity are you questioning Hiruzen? You are merely an ordinary shinobi of Konoha! This is not your place to make demands!"
Chi Yu turned his Mangekyō Sharingan eyes on her.
"In what capacity? As a man who risked his life and made decisive contributions during the Nine-Tails' attack! I alone blocked two enemy intruders who breached our village! When the Fourth Hokage and his wife struggled to restrain the Nine-Tails and maintain the sealing ritual, it was I who subdued the beast long enough for Minato to complete the sealing!
And where were Danzo and Root then? Nowhere! I suspect Danzo leaked the information of Miyuki Uzumaki's childbirth, enabling the enemy to slip past the barrier and unleash the Nine-Tails!
The Third Hokage claims he 'approved' Root's actions. Very well—then let him explain what Root was actually doing that night.
And Advisor Utatane dares to question me? Are you questioning my service? My merits? My sacrifices for Konoha?"
Chi Yu suddenly stood, his Mangekyō Sharingan flaring to life. A crushing pressure filled the conference hall.
He swept his gaze across Hiruzen, Danzo, Koharu, and Homura.
"Are you uniting against me now? Do you fear that I threaten your hold over Konoha? Is that why you push Danzo to provoke me?"
The clan heads around the table froze in shock.
Chi Yu was openly confronting Konoha's elders.
This was unprecedented.
Hiruzen, Danzo, Koharu, and Homura all looked grim. They had not expected Chi Yu to be so unyielding, to challenge them so directly.
Danzo especially had only intended to undermine Chi Yu, but the strategy had backfired spectacularly.
Would Chi Yu even be able to remain in Konoha after this?
Hiruzen was cornered.
This meeting had originally been convened to discuss the succession of the Fifth Hokage. If no successor was chosen, Hiruzen had intended to serve temporarily.
He had not expected Danzo to escalate matters by attacking Chi Yu so openly. But Hiruzen understood Danzo's motive: to stall Chi Yu's momentum and prevent him from becoming Hokage.
And truthfully, Hiruzen had allowed it because he too wanted to check Chi Yu's rise. With Minato unconscious, Chi Yu was the strongest candidate to succeed—but Hiruzen would never hand the title to him.
Chi Yu's fierce independence, his ties to the Uchiha, and his refusal to bend to elder authority all made him unacceptable.
Yet now events had spun beyond his control.
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