Chapter 70: Uchiha Ikeizumi's Mangekyo
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt he finally understood what Ikeizumi intended to do.
Being put on the spot, his face turned livid.
Uchiha Ikeizumi, Shimura Danzō, Uchiha clan ninja, Hyūga clan, ANBU ninja… Facing the gazes of these various people, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mood was abysmal.
His initial proposed solution was—publicly dismiss Danzō from his position, make Danzō lose face, and make him rein in his actions in the future, preventing further trouble.
If this were in private, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt he could achieve this solution.
However.
Under the watchful eyes of so many, at this very moment of being put on the spot, merely dismissing Danzō's position was no longer enough to settle things!
....
Sticking to his guns would only severely damage his reputation as Hokage.
It would also cause the bloodline limit ninja clans within Konoha to become alienated from him, the Third Hokage. After all, some of Danzō's actions had already touched the bottom line of these bloodline limit ninja clans.
In a fleeting moment, thousands of thoughts flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.
"Hoo…"
He looked deeply at Uchiha Ikeizumi, took a deep breath, and solemnly broke the eerie silence: "Shimura Danzō is suspected of repeatedly framing village ninja, suspected of stealing the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit, and privately researching Wood Release cells, resulting in the deaths of numerous infants… Today, this old man will not only dismiss him from his position as Root leader!"
As Danzō's eyes widened, Hiruzen Sarutobi clenched his fist, then released it. He said coldly: "Furthermore, in addition to these multiple crimes, Shimura Danzō will be sentenced to life imprisonment! At the same time, all illicit gains of the Shimura clan over the years will be confiscated!"
"From this day forward, Shimura Danzō will no longer hold any position within Konoha Village, nor will he enjoy any freedom! Ikeizumi, this is this old man's answer to your ['Absolute Justice']."
Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored Danzō's incredulous glares of fury.
He stood before Uchiha Ikeizumi, confronting the young Uchiha.
"Ikeizumi, I hope you can understand this old man's difficulties," Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a low, earnest voice: "Danzō is the Root of Konoha; his death would cause many in the village to feel disheartened."
Hiruzen Sarutobi lowered his stance; he felt he had already backed down.
Tonight… this young man had won.
He was helpless.
"Third Hokage." Uchiha Ikeizumi stared into Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, his own eyes gradually revealing killing intent as he slowly said: "The innocent souls directly or indirectly killed by Shimura Danzō will also feel disheartened. Justice is already late; do you still want to prevent its delayed judgment?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi gritted his teeth: "Ikeizumi, don't be too aggressive! This old man has his considerations as Hokage; you only care about your justice, while this old man needs to consider the entirety of Konoha."
Suddenly, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a scorching wave of hot air rush towards him.
His eyelid twitched.
He saw one of Uchiha Ikeizumi's arms dripping with magma!
Instantly!
Large numbers of ANBU ninja immediately surrounded Uchiha Ikeizumi and Hiruzen Sarutobi, while some of them blocked the Uchiha clan's Police Force.
The scene once again became tense, and a palpable tension spread, making everyone present tighten their expressions.
This time, it wasn't a standoff between Uchiha Ikeizumi and Shimura Danzō.
It was a conflict between him and the Third Hokage!
"Ikeizumi!" Fugaku pulled back an Uchiha Police Force member who was about to rush forward. He squeezed into the ANBU ninja's encirclement alone, walked up to Hiruzen Sarutobi with a stern face, and said to Uchiha Ikeizumi: "You need to think carefully about what you're doing! I know you're upholding justice, but if you clash with the Hokage, you'll be betraying Konoha!"
Fugaku was actually startled by Uchiha Ikeizumi's sudden burst of killing intent.
More than anyone, he worried about any Uchiha clashing with the Hokage in combat.
For the Uchiha clan's safety, I'm sorry, Ikeizumi.
Tonight…
I can only stand with the Hokage.
Fugaku took a deep breath, his gaze hardening. He immediately warned the restless Uchiha Police Force members on the periphery: "Without my command! No one is allowed to act recklessly!"
He knew that his behavior, acting as clan head but siding with outsiders, would also cause resentment among his clan members.
But, someone had to bear the pressure of maintaining the Uchiha's future.
Itachi, for Konoha, was willing to do such a thing.
Willing to bear the endless condemnation from all of Konoha.
And he, as Itachi's father, merely for the Uchiha clan, merely facing the criticisms of his clan members…
It was already so much easier than Itachi.
...
"Clan Head Fugaku… what is he doing? Senior Ikeizumi is clearly in the right; is judging a thoroughly evil Shimura Danzō, executing absolute justice, truly a wrong thing to do?"
Izumi was utterly bewildered.
She had thought that when Clan Head Fugaku arrived at the scene of the conflict, even if he didn't openly support Senior Ikeizumi, he would at least not side with evil, not stand in opposition to Senior Ikeizumi, right?
But things didn't go as wished.
Izumi found she couldn't understand Uchiha Fugaku's family's mindset, nor the Hokage's mindset!
They were all crazy!
"Lord Ikeizumi's assessment of Coward-Eyed Fugaku has been correct from the beginning to the end."
Kijirō squatted on Izumi's shoulder, his cat face filled with disdain: "Lord Ikeizumi once said Coward-Eyed Fugaku has the Mangekyo Sharingan. In my opinion, giving him such power is a waste, meow."
"Meow, rookie, these guys are all enemies of ['Justice']," Kijirō said earnestly: "You must have realized how difficult it is for Lord Ikeizumi to execute absolute justice in Konoha, right?"
"The entire Konoha is a nest of vermin obstructing justice. With them present, this ninja world will never get better. That's why Lord Ikeizumi said, 'The ninja world must be purged one day.'"
....
"Heh, things are getting interesting again, what an ugly sight."
In Uchiha Obito's vision, at the very center of the crowd, stood Uchiha Ikeizumi, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and Uchiha Fugaku.
Then, a circle of ANBU ninja surrounded these four. It seemed all of Konoha's ANBU had been deployed.
Further out was the Uchiha clan Police Force, separated by a large group of ANBU ninja.
Even further out were ninja from various other clans and civilian ninja.
At least a thousand ninja were gathered in one area!
Obito saw a huge powder keg, but he couldn't yet see where the fuse was.
....
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Uchiha Fugaku, who had chosen to stand with him, with surprise.
He nodded gratefully to Fugaku, then sternly declared: "Guards! Take the criminal Shimura Danzō away! Not one of the punishments I've stated tonight will be omitted! This is my promise as the Third Hokage!"
"Ikeizumi, you should be satisfied with this outcome. For you, Danzō can no longer cause trouble."
Hiruzen Sarutobi then spoke to Uchiha Ikeizumi.
"Ikeizumi, a person needs to learn to grow through compromise." Fugaku took another step forward, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan now visible. Although he didn't directly reveal his Mangekyo Sharingan, he would activate it without hesitation if Uchiha Ikeizumi made any move.
Fugaku sighed: "One day you will understand my difficulties and what I bear."
"Is that so… What if justice doesn't compromise?" Uchiha Ikeizumi met Fugaku's gaze.
His eyes also displayed the crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Upon seeing this, Fugaku frowned: "Ikeizumi, don't force me. You know I don't want to be your enemy."
But the next second.
Fugaku's pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan suddenly constricted.
He watched in utter horror as the tomoe in Uchiha Ikeizumi's eyes visibly underwent a transformation!!!
This was…
Mangekyo!!!
....
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