Chapter 93: Defending the Reputation of the Reincarnation Game
That was the God of Shinobi!
The First Hokage, founder of Konohagakure, the man who ended the Warring States Period alongside Uchiha Madara—an existence revered absolutely by all Konoha shinobi.
And now it was revealed that he had been used for human experimentation… If that got out, Konoha would become a laughingstock.
Even the First Hokage was cut up—who would still believe in the Will of Fire?
"Slander! This is outright slander! You wicked little Uchiha brat, I'll—"
Danzo's eyes widened in panic. Despite all his years of political cunning, he was truly flustered now.
His hand reached instinctively for a kunai gleaming with cold steel.
He wanted to destroy the metal device with a flash, but several figures blocked his way.
Body Flicker.
Hiashi Hyuga, his Byakugan veins bulging, assumed a Gentle Fist stance—but didn't strike.
Because standing before him was Shibi Aburame, wearing black sunglasses and carrying his large insect jar. He raised his arm, and swarms of kikaichū beetles extended from his fingers, completely engulfing Danzo's kunai.
"Lord Danzo, if this is slander, then it must be investigated properly. That tool cannot be destroyed."
Shibi's hooded voice was calm.
All the shinobi present were stunned.
In the past, even when the Hokage and the clans clashed bitterly over power, the Aburame Clan never intervened or picked sides.
They always focused on raising their insects, so much so that people often forgot they were even a clan of note.
But in truth, the Aburame were one of Konoha's most deep-rooted clans.
Though lacking overwhelming individual stars, their insect-control jutsu made nearly all members highly capable in combat.
Danzo's expression darkened. "Clan Head Aburame, do you know what you're doing?"
"I do," Shibi replied calmly. "I'm protecting Konoha."
That phrase again.
Danzo trembled with fury, though he didn't show it.
Shibi remembered it clearly—it was the exact phrase Danzo had used years ago when he took Shino's cousin, Takegen, into Root.
Takegen had agreed to go in Shino's place. Shibi had begged the Hokage to intervene, but Hiruzen had done nothing.
At the time, Shibi understood all too well: Danzo wouldn't have been so bold without the backing of the Hokage.
But now, the knife was at their throats. If he stayed silent, he might as well be devoured by his own insects.
Even if it meant being punished afterward, Danzo had to pay.
"Hiashi, you too…"
Hiruzen's heart sank. His eyes were full of disappointment.
He understood Danzo's crimes were unforgivable. But couldn't this wait until after the Chunin Exams, once the foreign ninja had left?
As Hokage, he would have given everyone answers then.
But to bring it up now…
Didn't they care about the village?
Especially Hiashi.
Years ago, he had endured the loss of his own brother to protect Konoha. And now he stood in silent opposition to the Hokage?
I'm not shielding Danzo. I'm protecting Konoha.
Hiruzen's chakra wavered. His aura, once powerful despite his age, suddenly seemed to deflate.
Should he protect Danzo… or let him fall?
If he were younger, the Hiruzen of old—
Master of all five chakra natures, summoner of the Monkey King Enma, rich in chakra, teacher of three Kage-level disciples, leader of Konoha through two great ninja wars…
Even faced with all the clan heads, he could've made a decisive call and ended this farce with a show of strength.
But now—
He had to admit, he was old. His hunched frame could still fight, but his youthful resolve had long since been worn down by time.
Tsunade had vanished.
Jiraiya had left to search for the Child of Prophecy.
Orochimaru had defected after being caught conducting human experiments.
His eldest son had died, and his younger son, Asuma, had drifted away.
If Danzo—who had carried the village's darkness—was taken down too, then Hiruzen's authority as Hokage would plummet to its lowest point.
After a long pause, Hiruzen said through gritted teeth, "Though Root has always been managed by Danzo, all activities have been under ANBU surveillance. I've received no reports of human experimentation. Thus, Danzo can be cleared of suspicion."
He chose to protect Danzo.
"Are you aware of everything Root does, Lord Hokage?"
Sasuke suddenly asked.
Hiruzen glanced at him and nodded. "As Hokage, I am. That's why I believe Danzo wouldn't do—"
His words froze.
A glass vial appeared in everyone's view. Floating inside was a nearly rotted eye.
A red pupil.
Black tomoe.
Sharingan.
Hiruzen's heart dropped.
He looked at Sasuke—and saw a slight, satisfied smile.
Something was wrong.
Before he could react, Sasuke vanished.
A heartbeat later, he unleashed all his remaining chakra, surging black flames erupting as he struck at Danzo.
Danzo drew his kunai, blocking the strike calmly. "Attacking me in front of everyone? Bold."
Sasuke smirked.
Danzo frowned. The kunai rang as it clashed with the blade.
Then the black flame vanished from the sword—and surged toward his right arm.
His sleeve disintegrated. Bandages exploded.
"Lightning Style: Eight Thunder Gods!"
Blood poured from Sasuke's eyes, streaming down his face.
His Sharingan spun wildly, transforming into a new shape—an eight-pointed design like sharp blades extending outward.
Not mystical like most Mangekyō patterns, but solemn and deadly.
Electric crackling filled the air.
Black-and-red lightning struck Danzo's sealing device—shattering it instantly.
With the seal broken, his right arm was fully revealed.
It radiated Wood Release chakra.
And was embedded with grotesque, squirming Sharingan.
Sasuke stood tall, voice echoing: "Lord Hokage, if you knew everything… then tell me—was the Uchiha Massacre carried out by Danzo and the rogue Itachi under your orders?"
Silence.
Everyone's eyes locked on Danzo's arm—horrified.
Even Sasuke awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan paled in comparison.
The Uchiha massacre had long been suspected. But so long as there was no evidence, the clans could pretend not to know.
Now, the truth was laid bare.
To stay silent would be to surrender—to admit submission.
And if Danzo dared do this to the Uchiha, what stopped him from coming for their bloodlines next?
This was the line.
This scandal had exploded—and Hiruzen was caught in the fire.
You said you knew everything about Root—
So explain the massacre.
Explain Danzo's Sharingan arm.
The aura around the Hokage—
Was torn apart by this Uchiha survivor, using sheer cunning and timing.
What now?
Hiruzen's heart sank to rock bottom. He hadn't expected this. Looking around, he grasped for words. "Everyone, there's still no conclusive proof. Perhaps Danzo's Sharingan were acquired from the Reincarnation Game? Let's not jump to conclusions."
"Our clan has players. A three-tomoe Sharingan costs a fortune. Ten implanted in one arm? Kakashi struggles to sustain chakra for one. You'd need Uchiha blood just to balance it… Is a Hokage advisor's salary really that high?"
As Hiruzen tried to explain, Danzo tried to piggyback: "I'm still the Shimura Clan's leader. Isn't that enough?"
"It's not."
"Advisor Danzo, we want an explanation!"
Seeing the clans turn, Hiruzen spoke again: "Perhaps these are defective Sharingan from the game, requiring no Uchiha blood to control—"
"Pardon me, Hokage-sama, I'll have to interrupt."
A calm voice rang out.
Without any sign or warning, Fang Yi suddenly appeared in the Forest of Death—dressed in an ordinary noble's robe, youthful and smiling warmly.
"I apologize for interfering in Konoha's internal matters, but I must defend the Reincarnation Game's reputation."
He held a chain. At the other end was a dopey-looking jackal, wagging its tail.
Fang Yi's gaze fell on Sasuke's eyes. "A Mangekyō shaped not by fate, but by something different. It seems 'Raven of Vengeance' has found a new path through the game."
Hearing his in-game alias startled Sasuke—even in the depths of vengeance, he felt a flash of embarrassment.
"The game merchant… Fang Yi?"
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. His instincts kicked in as he sized up this uninvited presence.
This was his first real look at the man behind the Reincarnation Game's sweeping influence.
That brief glimpse through the Telescope Jutsu hadn't done justice.
And now—
Still, there was nothing.
Even Sage-mode users, or players, radiated detectable energies.
But Fang Yi was like an ordinary man—completely unremarkable.
But Hiruzen wasn't fooled.
He knew better than to assume weakness from appearances.
For this man to appear here, now, openly—he had to have power equal to Danzo… or greater.
"That's me," Fang Yi said with a nod, releasing the chain.
"I'm here not just to defend the Reincarnation Game's name—but because I was just attacked by a Konoha shinobi."
"The attacker consumed a forbidden drug to burn away his life force. At the last moment, he offered everything for a deal."
The jackal trotted up to Danzo.
Hiruzen's eyes widened. "A Konoha shinobi tried to assassinate you?"
He doubted it—he had ordered all registered ninja to maintain discipline.
But then—
He turned suddenly, staring at the ashen-faced Danzo nearby.
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