About twenty or so Uchiha Police Force ninjas had subtly surrounded Danzo. As you'd expect from the more radical Uchiha, their faces were contorted with rage. Even the more moderate ones looked pretty unhappy.
At this point, Fugaku knew it wouldn't be right for him, as the clan head, to stay silent any longer.
He slowly stepped forward. As he passed Uchiha Akainu, he paused, his lips barely moving. He spoke in a voice only he and Akainu could hear: "Akainu, let me handle this. I know what you want to do, but as the Uchiha clan head, I have a more suitable way to deal with it. Plus, the Hokage and the others are here now, and the Hokage doesn't want to see infighting in the village."
Fugaku was genuinely worried Uchiha Akainu would cause an even bigger scene, all in the name of "absolute justice."
Even if he knew his words would rub Akainu the wrong way.
But he also knew that in this incredibly tense atmosphere, if Akainu and the Hokage clashed, he absolutely wouldn't be able to control the radical Uchiha members of his clan.
Those radicals would definitely help Akainu fight the Hokage!
That would mean the Hidden Leaf and the Uchiha would completely break ties!
The "future tragedy" might just happen ahead of schedule!
The Uchiha clan couldn't afford that kind of turmoil.
Fugaku wanted to change the future in his own way.
With a thousand thoughts racing through his mind, Fugaku walked up to Danzo, his gaze locking with Danzo's dark, ominous expression.
"Lord Danzo," Fugaku said in a low, firm voice, "Please give the Uchiha clan a proper explanation! We've worked diligently for the Hidden Leaf for years; we're not lambs to be slaughtered. Where exactly did you get those Sharingan you're wearing?"
As soon as he asked that, Fugaku suddenly thought of a possibility.
Wouldn't it be easier to just ask Akainu directly?
That power to see the past and future evils…
It truly left no secrets hidden!
However…
After a quick glance at the devastation around them, Fugaku decided it was best not to drag Uchiha Akainu into this any further.
"An explanation…"
Danzo coldly surveyed his surroundings. Even though he was surrounded by numerous Uchiha ninja, he showed no fear, letting out a sinister, cold chuckle. "I'm the one who needs an explanation from you! What do you think you're doing? Trying to kill me? Staging a rebellion against the Hidden Leaf? Fugaku! What's with this aggressive attitude?"
"Danzo!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice cut in. "You do owe the Uchiha clan an explanation – where did those Sharingan come from? And you also owe me an explanation – why did you engage in such private infighting, causing so much destruction in the village?!"
Danzo's expression instantly froze. He turned back to glare at Hiruzen Sarutobi, disbelief etched on his face.
He couldn't believe Hiruzen Sarutobi was siding with the Uchiha clan!
Danzo clenched his fists, his teeth almost grinding to dust.
To explain was to show weakness to the Uchiha clan, who were inherently evil! Even a momentary submission would make him itch all over, wanting nothing more than to kill a few people to vent his fury!
"…I picked them up during the Third Great Ninja War!"
Danzo squeezed out each word, one by one, through gritted teeth.
What he said wasn't entirely wrong.
Aside from Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan, all the other Sharingan were obtained during the Third Great Ninja War, when he sent Root ninja to secretly dig up the eyes of fallen Uchiha clan members.
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the Uchiha ninja, whose anger was rapidly rising. He stepped forward, standing next to Fugaku, and with a stern expression on his face and hands clasped behind his back, he declared, "Danzo! Those who died on the battlefield during the Great Ninja War, whether civilian ninja or clan ninja, they are all heroes of the Hidden Leaf!"
"Are you trying to desecrate the bodies of heroes?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi bellowed, "They sacrificed their lives for the Hidden Leaf, and you dare to use their bodies for your own selfish gain?!"
"I will absolutely not permit you, having committed such a transgression, to continue leading the Root organization! From today onwards, you are no longer the leader of Root!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was loud and filled with fury.
Everyone present could hear him.
Fugaku looked at the Third Hokage beside him in surprise.
A high-ranking Hidden Leaf elder, removed from his position by the Hokage's mere words? And in front of so many people?
Is this the Hokage's resolve?!
The Uchiha ninja frowned, all feeling like something wasn't quite right, but couldn't put their finger on it.
"Monkey! What are you saying?!" The person most agitated at this moment, surprisingly, was Danzo.
His rage towards the Uchiha clan instantly shifted to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"You're going to remove me from my post?" Danzo's pupils trembled. He felt a betrayal like never before, so much so that he directly called Hiruzen Sarutobi "Monkey" in front of everyone.
Danzo's hoarse voice grew louder. "Monkey! You don't have the right! I've earned my stripes for the Leaf! I've bled for this village!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger intensified. "I am the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf! I have the authority to remove anyone from their position!"
He enunciated each word: "I, am the Hokage!"
"Is the Hokage considering the feelings of us bloodline limit clans?" a Hyuga jōnin whispered in confusion at the very front.
"The Hokage wants to kill three birds with one stone," Hyuga Hiashi said, his face expressionless.
He gazed at Hiruzen Sarutobi's back. "The Uchiha clan is unusually angry; removing Danzo can slightly curb their rage. At the same time, Danzo, who secretly took the bloodline limits of fellow village ninja, being removed from his position will indeed make us, the bloodline limit clans, feel a bit more at ease."
"Finally…"
Hiashi looked towards a young Uchiha, one of the protagonists of the night.
"It's the Hokage trying his best to protect Danzo. Otherwise, given Uchiha Akainu's personality, he would undoubtedly fight Danzo to the bitter end. Last time, the Hokage intervened to stop them, but this time they've clashed again."
"The Hokage can't guarantee he'll arrive in time next time. He has to cut off the animosity between them. Removing Danzo and making sure he never resurfaces, at least never encounters Uchiha Akainu again, is the best method."
Hiashi's words made the Hyuga ninja behind him thoughtful.
Does this mean that in the Hokage's eyes, Uchiha Akainu's importance is greater than Danzo's?
"Lord Hiashi, this farce tonight… it's probably over now, right?" a Hyuga ninja asked.
"Hmm." Hiashi nodded slightly, his face still expressionless. "Normally, it should be over."
But… is Uchiha Akainu someone who acts normally?
Hiashi hadn't voiced that last thought yet.
Then he got his answer.
"Third Hokage, had enough of your little show?" Uchiha Akainu's cold voice interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura's argument.
Hiashi's expression became complicated, and he sighed. "He's truly inscrutable. He's unwilling to take the Hokage's way out."
"Tonight, it probably won't be that easy to go home."