"Kakashi, you are so bold that you even dare to disobey the orders of the former Hokage and the current head of the Elder Council. Get out of the way!"
At this moment, the two Hokage advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, also arrived in time.
Hearing this, Kakashi casually pulled his left hand from his pocket and used his little finger to pick his ear, as if something bothersome had flown in."Sorry, what was that? Must've been the wind. Or maybe just another boring speech about loyalty."
"You!"
Utatane Koharu was furious when she saw that she was being ignored.
"Kakashi, are you planning a rebellion?!"
Mitokado Homura also shouted angrily.
"Rebellion? Oh, that's rich. Whose rebellion exactly? Mine, or the rebellion of two elders so desperate for authority they'd probably order Anbu to fetch them tea?"
"I am acting on the orders of the Fourth Hokage. Who dares to accuse me of rebellion?"
He gave the two a lopsided look, his single visible eye narrowing with disdain.
"Or do you two assistants want to rebel? That would be awkward, considering your speeches about discipline could put even Iruka's lectures to sleep."
Holding the evidence of their guilt, Kakashi was no longer polite.
"Hiruzen, look at him!"
Seeing that they couldn't win the argument, Utatane Koharu turned to Hiruzen for help.
"Haha, both of you stay calm. Kakashi is also doing his job, this is a good thing. We just wait here for Minato to arrive."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile.
He raised his hand and waved, and the Anbu directly under the Third surrounded the Root base.This was before Minato came, and he didn't let anyone leave!
Kakashi instantly understood his intention.(Really? Acting like you're still pulling the strings? Someone's confidence is thicker than Choza's dinner plates.)
"No need to wait, Third Hokage-sama, I'm already here."
Just then, Minato's voice came from behind.
Hiruzen turned around with a grin, his expression changing slightly.
A group followed Minato—Akimichi Tōfū, Akimichi Chōza, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Hiashi, Aburame Tatsuma, Hyūga Hiashi, and Uchiha Fugaku!
Among them, Uchiha Fugaku had even brought all the elites of the Konoha Police Force!
"Minato, what are you…?"
Hiruzen asked in a deep voice, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
"Third Hokage-sama, Danzō led Root to attack Uchiha Obito today, plotting to take over the Uchiha bloodline. This is an act of treason."
"After rescuing Obito, Kakashi and Shisui discovered that Danzō had been secretly kidnapping shinobi from various clans and brainwashing them into his own private soldiers!"
"I invited all the clan leaders here today so that everyone can bear witness."
"Look at how many shady things our Root leader and former Hokage assistant has done!"
Minato looked directly at Sarutobi Hiruzen and spoke righteously.
"What?"
"Danzō… he attacked Obito?!"
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were stunned.
The power of bloodline was taboo for every clan.
And Uchiha Obito was the hero of the Third Shinobi War who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—he was also a high-ranking Uchiha!
Danzō dared to attack him? Wasn't that practically suicide?
At the same time, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was extremely ugly.
That day, because of Rin's eyes, he had severely reprimanded Danzō.
He thought Danzō would restrain himself, but he hadn't expected him to go even further and covet the Mangekyō!
The worst part—he had been caught red-handed!
Now that Minato had exposed everything in front of all the clan heads, it wouldn't be easy to save him!
Danzō, you fool!
I hope you can sober up after this lesson.
Hiruzen sighed inwardly.
In his opinion, Danzō hadn't shown up yet because Minato must have restrained him.
"Minato, what Danzō did indeed violated village rules, but it didn't cause any damage, right? After all, he has shed blood and made great contributions for Konoha. We should weigh his merits against his mistakes. There is no need to brand him a traitor!"
Hiruzen's tone softened, as though trying to coax Minato.
"Hmph, merits against mistakes, how laughable!"
Before Minato could answer, the burly and hot-tempered Akimichi Tōfū couldn't hold back any longer.
"Hiruzen, I turned a blind eye to the dirty deeds you four did before, considering that we're fellow disciples."
"Even when Danzō came to the Ino-Shika-Chō clans to demand people under the pretext of protecting the village, I let it slide."
"But this time, he wasn't satisfied with just demanding. He kidnapped the youth of our clans and brainwashed them into Root soldiers! He deserves nothing but death!"
Akimichi Tōfū jabbed his finger toward Hiruzen's nose and cursed!
He, like Hiruzen, was a disciple of the Second Hokage and a member of the Hokage Guard alongside Konoha's F4.
Back then, he and Kagami often went on missions together and shared a deep bond.
After Kagami's death, he had grieved for a long time.
But just now, Minato had visited him personally and told him that Kagami was killed by Danzō.
He had also been shown Akimichi Dingri—once renowned alongside Akimichi Chōza as the "Akimichi Twins"—who later mysteriously vanished during a secret mission.
As well as other shinobi from various clans who had gone "missing" or "died on missions."
Now he understood!
No wonder so many talented youths mysteriously disappeared during missions.
It was all Danzō's doing!
He was cutting out the roots of every clan!
The other clan heads also looked furious when they heard this.
They too had seen the "sacrificed" talents of their clans standing among the rescued victims!
"This…"
Hiruzen's heart sank.
Attempting to seize the bloodline of a fellow villager or kidnapping shinobi from one's own village—either crime alone warranted death.
If it had been someone else, he would've acted decisively, gaining a reputation for being selfless while shedding "tears of grief" for his confidant.
But this was Danzō! The very man who helped him secure the Hokage seat and let him bask in the sun's glory for so many years!
He was more than an ally—he was family, a brother-in-arms!
How could he bear to let him die?
The two Hokage advisors were speechless.
They had been in power for so long and knew better than anyone—Danzō's actions had crossed every bottom line.
"I understand… Danzō is guilty. Then let him be imprisoned, to repent and reform in the Ministry of Security's cells!"
Hiruzen's voice was mournful, his face heavy with grief.
To ordinary ears, he seemed like a Hokage sacrificing his closest friend for the good of the village.
Unfortunately, before he could continue, a cold voice struck like a kunai to the chest.
"Don't bother, Elder Hiruzen. When Danzō attacked Obito, we killed him on the spot."
"Oh, no need to thank me. Guarding the village is Anbu's duty, after all. Killing traitors? Just part of the job description. Comes right after 'carry Hokage's groceries.'"
Kakashi's words were so sharp that even the clan heads—victims of Danzō's schemes—wanted to applaud him on the spot.
"What?!"
"Danzō… is dead?!"
Upon hearing the news, Hiruzen felt dizzy and staggered, only kept upright by the Anbu behind him.
The two Hokage advisors exchanged shocked glances, a faint sorrow flickering in their eyes.
For them, the loss of Danzō was like watching a fellow rabbit being snatched by the hawk.
To be continued....