Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't respond immediately.He narrowed his eyes and stared at his longtime friend with quiet intensity.Danzo's pupils contracted subtly—perhaps imperceptibly to others, but not to Hiruzen.
A flash of panic.
So… Kakashi might actually be right?
"Alright, alright… no wonder Kakashi dares to disrespect his elders and challenge authority—it's your teaching, Minato!"
Utatane Koharu clenched her jaw, her eyes burning with indignation.
"Danzo, since it's come to this, why not show them the truth?""Let the new generation witness the blood and sacrifice you endured for Konoha!"
"I will make them bow their heads in shame and apologize for doubting you!"
She pointed a trembling finger at Minato like she was about to summon Susano'o with pure seniority.
Danzo nearly facepalmed on the spot.
Why is she like this? Could you not throw gasoline on the fire I'm trying to smother?!This is why I work alone…
No, he had to stay calm. Emotion would only bury him deeper.
"Danzo," Hiruzen said, taking a long, deliberate puff from his pipe, "since even Minato is beginning to doubt you… let them see.""Let them see how foolish their accusations are."
"That's enough," Danzo snapped. "Those scars are carved into me permanently!"
"Every time I unwrap them, I'm reminded of Uchiha Kagami dying in my arms."
"I won't relive that kind of pain. Again."
"As for your 'misunderstanding,' let's not forget—Root has always been misunderstood. We bear the darkness of Konoha so others don't have to."
"But I have a clear conscience. I don't need to explain myself to children who weren't even born when I was already defending this village!"
Danzo slammed the table and turned to leave.
"Halt, Danzo. Remove the bandage. That's an order."
Hiruzen's tone was cold and unquestionable.
Danzo paused mid-step.
That was it. The tone. The weight. The Hokage's voice.
He had no way out anymore.
If the Uchiha caught even a whiff of this…Konoha could erupt.Better to contain the fallout now than lose the whole forest to one fire.
"Fine," Danzo growled.
In one sharp tug, the bandage came off.
"This! This is the price we paid—so that the Will of Fire could keep burning!"
Koharu glared at Minato and his team, raising her voice like she was trying to jutsu them into submission.
If you didn't know better, you'd think she was the one with the battle scars.
Mitokado Homura tugged at her sleeve urgently.
Koharu jerked her arm away. "What is it? Can't you see I'm giving a righteous speech here?"
"Look at Danzo's eye," Homura whispered, his face pale.
"It's just a scar, Homura—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Danzo's right eye gleamed.Three tomoe.
"Danzo… you… how could you—!"
"Well, well…" Hiruzen sighed, shaking his head."You really did it."
Danzo, what have you become?Was it because I let you stray so far?
"Tch. What's there to explain?" Danzo scoffed."During a mission, Kagami was struck fatally. Before he died, he entrusted me with his right eye… and with the future of the Uchiha."
"I have always held that burden close to my heart."
"As you well know, Hiruzen, the Uchiha clan doesn't exactly hand out permission slips for Sharingan transplants. I honored Kagami's dying wish. I had no choice."
"I did what I had to, for the village, and for him."
Danzo stood tall now, basking in his own retelling like he'd just unsealed Konoha's salvation.
And then—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
A slow, steady rhythm echoed through the room.All eyes turned to Kakashi, who leaned back casually, arms crossed, silver hair twitching as he gave a theatrical round of applause.
"Brilliant, truly brilliant."
"Lord Danzo, with storytelling that rich, you could've been cast as the next Hokage and gotten your own ninja propaganda scroll."
"You should've opened with that. I almost believed it myself. Almost."
Kakashi tilted his head.
"That was definitely the most touching rewrite of reality I've heard since Tobi said he was just a masked clown."
"Kakashi…" Hiruzen's voice was low but stern. "I understand you're upset about what happened with Obito."
"But Kagami was one of us—he transcended clan pride. He believed in the Will of Fire above all else."
"I can believe he entrusted his legacy to Danzo. And I believe Danzo didn't lie."
Kakashi gave Hiruzen a lazy salute.
"Well then. If you believe it, I'm practically convinced."
Totally.Absolutely.Not suspicious at all.
"But Danzo," Hiruzen continued, "you did conceal something important. And that nearly sparked a rift between the Uchiha and the village."
"That was your mistake."
"Humph." Danzo turned away but didn't argue. He knew Hiruzen was throwing him a lifeline.
"Given your circumstances, your punishment is as follows—"
"You are hereby relieved of your duties in Root, confined to quarters for one month, and required to submit an 8,000-word written reflection."
"Anbu will collect it. You will issue no orders to Root in this time. Understood?"
"…Fine."
With that, Hiruzen turned to Minato.
"Minato, this matter is settled. Take your team and assist Fugaku at the front lines."
"When peace talks are finalized, I will summon you to withdraw."
"One more thing—Nohara Rin is to remain in the village. Mist Shinobi may still target her."
Minato nodded, but raised a hand.
"Hokage-sama, one more thing."
"During a mission, Kakashi encountered a survivor of the Uzumaki clan. She was pregnant and in danger, so I brought her back for her safety—and for Kushina's sake."
"She's currently with them."
"Oh? Another Uzumaki?" Hiruzen blinked, waving the matter away."You can handle it. As long as she passes the usual screening, she's welcome."
"But… avoid letting her contact Kushina directly for now. Kushina's position is delicate."
Too many loose ends already. One more might unravel everything.
Behind him, Danzo stood still—eye gleaming, jaw tight.
So this is what it feels like to lose control…
Will of Fire?Tch. I'll show you fire when I return.
Hiruzen exhaled heavily.
Entrusted the Uchiha clan to Danzo?
He might as well have handed it to the Hyuga Patriarch instead.
To be continued....