The moment Akainu Uchiha's voice rang out, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately felt a bad premonition. Publicly stripping Danzo of his position in front of everyone in Konoha, not giving him any face and basically tearing down all pretense, was exactly as Hiashi Hyuga had suggested. It was the strongest measure Hiruzen could think of, and it would also hopefully appease the Kekkei Genkai clans in Konoha.
But he never expected it wouldn't be enough to appease Akainu Uchiha.
"Brat, what do you want?!" Danzo's vicious, grim gaze bore into Akainu Uchiha. He hadn't forgotten that over a dozen of his Root subordinates, and even his summoning beast, the Baku—which was his most painful loss, his strongest summon, and a partner of many years, a huge loss of combat power—had all died at the hands of this evil Uchiha brat within a single day.
Yet, Akainu Uchiha ignored him, simply stating to Hiruzen Sarutobi with an expressionless face, "Third Hokage, stripping Danzo Shimura of his position—is that truly your solution?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his mouth, but before he could utter a word, Akainu Uchiha added, "That's quite the den of snakes and rats, quite the collusion, and quite the cover-up."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face immediately darkened. He hadn't expected Akainu Uchiha to start by cursing him. Fugaku also sensed the situation was turning sour. "Akainu..."
"You're too soft, Fugaku. In your eyes, everything Danzo has done to the Uchiha clan, to innocent civilians, is so easily forgiven?" Akainu Uchiha glanced at Fugaku, not even bothering to use terms like "clan head" or "leader."
"And besides..." Akainu Uchiha continued, "What right do you have to forgive Danzo? What right do you have to sweep these major issues under the rug, to minimize them?"
Fugaku's normally stern face clearly showed a look of bewilderment. For some reason, Fugaku felt that the gazes of some clan members around him had become a bit strange.
Kakashi's Foreboding
Kakashi, mixed in with the Konoha Anbu, sighed internally. He knew that anything involving Akainu Uchiha would never be resolved so easily. Especially now that Akainu Uchiha's 'wings' were getting stronger, there were very few people in all of Konoha who could restrain him.
Perhaps... if the Hokage hadn't brought so many Anbu with him, even the Hokage wouldn't be able to rein in Akainu Uchiha.
"...Hm?" Kakashi vaguely sensed a gaze falling on him. He turned his head, looking into the distance. His eyes narrowed. He thought he saw a figure on the roof of a distant building, but in a blink, the figure vanished.
"He's certainly sharp, Kakashi..."
In the distance, the masked man in the black cloak, hidden in the shadows, murmured with a hint of hesitation and confusion: "Was that my imagination... For some reason, I felt like that Akainu Uchiha guy glanced over towards me too."
But it was only a slight confusion. He used to need the protection of his sensei Minato just to survive against Akainu Uchiha. But now, he believed he was absolutely no match for Akainu Uchiha.
The Reckoning
"Danzo Shimura." Under everyone's gaze, Akainu Uchiha met Danzo's enraged, sinister stare. He spoke expressionlessly: "The 'evil' within you is the most I've ever seen in Konoha. So much, it's countless, inexhaustible."
"Others who commit petty theft are arrested and imprisoned for half a month as a warning. Yet you, who have killed so many innocent people and committed so many wicked deeds, what right do you have to stand here completely unharmed, barking like a dog?"
"Why are you, whose evil deeds are too numerous to record, still alive in this world?"
Veins pulsed on Danzo's forehead. He knew he couldn't remain silent. Now that even the 'monkey' (Hiruzen) had betrayed him, Danzo could only rely on himself.
Danzo gritted his teeth and said, "Brat! This old man merely collected some Sharingan during the Great Ninja Wars! Stripping me of my position... is already the most severe punishment! Or are you, brat, just using this 'Absolute Justice' as an excuse, actually being a self-righteous killer?!"
He preemptively put the blame on Akainu Uchiha. But Akainu Uchiha didn't react, simply asking, "Is that so? Then how do you explain Shisui's Sharingan?"
Danzo's pupils suddenly constricted, his gaze towards Akainu Uchiha filled with intense disbelief. This evil Uchiha brat... can he truly see through me?
Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan ninja surrounding Danzo with unfriendly expressions suddenly gasped in astonishment. Hiruzen Sarutobi's face showed a thoughtful, peculiar expression. The Anbu ninja eyed Danzo suspiciously. The other ninja from various clans and civilian ninja looked at Danzo with astonished expressions.
Shisui Uchiha—that was a name etched into many people's memories, impossible to erase. Unfortunately, genius was often short-lived; as a genius of the Uchiha clan, he died young. The cause of Shisui Uchiha's death had been widely debated, but there was never a definite answer. Until now...
"Brat! Don't slander me!" Danzo grew anxious. His mastery of Shisui's Kotoamatsukami was his greatest secret, bar none. Even during his fight with Akainu Uchiha, he had been unwilling to use this absurdly powerful Sharingan ability.
Danzo gritted his teeth. "I didn't kill Shisui Uchiha!"
Akainu Uchiha took two steps forward, gazing into Danzo's eyes. This gaze made Danzo uneasy. He actually shifted his eyes, unable to meet Akainu Uchiha's gaze directly! This made Danzo himself find it baffling. How could he be afraid of this brat?!
Akainu Uchiha spoke as if calmly reading something only he could see: "One year ago. You set a trap for Shisui Uchiha, gravely injuring him and taking one of his eyes. Such actions indirectly led to Shisui Uchiha jumping to his death."
Danzo nearly stopped breathing, cold sweat unconsciously beading on his palms.
—He actually saw through me!!!
Now... even Fugaku, who had been trying to minimize the situation, looked at Danzo with an incredulous expression.
"And Sakumo Hatake, how do you explain him?" Akainu Uchiha didn't dwell on "Shisui's death"; his topic shifted to a name no one present had expected. This made Kakashi, hidden among the Anbu, tremble. Kakashi dazedly turned his head to look at Akainu Uchiha.
Sakumo Hatake... Kakashi hadn't heard that name spoken in the village for many years.
"Years ago. You deliberately manipulated negative public opinion in the village, arranging for your subordinates to slander Sakumo Hatake, causing him to choose suicide, unable to bear the pressure of negative public sentiment."
Danzo's fingers were trembling slightly, his expression as if he'd seen a ghost.
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