"No, no, not me, not me!!" Shimura Egawa roared, his voice raw with desperation. He whipped his head around, fixing Danzō with a furious glare. A flame of pure hatred burned fiercely in his eyes. Danzō… Since you are heartless, then don't blame me for being unjust!
"You—"
"Ugh!" Shimura Danzō abruptly let out a deep sigh, shaking his head at Shimura Egawa with a look of profound pity. He cut him off before Egawa could speak further. "Elder, I am truly saddened! Your grandson, Shimura Shimokawa, if he knew what you did, how would he ever hold his head up in the Shimura clan? How would he be viewed by the people of Konoha?!"
"What?" Shimura Egawa was visibly startled.
Danzō continued, his voice laced with feigned sorrow. "Shimokawa fell asleep at my house today. How can you explain this to him when I ask him to go back?!"
Shimura Egawa stood rooted to the spot as if struck by lightning. Shimokawa… Shimokawa… Why is his grandson, Shimura Shimokawa, at Danzō's house at this very moment??? Shimura Shimokawa is actually in Danzō's hands! He… he actually kidnapped my grandson! He kidnapped my grandson just to threaten me at this time!
The realization struck Shimura Egawa like a physical blow. In an instant, his eyes turned bloodshot, his vision blurring with rage.
"Great Elder, Great Elder, why did you steal the Scroll of Seals? What was your intention?!" Danzō pressed on relentlessly. "The street in the northwest of the village—a powerful chakra erupted there just now, and the entire street has turned into a sea of fire! You didn't do this too, did you?!" He pointedly continued, "By the way, what about your son?! Why didn't your son come with you?!"
Before Shimura Egawa could even react, Shimura Danzō had already turned to face Sarutobi Hiruzen, asking directly, "Sarutobi, the Anbu who went to the Elder's house just now, did they see his son, Shimura Yōkawa?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes flickered. He didn't know what game Danzō was playing, but since Danzō asked, Hiruzen still turned to question the Anbu ninja beside him. He did not explicitly name Shimura Egawa's son, Shimura Yōkawa, but rather asked if they had seen anyone else at Shimura Egawa's residence.
The Anbu ninja answered truthfully: "Report to Hokage-sama, when we apprehended Shimura Egawa, he was the only one at home."
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, then turned his sharp gaze back to Shimura Egawa. "Shimura Egawa, where is your son?!"
Shimura Egawa was stunned. No, no way?!
At that moment, Danzō grew even more agitated, seizing the opportunity to shed all guilt. He pointed dramatically at Shimura Egawa and declared loudly, "Elder, Konoha Commercial Street… you didn't send Shimura Yōkawa there, did you?!" He paused, shaking his head with mock despair. "Oh, Great Elder, you are truly confused!"
Shimura Danzō dramatically thumped his chest. "Northwest Street… burned down! Why on earth did you ask Shimura Yōkawa to destroy Northwest Street?! Did you want to divert attention from stealing the Scroll of Seals and distract the Anbu team? Or did you lose money at the casino and want revenge? No matter what, you cannot attack the village like this!"
Shimura Danzō's performance of sorrow was impeccable.
Shimura Egawa… he understood. He got it! His grandson was in Danzō's hands, kidnapped by Danzō… And his own son… died on Northwest Street!
The shocking revelations came one after another, pummeling Shimura Egawa until he was utterly drained and pale. He stumbled, collapsing to the ground.
"You, you, you…" He pointed a trembling finger at Shimura Danzō, struggling to speak.
"Elder, are you still obsessed?!" Shimura Danzō continued his relentless assault. "Do you have to wait until the evidence is undeniably confirmed before giving up?! You are the Great Elder of our Shimura family! Even if you don't want to confess your guilt as soon as possible to save face for the Shimura family, you should at least save some respect for your grandson, Shimura Shimokawa!!"
"I, I, I…" Shimura Egawa gasped, stammering, unable to form a coherent sentence. Even breathing seemed an immense struggle for him now.
Finally, the light in his eyes flickered, extinguished like a snuffed candle.
"Lord Hokage, I plead guilty…"
"It's me…"
"It's me, I did everything…"
"I sent someone to steal the Scroll of Seals, and I also sent people to the commercial street…"
"The casinos on Northwest Street cost me a lot of money. I've long despised them. Taking this opportunity to cause chaos in the street would, first, disperse Anbu's forces and better allow me to obtain the Scroll of Seals… Second, it would eliminate those gambling casinos."
"I did it all."
"I did it all…"
"I plead guilty…"
As he spoke, Shimura Egawa's voice grew fainter and fainter, his face becoming ashen.
"Come on, take him!" Sarutobi Hiruzen, his face grim, ordered the Anbu ninjas beside him.
"Yes!"
Immediately, two Anbu ninjas, both possessing elite Jōnin strength, moved in. One on each side, they seized Shimura Egawa from the ground and bound him securely with ropes.
"Take him to the prison, then await a decision on his fate!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
With the order received, the two Anbu ninjas turned and departed for the prison.
"Sarutobi, Sarutobi!!"
Even as the matter seemed concluded, before the final judgment was passed, Shimura Danzō called out, stopping Hiruzen Sarutobi. With a dull thud, Shimura Danzō dropped to one knee, a look of profound grief etched onto his face as he saluted Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Third Hokage-sama!" Danzō's voice trembled with feigned emotion. "Although Shimura Egawa has made a grave mistake, he is, after all, the Great Elder of our Shimura clan… Please, Lord Hokage, for the sake of the Shimura family's unwavering loyalty and sacrifice to Konoha over the years, spare Shimura Egawa's life!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, studying the man kneeling before him. He slowly enunciated his name: "Danzō! Shimura! Danzō!" As Hokage, he wouldn't allow anyone to hold a privilege that defied the law! The arrogant and domineering Uchiha clan… they had perished. He could no longer sit back and watch another family rise to challenge his authority, especially under his watch and under his protection!
Danzō remained on his knees, steadfast in his plea. "I do not ask Hokage-sama to spare Shimura Egawa from punishment. You can imprison him for life; I only ask, Hokage-sama, that you spare the Elder's death, considering the Shimura family's contributions to Konoha over the years!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not agree. "Alright, I'm tired. All of you, leave." He simply gestured, dismissing the Anbu, then turned his back, ignoring everyone.
Outside the Hokage's office building, Tsunade led the Anbu ninjas, who were escorting Shimura Egawa towards Konoha Prison.
At this time, Shimura Danzō let out a slow, controlled breath. Hmph… Finally. Is it finally over? This time, Sarutobi Hiruzen's suspicion of him should be significantly lower. Asking Sarutobi Hiruzen for mercy, begging him to spare Shimura Egawa's life… that was certainly not what Shimura Danzō truly desired. Shimura Egawa knew what he had done; he possessed evidence of Danzō's crimes… The person who wanted Shimura Egawa dead the most was Danzō himself! The reason for his fervent plea… was to reduce Sarutobi's suspicion of him! The clan elder committed a crime… the patriarch begged for mercy… this is the most normal reaction of a clan patriarch! This maneuver not only reduced his own suspicion but also subtly conveyed his attitude to Shimura Egawa, appeasing Egawa's emotions. Shimura Egawa's only remaining blood relative was in Shimura Danzō's hands. Coupled with Danzō's apparent plea for his life, Shimura Egawa… had no reason to betray him again.
Phew… This was truly dangerous.That boy, Ren… making both of my plans fail. Damn him! A stern, murderous look hardened Danzō's eyes. He naturally wouldn't let Ren go.
And just as Danzō began to plan a good rest and how to deal with the trouble Ren presented, a sudden, ominous glow appeared in the opposite direction. Soaring flames, a raging inferno mingled with thick black smoke, constantly shot high into the night sky. Shimura Danzō paused, stunned for a second. Then, a chilling realization struck him.
Not good!
The source of the fire… it was the direction of their Shimura clan compound!