Chapter 90: I Didn't See It Clearly
Lightning Hunter.
A hunter class from the other world of [Azeroth], masters of survival who crafted traps, wielded long-range firearms, and tamed powerful beasts as partners, forming contracts to gain immense strength.
Among them, one hunter, after taming a lightning-based creature, underwent a bodily mutation, gaining the ability to imbue their beast partner with lightning powers.
The earlier lightning trap was a skill Kakashi had gained after changing class. Since he hadn't upgraded it yet, Danzo had been able to escape its paralyzing effect with ease.
But if leveled up, that trap could eventually cover the entire Forest of Death the moment it was triggered.
Kakashi's tone was respectful, but his stance unyielding. "Lord Danzo, let's wait until this is reported to the Hokage before doing anything further, shall we?"
"No problem."
Danzo's eyes flickered. He placed his hand on the Baku, and the massive summoning beast vanished in a puff of smoke.
A person's name is their shadow.
If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't have backed down. But Hatake Kakashi was no ordinary shinobi. Even after years of decline following his departure from the ANBU, Danzo couldn't take him down easily.
As for the human experiment data…
Danzo sneered inwardly.
He was confident that even if Hiruzen Sarutobi found out the truth, he wouldn't do much.
At most, he'd use it as an excuse to strip Danzo of some of his power.
Rustle.
As tension hung thick in the air,
a group of masked ANBU agents arrived swiftly, led by the aged but commanding Third Hokage, clad in ceremonial robes.
Though small in stature, he exuded a pressure that silenced the entire forest.
His chakra, despite his age, surged like a steel staff.
The burning black flames stopped spreading.
ANBU crouched on tree branches, forming hand seals. Torrents of water burst into the sky.
Water Release.
These were the elites assigned to protect the Hokage. Even the searing black flames, hotter than normal fire, were rapidly extinguished.
Steam billowed, only to be blown away by Wind Release techniques from the ANBU.
"As expected of Hiruzen Sarutobi… Still sharp and fast…"
Danzo raised his eyes.
The Forest of Death was far, but the destruction was too great, and with the Chunin Exams approaching, it was no surprise that the Hokage had rushed here.
"Lord Hokage."
Unlike Danzo, who stood his ground, Kakashi bowed slightly to Hiruzen.
"Haven't seen you in a while, Kakashi."
Hiruzen's gaze swept over Danzo, whose robes were torn—clear signs of battle.
Then to Sasuke, standing behind Kakashi, eyes filled with hatred.
Before Hiruzen could speak, the ANBU had already begun surveying the area, gathering clues from the battlefield.
"Danzo."
"Can you explain what happened here?"
Hiruzen's tone was calm but stern as he turned to his old companion.
Danzo's face remained composed. His voice, laced with calculated anger, said, "I received a report from Root. Uchiha Sasuke trespassed in the Forest of Death, attempted to destroy a hidden research lab, tried to steal village secrets, and killed Root agents. I confronted him and engaged in combat."
"Hidden lab? Root ninja?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
A lab in the Forest of Death?
As Hokage, he knew the locations of every official lab—mostly inside hospitals or the Interrogation Department for medical research.
So this lab… Danzo had built it without approval.
Hiruzen, ever sharp in politics, immediately caught the key issue.
"You're saying Sasuke destroyed a lab and killed Root operatives?"
"That's right."
"What kind of research was being conducted there?"
"Just improvements on medical techniques, and tests to reduce the side effects of soldier pills."
Danzo responded fluidly, showing no signs of guilt.
Hiruzen nodded silently and turned to Sasuke.
"Sasuke, is it true? Did you attack Root ninja and try to steal village secrets?"
An ANBU agent leaned in and whispered, "We found five corpses, too burned to identify."
Then discreetly added in code:
Each body bore the Curse of Absolute Silence—a Root trademark.
Which confirmed Danzo's claim: Root ninja had died.
Hiruzen waited for Sasuke's answer.
"Lord Hokage, I have something to report!"
Sasuke's expression wavered.
Danzo, as a senior advisor, was clearly a central figure in the Uchiha massacre. But Sasuke didn't know if the Third Hokage had been involved as well.
Then Kakashi lightly patted his shoulder.
Sasuke pulled the human experimentation documents from his pocket and handed them to Hiruzen.
"What's this…"
Hiruzen flipped through the pages. His face shifted from solemn to furious, and he turned sharply to Danzo.
Before he could speak—
Danzo stepped forward, lips moving rapidly.
Only Hiruzen could hear.
His expression faltered, and the words he was about to say caught in his throat.
Then suddenly—
Danzo acted.
He spat out Wind Chakra, shredding the documents before Hiruzen's eyes.
The Hokage stumbled back, stunned. "Danzo Shimura! You're a Hokage advisor! Are you trying to destroy evidence?!"
"I sensed poison on those documents. I suspect Sasuke Uchiha intended to assassinate you. I destroyed it to protect the Hokage."
Danzo stated his absurd excuse.
Ridiculous.
Kakashi couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
That excuse was beyond pathetic.
He looked to the Hokage, who after a brief pause, said—
"I didn't get a clear look at the contents of that document before Danzo destroyed it."
It was clear—he wanted to bury the matter.
Danzo had whispered:
The experiments involve the Fire Daimyo.
Danzo could never have funded multiple hidden labs with only village money. Even if he could, using it would've caught Hiruzen's attention.
That's what Danzo hated about the "monkey."
He did all the dirty work, while Hiruzen maintained a righteous image and reaped the rewards.
To avoid detection, Danzo had partnered with nobles and the daimyo of the Land of Fire.
Hashirama's cells had enormous research value.
Orochimaru's studies produced not only Yamato, who could use low-grade Wood Release, but also numerous side products—
Like medicine that harmonized Wood Release and Sharingan.
And drugs that stimulated cell activity, seemingly enhancing longevity.
Danzo used such potions to fool nobles and daimyo into funding further Hashirama cell research.
This scandal…
Even the most powerful figures in the Land of Fire were involved.
Would Hiruzen Sarutobi dare expose it?
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