The Third Hokage regained his footing, his expression shifting unpredictably.
After a long silence, he sighed and looked at Kakashi, then turned to the Fourth Hokage:
"What Danzō did has indeed angered the public, and his death does not deserve it.
If I want him to enter the memorial with dignity, I'm afraid you won't agree.
Whatever. I am old now, and I only have a few close friends from my era left.
No matter what Danzō has done, he is dead, and his debts are settled. Can you at least hand over his body to me? I will personally attend his funeral.
As for the sins he has committed, let me make amends for them."
Hiruzen spoke, then suddenly bowed to Minato and the others, his voice drenched in sorrow.
At this moment, he was no longer the Hokage of the past, nor the current chief elder of the council. He was just an old man who had lost his best friend and was drowning in grief.
For a moment, everyone present exchanged glances in silence.
Facing this grieving old man, many began to admire Hiruzen again.
Debts paid after death—what a noble sentiment.What a masterful retreat to advance!He truly was a politician who had reigned for decades.
Kakashi sighed inwardly.
Hiruzen's heartfelt words and his submissive tone toward Minato and the clan heads already gave plenty of face.
If Minato pressed the matter now, people would accuse him of being power-hungry, ungrateful, and disrespectful to his teacher's generation. That would fracture his trust with the clans.
But if Minato stopped here, it meant the matter would end—no further investigation.
Then all the evidence Anbu had gathered, which could have brought down the two Hokage advisors, would be wasted.
Well then, time to play the villain. Again.
Thinking this, Kakashi didn't hesitate and spoke flatly:
"Excuse me, Elder Hiruzen.
While Danzō, the traitor, was plotting to take Obito's Sharingan, he also implanted Hashirama's cells into himself, hoping to gain Wood Style.
Unfortunately for him, Lord Hashirama's cells were too overwhelming. The rebel's body couldn't contain them, and he was devoured alive—turned into a giant tree.
So… no remains to bury."
"What!"
"Danzō not only transplanted Uchiha Kagami's Sharingan, but even experimented with Hashirama-sama's cells?!"
The clan leaders, who had just been touched by Hiruzen's grief, were shaken awake.
Mangekyō Sharingan and Hashirama's Wood Style—these were the legendary powers of Madara and Hashirama, the closest shinobi to gods!
And Danzō had been scheming to seize both?
If he had succeeded, he could have harvested the clans' youth like crops, picking them at will.
He might even have enslaved every clan leader present!
Everyone recalled how Danzō once demanded Aburame Tatsuma's designated heir, Aburame Shibi.
If the Aburame hadn't reported it directly to the Hokage, it would have ended unresolved.
By now, the Aburame clan might have been reduced to Root's pet insect keepers.
Kakashi shrugged, his tone sharp with mockery:
"As for that tree-body, leaving it to rot seemed wasteful. It was Kage-level lumber, after all.
The public toilet on the commercial street was falling apart, so I donated Danzō to the construction team. They made wooden boards from him and paved the floor.
Considering he led Root, it's fitting—constant fertilizer and all that. A natural match."
"Oh, and I even named it. Jingguo."
"It means the rotten roots became nutrients, bringing new vitality to Konoha and protecting peace. Consider it Danzō's final contribution—a traitor fertilizing the village."
The reaction from the crowd was exactly as Kakashi expected.
"Kakashi, Danzō made mistakes, but he was once a Hokage's advisor! How dare you—!"
Utatane Koharu snapped, pointing her trembling hand at Kakashi. Her face twisted with fury, as though she'd leap and claw at him if not for her frail body.
"Kakashi, what right do you have to treat a former high official of Konoha like this!"
Mitokado Homura shouted, equally enraged.
Danzō had once been second only to Hiruzen!
If even he was disgraced as toilet wood, then what of Koharu and Homura themselves?
"Hahahaha!"
A sudden laugh cut their protests short.
Everyone turned in surprise to see Akimichi Tōfū laughing so loudly his belly shook.
Clan members around him exchanged awkward looks.
Uncle Tōfū… we know you're carefree, but this timing… really? You're representing Ino-Shika-Chō right now!
Nara Shikaku pinched the bridge of his nose helplessly.
Uchiha Fugaku, meanwhile, had been biting his tongue from the moment he heard "public toilet floor." Now, seeing Akimichi roar with laughter, he nearly lost control.
"Fine then… well done."
At the news that his best friend's body had been turned into toilet planks, Hiruzen's grief vanished, replaced by a face as dark as storm clouds.
His eyes turned icy as he glared at Kakashi.
"Kakashi, you avenged your best friend by killing Danzō. I accept that.
But as Danzō's lifelong comrade, I will not forgive you for trampling on his body and humiliating him!"
"Since you had the strength to slay him, it is no bullying if I face you myself.
So from this moment, I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, put aside my title as elder and challenge you to a death match—man to man!"
"Whoever wins… claims Danzō's body!"
With Hiruzen's furious roar, his chakra erupted violently.
His robes tore apart, revealing the black battle garb beneath.
Politics may be compromise, but shinobi live and die by strength!
He had bowed, yielded, given face—yet Kakashi still pressed on!
Then only battle remained.
As Hiruzen's eyes swept over the crowd, many clan leaders and even Anbu behind Kakashi instinctively lowered their heads under the crushing aura.
"Fine by me."
Kakashi puffed out his chest dramatically, releasing his own killing intent to meet Hiruzen's head-on.